Reconnecting to heritage through art - An interview with Simona Ruscheva

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Please tell us abit about yourself, your background and your work?

My name is Simona Ruscheva. I am from Bulgaria, but have been living and working in London for 10 years. I was studying at a mathematical school, but around the age of 15 I started doing graffiti and immediately became obsessed with drawing. Painting came a few years later when I decided to go to art school and study fine art. I spent 4 years essentially studying the human figure, and I think it quite naturally continued as an interest in my work afterwards. My works are figurative paintings that explore the theme of culture and tradition in the modern age, fusing various elements from Bulgarian folklore and a contemporary adaptation.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Can you tell us a bit about a few specific pieces you have created that you are particularly proud of?

That would be the largest work “Glow” I did from my last series as part of my solo show “Transitions”. The reason for this is that it was so different in many ways to my previous body of work, mainly in terms of technical approach, and set the tone for the rest of the show. I always like doing something new, something I am unsure of how to do at first and need to figure it out, this is when I have the most fun. “Glow” was full of those little (or big) problem solving moments, that spread into the remaining works of the series.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Tell us about your latest body of work completed and your last exhibition?

My last exhibition was in November2022, which was also my first UK solo exhibition “Transitions”. The works were an exploration of Bulgarian culture and heritage and a contemporary adaptation. I used a lot of soft gradients, very sharp edges, which give out a pretty digital aesthetic, contrasting with vibrant traditional folk clothing.

‍

The transition between the old and the new is what creates the bond and strengthens the connection with our culture and the reimagined tradition.

‍

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Do you have any upcoming exhibitions or projects that you are excited about?

I have two coming very soon that I am pretty excited about. I will be in a group show at the end of February at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia, USA. The name is Lucky 13 and the theme is luck, superstition and the traditions around these concepts. I will also take part in an online auction at SYNT, which is the first Instagram based auction house, which focuses on small works and works on paper.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What do you think is the most important aspect of creating successful artwork?

Listening to your inner voice. The work you create must be done first for yourself, to satisfy your own needs for creation or expression. Only after that it begins its life in the world of others.

‍

So for the work to be successful, it needs to be authentic and a reflection of yourself at that moment in time.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: How do you select your themes?

I usually get inspiration on my themes and subjects through reading. They flow naturally as I always like to visualize what I read and connect the dots with what I am currently working on. If I can see a connection and if it flows with my works in general, then I explore the ideas further. I am interested in mysticism, symbolism, ancient history and mythology, so all my ideas have their roots in those.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What themes or topics are you exploring in your current artwork?

I am currently exploring Bulgarian culture and the relation of tradition with modern age. I have been on this subject for a while, as it is very personal to me in a way of reconnecting to my source and keeping my heritage alive. I like the idea of reimagining tradition, creating a fusion between the old and the new.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Are there any artists or movements that have greatly influenced your work? In what way?

Symbolism has probably influenced me the most, because of the subject matter. I find most symbolism works very mystical, magical and there is always a supernatural presence in them. Although my themes are mainly focused on Bulgarian culture, there is always an element of my works that responds to universal symbols and a greater consciousness. I am also influenced by digital art, mainly in terms of colour combinations and transitions.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Describe your process of creating a new artwork from concept to completion. And where do you get your ideas or inspiration from?

I always write down my ideas with a few words. I do a quick sketch of the work I have decided to make, resolving any compositional issues. Depending on the idea I could either take some reference images or use pieces of found images online to make a collage. I also do photoshoots, where I have most control over what I want, lighting, clothing, composition, etc. I then do a quick sketch or collage in Photoshop, as it is really quick to change things around and once I am happy with it I move onto a canvas. My current way of working involves lots of masking, cutting, unmasking, so it is a pretty involved process, I have to always think what comes next so I get the finished effect I want.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What has been the most memorable artwork you have created? What makes this piece memorable?

It is the first work I did when I started exploring Bulgarian culture. I was reading a book about Sumeria and there was this symbol that I recognised a bit later on sleeve embroidery from a traditional folk costume. It was sort of a birdlike flying goddess, but it looked incredibly similar. I became increasingly interested in learning the hidden meanings of all the repetitive patterns and various symbols, and the fact that the same can appear within thousands years of time gap. It was just fascinating, so I made a work using that embroidery element, it was titled “A circle has no end” and is inspired by the idea of upper and lower land in Bulgarian mythology.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Are there any particular techniques or materials you would like to learn how to use in the future?

