Ludmila Budanov | Cyprus
Ludmila Budanov creates her own, unique world, full of color and images. Its bright decorative and very picturesque compositions create an extravagant impression. Ludmila Budanov is an author with an interesting vision of the world. The artist speaks in the following manner about her concept in art: Game and fantasy is important for me in the creative process. I want to imprint movement, inconstancy and trembling. As a professional musician, I project in my art rhythm, tonality, tempo and character. My paintings vibrate like magical sound of a violin string touched by a bow and as the fluttering of my soul. And adding to that: "I really love my paintings and the very process of their emergence: they are all welcome, they are all due to love ..." Ludmila is a musician by education and an artist by vocation, which is why her work deserves to be called color-sounding. The paintings are full of color and this, most likely, reflects the attitude of the author, speaking about the positive perception of life and the willingness to share with others her joy. Budanov's technique is unique and personal and even for many professionals remains a mystery. The task of abstract paintings is not to reproduce reality with photographic precision, but to encourage the flight of fantasy, to let imagination flow, to awaken certain feelings and associations. Bold, bright and unusual works of Ludmila will become a real find for modern interior spaces, emphasizing their individuality.
The cornflowers
Contemporary Art Station: Tell us about how you got started. When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Being an artist, it was always my dream. As a kid, I always wanted to free my imagination and paint various things using vivid colours. But life is not always what we want, so under my mother’s influence I was learning music for nineteen years and graduated as a music teacher. Then I moved to Germany and there I could start my journey with art. It was 20 years ago, and I began with realistic art. After 13 years of copying nature, painting landscapes and still life I felt that I needed change because it isn’t me. I had (and still have) too vivid imagination and too big fire in me to just copy what I see. So, 7 years ago I switched from realism to abstraction. It was the best change I could have made. Now I can set free my inner self, reach deeper into me and find treasures inside - my inspiration. During this time I developed my unique technique and that makes me even more anxious to paint another piece.
CAS: What is your process like, from initial idea to the creation of the piece? Do you usually develop the idea for a project before you find the "canvas", or vice versa?
My process is spontaneous. I don’t see my idea - I just feel it. I take the canvas, and just paint. Every layer and every colour in the painting puts into my head new ideas how the painting should look. Then I just go with the flow and I feel when it’s ready. Actually, I often hear question ‘how do you know your painting is ready’. Well, I just do. When I’m done, I don’t add anything, even small dot, to the painting, because I would destroy my entire vision.
CAS: What do you love most about your creative process?
Possibility to experiment, working with details and creating new colours. When I paint, I turn my canvas in each direction to see it from different angles. Then I get a new idea or change existing one. Sometimes I’m amazed how finished piece differs from the original idea, but this is what I love about art.
The sea
CAS: What role does art and the artist play in the broader social conversation today?
In my opinion, role of the artist is to turn invisible into visible. Some artists can use their art to highlight an important problem or case. Also, art makes people more sensitive and aware of things they don’t notice in everyday life. I’m always trying to say something through my paintings, and I think this is kind of a mission for artists - not only to show the beauty of our world, but also to awake feelings hidden deep inside us.
CAS: Name a few of your favourite artists and influences.
William Turner and Arkhip Kuindzhi
CAS: What is the best advice you received as an artist?
If you can live without painting, don’t paint!
CAS: When did you discover your voice as an artist?
I think I always knew I would be an artist. As a child, a world of colors and shapes fascinated me. This fascination is still in me, so even when my life was connected to the music world, painting was my dream. Now I can see what it gave me. Both these worlds have a lot of things in common, like rhythm, tempo and composition. I think because of the music experience, I can create much better and complex paintings.
CAS: What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to find their own?
Listen to yourself and be honest with yourself. If you are not crazy about painting, just drop it because if there is no passion, the fruit of your work will not be big and juicy.
The Movement
