about me
"Ludmila Shumilova's work is delicate, exquisite, original and artsy" (Yvette Depaepe, editor of 1xcom Magazine)
I see the world around us as a complex story of mystery and layered realities floating in an ocean of light. light is everywhere. the eye is a camera obscura making it possible for everyone to know the world through the presence of light. but there is also the light coming from within: the light of imagination which allows one to see what is beyond the visible. through my photography, painting and digital art I want to open a window into that space where visible reality meets the realm of imagination. I am very much drawn to an abstract, synthetic artistic vision that unifies yet reflects the complexity of our existence on earth. I am forever searching for a visual language that can express essential things with ease and simplicity.
my life as a full-time artist has begun late. following a major upheaval in my life, I decided to take an early retirement from my day job and leave everything behind. I downsized. I simplified my life style. I moved from vibrant London to the sedate and fresh Breton countryside, in the region of Finistère, to a small village surrounded by forests. Finistère’s etymology translates as “the end of the world” and it seemed appropriate and symbolic for my new destination. change wrapped around me like a new coat: living in close proximity to nature, exploring the woods, the moors, the ocean coast, discovering new plants, insects, with the childish enchantment of the typical city dweller. I had time to reflect and reconnect with long abandoned dreams of being a full-time artist.
in light, in shadow, in mirrors: gardens of the soul - photography and photographic collage
flowers, plants, trees - they contain the whole mystery of life cycles, of beauty and decay, light and darkness. they speak about interconnectedness and separation, boundaries and infinite spaces, birth and return to silence. if we really take the time to look at a flower or a tree foliage we see the same lines, shapes, patterns that belong to the earth's natural landscapes. we see waving liness, we see a labyrinth of leaves or petals or a vortex drawing the eye into a mysterious darkness; the world of flowers also mirrors our mind's landscapes; it seems to embody our complex emotions, thought processes, dreams, memories as organic abstract shapes. "when you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment", said Georgia O'Keeffe. I found a great fountain of inspiration in her portrayal of flowers. I painted and took photos all my life but it was the discovery of digital photography that allowed me to conceptualize the beauty of flowers and leaves, to encourage me to reveal their essence in composites and almost abstract flower close ups. I focus on the interaction between plants as complex organisms and the human mind, on how their presence and observation shapes our perception of the world and ourselves. I try to understand how flowers are mirrored in our imagination and projected back as artistic representation. their shapes, patterns, colours, textures are closely related to their own circadian rhythm, movement, life-cycle but they may be also interpreted as messages written in an encrypted language and influencing our visual preferences in art or design. you can see more of my photographic work published in the most prestigious online gallery 1x.com by visiting my profile. if you want to know more about my art please contact me.
Creating book covers and images for book covers
I am passionate about my work as a book cover designer and creator of images for book covers. Here are some of my published bookcovers. I can develop any project according to the client's requirements and provide original images. I also have a large portfolio (over 1.000 images) with my agent Arcangel Images, one of the most exclusive agencies in the world for book cover photography.
If you want to ask me anything about my book cover projects, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.