Oksana Zhelisko: A Passion for En Plein Air

SEP 19, 2024 to OCT 26, 2024

Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts presents

Oksana Zhelisko
A Passion for En Plein Air

An ACUA Signature Artist Series Event

September 19 to October 26, 2024

Opening Reception
Thursday September 19, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Born in Ukraine, award winning artist Oksana Zhelisko, one of Edmonton’s strongest contemporary artists of the feminine portrait, puts women first. The classically trained visual artist creates beautiful feminine portraits in oil that differ in emotions, moods and atmosphere. Passion, love, curiosity, exhaustion, sadness and elegance are all highlighted. Each painting engages on a meaningful level.

In addition, 7 years ago, Oksana adapted and became obsessed with the magic of En Plein Air Painting. It’s the visual trip through colour and shape that gets Oksana excited. A destination with amazing scenery, traveled at the painter’s pace … allowing her to capture the stunning views not just with the camera, but with the paint and canvas.

“I prefer working in Alla-prima style (wet-on-wet) of painting and I use this style as much as possible. Even when I work on bigger paintings, I make sure to block in tonal and colour balances in my first session. I work intuitively, bold and free from the start at the same time staying true to the emotional response of the initial idea. As I continue working on a painting, I slow down and add more calculated decisions and get certain areas tighter and more detailed”

Oksana offers a variety of oil and acrylic classes and leads a mentorship programme.  Oksana brings her training, skill, and passion to her painting, and she is versatile in expressive styles. She is adept at many genres, including portraiture, still life, and landscape.