Oil painting Are you going to race Yulia Lihina

№Lih 32

The oil painting titled "Are you going to race" is a warm and evocative depiction of a scene that captures both the passion of youth and the perseverance of age. The painting illustrates an elderly man, absorbed in his book, sitting comfortably in a wooden armchair, with sunlight streaming in, highlighting his face and casting a serene glow over the scene. His attire is simple yet dignified, and his demeanor is one of quiet contemplation, suggesting a wealth of experience and knowledge. In contrast to the stillness of the older man, a young boy is portrayed in motion, his body leaning into the curves of a vintage motorcycle, a look of concentration and exhilaration on his face. The motorcycle, a symbol of speed and freedom, represents the boy's ambitions and dreams, and the boy himself seems to embody the spirit of adventure and the thrill of potential. The garage setting is rendered with attention to detail, with tools and mechanical parts suggesting a space of creativity and labor. The contrast between the elder's repose and the youth's activity conveys a narrative of cross-generational connection, where dreams are passed down and aspirations are nurtured. This painting resonates deeply with the themes explored in the film "The World's Fastest Indian," where Anthony Hopkins portrays Burt Munro, an aging man who defies the limitations of age to pursue his dream of setting a new land speed record. It speaks to the universal desire to chase one's passions, regardless of age, and serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring human spirit. The quote from Burt Munro, "If you give up your dream, you turn into a vegetable," echoes through the painting, reinforcing the message that it's never too late to chase your dreams, and that staying true to one's aspirations is what keeps the essence of life vibrant and fulfilling.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "Are you going to race" - Scene from the film: The World's Fastest Indian
* ARTISTS: Yulia Lihina
* SIZE: 90x80 cm/'35.43x31.49 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection
* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product

About the artist: Yulia Lihina, born on November 10, 1984 in Kharkov, Ukraine, was a very restless and stubborn child. At three years old, her mother showed her how to draw to calm her down. Julia attended art studio and art school from 1989 to 2002. This experience helped her understand how to live further, since she could not imagine her life without colors and art.

She graduated with honors from the Kharkov Art School (2002-2007), painting department, becoming an artist and teacher. During her studies, Julia painted many paintings to order, including stills from films, which was an interesting experience for her.

After graduating from school, she got married and soon became the mother of two children. After the divorce, she tried to return to painting, but her children did not allow her to do so. While working for a network company while on maternity leave, she saw how artists painted and sold their paintings, which inspired her to take up painting again. She quit her online business and started over with support from family and friends.

In 2019, Yulia began studying how artists work on the Internet. In 2020, she took a course on blogging and selling paintings abroad, starting to paint during the quarantine period. She considers the Internet the best direction for developing and promoting her creativity around the world.

On February 24, 2022, war began in her country. Initially, Yulia thought that everything would end quickly, but then she had to leave home, experiencing pain and depression. She quickly coped with it, started volunteering and received a grant to purchase art materials. This gave her the motivation to move forward and do something she had wanted to do since she was three years old.

Julia draws inspiration from films, loving the genres of biography, thriller, crime, detective, comedy, history, sports, drama and romance. She loves to convey the complex emotional states of actors on camera and finds cinema a special source of inspiration.

Her favorite artists are Levitan, Polenov, Serov, Repin and many others in this style. She specializes in drawing, painting and landscapes, working primarily in oil, charcoal and pastel. Julia primes the canvases herself, using the techniques of the old masters and imprimatura.