“The Nature of Stillness – Exhibit Opening Reception

The Nature of Stillness brings together paintings inspired by water, flowers, and the quiet moments found in nature. Blending realism with abstraction, the work reflects on beauty, memory , and time. The exhibition invites viewers to slow down and experience stillness in their own way.

The opening reception will be held Feb. 19th, 2026 at 7pm. All are welcome!

My work is an exploration of memory, nature, and emotional resonance through the language of abstract realism. Each piece begins with inks and unfolds through layered textures, mixed media, and is finished in oil, creating a sense of depth. I am drawn to the tension between seen and felt, form and formlessness.

 Animals, landscapes, and traces of the natural world often emerge from abstraction as symbols of intuition, stillness, and transformation. I paint to reveal a world beneath the surface — one shaped by reverie, memory, and the deep need to create something meaningful. At its core, my crafting is about painting spaces where imagination and nature meet – where viewers are invited to pause, reflect, and feel.  Each person experiences Art differently.  When a piece resonates with the life experience of a viewer, a connection occurs, and they fall in love with the piece.

Artist Bio

Elena Derksen is an artist whose work bridges the realms of abstract realism and painterly expression. She was born and raised in Kazakhstan, where enjoyed a happy childhood with her siblings.  Watching her best friend draw fairytale characters in elementary school ignited her passion for art.

Her path led her across continents: from her childhood in Kazakhstan to Germany, where she met her husband and started a family, and now to Canada where she continues to live  and create. Elena graduated from the Milan Art Institute in 2025, refining her voice and technique as an artists. 

Her Art is influence by the places she has lived and travelled. Using a mixed media approach, refined in oil she portrays creation with themes of connection, memory and inner transformation – inviting viewers into a world where emotion and reality meet on the canvas.