Yes, quite a lot. I am starting to experiment with canvas staining and a lot of textures. My works are quite smooth and blended and I want to start adding elements of textures, whether dimensional or flat, so pretty excited for that. Canvas staining is something I have tried randomly years ago, but over the past few months I am increasingly becoming interested in it and how I can incorporate it in my works.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What was the most challenging piece you have ever created? How much do you think the effort you put into creating a work is important vs the idea behind it?

I don’t think there is one challenging piece in particular. It is usually the first piece I do when I decide to try something new and I have to figure out how to do that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, which is all part of the process. I think the effort is equally important, because great ideas if not executed well, or not finished, will be left at a that – a great idea. Finishing and putting the effort into making the work is what materialises your idea.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Tell us about the particular materials or techniques you use to create your artwork and how they influence your work and practice?

So far, I have only been using oil paints, but I am starting to use acrylics too, mainly for backgrounds, block colours and textures. As mentioned my works are quite smooth, as I do a lot of blending and I like the digital feel they have because of that. I also like sharp edges to contrast the smooth areas and gradients, so I use lots of masking at different stages of the works.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What was it that made you want to take the step into making art professionally? Or What inspired you to become a studio artist?

It was really after the birth of my son. Funnily enough you can accomplish more when you have limited time, as you realize there is no more time to waste and you need to focus. I decided to put all my mind and energy into doing this and do the best I can.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: How has your artistic practice evolved OR How has your creative process changed over the years, since you first started making art?

It has changed a lot, but the changes were more drastic at the beginning, in and after art school, as I was looking for what excites me and naturally trying a lot of different things. My works used to be very expressive, textured and with a lot of abstract elements, the subject matter was also very different too. With time they got a bit more refined and I started paying a lot more attention to detail, whereas before it was more about the whole. I think we as people are always changing and it is only natural that the artistic practice changes too.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What has been the most rewarding part of your career as a studio artist?

It is the fact that I do what I love, as simple as that. Also that it allows me to be more flexible and spend more time with my family.

‍

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: How do you handle creative blocks and bouts of artist's block?

That usually happens after I finish a series of works, so I am “painted” out. But the only way to go through it, is to go through it, meaning that you just keep on working. If not painting, then drawing or doodling or something to keep your hands busy. This is the time I like to try new things, and I usually get excited by the results, so things start flowing again.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: Do you ever collaborate with other artists or create artwork in a team? And is this something you would consider doing in the future?

I have not done that yet, but it is something I would love to try, especially if it is a completely different medium to mine.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What do you think is the most important skill a studio artist should have?

Focus, especially nowadays when we are bombarded with so much noise and information, including art. Every time I open Instagram there are so many things I like, which could be very distracting to my own work. That doesn’t mean to not look at other art of course, but I think an artist should be able to effectively switch off, “go in” and focus.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What do you think has been the biggest challenge in your creative career?

Probably becoming a mother. But equally it has been the biggest stimulation to actually have a creative career. You have to become super flexible, patient, decision making must be done quick without too much wondering what if. So it was a huge shift for me personally and professionally, I had to find a way (and time) to work, while also caring for my son.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: How do you go about marketing and promoting your artwork? How important do you think that is?

Very important. Social media of course is a an incredibly powerful tool and I don’t just mean Instagram, although I do use it most of all. I also have a mailing list which is actually my preferred way of reaching people, so I always ask everyone who is interested in my works to join.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: How do you balance the business side and the creative side of your work?

It is pretty much 50/50. I would love to be painting all the time, but there is so much more to being an artist than creating work. It is a business in the end and you need to be very aware of every aspect of your business and that means spending time doing marketing, research, admin, accounting, logistics, all of it!

‍

And to be fair, I love doing it all, it makes me grounded and aware of my whole practice.

‍

ARTCOLLECTORNEWS: What advice would you give to aspiring studio artists?

Do not give up. Be flexible. Listen to your inner guidance and set your goals higher. And have fun doing it.

‍