Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In conversation with
Sylwia Hubicz
Born in Pruszków, she currently works in her studio in Warsaw. Her artistic practice focuses primarily on oil painting, while she also incorporates pastels to create layered surfaces and subtle textures. Her work explores the interplay of different techniques in search of new ways to express emotion and experience. She believes that, as in music, the most compelling moments in art emerge between sounds and colors - in an invisible space that cannot be seen, but can be deeply felt.
From:
Poland
Artist Statement
Her path to painting began with music. As a musicologist, she developed a deep sensitivity to rhythm, harmony, and the emotions that exist between sound and silence. Today, she explores these same values through painting. Inspired by landscapes, the sea, and the botanical world, her work does not seek to depict nature literally. Instead, she searches for the moment when light, colour, and form begin to convey an experience beyond representation. Painting becomes a way of capturing fleeting states of being - stillness, wonder, breath, and inner resonance. Music remains an integral part of her creative process. It accompanies her in the studio, guiding each composition like an invisible score. The rhythm of the brush, the relationships between colours, and the dynamics of the image emerge through an ongoing dialogue with sound, although colour ultimately assumes the role of melody.
She believes that, like music, a painting does not require a fixed narrative. Its greatest strength lies in leaving space for personal interpretation. Through her work, she seeks to create moments of pause, quiet contemplation, and attentive encounters with the beauty that so often escapes us in the pace of everyday life. Three recurring themes define her artistic language: light, movement, and contemplation. She seeks the inner pulse of nature and translates it into a visual narrative. Her practice exists at the intersection of realism and contemporary lyrical painting.
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
I discovered my passion for drawing and painting in early childhood. I believe my love of art was inherited from my mother, who created beautiful drawings for me - from fairy-tale characters to delicate pastel compositions.
Over time, I developed my artistic skills by attending one of Warsaw’s drawing schools and later studying at the Theatre Technology College (Studium Techniki Teatralnej) in Warsaw, where I refined my painting techniques in the painting studio. Although I did not graduate from a formal art academy, these experiences provided me with a strong foundation for artistic exploration and the continued development of my creative practice. I hold a Master’s degree in Musicology, and music remains deeply intertwined with my art. It is an inseparable part of my daily life, accompanying not only my work in the studio but also many of my everyday activities and personal interests.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
My paintings are created primarily in oil, although I also enjoy working with pastels, which allow me to build layered surfaces and subtle textures. My current practice focuses on flowers, landscapes, and coastal motifs inspired by the sea and the beach. I often begin with a preliminary sketch, but once the painting is underway, it develops according to its own rhythm and frequently evolves in unexpected ways. At times, the more figurative elements gradually give way to freer gestures, fluid passages, and abstract explorations of colour. It is precisely this moment of transition that I find most compelling - the dialogue between intention and process.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
Nature is at the heart of my artistic practice. I am particularly inspired by flowers, coastal landscapes, the sea, and the quiet atmosphere of the beach. Rather than documenting these subjects, I seek to capture the emotions and sensations they evoke - the changing light, the movement of water, the rhythm of the wind, and the sense of stillness found in nature. My paintings explore themes of light, movement, and contemplation. I am interested in the subtle relationship between observation and memory, where familiar forms gradually dissolve into colour, gesture, and atmosphere. Through this process, I hope to create works that invite viewers to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the beauty and calm that nature offers.
What inspires your creative process?
My creative process is inspired by quiet moments of observation and a deep connection with nature. Long walks through forests, time spent by the sea, and noticing small details - a changing quality of light, the texture of leaves, or the movement of water - often become the starting point for a painting.
I also find inspiration in beautiful, thoughtfully designed spaces, such as galleries, museums, historic interiors, and places where art, architecture, and nature exist in harmony. These environments encourage me to slow down, observe more carefully, and approach my work with renewed curiosity.
Music is another essential source of inspiration. As a trained musicologist, I experience painting and music as closely connected forms of expression. Music accompanies me throughout the creative process, influencing the rhythm of my brushstrokes, the pace of my work, and the emotional atmosphere of each painting. It often shapes the composition intuitively, allowing colour and gesture to become a visual equivalent of melody.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
My recent work has focused on a series of oil paintings inspired by flowers, with a particular emphasis on peonies - flowers that have always held a special place in my imagination and artistic sensitivity.
