Ani Doykina

You work under the name “yasendar” carries a deeply personal meaning. How does your identity as a mother influence your artistic practice?

Becoming a mother is integral to who I am – it changed everything for me. So much so, that I now divide my life into before and after having kids and, sometimes, I struggle to remember the “before”. Being a mother is the greatest joy and privilege of my life and I hope that my artistic practice conveys that.

From a practical point of view, I wanted to do something that I could combine with being a full-time mom. But really, I think my kids are the reason why, at the age of 40, I felt brave enough to take a leap and do what I really loved since I was little – having previously trained as an economist. I wanted to be a role model for them and show them that it is never too late to do what truly fulfills you.

Watercolor seems to be your primary medium. What draws you to its fluid and unpredictable nature?

For me watercolor is pure magic. It has so many different faces – it can be calm and quiet, strong, realistic, airy and yes – unpredictable. But that’s exactly its beauty – sometimes  the artist doesn’t have full control over it. In these cases, if I like, what came out on the paper, I just leave it, even if it’s not what I imagined at first. Furthermore, the different techniques in watercolor allow us as artists to continue developing and learning new skills.

The other thing I really love about watercolor is the work with water. Water actively participates in the creation process. As we know, water has memory, which means that the attitude with which a person sits to paint is extremely important. When they are not calm and focused, but angry or stressed, the water they use changes its crystal lattice and this inevitably affects the painting. Many times, in such moments, I have torn up and thrown away the painting I was working on. In this way, working with watercolor becomes a kind of meditation.

Ani Doykina | Yellow Tulips | 2026

Your paintings often capture fleeting moments – light, movement, atmosphere. What inspires these scenes?

I really like the word “fleeting”. I think everything in our lives has a “fleeting” nature but love, as cliché as it may sound, is enduring. All kinds of love – for your children, for the person you chose to live your life with, for your family, for art and many other things.  For me it is really important to try to capture the love and joy of these fleeting moments and transfer them in my own way onto the white canvas, sealing them into permanence. The paintings then become a way to return to these longed-for moments.

Ani Doykina | Who’s That Girl | 2020

In works like your seascapes, there is a strong sense of motion and energy. How do you approach painting something as dynamic as water?

I love the water, especially the sea. I love being near and in the sea. Water is a huge element and it can be so variable – an endless inspiration. I approach water in my paintings with a huge amount of respect. My aim is to recreate its energy, its tremendous power and its various states.

I really like the reflections of the sun on the water surface (in Bulgarian we call them “sunny bunnies”) – it’s as if there is a dialogue between the water and the sun. I try to capture this dance of light.

Ani Doykina | Blue Fairy Tale | 2025

Many of your works feel very intimate and sensory, like quite observations of everyday life. Do you work from memory, imagination, or direct observation?

In most cases, I work from direct observation. When I am somewhere new or interesting, I try to capture specific objects or scenes that catch my attention so I can paint them later. My younger son recently scolded me for painting from photos too much and told me that I needed to use my imagination more often. Thanks to him, I created several paintings freely without needing direct observation and it turned out that I really enjoyed it.

Ani Doykina | Spring | 2022

Living in Sofia, does the local environment or culture influence your work?

Definitely! Sofia has many small and cozy galleries with such a colorful and vibrant atmosphere. There are so many exhibitions featuring some incredible artists who are a great inspiration to me. I can’t help but mention one of the greatest Bulgarian watercolorists – Sava Tzonovski, who turned 100 last year and continues to create. He even held an exhibition to mark his anniversary. He has a very unique and free style which I adore.

In 2022, I participated in the triennial in Bulgaria alongside artists from all over the world. This was an extremely exciting opportunity organized by the Bulgarian branch of the International Watercolor Society which started in Varna, a popular seaside town, and travelled across the country.

Ani Doykina | Petrovki | 2022

What do you hope viewers feel or reflect on when they see your paintings?

Living in a world with difficult political realities, where our future and our children’s future can seem uncertain, I really hope that my art will bring some joy and light to the viewers. Especially in the morning, when they drink their coffee or tea, I hope that looking at my paintings can become a little “ritual” for them that will make their day better. Or maybe this will bring back some memories close to their hearts and so they will begin to dream of new adventures. I want my paintings to provide an escape into their dreamworld.