Claudia Kazachinsky primarily works in watercolor, painting delicately nuanced beauty inspired by everyday life. Everything this prolific and passionate artist sees becomes an image she cherishes and often paints.
She says “from a flower I photograph on one of my walks to an interesting face or scene I happen to notice in a restaurant, museum, or while traveling… I think artists are always observing the world around them, and I’m no exception. I am an avid urban sketcher and almost always carry a sketchbook, a pen, and a small watercolor palette with me because I never know when I’ll come across something I want to capture. I consider myself primarily an observational artist, painting what I see, but I also love to let my imagination take over. ”
According to Kazachinsky, she often adds “whimsical elements, rich textures, expressive backgrounds, and handmade printed paper collages that bring another layer of interest and storytelling to my work. While my paintings begin with real-life observations, they often evolve into something that reflects not just what I saw, but how I experienced the moment.”
She began painting when she was a small child and never stopped. “Art has always been a part of my life,” she attests. “I can honestly say that my style has continually involved.”
When she began to paint regularly ten years ago, she relates that she worked “almost entirely from observation,” describing herself as more timid with her art. While today she still begins her work by painting what she sees, now she is more willing to “let my imagination take over” and introduce “unexpected elements, textures, and patterns that make each painting uniquely my own.”
The artist describes herself as a “fast, loose painter” and notes that her current challenge is learning to “slow down and pay closer attention to detail. I especially love painting portraits and the human figure, although it took me a long time to become confident with them. As the saying goes, it’s ‘all about the miles on the brush. Every painting has taught me something.”
While she says that her first love is and always will be watercolor, she also enjoys working in mixed media. In regard to watercolor, she explains that “Most people don’t realize that it’s actually one of the most difficult mediums to master. I love its
spontaneity, its fluidity, and the luminosity of its colors. There is something magical about watching the paint move across the paper, creating effects that can’t be completely controlled.”
When it comes to mixed media she says that she jokes about throwing “everything at the canvas but the kitchen sink. I enjoy experimenting with texture, collage, handmade printed papers, and anything else that adds depth and interest to the work.”
Kazachinsky has even returned to a past love of oil painting, rediscovering her enjoyment of the medium. ” Unlike watercolor, oil forces me to slow down. The longer drying time gives me the opportunity to step back, rethink, and refine my paintings,
something that has been an important part of my growth as an artist.”
Over the years, her work has changed most dramatically in terms of thematic focus, having initially spent many years painting portraits. “In 2019, while visiting Washington, D.C., we happened to stumble upon the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition exhibition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Standing in those galleries, I made a promise to myself that one day I would submit my own work to the competition…it has motivated me to keep learning, growing, and becoming a better portrait painter with every brushstroke.”
That said, Kazachinsky creates dynamic floral works and delightful images of animals as well. And while she describes portraiture as her “greatest passion” she also enjoys plein air painting that allows her to “observe light, atmosphere, and color in a way that continues to influence all of my work.”
Her current exhibition at Diversions Fine Arts Gallery in Manhattan Beach represents “the largest body of work I have had
the opportunity to showcase,” but the artist continues to be an integral part of multiple group exhibitions around greater Los Angeles.
Kazachinksy spent nearly 35 years as an interior designer while continuing to paint throughout her career. That experience gave her “a unique perspective on how art transforms a space and how the right piece can completely change the feeling of a home.”
She loves to assist collectors and designers in sourcing artwork and placing it. “Choosing art isn’t simply about finding something that matches the sofa—it’s about selecting pieces that speak to you emotionally while also considering scale, proportion, placement, and how the artwork interacts with the architecture and furnishings around it.”
She feels that some people are intimated by the act of buying original art simply because they don’t know enough about it. “My goal is to make that process enjoyable and approachable. Art should move you first and foremost, but when it is thoughtfully
chosen and beautifully displayed, it has the power to elevate not only a room but the way you experience your home every day.”
Viewers can let Kazachinsky’s art elevate their lives at Diversions Fine Arts Gallery through August 30th. The gallery is located at 1069 N. Aviation Blvd. in Manhattan Beach. A gallery hop with other area galleries will take place August 22nd 12-3; the exhibition will have a closing reception and artist talk on the 30th from 1-3 p.m. along with fellow exhibiting artists Jeffrey Sklan and Angelica Sotiriou.
- Genie Davis; photos provided by the artist and by Davis
