We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Inna Pashina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Inna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My meaningful project is life itself, my relation to it, and my understanding. All the time, I
thought I was born to be an artist. I devoted myself to art, trying to become successful. When I
look back at it, I see that art was there for me to show who I was. Art is not separate from life
itself, and it is there for us to investigate life. It’s there for us to play, participate, and keep going.

Inna, 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?

Since I was little, I have been looking for beauty. Growing up in Russia wasn’t easy—people
were tough! I was always looking for something beautiful and trying to put it on canvas to hold
on to the beauty a little longer and share it with my loved ones.
Over the years, I have learned to play with images and go beyond concepts, trying to break the
stereotypes and complex structures of the modern world. I want to show people the mystery of
the unknown and inspire them to live a playful and happy life.
Over the years, I have developed my own unique style, full of fun colors, beautiful shapes, and
forms. People are intrigued when they look at my paintings and graphics because that’s what I want
them to experience.
I also create images on clothing and textiles full of wonder and adventure. My artworks are
unique because I dare to go beyond generic concepts and break the boundaries. They’re unique
because that’s what I’m here for—to reveal my uniqueness, my beauty, and to be myself.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Of course, there is a misunderstanding between creative and non-creative people. Non-creative
people have a different structure for organizing their lives. The typical structure that functions well for them is going to school, getting a degree, getting a job, and working on their careers.
To me, being creative also applies to the structure of your life. To some, it can look more like a
flaw, but not to others, when there is less of this energy of aggression and achievement.
Instead, you concentrate on your creative process, which becomes a driving force for the events
and achievements. Often, my relatives tried to help me with advice and guide me in my life,
looking for different jobs and questioning my ability to function in society. It’s easier to have a
firm structure and a well-marked path than to trust the unfolding process of the unknown nature
where the path is not entirely defined.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn is that there is no set path to success.
I spent much time and effort working in different places and trying to fit in. Ultimately, I would
feel exhausted and without a sense of purpose. I learned that to be myself is to listen and follow
my heart. I also had to look at what I accepted as my truth because it eventually became my
reality. So, I had to rearrange my values and learn how to love and respect myself. I had to learn
how to be spontaneous and alive by doing what my heart guided me.
When you go against your heart, you will never succeed, and eventually, it will bring you
unhappiness and drain your energy, your creative force. That is why I choose to act in line with
my heart and values.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inna_the_artist_/
• Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.facebook.com/inna.pashina.7/&ved=2ahUKEwjzrsC_npuLAxVUFVkFHZLzEpYQjjh6BAgWEAE&usg=AOvVaw3mga433Q8saKsKfzbyK4ae
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@innapashina-tc1pr?si=LJNmOCpslaj2Dnfx

Image Credits

Phillip Gladkov