Ribbons
Graduating Music and Art Collection
Influenced by raw materials, the arrangements of brushstrokes and sound aim to unveil the subtle interconnectedness of the natural world. I encourage you to embrace a shift in perspective with each interaction, much like the ever-changing dance of ribbons in the wind, where no flutter is quite the same twice.
This collection premiered on March 26, 2024, at Hart House, as a culminating project for Diana’s Master of Music Degree at the University of Toronto.
“Kobzar” | Acrylic on Wood Panel | 30” x 40”
September 2023
“Faces” | Acrylic on Reclaimed Wood Panel | 30” x 40”
March 2024
“Wetlands” | Acrylic on Wood Panel | 50” x 60”
November 2023
“Subotiv” | 9” x 34”
January 2024
“Ribbons” | Acrylic on Wood Panel | 26” x 30”
February 2024
“Graphic Notation” | Acrylic on Tan-Toned Paper | 24” x 30”
August 2023
Sketches
Small-scale studies
“Wildflowers” | Acrylic on Venner | 14” x 14”
May 2024
“DANCE” | Pencil Crayon on Veneer |
12” x 7” March 2024
“String Quartet” | Pencil Crayon on Veneer | 10” x 14”
March 2024
“Spirit” | Pencil Crayon on Veneer |
12” x 8” March 2024
“Chorus” | Pencil Crayon on Veneer | 9" x 14”
March 2024
Early Work
My current practice is focused on breaking free from dependence on reference imagery and adopting an intuitive approach to
painting. The process of creating a piece unfolds long before my paintbrush makes contact with a surface. In the days
preceding each painting, I immerse myself in contemplation of the topic I wish to depict. Then, choosing wood as my surface, I
let these contemplations and the wood's
grain guide my brush strokes. The results are unpredictable, and land somewhere between abstract and representational, as if
they are revealing something hidden within the woodgrain and my subconscious.
As a classically trained pianist, Ukrainian folk instrumentalist, and electroacoustic composer,
my approach to brushwork is deeply influenced by the repetitive and tremulous quality of musical patterns, soundwaves, and
vibrations. Furthermore, my music composition strategy involves delicately layering sound samples over the natural
characteristics of field recordings, which, in turn, inspires me to utilize the characteristics of my painting surface to shape the
brush strokes that I overlay on it. Whether I am working with sounds or visuals, the act of art-making in this instinctive way
transports me to a trance-like state, reminiscent of prayer. I believe that experiencing this state gently guides me to allude to
themes of divinity, nature, and human experience within my artwork.
Artist Statement
Bio
Diana Nadia Lawryshyn is an emerging artist who has developed a unique style of painting on wood panels. Her process
involves meticulously layering brushstrokes in harmony with the wood’s natural grain, crafting expressive images that emerge
through her subconscious from the painting surface itself.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts and Concurrent Education degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Music degree from
University of Toronto. Her path to visual art developed unconventionally through elective courses, professional experiences,
and mentorships. Her work has received notable recognition including “Best in Show” at the Robert Mclaughlin Gallery’s
Cultural Expressions Juried Art Exhibition, and “People’s Choice” at the Station Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition. In 2023, she
received the Oshawa Culture Counts Emerging Artist Award, culminating in a showcase of her works at Oshawa City Hall. In
September 2024, Diana held her debut solo exhibition, “Ribbons”, at the Isabel Bader Centre in Kingston, Ontario, and is
currently expanding her portfolio through an 8-month residency at Visual Arts Mississauga. In addition to her artistic pursuits,
Diana contributes to her community by holding private lessons in visual art and music, as well as teaching at Ivan Franko
Ukrainian School in Oshawa, the city where she was born and raised.