who-am-i

I am Oana

Painting is not my passion. I paint because things need to be told

I am a Râșnov-based artist, full-time painter, specializing in painting on canvas. I am currently a Resident Artist at the Râșnov Fortress in Romania. Like many artists, my relationship with painting is one of love-hate. Still, my commitment remains—to paint. For in painting, I find a powerful tool to communicate the untold, to share what must be shared, in a way that words cannot.

A variety of paintbrushes in a jar with an artist painting in the background, surrounded by colorful art supplies.

ART JOURNEY

Coming from a non-traditional art background, my passion for art started off as a curiosity and has led me a diverse path of artistic exploration. I have a wide range of experience including painting with a variety of mediums such as acrylic, oil, pastel and creating with textiles, clay and ceramics. My work also includes photography, digital art, and AI art.

BACKGROUND

I once hesitated to declare myself a self-taught visual artist, having developed my artistic skills and knowledge through personal experimentation and dedicated self-study. This journey of artistic discovery paralleled a significant life transition. Not long ago, I had a successful corporate career in London. Yet, as time passed, I increasingly felt misaligned with the path I was on, as if climbing the wrong ladder. Making a decisive shift, I moved to the foothill of Bucegi mountains and left the corporate world behind. Now, surrounded by nature and having freedom, I am experimenting with life and art.

 

PROJECTS

  • April 2024 – Part of the Antidtot Art Expo and Magazine Launch at Casa Staicovici, Bucharest, Romania
  • April 2024: Florii Fair in Râșnov, Romania
  • March 2024 –  Featured in The cure for society Art Magazine vol.2
  • March 2024 – October 2024: Art Class Facilitator for SEWA Experiences, Brașov, Romania
  • December 2023: Exhibited at the local Christmas fair in Râșnov, Brașov, Romania
  • August 2023 – April 2024: Resident Artist of the Râșnov Fortress, Romania
  • October 2023: Exhibited at NAG (White Night of the Galleries) in Brașov
  • July 2023: Selected Artist for the Heritage Hub project, Norway
  • December 2022: Exhibited at Cinema Amza Pellea Râșnov, Brașov, Romania
This image represents a painting that portrays an abstract figure of a woman, with strong geometric shapes and a limited yet bold color palette. The use of red, orange, and yellow hues is prominent, with strokes of blue adding contrast and depth. The background is rendered in warm tones that complement the figure, which is outlined and segmented into various shapes that suggest movement or a pose. The figure's face is simplified, with minimal detail, emphasizing the overall form and posture rather than individual features. The painting is dynamic, with thick, expressive brushstrokes that add a sense of texture and energy to the composition. It appears modern and might be categorized as an expressionist or abstract expressionist work, where the emotional content and painterly quality take precedence over realistic representation.

Current collection – Urbanism

The painting shows a street scene with a whimsical touch, featuring a traditional lamppost and colorful flags strung across the top. A sign reading "DE VÂNZARE" (For Sale) with a phone number is prominently displayed. The background includes a building showing signs of wear and neglect, hinting at the theme of urban decay and the often overlooked charm of old architecture. The clear sky above suggests it's daytime, and the overall composition conveys a mix of celebration and neglect.
The painting Magnate cows is inspired by a scene that took place in the outskirts of Râșnov, depicting cows grazing on a grassfield alongside a banner proclaiming land for sale. The artwork is a visual commentary about the tension between agricultural traditions and urban expansion. The conversion of vast grasslands into constructible urban land, under the pretext of development, diverges from sustainable development, resulting in the destruction of natural habitats, the rise of urban anomalies, and significant infrastructure costs that the entire community must bear. According to the European Union, the ratio of permanent grassland to agricultural land is established by EU countries at the national or regional level (with a flexibility margin of 5%). Additionally, EU countries designate ecologically sensitive areas of permanent grassland. Who truly benefits? These rash choices raise suspicion over the possibility that private agendas are being advanced at the cost of the community, nature and future generations. ​
This painting depicts a bold Kaufland sign towering over a parking lot, with stark street lamps beside it. In the background, the serene, snow-capped mountains contrast sharply with the commercial sign, creating a striking commentary on the intrusion of consumerism into natural landscapes.

Râșnov Fortress interview