Anastasia Prymachenko, Moody Lunar Glow Over Brush, oil on canvas, 40x30in., $728
Being in the light feels very circumstantial when I find myself in darkness. The little light I do find, I use to explore the darkness, feel it, and purge it. This painting was created during a summer plagued by super full moons. Looking up at the moon made it seem like I could just reach out and touch it with the tip of my fingers. What stood out to me about this scene were the restless clouds obscuring the moon – everywhere my eye looked, the moonlight illuminated the swirling, twirling restlessness of “too much.” I am not a stranger to the “too muchness” of nights, and it was very representative of how I felt – it was the fastest painting I’ve ever finished to this day. I spent the whole night crying my eyes out and painting, the type of crying that comes from the bottom of the well within me, the type that gives a throbbing migraine that lasts a few days afterwards – ibuprofen-willing, and the type that creates a very blue ode to the little light we find in absolute darkness.

Artist Statement
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and now reside and work in San Antonio, Texas. Introduced to painting at a young age by my mother, who is also a painter, I found my passion for creating in early adulthood as a healthy way to cope with mental illness. Painting has become my antidote for life; I find solace and a sense of purpose through it.

My work is deeply inspired by the natural beauty of Texas and my own emotional landscape. Through my art, I transform overwhelming emotions into something beautiful and profound, inviting viewers to share in my emotional and artistic journey. My artistic approach is characterized by the use of vibrant colors and texture-creating techniques such as impasto and sgraffito. Each brushstroke narrates tales of movement and life, with the textures representing both chaos and emotional release.

I hold a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas State University and have exhibited my work in various group exhibitions, including the Midland Art Crawl at the FaFa Gallery and virtual exhibitions with the Holy Art Gallery and the Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art. I have also completed significant commissions, such as the "Permian Basin Wetlands, Southwest of Boom-city" for Midland Charms and FaFa Gallery.