We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anastasia Shubina. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anastasia below.

Anastasia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I always had my own unique drawing style. I remember how my mom was called to school because I stubbornly refused to draw a horse and instead drew what I wanted. After that incident, my mom used to do all my school drawing assignments. That was fun.

I learn something new every day but if, at one point in time, I had been more focused on myself I wouldn’t have been distracted by situations that didn’t require my attention and would have focused on studying art.

I’ve taken several abstract painting courses with artists who inspire me, and I continue to observe their creative processes. Being a very sensitive person, I’m particularly interested in studying how their hands and fingers move, how they interact with the canvas. I explore new techniques and integrate them into my own work. I’ve also taken classes on color theory, which is probably one of the first and most crucial classes I recommend to anyone starting to paint, as the colors in your paintings should be visually appealing. Each time I paint a new piece, I discover new color formulas for myself, and it amazes me like a child each time.

The most essential skills are to feel the moment of creating a painting, your own emotion that you want to convey to the viewer, reflecting your mood. It’s about being in tune with yourself, trusting both yourself and the creative process. Technical knowledge is something that is acquired over time. Intuition is a must as well.

The main obstacles on the way are our own fears, doubts, and life situations. They always try to pull us away from the most important thing – ourselves, and consequently, from the creative process. Sometimes, the desire to create is just not there. In the spring and summer, I went through a quite challenging crisis period, and for four months, I couldn’t paint. And that’s okay too. Then something new is born, like my new collection that I’m taking with me to Art Basel this year. After a four-month hiatus, and I already love this series a lot—it’s so different!

Anastasia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Los Angeles-based contemporary abstract artist, originally from Kyiv, Ukraine. LA has been my home for 10 years. I love this city; it has given me a lot but has also taken a lot from me. I’ve been drawing my entire life, but I began painting on large canvases and taking my art to a professional level in 2021. I wanted growth, expansion. At that time, I was going through one of the most challenging periods of my life, and it was precisely during this difficult moment that my significant growth began.

Initially, I painted for myself, then for friends. Then came my first exhibition and the first sale of a painting, and I was so frightened that someone liked the artwork and came back for it that I hid behind the scenes. It’s interesting to remember that now. I regularly participate in various exhibitions, both locally and in other cities. I have a gallery that represents me, based in SoHo, New York. In early December, I’m flying to exhibit my paintings for the winter season at Art Basel in Miami. In spring, I have an exhibition in New York, and possibly another one in San Francisco. In January, I plan to have a solo exhibition in LA for my birthday.

Exhibitions are very inspiring for me. I feel myself the most during those moments.

I’m proud for myself and the work I create. My art is definitely not for everyone. I don’t draw people or landscapes; it doesn’t interest me. What fascinates me is reaching into the depths, uncovering the hidden, and that’s the abstract. My abstract art is vibrant, intricate, and chaotic. It is important for me to provoke an emotion in people, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. When someone looks at my painting, they’re already immersed in the play of colors and forms, merging the unmergeable on my canvas.

My art is provocative; I love to play and take risks.

In 2023, I launched my clothing brand, ASHU.CULT. We specialize in handmade shag jackets, with each jacket crafted individually, and today, each one is produced in limited quantities. For our first drop, we released several colors, each in a quantity of three, and they were all quickly sold out. I realized that the uniqueness of my brand lies in its distinctiveness. You won’t find another jacket like ours on the dance floor.

I love to always wrap myself in a warm jacket or faux fur coat, but in the winter, I had the idea to create knitted shag jackets. They are lightweight, warm, fun to wear and style. We combine several premium-class yarns for an exceptional comfort while dancing, partying or simply go to grocery store. This is what I love to do. I adore beauty in everything – creating, wearing, looking, and listening. And that includes going to the grocery store dressed beautifully.

It’s important for me to look beautiful, stylish, and feel comfortable, and I’ve created the perfect product for people who think like I do.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to bring beauty into the world through paintings, interactions with people, dance, and through the creation of beautiful things. The world is so diverse and multidimensional that anything is possible in it. By showcasing my works, I want people to think more expansively, to break free from the constraints of their own limitations and outdated rules of the game. We all play our roles, and my role is precisely to take the observer beyond the bounds of normalcy.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best way to support artists is to buy art! Buy art. Seriously people you need to buy art not only for artists but firstly for yourself.

Art is our dessert at the feast of life. We’re always at a celebration, wanting to have a slice of cake when we’re happy or craving something sweet when we’re sad, right? Art is just like that – a sweet Napoleon cake in our everyday and life situations. Art has saved me more than once in life; it helped me wake up in the morning, fix my hair, and go on living. Art heals, inspires, and cultivates awareness. It prevents the inner death when it feels like you’re dying.

People should buy art, not tvs. Art. If they want to preserve human emotions in the digital age.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashuarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___ashuart/ https://www.instagram.com/ashu.cult/

Image Credits
Photo : Den Fandera Tania Susulovska Models: Solomia Mirchuk Alexandra Dudovskaya