These are art residency photos in Ro2 art gallery. The residency is an incubator for artists who want to develop their practice, experiment with new materials and techniques, and produce new work in a supportive environment.

The art residency is an amazing experience for me, and I hope you will enjoy looking at these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

I am currently in my fourth week of art residency in Ro2 gallery and I am so satisfied of the work I’m doing – and all while being able to represent my Polish roots here on this beautiful land.

In this post, I will take a behind-the-scenes (art residency photos) look at the steps involved in creating my unique and expressive mop ink paintings. As an artist, I am always looking for new and innovative ways to express my emotions and ideas through my artwork. Recently, I discovered the potential of using a mop as a mark-making tool in my ink paintings on paper. This simple, everyday tool has allowed me to experiment with different brushstrokes and marks, resulting in dynamic and expressive effects on the paper’s surface.

The process begins with the application of the first layers of ink to the paper or wood panel using the mop. This stage is more akin to performance than traditional painting, as I use the physical strength of my arm and hand movement to create dynamic and expressive brushstrokes. The mop allows me to convey the energy and intensity of my emotions in a way that is impossible with traditional paintbrushes.

After the first layers of ink have dried, I shift from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation of the painting. This allows me to continue working on the painting in a more traditional manner, using a brush to add additional layers of ink and details to the surface of the paper. In this stage, I can play with the given form of the abstract painting and incorporate figurative elements, such as a portrait face.

By combining the expressive, abstract brushstrokes created with the mop with more traditional mark-making techniques using a brush, I am able to create both abstract and figurative paintings with a unique blend of energy and emotion. This process enables me to explore the possibilities of mark-making and abstraction in a fresh and exciting way.

I hope you enjoy this look into my creative process and the unique techniques and mediums I use to create my mop ink paintings.