Larisa Maksimenko wins a £50 Pegasus Art Gift Voucher

Larisa was chosen by Artists & Illustrators magazine as the Artwork of the Month. Each month they ask Portfolio Plus members to enter artworks on a specific theme. This month, Larisa won the Wildlife category for her vibrant ‘Frog’ oil painting.

We ask Larisa five questions and find out a bit more about her process.

You won this months Portfolio Plus £50 Pegasus Art Voucher. Congratulations! Do you like entering art competitions, do you think it’s valuable?

Winning a £50 Pegasus Art voucher is an amazing achievement. Competitions provide an opportunity to showcase your work to a wider audience, including art enthusiasts, galleries and potential buyers. They push you to create and refine your work, sometimes encouraging experimentation with new techniques or themes. Even if you don’t win, many competitions offer valuable feedback from judges, which can help you grow as an artist. Prizes like your voucher can help to fund your art supplies or provide networking opportunities.

What inspired your winning painting? Tell us about the process and materials too please.

I was inspired by a video about nature and different species of frogs. I was particularly drawn to their vibrant colours and how cute they look. All my paintings are created exclusively using oil paints.

Are you a full time artist or do you balance your painting with other jobs?

I am a full-time artist. Painting is my passion and I dedicate all my time and energy to creating art.

Were you formally trained or self-taught and do you think this matters?

I studied at an art school in Latvia. After that, I took the Continuing Artist online course and several further online courses. I’m currently attending an art class in White House, Dagenham where I have a wonderful artist and teacher in Miro Tomarkin.

Do you paint every day and what keeps you going?

I can’t paint every day for certain reasons. However, my passion for art and the joy that it brings me motivates me to return to work when I can.