Renata
Ratajczyk
Renata Ratajczyk is a photographer and digital artist,
specializing in
surrealistic photo illustration and fine art portraiture.
Originally from
Warsaw, Poland, Ratajczyk lives and works in Toronto, Canada
for many years.
Ratajczyk
holds Master of Art degree in Cultural Anthropology, as well
as
she has extensively studied photography and art at the Ontario
College of
Art and at the Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in Toronto.
In her distinctive dream-like and visionary images, she often
merges reality
with a fantasy world. Renata's passion for classic art, fantasy,
spirituality and mythology has greatly influenced her artwork.
It is a celebration of the magical and surreal, a world, which
blends the contemporary with the eternal, the sensual with
the spiritual. The magical beings dwelling in Renata's artworks
are often depicted with vibrant colours, lavish details and
seductive beauty. They are surrounded with dream-like, mysterious
landscapes and visions of other distant worlds. An acclaimed
and published artist, her work is exhibited and collected
internationally. Ratajczyk's work has been published in a
variety of books, magazines, on CD jackets, in calendars,
used on posters, greeting cards and in advertising.
Interviews
with the artist and reviews of her work have appeared in several
books and periodicals. Ratajczyk has participated in many
shows and her fine art prints are held in numerous collections
throughout the world. She strives not only to show beauty
and stir emotions, but also to present universal, archetypal,
often hidden concepts, to have a greater impact on the viewer
of her art. Ratajczyk believes people and the world can and
should be made better through art.
Creative
process varies. Most of the images are created by integrating
Renata's photographic images with her artwork created in computer
and by
using a variety of digital image enhancement techniques. Selected
artworks
are also ameliorated in the darkroom or painted on without
the use of
computer. The creative process may start before or after taking
the
pictures. Some photographs are being taken with a clear concept
of their
further enhancements, others ideas might come after pictures
have been
already taken. Most of the inspiration comes from mythology,
dreams,
anthropological studies, contact with the nature, as well
from fantasy
literature and movies. Renata feels very close to the Pre-Raphaelite
group
of painters who also inspire her creativity and encourage
her to strive for
unique artistry. Travels throughout various parts of the world,
extensive
studies of art, New Age related philosophy and her life experiences
also
impact her work.