This week we revisit Irina Kuksova’s feature from 2014.

Today we have another talented artist. This time from Russia. Born in Zelenograd, Russia, Irina had an urge since she was only 4. She wanted to tell stories which she found easier by drawing them. She reckons they only made sense to her, but it was a start. Ten years later her paintings and drawings started making sense to other people too. So much sense in fact, that they were willing to purchase her artwork. Despite this early success, she still wasn’t sure this was her path.

After travelling to Italy for the first time at age 18 and reading ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy’ based on the life of Michele Angelo, she decided to go to Italy to see and learn as much as possible about Italian Renaissance art. The quality and the level of detail in Renaissance paintings impressed her. So much so that in one year she learnt Italian, quit International Economics Degree Course in Moscow and enrolled into the Brera Academy of Fine Art in Milan, Italy.

After she graduated she moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she lives today. She is now a full-time Visual Artist working for private clients and Film Industry.

Irina commented; “What fuels my passion for life is: travelling, beauty and all things unique. In my artwork I celebrate all the three: I paint exceptionally well-designed classic & vintage automobiles”.

“Unlike everyday cars, classic cars have a very distinct character and a unique pedigree. When painting classic cars I cannot help asking myself: how is this built? why did the designer choose this shape and not the other? how come this design work so well? All the little car details and the thought behind each of them are a real sensory feast for me. This appreciation of each car’s personality plus the time I dedicate to studying the story of their lives makes me somewhat fall in love with each car I paint!” explains Irina.

Almost all of her classic car portraits are commissioned acrylics or oils on canvas. “I love creating a unique piece for a specific person. I’d paint the car owner’s family home in the background instead of a generic landscape, I’d ‘erase’ the random reflection on the automobile side and ‘paste’ a reflection of what really makes sense. I even ‘dressed’ the clients who wanted to appear in the painting wearing vintage clothes” she added.

For those not yet ready for their own commissioned piece, she has Limited Edition Giclee Prints of her artwork – signed, numbered and embossed. They come with a Certificate of Authenticity and make a great gift for any ‘petrol head’!

To see what’s available and ask any question you might have visit Irina’s Facebook page here.

You can contact her by email on mail@irinakuksova.ie, or simply have a look at her website here.

Irina has supplied us with some of her work and they are shown on the gallery below. As always, please respect copyright.

Click images to enlarge,