My name is Anna Kotarska and I live in Ruda Śląska. My works have been exhibited at the Zagłębie Theatre in Sosnowiec, the Atelier galleries in Chorzów, Ars Catholica in Katowice… however, they most often find their place in private collections.

          Creating is my passion, but it is not a daily routine. It is an inner need that arises when I feel the urge to express something. Visual arts have always been, for me, a language of emotions and reflection – a quiet way to tell what I cannot put into words.

          My love for creating has family roots. I remember my grandfather drawing with pencil or ink in his sketchbook, focusing – just like me – on figurative art. People are the main theme of my work. Even in still life, such as stone compositions, I try to breathe life into them through subtle anthropomorphic elements – faces, glances, emotions.

          At the beginning of my artistic path, I mostly used dry pastels, but over time, oil painting began to fascinate me more. In 2008, I sold my first painting made with this technique. It was an important moment – the awareness that someone noticed and appreciated my inner world was a huge reward for me.

          Every time I stand in front of a blank canvas, I feel excitement and hope for creating something new. I admire other artists, such as Jeremy Mann – his bold, expressive technique. My painting is more restrained, subdued – I do not work with broad, sudden brushstrokes. It reflects traits of my character: focus, patience, and a need for control over form. My works balance on the edge of reality and dream. Many of my latest paintings were created with the involvement of my loved ones – my husband and daughter, who are a constant source of inspiration.

          Lately, I have been leaning more towards acrylic painting. The creative process often starts with long contemplation. Sometimes an idea appears suddenly, other times it matures slowly. I usually plan the composition precisely, eventually making small corrections and allowing myself to experiment with color. Even so, I am never fully satisfied with the final result – I have the feeling that something could have been done even better. Sometimes, however, a work that seemed unremarkable surprises me positively. Sometimes it comes into being as if on its own, other times it is an intense, emotional struggle. Only after a while do I notice what I was really trying to say – what was hidden in the corners of my subconscious.

          I create in silence or to the sounds of music – it all depends on my mood. The internet has become a place of quiet contact with the viewer. I do not like being the center of attention – I prefer when my paintings live their own lives and tell stories without my presence, when they are the protagonists and remain in memory.