Vita Schagen

Artistic background

Since I was a beginning artist I focused on paradoxical themes in my work, which I loved to create in my mind and then put them on the canvas. It changed into something completely opposite- simplicity combined with beauty, after a dramatic event in my life. I started to deeply resonate with the saying “live every day as it is your last one». In my work I want to express that value of life as an amazing gift and I do my best to make every day count by creating beauty - not only for myself but also for others.
These days, what I paint is largely based on a combination of spots of color. During the process I sketch that chaotic first layer and the oil paint then dictates me itself what strokes to put on next. I would call my style close to impressionism. I prefer to use a palette knife before the brush because it allows me to be more flexible and free while painting with vivid thick layers. This way I am translating my emotions directly onto the canvas.