Blue Necklace (2013)Oil painting by Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk’s Blue Necklace is a portrait defined by composure and material intensity. The seated figure appears grounded and self-contained, her folded hands reinforcing a sense of emotional weight rather than vulnerability. The absence of theatrical gesture allows the painting to breathe in quiet authority.

The palette is deliberately restrained. Soft mineral greens and earth browns dominate the composition, creating a muted atmospheric envelope. Against this calm tonal structure, the vivid blue necklace introduces a precise visual counterpoint. It becomes the compositional fulcrum – a subtle yet decisive element that organizes the surface.

The oil paint is applied with tactile confidence. Visible brush texture and layered pigment give the work a sculptural quality. Rather than relying on detail, Shevchuk constructs depth through tonal relationships and surface modulation.

This painting exemplifies the artist’s Independent Figurative Period, where psychological presence is achieved through restraint and painterly structure rather than narrative cues. A strong piece for collectors drawn to expressive yet disciplined contemporary portraiture.

Materials used:

Oil

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 48 x 63 x 2cm (unframed)
• Ready to hang
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Expressive and gestural
• Subject: People and portraits

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