Interview

Mar 21

Jenny Shargorodsky

Jenny Shargorodsky is an impressionistic painter and scientist with an artistic soul. She currently resides in Delray Beach, Florida.

“Painting brings me peace and offers me a place where I can impart strength to influence everyday life.” Jenny mainly uses acrylics, but experiments with mixed media and pastels as well. She believes that working in a single medium is restrictive to her artistic process. She believes every idea manifests in its own individual style.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” -Pablo Picasso.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I’m a self-taught, impressionistic painter and a scientist with an artistic soul. As a child, I was always fascinated with ballerinas and figure skaters, trying to draw them. I love to read artists- and composers’ biographies. I graduated from a 8 years music school/ piano class; I never persuaded my career in art. I was born and raised in Odessa, on a Black Sea. I graduated Odessa National Mechnikov University with double major in BioChemistry / Analytical Chemistry / Science Teacher. I now reside in Delray Beach, Florida.”

What inspires you most?

"Emotions, feelings, surroundings. After moving to Florida from New York, I felt emptiness; my emotions were overwhelming. I was looking for something that will bring me peace and in 2018 I turned myself in to art. Art became my passion, it literally saved me.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“Nature, surroundings, spiritual and everyday life. Learning from the masters: “Art not what you see, but what you make others see " - Edgar Degas. That’s what I try to accomplish in my artwork.”

How would you describe your work?

“I see my work as a story teller. I love to have a meaning behind every piece. That’s why I call my art as: life on canvas.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I feel that impressionists are influenced the most in my work like Claude Monet, Pierre-August Renoir, Degas. But I love to learn from from Rembrandt and Vermeer, Da Vinci and Rubens.”

What is your creative process like?

“It comes spontaneously. It depends on my personal mood or feelings at that moment. Most of the times, I don’t even draw before I start painting. I follow my emotions. There is no ‘should’ or ‘must’, but only transformation of heart and soul with time and experience.”

“Art became my passion, it literally saved me.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“Artist are the avant-garde in society. Our work should show an expression and lesson for the generation. It should be the mirror of the present and light for the future.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“I had have been a part of the ‘The Waves We Ride’ exhibition at Art Garage gallery that is open from July 2022 until 30 September 2023 in Delray Beach, Florida.
My work ‘Big Apple’ won the Cityscape competition at Contemporary Art Gallery in 2019.”