At a very young age, Romanian born Irina would secretly draw anywhere she could get her hands on, the walls, behind her family’s furniture or on the back of every book or notebook she would find in the house. Unlined paper was scarce and very expensive.

Later, Irina’s academic studies were traditional with her art taking priority. Even her school notebooks contained funny renderings of her teachers and schoolmates. Upon finishing the highschool, Irina was accepted to the prestigious art school ‘Universitatea Populara Constanta” in her native city. After graduating with highest honors, Irina immigrated to the United States in 1989, where she continued her studies and became a US Citizen in 1994.

Prior to becoming a full time artist, Irina won many first place and grand prize awards for her art. She has appeared numerous times on local television, radio and radio internet. She was also showcased on the nationally broadcasted show, ‘Pageants of the Masters’ on the segment “Masters of Modern Art” on HGTV.

Today Irina’s passion comes alive in her expressionistic fine art painting and angelic and grand murals. Her dramatic brush strokes show depth and realism with a vibrant life force. Her incredible talent is showcased in her unique underwater paintings of beautiful women.

Being raised during the harsh years of Communism perhaps explains Irina’s exceptional ability to capture the soul and essence of her subjects, especially children and the female figure. All of this truly makes Irina a one of a kind artist.

“ My inspiration comes from the liberty I have to express my passion for dance and music, and for my love of the blue sea, the brilliant sky and the beautiful people that surround me everyday”

Educational Background

1985-1988 Scoala Populara de Arta Constanza, Romania
1992-1995 San Diego Mesa College with major in Fine Arts and Design
(Dean’s Honor List)
1996-1999 San Diego State University
2000 Graduated the FauxFilled Dreams
Academy of Decorative Painting, Laguna Beach, CA

The Awards

1993 Grand Prize Award at the ‘Got to have Art’ show,
Emerald Shapery
1993 Two awards at the Fashion Symposium and in Illustration,
Los Angels, CA
1994,
1995,
1996 3 times:
first place at Clairemont Annual Juried Show
1993,
1994,
1995 3 times:
first place at the student Art Walk Show
1995 First place in the San Diego Symphony Tower California Student Art Competition

Essay by Ken Glaser (Reproduced with consent of author, Ken Glaser)

IRINA NEGULESCU

A couple of months back I had breakfast with a friend at a new local restaurant, Porto Vista. I heard it had a sweeping vista of San Diego Bay and that the food was pretty good.  From our table perched on a balcony the view was panoramic as  we dined to the accompaniment of clanging plates and rattling utensils from the adjacent kitchen and the pounding of jackhammers from directly below operated by big sweaty men  repairing some subterranean network. I found it ear and bone rattling. Not quite the quiet breakfast I envisioned. Hard to let it go. I tried to grasp a larger picture. In a month will this matter?  Eventually I sighed, resigned and accepting, as did my friend, just one of the many opportunities to let go of preconceived notions of how it should be.  In my experience when I can do that , it creates a space, allows something else to flow into the hollow. Often, it ’s an invitation to a complete surprise, something new and refreshing comes into the frame.  We looked around the interior and noticed four large stunning paintings celebrating the mystical goddess within women. Large layered paintings with women in flowing gowns  floating, ascending, in a dark watery medium. The art was sensual, rapturous, painted with vision and passion. Mesmerizing. Mythic. Haunting.

We gasped as they transported us to a ethereal dimension far on the other side of the familiar.

Hence, the surprise introduction to the art of Irina Negulescu. I learned from the waitress  she is Romanian, has an energetic presence, a petite fireball(ironic for a small woman to paint such large canvases) who has loved to paint since she was a child, and her studio is just a few blocks from the restaurant. The employees of the restaurant were mutually captivated with her art  and her personality.

We went on a quest to find her studio/gallery and were unsuccessful. Perhaps she moved. Time moved on, other explorations occurred, but I could not forget those paintings.

Months later I visited the Art Walk in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego.

It is a caravan of artists exhibiting their work in white tents with pointed roofs, the kind seen in desert oases, an oasis of art . Crowds snaked through the narrow tent lined streets, looking and buying in the marketplace, acting out an ancient ritual dating back to a smoky past when the bazaar was born.

I did my part, looking and visiting with some of the art and artists. Imagine my surprise when I came upon a tent  with those enthralling paintings of floating goddesses!  I followed my breath and my heart inside and met Irina. I introduced myself and expressed deep appreciation of her work, its originality, power and beauty. I told her I first saw her art in Porto Vista and she questioned this, saying her work was at another restaurant.

I said it was definitely Porto Vista and with a sudden recall,  she thanked me, remembering  she still has one painting there which must  be removed.

I asked if I might photograph her with one of her paintings in the scene. She seemed happy to do so, her bright smile luminous, like the figures in her creations.

While I was shooting I felt a stirring, a recognition of something I couldn’t quite catch. I promised her a print and we said goodbye. Later that same day, through the wish of a friend, we ate at Buon Appetito Restaurant.  I noticed one of Irinia’s paintings above our table,  when in the same moment, she entered the restaurant and greeted us with an enthusiastic hello. Then it all gelled, something I can speak of,  but is shrouded in mystery.  Coincidence, circumstance, intuition,people who enter our lives, love and art, everything, is woven together. It continuously flows and changes, in a  kind of layered holographic painting,  timeless, magical, at the edge of our grasp…we don’t see the full  picture, but every once in a while the veil lifts and we glimpse a swatch of canvas…
Kenneth Glaser

April 28, 2009