“Druzhbivskyi Quarry” – Original Painting by Marina Stognieva

The Story Behind the Painting

“Druzhbivskyi Quarry” is an original work by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva, created in 2026 as part of the large-scale author project “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”. The painting is made in oil on 300 g/m² paper and measures 21 × 30 cm.

The work is dedicated to the Zhytomyr region and to one of its unusual landscape motifs — Druzhbivskyi Quarry. The artist focuses not on the industrial past of the place, but on the landscape that exists there now: vivid water, rocky slopes, and dense greenery gradually reclaiming the space.

General view of the painting “Druzhbivskyi Quarry”. Oil on 300 g/m² paper, 21 × 30 cm, 2026.

The strongest colour accent in the composition is the water — intense turquoise, blue, and cyan tones occupy most of the image and create a sense of openness and depth. Different shades flow into one another, suggesting both the transparency and changing surface of the quarry lake.

The quarry banks form a striking contrast with the water. Rocky slopes are painted in greys, ochres, pinks, and earthy browns, while the upper part of the composition is filled with dense greens. Nature seems to frame the man-made body of water and gradually transform it into a landscape of its own.

A small human figure near the water plays an important role in the composition. Against the vast scale of the quarry, the person appears almost tiny and helps the viewer understand the true size of the surrounding space. This detail turns the landscape into a scene of personal presence — a moment of being alone within a much larger natural environment.

Detail of the painting “Druzhbivskyi Quarry” — turquoise water, rocky slopes, and the texture of the oil painting.

Marina Stognieva works with free, expressive brushstrokes rather than trying to reproduce every detail photographically. Stone, trees, and water are conveyed through colour, texture, and rhythm. This gives the landscape a sense of movement and keeps the impression of direct observation.

The contrast between the cool transparency of the water and the dense dark greenery of the banks creates a distinctive atmosphere. The painting combines calmness with scale, beauty with a certain rawness of the rocky environment.

“Druzhbivskyi Quarry” is part of “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”, Marina Stognieva’s large-scale author project in which different regions of Ukraine are explored through painting, travel, natural landscapes, architecture, and the artist’s personal observations.

In this work, the Zhytomyr region appears in an unexpected way — not through a traditional forest or cityscape, but through the bright water of an old quarry, rocky banks, and nature gradually reclaiming a space created by people. The painting becomes another visual note about the diversity of the Ukrainian landscape.

→ Explore the Zhytomyr Region in “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”

→ Open the “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” project

Artwork Details

Original Artwork & Collectible Fine Art Prints

The painting “Druzhbivskyi Quarry” is an original artwork by Marina Stognieva, created by hand in oil on 300 g/m² paper and existing as a unique one-of-a-kind work.

Collectible Fine Art Prints personally signed by Marina Stognieva may also be available for selected works. Available formats, materials, prices, and other details can be discussed before ordering.

Payment & Worldwide Shipping

Payment can be made via PayPal, bank transfer, or another agreed method.

Worldwide shipping is available. Shipping costs and estimated delivery times are calculated individually depending on the destination and order details.

The artwork on paper is carefully packaged to protect the painted surface and ensure safe transportation. All purchase, payment, packaging, and international shipping details can be discussed directly with the artist before ordering.

“I was struck by the contrast between the vivid turquoise water, the rocky slopes, and the dense greenery. I wanted to preserve the sense of scale of this place — and at the same time show how small a person can appear within such a vast space.”

— Marina Stognieva