About me
I am Sandra S. Rush, an independent freelance ink artisan based in Poland, bound to create detailed works of dark fantasy.
The Artist’s Journey
By training, I hold a Master of Arts degree specializing in traditional Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland. During those formative years, my vision focused on combining hyperrealism and romanticism through traditional oil on canvas paintings and large-scale drawings. This dedication led me to become a finalist in several national and international art competitions.
However, I soon realized that the dark romanticism of old engravings resonated within me far deeper than modern fine art ever could. Inspired by the legacy of past masters: the melancholic beauty of Caspar David Friedrich, the masterful engravings of Gustave Doré, and the haunting visions of my fellow Polish painter Zdzisław Beksiński, alongside my lifelong passion for dark gaming realms and Japanese manga, I once dreamed of becoming a mangaka. Along the way, I was fortunate to work as a comic artist for several years.
After an enriching maternity leave, I have stepped back onto my artistic path. I carry on as a freelance creator, staying true to my dark roots. Refusing to use AI shortcuts, I remain dedicated to my passions and the irreplaceable human touch, hopefully working towards the ultimate goal of becoming a full-time artist.
The Craft & Process
I create my artworks by hand on paper using only pencils, ink, and fineliners, as I still enjoy making traditional detailed drawings like nothing else. I confess a certain advancing madness for the crosshatching technique and infinite detail. To complete my visions, I enhance these inkworks with manually applied digital colors, creating a haunting traditional-digital fusion, while continuously experimenting with watercolor, oil paint, and colored pencils.
Besides art, my sanctuary lies in family life, the comfort of good food, and the heavy resonance of metal music.
Join the Covenant
Every great journey requires allies. If you wish to witness my creative process and follow the progression of my latest projects, consider joining my covenant on Patreon. Your presence there grants you full insight into my work and directly fuels my voyage toward becoming a full-time artist. You can also track my footsteps across social media.
I am profoundly grateful to you for crossing into my world and offering your support.
Sandra S. Rush
Awards and Honors
- 1st Prize – International Vincent van Gogh Art Competition, Rybnik, Poland, 2013
- Honorable Mention – 1st International Drawing Triennial for Art Students, Katowice, Poland, 2014
- Grand Prix Nomination – Franciszka Eibisch Foundation, Warsaw, Poland, 2014
- Finalist – 5th National Young Art Review “Fresh Blood”, Wrocław, Poland, 2015
- Finalist – 8th Biennial of Young Art “Fish Eye”, Ustka, Poland, 2015
- Finalist – International Painting Competition, Three Bridges Foundation, Warsaw, Poland, 2015
