Silk
The still life was painted from nature. Before starting with oil, the canvas was prepared with a special texture paste, which created a base with a delicate, silk-like surface. The painting was executed in thin glazed layers of oil: this manner of painting allows for the preservation of the base's tactility and emphasizes the nuances of color without overloading the canvas with thick brushstrokes. This characteristic directly serves the artistic goal: the light palette and the absence of sharp shadows are aimed at conveying calm daylight. Thanks to the matte texture showing through the paint, the light in the painting appears diffused and soft, giving the bouquet of buttercups and the laconic surrounding objects a sense of lightness and naturalness.
Irina Zagata
My work is an exploration of light, warmth and quiet moments of beauty in nature. Painting with oil paints, I focus on the tactile qualities of the environment to create textures that bring the canvas to life. Inspired by the Mediterranean sun and the delicate architecture of flowers, my art strives to capture a sense of “homely peace” – a sanctuary of peace for the viewer. Each stroke of the brush is an invitation to stop, breathe and feel the gentle sunshine of a summer day. I did Aliyah in 2025 from Latvia where I was an ophthalmologist and worked in medical field for many years – assisting in surgeries to patients for laser correction, which improving vision without glasses. Also therefore, I began studying art quite late but approached the study of painting with the same medical accuracy – patiently accumulated skills in various painting techniques (including gilding, classical layered oil painting, homemade egg tempera painting – using ground pigments with egg yolk, etc.) before beginning my creative path here in Israel.
My work is an exploration of light, warmth and quiet moments of beauty in nature. Painting with oil paints, I focus on the tactile qualities of the environment to create textures that bring the canvas to life. Inspired by the Mediterranean sun and the delicate architecture of flowers, my art strives to capture a sense of “homely peace” – a sanctuary of peace for the viewer. Each stroke of the brush is an invitation to stop, breathe and feel the gentle sunshine of a summer day. I did Aliyah in 2025 from Latvia where I was an ophthalmologist and worked in medical field for many years – assisting in surgeries to patients for laser correction, which improving vision without glasses. Also therefore, I began studying art quite late but approached the study of painting with the same medical accuracy – patiently accumulated skills in various painting techniques (including gilding, classical layered oil painting, homemade egg tempera painting – using ground pigments with egg yolk, etc.) before beginning my creative path here in Israel.
