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

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

Art has always been for me a journey of discovery, expression, and transformation. For artists, each project carries its own significance, but there’s always one that stands out as particularly meaningful. For me, that project was the art collection “Feel“.

`Feel` is my most profound and emotionally resonant art collection. When I confronted the horrors of war in Ukraine (I was at my home in Kyiv at that time), I thought the war nowadays couldn’t be true. But within a few days, I realized it was. I couldn’t stop it in an instant, and I couldn’t stop worrying about myself and my family.

At that time, everything around me seemed bleak. All I had were my loved ones and a small luggage filled with unnecessary clothes. When I reached another country in search of peace, I tried to find a way to feel that the world was not filled with only bad things. I needed to realize that life was still going on. What did I do first? I did what I had always done—I painted. I bought paints and drawing sheets for my daughter, and we started creating different paintings together. The next day, I realized that this was exactly what I needed. I needed to express my overflowing feelings.

I sought and believed in goodness. I tried to find it everywhere: in my family, in the spring colors of the unfamiliar country (Germany), in a new language, in new smells, in faith in goodness, in human nature and nature itself, and most importantly—in inner light. This led to the creation of my new abroad collection VONA, filled with vibrant colors. Then came the collection Not in Own Skin, which portrayed the depths of one’s inner world and its complexity. Finally, in the US, I started my collection Feel, which fully reflects my feelings and emotions about life.

I communicate through the color and use a single word or phrase to convey the meaning of such simple and, on the other hand, difficult senses.
Just Feel, because everything is not clear.

Kateryna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m NeoRina (Kateryna Vistyzenko), an artist from Ukraine. Because of the war in my country, I am now situated in Florida.

I started creating paintings when I was a child. At that time, it was just my favorite way to spend my spare time, and I created new drawings at every opportunity. Art was with me throughout my entire life, but it wasn’t my main activity. I finished school, graduated from university with honors, and started working in my major field.

But the horrible war made me stop and re-evaluate my life, my preferences, and my surroundings. It brought about huge internal changes. One constant, however, was my desire to create art. So, I returned to painting.

My paintings are quite varied. Mostly, I use acrylics, but I also use colored pencils, an iPad, and pens. It depends on the situation and my desire to express myself.

Not long ago, I created a new illustrated book for kids in Ukrainian. This book is dedicated to my daughter. I started this book before the war, at home in Kyiv, and finished it here in the US. It is not my first illustrated book, and I am more than happy that I completed it. Especially now, because it is not easy to find books in Ukrainian in other countries. That is why I placed my book ‘Пікосекунда’ on Amazon (to make it more available in many countries).

I also finished a book in English. Unfortunately, I cannot share it now because it was accepted into the Competition in NY. This year, I hope you will be able to find this book in bookstores.

I choose to express myself through the art form that is most convenient and relevant at the time.

I believe that art doesn’t need explanation. All you need is to just feel.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to express my inner world and emotions in a way that resonates with others. Art allows me to convey complex feelings and thoughts that might be difficult to articulate through words alone.

Additionally, art has the power to connect people across different cultures and backgrounds. Knowing that my work can touch someone’s life, offer them a moment of reflection, or even inspire them, is incredibly gratifying. During challenging times, like the ones I had and still go through, art became a vital outlet for self-understanding and support. Sharing my art and seeing it resonate with others is incredible.

Moreover, being an artist allows me to continuously explore and evolve. Every new project is an opportunity to learn, experiment, and grow. This constant process of discovery and self-improvement is not only professionally satisfying but also personally enriching.

Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect is knowing that my creativity can make an impact by bringing positive energy into someone’s life or clarifying and improving my own.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

Personally, I see NFTs as a potential tool to expand artistic expression and empower creators economically. As with any new technology, their adoption and evolution will likely involve ongoing dialogue and adaptation to address challenges and ensure their positive impact on the art world.

NFTs have opened up new opportunities for artists to monetize their work and reach a broader audience in the digital realm.
I believe NFTs have the potential to make some changes in the art industry by providing artists with more control over their creations and ensuring transparency in transactions. However, like any emerging technology, it’s essential to navigate it with caution.

Overall, I see NFTs as a promising innovation that could reshape how we perceive and interact with art (especially digital art) in the digital age.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neo_rina
• Other: https://linktr.ee/neo_rina

  Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeoRinaArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

  Cara: https://cara.app/neorina/all

  Amazon: https://shorturl.at/Lwl9j

Image Credits

Kateryna Vistyzenko (NeoRina)