What travel taught me, and why I paint about it

There were times in my life when I felt completely lost, unsure of my path, disconnected from my current environment, and just a “meh” grey inside. And every time, travel has been the thing that kind of shook me awake (even just a day trip was enough to feel reinvigorated). It reminded me that the world is full of colour, possibility, and wonder.

In picture above, a beautiful area of Budapest, where I went on a short solo-trip to celebrate my birthday. I also really enjoy photography, so having full freedom to walk around and take photos was an amazing creative reset for me.

When I travelled alone, I learned how to truly enjoy my own company. I became more open, more curious, and more confident, simply by being in new places where everything feels fresh and I’m challenged to come out of my comfort zones. And when I’d grown tired of seeing the same walls and streets day after day, stepping into a new landscape made me see the world with different eyes. It’s like travel doesn’t just show you the world… it reveals parts of yourself, too.

And being surrounded by different kinds of nature… lush forests, rose gardens, orchid festivals, seasides, forests, mountains… it all made me fall deeply in love with our planet. It made me want to protect it, paint it, and share its magic in the most sincere way I could.

In the picture above, a photo of my Japan trip a few years ago. I was truly fascinated by how shrines and other traditional buildings exist in harmony with nature, instead of removing it or try to be above it.

Now... it’s not that I’ve been to hundreds of places, though! I don't consider myself a seasoned traveller (working on it though, eheh). But since childhood my life has taken me from Kyiv to Tbilisi, Baku, Milan, London, and eventually I returned to the opposite side Italy. Along the way, I’ve also wandered through Japan, Korea, Singapore, Egypt, Spain, the Netherlands, and more. Travel has been a privilege and opportunity to truly shape who I am today.

In the picture above, just me enjoying a November midday walk on the beach in Puglia, my new home :)

And that’s why I paint about travel.

I want my art to spark a sense of curiosity. To help others notice the little details, the hidden corners of a city, the botanical gardens, the mood of a particular street. I believe that we all have our favourite and most memorable spots everywhere we go, that we daydream about when we need a little bit of an escape from reality.

I paint to honour those memories and experiences. I paint nature because I believe it’s the true magic of our world. Without it, no building or city could ever feel quite as beautiful.

So in a way, every painting I make is a little visual love letter… to a place, a moment, and the feeling of enlightenment that comes from exploring 💕