Hi! I am Vira Ustianska, a Ukrainian artist. I arrived with my daughter Vasylisa 1 year ago, running away from the war.
You can see my paintings on my website https://viraustianska.com/
I am a professional oil painter and art teacher. I was born in Zaporizhzhia. I earned a master’s degree in painting in 2015 at Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Art, where I studied at the portrait-genre workshop under the guidance of professors Victor Chaus and Vasily Ganotskiy. I am a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine since 2013. My paintings are in Art museums and private collections in Ukraine, Poland, USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Spain, Lithuania, Romania, Taiwan, and China. I paint in different genres, such as still life, landscape, portrait, and figurative. My art works contain a special energy. The style of my paintings is Ukrainian modern impressionism. But I combine the findings of the masters of the southern Ukrainian school of painting and my new ideas, sometimes going beyond traditional painting in terms of content, but preserving the technical techniques of past centuries – this is my mission – to prove the relevance of traditional techniques of painting, despite the variability of trends. In 2020 I started to work on the project “1000 Sunflowers”. With this statement, I wanted to prove that, in essence, the motive itself is not important. What is important is the author’s approach and the variety of plots that can be born from one theme. Immersing myself in the theme of sunflowers makes me feel truly free. Now, here in the US, I continue to paint more sunflowers for this series, and I now have around 170 paintings.
You can follow my Facebook page and be the first to see my new paintings; also, you can see the process of creation of my arts and even be part of this process https://www.facebook.com/Ustianskavart/
About Vira Ustianska
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband and my family stayed in our native city Zaporizhzhia, situated in the southeast part of Ukraine. Now, my husband and my father work as aircraft mechanics, while my mother and sister are teachers of music.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Before the war, I used to teach, working in college as an art teacher, and had my own Art-Studio. Now, I continue to talk and advise my ex-students online. But now I try to concentrate on the creation of paintings. During this year, thanks to the support of my friends, I created more than 200 artworks in the USA and took part in 8 exhibitions. It’s a very bold idea to talk about the future today. Sometimes, when I present it, I see a blank sheet, but I know for sure that my future is predetermined; I know for sure that I will continue to make art, and the details will appear over time. What I like about my business is that no matter what, I can create anywhere on the planet. And this is the necessary constant that gives the most important things in life – faith, hope, love.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Perhaps the best advice I can give is, to be honest with yourself and others. Only then will you be able to understand the truth and control your life.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Will be definitely at the easel, and what I will portray in the future directly depends on what I achieve in the present
Vira Ustianska & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
At first, it was not easy for me to get used to different food, but after moving to Kensington, I discovered wonderful places where I can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner like at home almost; I like “Burger lounge”, for amazing burgers that taste so homemade; “Pappalecco” for delicious pizza; “Pho Hoa” for soup and seafood fried rice.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
One year
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I guess the most interesting person I’ve met here in our community is Connie Terwilliger. Honestly, I have never met such a creative, kind, and purposeful person before. Every day I learn by watching her. I’m learning to be honest with myself and not be afraid of difficulties.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I like the friendliness in all the establishments around
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love the neighborhood where we live. It is unique with it’s many different old homes. Here, the European system of street planning and houses of incredible design are simultaneously combined. I would paint more of them in oils, which is basically what I try to do
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
I miss my family so much. It is them that I would love to have lunch with again…on the beach
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Harry Potter, Doctor Who
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I’m afraid of cars
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The Zoo! We now have a membership, and we go there a lot
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My daughter Vasy is the best teacher
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
The Autism Research Institute here in Kensington, which let me have gallery space for two months, and the YMCA.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Do not give up, believe in your dream.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Kensington
What I love about my Neighborhood:
I like that everything is within walking distance. I can walk around enjoying the beauty of unique plants and very interesting houses
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
The ideal weekend is spent with family, so I think that I would like to spend a weekend with my daughter at the Zoo, Safari Park, or on the beach
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
I associate the word home with the smell of oil paint and coffee, but everything else is just details