Through this series, I explore the beauty, delicacy, and complexity of natural forms. Peonies fascinate me not only because of their rich colours and intricate structures, but also because they carry a sense of transience and quiet elegance. Their blooming moment is temporary, which makes them a powerful symbol of beauty, change, and the passing of time.
While the paintings begin with close observation of the flowers, my intention is not to create botanical representations. I am more interested in capturing the atmosphere, emotions, and sensations they evoke - the softness of light, the rhythm of organic shapes, and the feeling of being surrounded by nature.
This series has been an exploration of colour, texture, and the balance between representation and abstraction. Through painting flowers, I seek to create moments of contemplation and invite viewers to pause and reconnect with the simple yet profound beauty of the natural world.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
One of the challenges that has had a significant influence on my development as an artist has been balancing my corporate career with my commitment to painting. In my everyday life, I work in a corporate environment, while painting remains a deeply personal and essential part of who I am. Combining these two worlds has required discipline, time management, and a conscious effort to protect space for creativity. Although it has not always been easy, this balance has taught me patience, consistency, and a deeper appreciation for every moment spent in the studio.
Working in a structured professional environment and developing my artistic practice in parallel have also given me a unique perspective. The contrast between the analytical nature of my daily work and the intuitive, emotional process of painting allows me to approach creativity with both focus and openness. This journey has strengthened my connection to art and shown me that creativity can be cultivated even within the demands of everyday life. It has become not only a form of expression but also a way of maintaining sensitivity, curiosity, and connection with the world around me.
What role does art play in your life today?
Art has become an essential part of my life and a way of understanding myself and the world around me. Painting is no longer just a creative activity - it has become a purpose in itself, a way of living, expressing my emotions, and pursuing personal fulfilment.
Through painting, I create a space where I can slow down, reflect, and connect with my inner world. It allows me to transform my observations, memories, and emotions into something tangible and shareable.
Although I have a professional career outside the art world, painting has become an important and deeply meaningful part of my everyday life. It gives me a sense of authenticity and balance, and it continues to be a path of personal growth, exploration, and self-discovery.
For me, art is not only about creating images - it is a way of being more present, more sensitive, and more connected to the beauty that surrounds us.
What are you currently working on?
I have been working on a series of oil paintings inspired by the sea. Each new work explores the themes of stillness, light, space, and the emotions evoked by moments of connection with water. Through this series, I aim to create more than just decorative images. I want the paintings to become invitations to pause, take a deeper breath, and reconnect with memories of places where we have felt truly at peace. The sea becomes a symbol of calm, reflection, and a return to a sense of inner balance. This is a series created as a place of emotional refuge - a visual space to which one can return, much like returning to a favourite shore.
What are your future goals as an artist?
My future goals as an artist are to continue developing my practice, expanding my artistic language, and reaching a wider audience. I would like my work to connect with new people, including collectors who find personal meaning and emotion in my paintings.
One of my long-term goals is to create a sustainable artistic career and make painting my main source of income, allowing me to dedicate more time and energy to my creative practice. I see this not only as a professional aspiration but also as an opportunity to fully immerse myself in the process of exploration, learning, and creating. At the same time, one of my most important goals is to remain open to discovery - to continue exploring new subjects, ideas, and experiences that inspire me and transform them into visual stories on canvas. I believe that artistic growth comes from curiosity, sensitivity, and a willingness to experiment.
I hope to build a meaningful relationship with my audience and collectors while continuing to create work that reflects my connection with nature, emotions, and the beauty of the world around me. For me, being an artist is an ongoing journey of discovery, where every new experience can become a source of inspiration.
Where can readers follow your work?
Readers can follow my work primarily through my Instagram, where I regularly share updates from my artistic journey. I not only present finished works that are available, but also share the stories behind their creation - the process, inspirations, and moments from the studio that accompany each painting. I also enjoy sharing glimpses of my everyday creative life, as well as other content connected with art, nature, and the things that inspire me. Instagram allows me to stay in close contact with my audience and invite them into the world behind my paintings.
