Ira Harutyunyan, a resident of Park Plaza Senior Apartments in North Hollywood, CA, has been taking care of herself during the pandemic by creating paintings, working with EngAGE art teacher Polet Zargarian. To adapt to COVID-imposed restrictions, Polet has found creative ways to instruct her students, in this case, teaching via text and phone call!
Program Director Elizabeth Sampson is looking forward to an in-person gallery show for Ira in the future. Meanwhile, we’re pleased to be able to showcase some of her work here.
Polet’s comments: “Ira has been in my art class since 2018/2019. She joined out of curiosity and interest to learn how to paint. She has always appreciated Art, but she never created Art on her own. During the in-person classes, Ira was always very eager to develop her artistic knowledge, learn drawing and painting, as well as composition and color theory. She was driven to learn how to express her deep thoughts and visions through Art.” [At left: a sample of Polet’s text critiques.]
“With a lot of practice, teaching, and critiques, Ira became more and more independent in her Art. During the lockdown, I had no doubt that she would be continuing to paint and create beautiful paintings. But I did not expect her to advance to this level. I am truly impressed with her work, and her improved understanding and use of color and composition. Through text message exchange and phone calls, I have edited her paintings wherever needed. Overall, she has been a very dedicated and independent painter, and I’m proud to be able to say she is/has been one of my students. I am looking forward to seeing her grow and advance.”
Ira shares her thoughts:
I am proud of my branches and foliage
Evermore by my roots
And by the age of my trunk“
I’m an Armenian doctor and proud of my Artsakh roots.
“I’m grateful to my parents for my strong roots in being able to withstand the various trials of life, and for the powerful wings to be able to chase after my dreams.
“Since I was a child, I loved reciting, creating, and painting. I dreamed of becoming a doctor. After being accepted to Yerevan Medical Institute in 1971, I anxiously studied the most mysterious and perfect creation of God – human body. I have always been pleasantly surprised by the lacy magic of various tissues of human body, breathtaking ‘HOROVEL’ of heartbeats, the stormy symphony of the cardiogram, the calm and amazing balance of soul and body.
“For several decades, I have worked in many fields: internal medicine, rehabilitation and homeopathic therapy and cardiology. All my life I was extremely devoted to my profession and I am in love with it to this day.
“In 2000, my family moved to United States. I have worked at the Research Institute of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 15 years. It was during those years that I delved into the magic of radiology images and discovered a new fantastic world of ‘Scientific Art’ for myself.
“I am very proud to say that my daughters are successful specialists in medicine: my eldest in the clinical and my youngest in the science.
“Practicing Medicine is not a romantic profession, that is why one looks for quiet and peaceful escape after work. For me, that getaway became an immersion of myself into the Art World.
“I have been on the well deserved retirement for the past 2 years, and this is when the Artist in me was awoken and this time around was flooded by the tremendous influence and emotions of medicine.
Inspired by the divine colors of my sister, artist Vera’s paintings, I picked up the brush to convey my emotions onto the canvas.
“This is when I was lucky enough to meet my amazing art teacher, Polet, who has guided me in the right direction.
“I am a very ambitious painter, who aspires to try every well-known method and even discover new techniques. I am not afraid of my failed pieces and keep on trying.
“I don’t like to sit idle, so as long as I have something to create, I will keep on painting!
“Life feels chaotic for months because of we all are in new ‘normal.’ We are all coping in different ways with the drastic life changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue our art classes even during this difficult time. I was in touch with my teacher, Polet. I have been using my creative art throughout these crises to help me address the many emotional ups and downs I experienced.
“Unfortunately, in addition to this coronavirus’ depressing reality, we have another BIG PAIN – war in my country, Armenia and Artsakh. I am extremely sad, but not hopeless. I believe in my country’s bright future. I am sure that again my art will help me cope with this difficult time by giving me a tangible outlet to processes the shock, pain, and more that I feel now. Very often, I have an image in my head that I want to express long before I have the words. And defiantly, that expression would be ARMENIA and ARTSAKH.”
Wonderful paintings!
Amazing work, beautiful colors. Bravo Ira !
I am so proud of my smart & creative sister .
Her paintings are beautiful & impressive .
Great article! Special thank to her art teacher Polet Zargarian for helping my sister to learn how to express inner voice through the art .