thisiscolossal: Sergiu Ciochină Captures the Dance of Sunlight and Shadows in Textural Vivid Oil Paintings

A landscape painting of sunlight through trees.

“Feeling of summer” (2023), oil on board, 35 x 50 centimeters. All images © Sergiu Ciochină, shared with permission

“Shadow and light are the most stable and perfect tools of creation: they unite colors, shapes, and dimensions,” says Moldovan artist Sergiu Ciochină, adding that “shadows move us through diversity, enhancing our perception, while light fills us with the joy of discovery.” In saturated hues, he captures dappled sunlight as it filters through the trees and the rich tones of the golden hour as it casts deep bluish-purple shade onto the sides of houses.

Taking cues from the Impressionists, Ciochină focuses on the nuances of light and its ability to reveal outlines and forms. He works in thick, impasto oil paint on board, emphasizing the shapes of windows, doors, and stoops and transforming otherwise ordinary buildings into compositions glowing with the patterns of foliage, architectural angles, and the texture of brushstrokes. “The symbiosis I create between nature and architecture is intended to evoke a love for space,” he says.

Ciochină’s is preparing to move his studio to France and exhibit in Italy for the first time later this year. His landscapes comprise part of a broader painting practice, which you can explore more of on his Instagram and website.