I have always believed that studio art is a type of language that words can not speak. It’s a type of language that is communicated between both the artist and the viewer. Looking at art has never failed to spark something in me that demands to be felt. Each composition I look at feels like it was meant for me to see and interpret. That feeling held true when I came across Chicago artist Anastasia Mak .
Being an art student, I am constantly creating art and looking at other artists work. I think as artists, we can be inspired by other artists work. When I came across Anastasia's work I couldn't help but be taken aback by the bright colors, and familiar destinations in her compositions. More importantly, I couldn't help but want to see more.
After scrolling through pictures of her work for longer than I would like to admit, I thought I would do some research on the mastermind behind these compositions. Turns out, she is not from Chicago but moved to the United States when she was only 14. Since then, she has lived in several different places, now residing in Chicago. In her bio, Anastasia writes "I’m a bit obsessed with discovering new cities, experiencing different countries, and finding fresh hiking trails. My home, Chicago, is also a great muse. So, naturally, my paintings became DESTINATIONS IN COLOR." She then explains how her work comes from photos, and sketches that she takes. This type of practice is familiar to many artists, such as myself. Even if I want to create something abstract, it can be derived from a photo or another piece of art.
Furthermore, Anastasia's work has many geometric shapes that create the daily found objects and people in her compositions. Also in her bio, she writes, "The style of my art appears to fall under Contemporary Expressionism – although I prefer to focus more on my creative process and less on my style terminology; the latter can be defined by art scholars, while I paint. " I kind of laughed when I first read that statement. It's true that as humans we always want to classify every topic and everything as a certain academic word. In that statement alone I think she establishes herself as an artist by going against the need for a label.
When first looking at Mak's work I was drawn to her Chicago landscapes. Being from the suburbs of Chicago, I have seen the places she paints many times. Until I saw these paintings, I began to see the city as just another place in my world of familiar places. Now, these paintings feel like they have painted a new picture in my head of this beautiful city. (No pun intended)
I was more than excited when I was looking through her website and saw a "Workshop" tab. At the Anastasia Mak Art Studio in Chicago, for only $65 you can attend a workshop and paint alongside Anastasia herself! How cool! You don't have to be an experienced painter either. I myself will most definitely be at her next workshop.
If you've fallen in love with her work like I did, and are dying to get your hands on some of her work, have no fear! Check out her shop here. Anastasia is a perfect example of an artist who is taking a step back from our constantly evolving world, and looking at the beauty that has always been around her.
