Artist Joanna Pilarczyk
Congratulations to Joanna Pilarczyk for earning her place as a Winner in the November Boynes Monthly Art Award!
Who are you?
My name is Joanna Pilarczyk, and I am a London-based contemporary figurative painter and art educator. I was born in Poland and knew I wanted to be an artist from a very early age. I took every opportunity at school and during my free time to develop my skills and learn about various art techniques. I was lucky to have great inspiring teachers and support from my parents. I attended Art College and the Art University in Zielona Gora, earning an MA in Visual Arts and Art Education. After moving to London over a decade ago, I immediately fell in love with the city. Amazed and entranced by diverse cultures and the vibrant energy, I began to paint oil portraits of new acquaintances and friends within the artist community of North London, where I also run and teach painting techniques. Since the Pandemic, I have started working on my career as a professional, full-time artist.
“Blue Velvet”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
What inspired you to utilize painting as a medium?
Painting is a natural and very intuitive medium for me. I love oils, acrylics, watercolours and inks with their fluidity and various textures and smells. Most importantly, I am an artist who best describes the atmosphere of my painted subjects in colour. I love the vibrancy, contrasts and kaleidoscopic, clashing tones. The painting process is like a puzzle I must put together to achieve the desired result. I enjoy the creative process, from the idea and sketch to building a specific composition on canvas. Painting is a therapy, a form of meditation but also a reason I wake up daily with excitement for a new challenge.
“Brilliant Green”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
How would you describe your artwork?
My work is a figurative contemporary often described as modern realism. Fascinated by people's physical appearances, such as bodies or unique faces, and their social life, characters, experiences, desires and fears, I am drawn to modern portraiture. I am a maximalist who loves to play with colour palettes and usually vivid patterns of fabrics or shapes of flowers or plants appearing in the background. I created a signature and recognisable style using transparent, neon colours in my paintings. I love to paint my models surrounded by beautiful nature, sometimes in the company of my cats.
“Daydreaming”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind "serene"?
I was preparing for the Start Art Fair, one of the significant art events at Saatchi Gallery during Frieze London. I wanted to present recent paintings from the 'My Paradise' series. The subjects of my work were portraits of mixed-race couples who were my neighbours or friends, and I wanted to capture their relationships and diverse backgrounds. Our conversations, their love and trust, and social struggles caused by different skin colours inspired me. The painting 'Serene' was the last one. My previous paintings showed hetero couples, and I wanted to paint a gay couple too. One of my models is Renato, a young Brazilian, very creative man who attends my art classes. I asked him if he and his partner would like to pose for me, and they enthusiastically agreed. I was thrilled to work on their portrait.
“Serene”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating "serene"?
Working on recent paintings, I wanted to capture diversity within mixed-race couples and various sexuality. My inspiration for 'Serene' was to show the beauty of love between two men. I was lucky to meet Renato, a young Brazilian man, in my art class, and we sometimes chat about our lives and relationships.
His genuine, open, friendly personality and curiosity about art were why I asked him to pose for me. His partner Alex, also creative working for TV, is an English with quite a different character, described by Renato as calm utterly opposite to him. When both men met, Renato came from a traumatic relationship and found total support and understanding from Alex. They have been together for almost 4 years and are very happy.
Their pose in the painting captures their love and trust in each other quite well.
As a twin sister to a lesbian, I know that many gay couples struggle. Some people suffer because their sexuality is not accepted by their parents, and some have their parents' and friends' support but still find difficulties within society.
“Family”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?
With my paintings, I would like to communicate a need for self-awareness and the importance of relationships and acceptance with other people. Love, kindness and simple pleasures of everyday life are enough reasons to be happy. I want the viewers to feel positive and energetic while absorbing the vibrant, clashing colours and finding my models' hidden stillness and calm. I want to show what is essential in life, even by creating peaceful, dreamlike scenes inspired by our friends or experiences and memories. For me, they are other people, love, friendship, kindness, and empathy.
Visual arts can bring healing and understanding of some severe issues, and I want to point out some of them too. As an artist, I was quiet about escalating problems like the lack of acceptance for the LGBT community, racism, and the validation of women's rights. I am terrified to observe what's happening in my own country and around the globe, and it's time to highlight these problems in my future work.
“Hot Pink”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Have you experimented with other mediums?
I am a watercolour painting teacher, so naturally, I work in this medium from time to time. I love the fluidity of inks and acrylics, which I sometimes merge with oils on my canvases or enjoy using on big watercolour paper. While studying Art Education 15 years ago back in Poland, I learned about every possible art medium: traditional graphics like lino print or screen print, sculpture, photography, drawing and painting, but it's an oil painting which I choose to use as the primary medium.
“In Garden Of Eden”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?
I learned it's better to have a clear idea and a good composition sketch before working in oils on canvas. A few times, I didn't have in mind a specific vision of my painting, and I wanted to develop it in the process, but it didn't work for me in the end, and I felt that the final result wasn't satisfying. Of course, even when I often start with a suitable composition, the painting transforms into something a bit different, but the clarity is visible.
“In Red”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
Participation in every exhibition and art fair is a success. The recent Start art fair at Saatchi Gallery was significant for my career. Showing my paintings in one of the most prestigious London galleries among many talented artists was uplifting. On the other hand, I appreciated my first solo show with Oink Gallery. Also, I am incredibly proud to be a winner of the Boynes Monthly Award and a finalist in the Women United Art Prize in 2022 and 2021 in the painting category.
“Someday Afternoon”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Can you tell something you wish you had known before or when you began your career that would have really helped?
I wish I had known earlier that I have to take every opportunity to learn about running a business as an artist. I have to take the risk, apply to many calls for artists, and invest in workshops and couched classes with the art curators. Having guidance from professionals at the very beginning would help me to be on the right path much earlier. It's also essential to understand that no one will push my career further but only me. Every day painting is crucial but also creating my own opportunities, connecting with galleries and other artists, and looking for publicity, and potential collectors are as much important.
“Lazy Weekend”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
What projects are you working on currently?
I am going to start the preparation for the Other Art Fair, which will take place at Truman Brewery in London at the beginning of March. For this occasion, I will continue working on a few bigger oil paintings, still exploring relationships between people. Also, I want to prepare some smaller pieces on watercolour paper created in inks and acrylics and inspired by nature. I just came back from the Christmas holiday, and I still need to get new pics, but I will keep updating the progress of new works in 'News' on my website.
“Lovers”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?
A new series of paintings is always a dream project. Creating a new cohesive body of work is always challenging, and I am excited to see what I can paint in 2023. It would be amazing to work towards another solo exhibition.
“Together”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?
Don't hesitate to apply to open calls and other opportunities! You must show your work to as many curators and art lovers as possible. It takes time, and sometimes we fail in the process, but eventually, all the small and big wins will come.
“Under The Blue Sky”
Oil on Canvas
By Joanna Pilarczyk
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?
You should trust your intuition and believe in your skills. There is no point in comparing your work with other more established artists, as everyone has their own path and different learning process. Be consistent in your language, but be bold and experiment with new techniques to evolve. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself and go out of your comfort zone. Take every chance to show your work to a broader audience. Apply to competitions and publication opportunities and connect with other artists and curators to learn more about the art business.
To view more of Joanna Pilarczyk work