About the Artist
“My inspiration comes from painting en plein air and working from life. It is the poetry of light and constant change that excites me about the next painting. It can be a sunrise or sunset, constantly moving water, an ever-changing harbor, a storm, or a gentle morning fog. It is these fleeting moments presented by nature that captivate me the most.”
Olena Babak is a classically trained, internationally recognized artist whose work is inspired by the beauty, atmosphere, and ever-changing light of the natural world. Working primarily from life and en plein air, she seeks to capture the fleeting qualities of a particular moment before they disappear.
Olena has received numerous awards from Plein Air Magazine, Oil Painters of America, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, the Art Renewal Center, BoldBrush, and from prestigious plein air competitions throughout the country, including Plein Air Easton, Door County Plein Air, Plein Air Texas, Lighthouse Plein Air, Wayne Plein Air, Olmsted Plein Air, and many others.
Her work has been featured numerous times in Plein Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur. She was also a recipient of the Hudson River Fellowship in New York, and her work has appeared in numerous publications, including the Strokes of Genius series, Poets & Artists: 100 Great Drawings, and The Classicist.
Formerly a graduate-level instructor at the Academy of Classical Design, Olena now travels extensively throughout the country participating in plein air competitions, gallery exhibitions and events, painting demonstrations, and teaching workshops.
During the winter months, Olena enjoys working from her studio in central Maine. Throughout the rest of the year, she travels to paint on location, embracing the unique light, atmosphere, and character of each place she visits.
Recent Selected Awards:
"Third Place ," Door County Plein Air 2026
"Best Marine," Easton Plein Air 2026
“First Place Quick Draw,” Olmsted Plein Air 2026
“People Chose Award/Maecenas Award," Forgotten Coast Plein Air 2026
“First Place,” Door County Plein Air 2025
“Artists Choice Award”, “Second Place”, Sedona Plein Air 2025
