Ljuba Ananina: Artist Illuminating Quiet Beauty Through Light, Atmosphere and Everyday Moments
Recently, the team at Singulart reached out to feature my work on their platform. We talked about my creative process, technique, and the stories woven into my paintings. I’m delighted to share the full transcript of our interview with you here.
What are you currently exploring in your artistic practice that excites you the most?
Right now, I’m deeply fascinated by the emotional weight of atmosphere and light in landscape and floral motifs. Rather than just capturing a physical place, I am exploring how subtle shifts in color temperature and brushwork can evoke a feeling of quiet solitude, tranquility, or nostalgia. Finding that delicate boundary where a painting feels grounded in reality, yet distinctly poetic and atmospheric, is what truly excites me every time I step up to the canvas.
Is there a particular artwork on your Singulart profile that best represents your practice today? Tell us why you chose it.
If I had to highlight one piece, it would be "After the storm over Como." This painting represents my deep creative connection to serene, natural settings — especially atmospheric mountain landscapes. It reflects my ongoing pursuit of light, depth, and quiet contemplation. The balance between textured brushwork and soft, breathing space in this work embodies the direction my artistic practice has taken today.
What experiences, places or moments have had the greatest influence on the artist you are today?
I believe my artistic identity is a blend of my personal evolution and the places that have touched my soul. Immersing myself in peaceful natural surroundings — whether surrounded by mountain landscapes or open floral fields — has given me a deep appreciation for color and light. At the same time, the experience of building my artistic path over the years and sharing my vision internationally has taught me to trust my authentic voice. Every quiet moment of reflection at the easel is a synthesis of all the beauty I’ve gathered along the way.
Is there a story about your artistic journey that people don't usually know, but that has shaped who you are as an artist today?
Many people see my paintings today and assume I’ve spent my entire life solely in the art world. What they might not know is that my background is rooted in the structured, analytical realm of finance and accounting. For a long time, my days were defined by logic, balance sheets, and precision. However, painting was always my secret sanctuary—a space where rules gave way to emotion, light, and intuition. Transitioning into sharing my art internationally taught me that analytical focus and creative freedom aren't opposites; they actually complement each other. The discipline I learned in my professional life gives me the patience to master technique, while the canvas gives me complete freedom to express my inner world.
Are you currently working on anything you'd like people to know about?
I'm always working on creating new work, but right now I'm particularly invested in expanding my figurative and floral series. I’m taking time to experiment with larger canvas formats and deeper color palettes, exploring how quiet, unposed moments can transform a living space into a haven of peace. Alongside my painting practice, I’m also constantly expanding my horizons—whether through exploring new cultures, learning languages, or preparing for new international collaborations.
Growing up in Czechia surrounded by nature, how has your early connection to the landscape and environment shaped the way you see and express beauty in your paintings?
I actually spent my early years in the Russian North, but after moving to Czechia, I became completely captivated by the grandeur and rich diversity of the landscape here. The soft light, rolling hills, and abundant floral life in Czechia opened a whole new spectrum of visual inspiration for me. That sense of wonder I felt when discovering the Czech countryside directly influences my practice — every canvas is a celebration of that warmth, color, and natural harmony.
You mention wanting to celebrate ordinary moments and objects—can you share a particular instance or memory that inspired you to focus on these everyday details in your art?
I clearly remember a quiet morning in my home studio a few years ago. The sun was just rising, casting a soft, golden light across the room, and illuminating a simple vase of sunflowers on my table. In that unhurried moment, away from all daily tasks, I noticed how the warm light brought out incredible textures and rich, golden hues in the petals. It wasn't a grand event or an extraordinary location — just a peaceful, ordinary morning at home. That instant made me realize that true beauty doesn't require dramatic scenery; it’s right there in our daily lives if we take the time to slow down and observe it.
Oil painting in a realistic figurative style offers so many possibilities—what initially drew you to this combination, and how do you feel it best conveys the emotions you want to capture?
What initially drew me to oil painting is its unmatched depth, richness, and slow-drying nature. Oils allow me to work in layers, blending soft transitions of light and building rich textures with a palette knife. The realistic figurative style feels very natural to me because it creates an immediate, honest connection with the viewer. When you paint a figure or a floral motif with recognizable detail, there is no barrier—the viewer instantly relates to it. By combining realism with atmospheric lighting and harmonious colors, I can convey subtle, quiet emotions like serenity, warmth, and inner peace in a way that feels timeless and deeply personal.
You enjoy experimenting with techniques like alla prima and layering glazes; what do you find most rewarding or challenging about working in these different ways, and how do they influence the outcome of your pieces?
What I find most rewarding about working with both techniques is the beautiful dialogue between spontaneity and patience. Alla prima is intensely exciting — it demands complete presence and confidence, as you capture the energy, light, and fresh color choices in a single, fluid session. It gives the artwork a lively, vibrant soul. On the other hand, layering glazes is a slow, meditative process. The challenge lies in the waiting, but the reward is a luminous depth and glow that you simply cannot achieve in one sitting. Alternating between these methods keeps my practice dynamic: alla prima brings expressive energy to my brushwork, while glazing allows me to build the quiet, atmospheric richness that defines my finished canvases.
Your statement, “We are not only the artists of our lives, but also the art itself,” is both poetic and profound—how does this philosophy influence your creative decisions and the narratives within your work?
This philosophy is deeply personal to me. Viewing ourselves as both the artist and the artwork means that every choice we make, how we treat ourselves, the quiet spaces we create, and how we respond to life forms our own living canvas. In my studio practice, this idea reminds me to approach each painting with intention, patience, and authenticity. I don’t just paint a scene; I share a piece of my inner world, my values, and my pursuit of balance. It influences my narratives by shifting the focus toward quiet dignity, inner harmony, and unforced beauty — reminding the viewer that their own life, in all its quiet everyday moments, is also a meaningful work of art.
