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Liubov Kuptsova: "I don’t paint sad faces"

Art Review
01 November, 2024
Liubov Kuptsova: "I don’t paint sad faces"
Lyubov Kuptsova and her artworks
We spoke with Liubov Kuptsova about her creative journey, learned what inspires her, and discussed her experience collaborating with Jose Art Gallery.

Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
 
Under what circumstances did you feel your first impulses toward art?
My father was an artist, but he never directly taught me. Since childhood, I just watched him create illustrations for children’s books. I would look at his work and try to draw the same way, copying to the best of my childish ability. But he pointed out the mistakes when he saw my drawings, and I often left the work unfinished. I was brought to modeling classes at the age of 5 or 6. One day, the teacher let me draw, and I chose the enormous easel and a massive piece of paper. I didn’t do it regularly, but it sowed the first seeds of my creative journey. Later, I graduated from a school focusing on decorative and applied arts, where I learned the basics of drawing and composition. I planned to enter an art university but couldn’t fulfill that dream.

Nevertheless, my passion for art didn’t fade. I worked as an artist's model, meeting different artists and watching their creative processes. Sometimes, I would pick up a pencil myself and draw. Even as a model, I needed to understand and feel what art is.

Painting by Ukrainian woman  Liubov Kuptsova
Ukrainian woman by Liubov Kuptsova

Whose words or advice influenced you on your journey?

My path wasn’t easy, and much of it became possible thanks to people who inspired and supported me. 2013, I met my future husband, photographer Vladyslav Durniev, in Crimea. He is an excellent support to me. I always listen to his opinion. His sister, artist Olha Darchuk, once invited me to her studio in Kyiv and introduced me to the alla prima technique – creating a painting in one sitting, without underpaintings or layers. Olga showed me how to take a canvas, paint, and a palette knife and create something alive and emotional. Since then, I have been working only with a palette knife, creating artwork with broad, thick strokes, and this process transports me to another world. Olga inspired my first steps in painting.

Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova

Lyubov, could you tell us more about your process of creating artwork? How do you get into that state? Does music or poetry inspire you?

Everything I do now is born intuitively. Since I didn’t study at an art university, my technique isn’t rigid – I work on canvas freely, without restrictions, even if it’s a portrait or an animal image. As for inspiration, it’s everywhere: a trip to the sea, an interesting conversation, music, the bright color of gloves in a store window – it all imprints on my consciousness. When I sit down on the canvas, I may sketch a few lines with a pencil, very simple, and then my hand leads me. The artwork begins to live its own life.
What do you mean by “going beyond boundaries” other than choosing a color scheme? 

I never had a classical portrait education. I don’t know the exact proportions, so I draw based on my inner feelings. When I worked as a model, I posed for an artist who taught students from a well-known university. He once said about one of his students, “She painted better before she studied.” Students are forced to follow the rules – what color and composition are correct? But can there be anything wrong with art? I prefer to break composition and experiment with color. My portraits may have many mistakes, but art is an emotion for me. When someone looks at an artwork, they’re attracted not by the technique but by the emotion embedded in it. It either touches something inside or it doesn’t.
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Which artists inspire you?

In Ukraine, I admire Viktoria Lapteva – her portraits take your breath away. Among world masters, I’m incredibly inspired by Ilya Repin; of course, I don’t copy him – he’s a great portrait master, and I only admire his talent. I’m also drawn to the surrealism of René Magritte; there’s something special in his work. But generally, I don’t delve too deeply into other artists’ works; I’m more inspired by the world around me with its beauty and diversity.
Does the state of the person you’re painting influence your mood if they’re in a specific state (sad or something else)? 

It’s more like they take on my mood (laughs). I don’t paint sad faces – my artworks bring joy and hope, not sorrow. Even when the war started, I avoided depicting anxiety. Recently, I held my first exhibition in Kryvyi Rih, called “Colors of Life,” where I presented 50 artworks. Visitors said they felt a burst of energy – I realized I had managed to convey what I wanted.
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova

Could you tell us more about your life in Ukraine? Are you able to pursue your passions and goals there as you'd like?

Since the start of the full-scale war, many artists’ lives have been threatened, but despite the constant risks, my creative work continues. My studio is in Kryvyi Rih, a city that endures shelling and nighttime drone attacks. We’re not far from the front line. Despite all the challenges and risks, I stay in my studio and keep working. Painting and creativity give me inner strength and a foundation to endure difficult times and remain faithful to my calling. 

Painting Jazz in Color by Liubov Kuptsova
Jazz in Color by Liubov Kuptsova

What is the mission of your art?

My mission is to convey emotions and a state of the soul through paintings, to bring people joy and lightness, not burden them. In the fast pace of life, art should give moments of warmth and light, allowing people to stop and feel something bright.
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova

Could you share your thoughts on the influence of artificial intelligence in the modern art world? Do you incorporate it as a tool in your artwork, or perhaps in your creative concepts?

I use AI to write descriptions for my artworks – it helps me beautifully and accurately express my thoughts. But I create the artworks exclusively by hand: paint, palette knife, easel – it all comes through me. Sometimes, I look at works created by AI, among others, for inspiration. But I focus on my task of creating an artwork. My artworks are often bought online, especially in America, Europe, and Canada, where style and individuality are highly valued. For such people, it’s not just the painting that matters but also the connection to its creator. AI, essentially, remains a tool for mass production. 

Painting "Flowers fantasy" by Liubov Kuptsova
Flowers fantasy by Liubov Kuptsova
 
How do you interact with buyers, especially when communicating online?

Interaction varies. Sometimes, the artwork sells through galleries, and the buyer remains anonymous. But I always communicate with the client to understand their wishes if it's a commission. When the war began, my regular buyers started writing to me, offering help; some even transferred money or invited me over. I’ve made new friends. This support deeply touched me and reminded me that my work is essential and needed by people. There’s an exciting project with a family friend whom I met through another friend, Canadian Ray Boutin – he sells prints of my artworks, and we split the profit equally: part to me, and part goes to support a music camp in Canada. This is a significant and socially impactful project. There are also collectors in Austria, Katharina and Thomas Schupp, who have collected about 50 of my artworks. This fall, they plan to organize an exhibition in Salzburg. They, too, have become friends of our family. Support from buyers and friends is truly immense, especially now. Strangely enough, war doesn’t only take away but also brings new acquaintances, opportunities, and deep gratitude for these connections.

Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova
Photo from the archive of Lyubov Kuptsova

Could you share your experience with the Jose Art Gallery platform?

I’ve been working with Jose Art Gallery since 2018. I post my works and sell paintings on this platform. It has excellent tech support and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to upload and showcase my artwork. This site has become not only a sales platform for me but also a kind of online portfolio.
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