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I understand that you were born and raised in Poland.  What brought you to Canada and at what age?

I left Poland because of the economical and political situation at the time. I was in my 20’s when I arrived in Toronto.

What experiences and people in your life were the biggest influences on your creativity?

I think creativity comes more from inside of one’s mind and soul rather than from outside influences. However, I am also often inspired by other artist's work, particularly by those from the so called Pre-Raphaelite school of art, as well as by archaeology, mythology and fantasy literature.

How did you get into photography, especially since you have a masters degree in Cultural Anthropology?

When I first came to Canada, I looked quite a while for a job as a Cultural Anthropologist. However, finding employment in that field was not easy. Fortunately, I had developed an interest in photography and began taking it more and more seriously. I had signed up for several photography courses at the Ontario College of Art and Ryerson in Toronto. For a few years I practically lived in the darkroom or in the studio taking, developing and printing my pictures. This was also a period of creating a lot of experimental work, all without a computer. It was at this time that I decided to change my career direction to become a professional photographer. 

Why did you choose to study Cultural Anthropology at the University instead of art?

I was very interested in ancient cultures, lost civilizations and mythology, so Cultural Anthropology seemed like the right choice at the time.  I am still very interested in those subjects and I think it shows in my art. As I already mentioned, this is still one of my greatest sources of inspiration.   

Why did you choose photography as your medium of artistic expression?

When I was a teenager, I started taking pictures just for fun. I wanted to preserve that moment in time, the beauty or other interesting things that I had seen. Photography was a perfect choice for me to do that. Then it slowly changed from catching the moment to creating my own fantasy world using real people.

How did your photography evolve to what it is today?  What were the steps to developing your unique style?

I gradually evolved from photographing what was there (mostly landscapes and travel photography) to becoming more interested in fine art portraiture and nude studies. I began experimenting with various creative techniques in the studio, as well as in the darkroom, including creative use of Polaroid’s and hand painting on photographs. In 1996 I started using computers to enhance my work and it opened many new possibilities for me. Besides being a photographer, I became a computer artist as well.

Your surrealistic style is very beautiful and alluring.  Everyone likes to picture themselves in a form of perfection.  Is this your intention with the type of photography that you do?

Yes, it is one of my goals to show people at their best, or maybe who they would like to be, as in their dreams.

Where to do you see yourself going with your art or what would you like to see happen?

I would like to concentrate on creating more art. I am presently considering working on several new projects. I would like to have more assignments in creating photo-illustrations for book and magazine covers, or inside illustrations, as well as for music CDs and advertising.  I would also like to see more of my fine art limited edition prints in private and public art collections.

How do you see your art touching the lives of other people and what does it bring to the world?

I like to bring beauty to the world, as well as some quiet reflections about why we are here, where we are going and what is really important in life. I like to inspire people, to show the best in them and to stimulate their imagination. Perhaps there is more around us than we can see with our eyes, things worth thinking about, even if just for a moment while looking at my artwork. I also like to bring attention to the beauty and fragility of nature, which is very dear to me. I think its preservation is crucial, not only for its survival, but also to our own. We are all part of it and if nature dies, we will die with it. Trying to show the importance of nature and how closely we are related to it is one of the reasons why I usually use nature as the background for my work.

What advice would you give to other artists who are just staring out?  What is the best way that you know from experience for them to get their art out there?

Follow your heart and work as hard as you can. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Bring to your art something that is unique to you. Develop your own style and vision of the world. It takes time, but don’t get discouraged. Be prepared to dedicate a lot of your time and be patient. Show your work whenever possible.

Do you have any closing comments?

Thank you very much for talking to me and for presenting my work in your magazine. I feel deeply honoured. I hope your readers will enjoy viewing my artwork as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

To view more of Renata's beautiful artwork, please visit her website: http://www.lightvisionart.com. If you would like to send her an email, her address is: renatara@ica.net.

All works are copyright.  Permission to use these images in any way must be obtained from the artist. 

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