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Zorina Kunkina was discovered as an artist at the age
of five. Recognized as a true child prodigy: an artist
was born. Her mother Raisa encouraged her dream and
passion of becoming an artist from the very start.
"The first drawing was a dream of my life," said
Zorina Kunkina. As a child she participated in art
competitions and obtained an art degree. She attended
the Ukrainian Polygraph University and also the Artistic
and Industrial Institute in Kiev. Zorina studied with
distinguished and internationally-known artists: Mihail
Turovsky and Victor Zaresky.
When Zorina paints, she feels very much like a poet writing
a poem. She likes to create new worlds on paper and see
them come to life. Zorina enjoys painting still life,
illustration, especially people. "I like to bring his or
her characteristics or ‘inner dreams’, their feelings into
the work. For me to draw is very much like music: louder
and then quieter." In some of her most recent works she
has depicted the relationship between a woman and a man
"that never-ending circle of conflict, love and relationship
they share."
Her favored materials are charcoal, acrylic and watercolor
paints. Zorina’s painting style will capture you with a
state of elated emotion. Many people after viewing and
experiencing Zorina’s works have felt uplifted and a sense
of true joy. "One man when he saw my work 'The Shabbat'
shared with me that he felt that music comes right out of
the painting.” Her illustrated calendar has also been given
many compliments. Someone complimented the calendar,
saying "I think there is young artist from Israel illustrated
that calendar, because the Jewish art specially holidays
picture were illustrated a lot there is nothing new you can
created, I am impress" Every picture has its own distinct
mood and feeling. Colors and images are selected with a
sensitive and distinctive eye for exactly what will be
perfect for the work.
Zorina's works can be found in many places. She has
paintings in the Ukrainian Museum of Art in Kiev, at
Ukraine and also in private collections. Zorina has
exhibited in Philadelphia and Abington Library and
Penn State University on Ogontz Campus, Abington.
She has also shown at many galleries, including the
Temple Judea Museum of Reform Congregation Keneseth
Israel and the Fred Wolf, Jr. Gallery of the JCC
Klein Branch. She has illustrated several books in
Ukraine for adults and children. She has done
illustration for calendars recently in 2006 and
2007. She has generously donated her artwork to
make holiday cards for Darche Noam Institutions in
Jerusalem, a Jewish school for adults in Israel.
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