“A portrait always starts with the eyes”: how and why 70-year-old Ternopil woman paints Ukrainian defenders

What is the problem?

The fierce war rages on. Our success lies in standing together, united in our efforts to support those who need it most. In particular, it is crucial to lend a helping hand to our military members as they undergo treatment and rehabilitation after being injured. Showing attention to those who have sacrificed their health while defending Ukraine is a way for us to honor and express gratitude and trust in them. It is the foundation for their recovery, successful reintegration into society, and their return to a fulfilling life.

What is the solution?

Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainians have been actively showing support for injured defenders in a multitude of ways. Volunteers organize fundraisers, buy rehabilitation equipment and essential medical supplies for hospitals, make and deliver traditional homemade dishes like borschts, cabbage rolls, and buns to the soldiers, knit socks, sew adaptive garments, and arrange concerts and creative gatherings.

Ukrainian artist Nataliia Basarab did not remain indifferent either. Last summer, she initiated the "Their Eyes Look Into the Soul" charity project. The artist visits military personnel in hospitals and other locations to have meaningful conversations with them. At the end of their session, she presents each person with a portrait of themselves.

How does it work?

Nataliia Basarab, a nearly 70-year-old artist, resides in Ternopil and has been devoted to painting for her entire life. She currently explores various techniques, incorporating different materials such as paint, bird feathers, glass and silk painting, and appliqué. In addition to her paintings, Nataliia also creates dolls and regularly participates in art exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad. Her artworks are displayed in the Ternopil Regional Museum of Local History and Art and private collections in Ukraine, Germany, Poland, the USA, and France.

Nataliia Basarab has been painting portraits of military personnel for over six months now. She shares, "We live in a time where each of us is discovering and expressing ourselves in new ways." The idea for her charitable project came from a conversation with a friend who serves in the Ukrainian army.

"Vasyl occasionally gives me a call just to chat. We haven't actually seen each other in over ten years, so I could tell that he must be finding it hard over there and really needs someone to talk to," Nataliia says. "He called once while he was injured. He felt hurt that his friends were having a good time in the rear, and when he called them, all they asked was: "How's the war?". He talked about many other things, which really touched me. I realized that I have to take some action so that they who are in the war don't think we are indifferent."

^{Nataliia Basarab's portraits depict Alla, Volodymyr, and Petro, the defenders of Ukraine.}

After that conversation, Nataliia Basarab couldn't help but think about how she could support and make the soldier happy.

"Most likely, as Ukrainians, we all want to do something for our defenders today. Some may choose to participate in charity work, others volunteer their time, while some simply donate money. Everyone has their own contribution to make. As an elderly woman, I used to believe that I could no longer be of much help, but now I realize there is still value in what I can do," expressed Nataliia Basarab.

The artist painted a portrait of a soldier she knew, as well as portraits of two of her compatriots who are also serving. She then painted a picture of a woman currently in Ukraine's armed forces whom Nataliia met a year ago on social media. When Alla was in Ternopil, she and Nataliia became friends, and Nataliia also painted her portrait.

In light of the earlier portraits, Nataliia Basarab and her friend, poet Mariia Karpyk, collaborated to create a video message for the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. Both women are highly involved members of the Ternopil community, specifically the cultural and educational organization "Prosvita." When "Prosvita" organized a charity concert in the city to support the soldiers of Ukraine's armed forces, Nataliia and Mariia eagerly joined in.

"I volunteered my talent here as well," the artist recalls. "I enjoyed drawing portraits of people and donating all the proceeds to charity. I didn't set a price for my drawings; instead, people could contribute whatever they wanted to my basket. I was very passionate about this project and happy that I could also contribute to the army and a soldier I knew."

According to Nataliia, everything went as if it was part of a planned script. Nataliia Turchyn, the head of the Ternopil branch of "Prosvita," suggested that the artist conduct a master class in graphics for the soldiers currently hospitalized.

Nataliia Basarab was concerned that the wounded soldiers may become exhausted while trying to master a difficult artistic technique. As a solution, she offered to create their portraits using pastels and simply be there to talk to them. Based on her observations, she found that individuals tend to relax while posing for a picture, especially if the discussion is focused on lighthearted and everyday topics. This not only helps to distract them from their complex thoughts but also provides comfort. Moreover, creating a pastel portrait only takes about 30 minutes and does not require the models to pose for an extended period or exert much effort.

After reaching an agreement with the hospital, "Prosvita" arranged for the artist to meet with the soldiers and create portraits of them. Nataliia recalls feeling anxious about the outcome and whether the soldiers would appreciate the art therapy and be willing to sit for a few moments. However, her worries were unfounded as the soldiers were more than willing to participate.

"When I arrived, I was welcomed by friendly, smiling people. The boys were all standing in a row. Some were in wheelchairs, but they were still so kind and composed. They were cheerful and laughed like children, expressing gratitude for the portraits. They truly inspired me! I took the time to ask each of them about what motivated them to go to war. And to my surprise, they all responded with, 'Who else but us?' I am at a loss for words to express my admiration for these brave individuals!" the artist shares.

