EVOLVING ARTIST

TETYANA NILIVNA YABLONSKA was another Ukrainian painter. Her early pictures were devoted to the work and life of Ukrainian people, such a "Bread", (1949).

She was born in Smolensk, Russian Empire in 1917. She studied at the Kiev State Institute of Art. She was a prolific artist until the end of her life, reportedly painting her last pastel etude on the very day of her death. She later taught at the Kiev art Academy.

She moved to general images of nature, delivering a subtlety of style and color rhythms ("Anonymous heights", 1969; "Flax", 1977).  She was inspired by post-war reconstruction of the Ukrainein search of a new visual truth  and was fond of Ukrainian folk decorative motives. Having been to Italy, she found a balance of color as seen in the early Renaissance works.

She won many awards and honors:  the honorary title "Peoples' Artists of the USSR" in 1982, "Artist of Year" (UNESCO) in 1997, "Woman of Year" (International Biography Centre, Cambridge) in 2000, and the highest state award of Ukraine – title Hero of Ukraine (2003). She died in Kyiv in 2005.

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While I love her earlier works, I find the vivid yet subtle drawing in her last works of flowers, most refreshing. It is wonderful to  see how a great artist can evolve over a long life.

Bellflowers- 2005

  Dusk- Lily of the Valley-  2005