Izabela Szczepinska-Gabrielson

I work in a variety of mediums: charcoal, pastel, watercolor, pencil, red chalk, etching, silkscreen. But whether I paint, draw or print it all begins with a drawing… It’s my key to the secret garden of nature, human body and soul. A play of lights and darks, day and night, black mark on white paper. A subtle combination of different tones of colors transforming into shapes.
I always work from observation. First I develop my ideas through a series of sketches, and then draw the chosen composition directly on paper using charcoal or pastels. I begin drawing the thin layers of darks then gra...

I work in a variety of mediums: charcoal, pastel, watercolor, pencil, red chalk, etching, silkscreen. But whether I paint, draw or print it all begins with a drawing… It’s my key to the secret garden of nature, human body and soul. A play of lights and darks, day and night, black mark on white paper. A subtle combination of different tones of colors transforming into shapes.
I always work from observation. First I develop my ideas through a series of sketches, and then draw the chosen composition directly on paper using charcoal or pastels. I begin drawing the thin layers of darks then gradually build up subsequent layers of tones until I achieve desired contrast between lights and shadows. Dry mediums give me freedom of a wide, loose gesture and allow me to define forms using different values of tonal drawing.
Recently I rediscovered watercolors. I love how fluid they are, unpredictable, fresh and vibrant. I build up many layers of thin washes, allowing or not for them to dry before applying a new one.This delicate but powerful medium gives a chance to capture a luminous light in a painting.

Please visit my new art blog at http://artmilky.blogspot.com/