Nataliia shares a story about one of the soldiers she drew that day. This particular man has been in combat since 2014, and even though he was supposed to be discharged, he has expressed his determination to re-enlist. As she recalls this soldier, Nataliia also reflects on another young soldier who was hesitant to hold a pose for a long time.

"He sat and watched me draw for a while, and towards the end of our meeting, when it was time for me to go, he let me draw him. So I stayed and made a portrait of him too," the woman remembers. "Maybe it was because he finally let his guard down, or maybe it was because he is still quite young and open-minded, but the warrior showed me the scars on his body – they were already healing."

According to the plan of "Prosvita," portraits of wounded soldiers were to be shown at the exhibition. But Nataliia Basarab "violated" this condition:

"I couldn't resist giving those wonderful people their pictures, and I didn't want to," the artist remembers. "An exhibition pales compared to the sheer joy those individuals experienced! I told "Prosvita," I apologize, but I can still sketch, even from photographs."

And that's how it happened. On the 155th anniversary of "Prosvita," Nataliia Basarab completed portraits of 27 additional soldiers using photographs as references. The exhibition was held.

Does it really work?

According to Nataliia Basarab, a portrait always "starts with the eyes," making drawing from life a source of joy for the artist. Photos simply can't capture the full range of facial expressions, the ever-changing moods, and the unique qualities of each individual's eyes. Nataliia Basarab's presence at the hospital has been praised for its positive impact on wounded soldiers' mental well-being. She uses her sketchbook during her visits to help them focus on something other than the war. It's no surprise that Nataliia Basarab has made multiple trips to visit these soldiers.

Vasyl is a native of Dnipro. He ended up in the hospital after a crucial mission where he was mining the designated area at the front, and his group came under tank fire. He and one of his comrades were injured. His fellow soldiers carried Vasyl on a construction wheelbarrow, and now he claims he is "doing okay." He posed for a portrait for the first time but quickly let go of any tension and laughed and joked while talking with the artist.

During the same visit, Nataliia also met with a defender of Ukraine from Peru. Randu spoke only Spanish, so he used a voice translator to communicate with the artist. The man shared that he was a military personnel who had participated in several wars of liberation and had combat experience. This inspired him to come to Ukraine to protect it from the aggressor.

"I am astonished by their immense love and support in our struggle. It never crossed my mind that we would receive aid from soldiers of a country far away. Meeting someone from such a distant and unfamiliar place was a new experience for me. He has a family back in his homeland. He's always smiling. I was also overjoyed since an artist had never painted him," Nataliia Basarab recalled her encounter with him.

Nataliia went to a military unit near Ternopil with some local television crews on another occasion.

"I sketched portraits of three soldiers over there. Two of them were more mature gentlemen with grandchildren. When asked why they were fighting, they were surprised and replied, "Why wouldn't we fight? Who else will protect us if not ourselves?" I didn't inquire if they had been wounded or not, as those questions seemed unnecessary. They looked exhausted when posing, but their eyes lit up once the drawings were finished!" the artist explains.

Even more useful solutions!

Overall, since the start of the project, Nataliia Basarab, the artist, has created over 50 portraits of Ukrainian military members. She confesses that collaborating and connecting with the soldiers provided both happiness and solace for them and herself.

"Amid the current unrest and chaos, I long to escape, if only for a brief moment. I never kept track of the number of portraits I painted, nor did I intentionally photograph them alongside soldiers. It never crossed my mind that all of this would become so widely known. I was simply focused on my work, my small contribution, which also filled me with great strength and inspiration," explains the artist.

Nataliia Basarab plans to keep visiting the hospital and painting portraits of injured soldiers. She believes it is important to capture the image of those currently fighting on the front lines, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining morale.

"I have already said that we all want to do something for our victory. But there is also something personal about me. I am a highly sensitive person and prone to depression, and I am also getting up there in age. With the pandemic and now the war, I've realized that I may not be able to do things at any moment, and I've almost become accustomed to these thoughts. All the things that mean the most to you – your loved ones, friends, belongings, that very window you often peer through to admire the sky, trees, and birds – can vanish in the blink of an eye, just like life itself. Frightening thought, isn't it? But even amidst that fear, there is something more significant – there are people out there, fighting in trenches and swamps, enduring extreme conditions, to ensure that your sky, birds, and the entire world exist for as long as possible. And then you let go of your ego and reach out to them, willing to help in any way possible, simply to bring them some joy. And as a result, you feel more alive and optimistic, believing in life once more," Nataliia states.

While talking to Rubryka, Nataliia Basarab also shared some fantastic news. Just recently, Svitlana Sorochynska, a member of Ternopil Prosvita, provided the artist with photographs of 45 defenders from Ternopil University of Economics. This is in preparation for an upcoming exhibition on January 22, where portraits of all university staff who defended Ukraine will be displayed. The artist has already begun this project and has completed several portraits. Admission to the exhibition will be free.