Creative of the Month: August 2025

Creative of the Month

Radka Skopkova 

Long Beach/Idyllwild 

-How did you become interested in becoming a creative person? ​

Being born in an industrial coal mining town in the Czech Republic, my early years were shaped by the stark contrast of my environment. At the age of 7, I began attending art school with dreams of becoming a pianist, only to be turned away due to lack of sufficient musical talent.  

This moment, though initially disheartening, marked the journey into fine art. Reflecting on the myriad interactions, environmental and cultural influences that shaped my life and is visible in my work; I recognize how fortunate I was to have an extraordinary teacher whose passion for art was contagious. Her encouragement turned my early sketches into a lifelong pursuit and after receiving Masters in Fine Art at University of Ostrava, I became a Fine art teacher myself. 

-How would you describe your work? 

Drawing has always been my primary mode of artistic expression. This fascination with monochrome intensity drew me naturally to printmaking, especially etching, a centuries old technique where precision and spontaneity collide.  

My work delves into the visceral essence of the organic, where the body becomes a landscape of raw, unfiltered existence. Through intricate black and white compositions, I explore the interplay of flesh and form, weaving a tapestry of coiled pulsating structures evoking intimacy and unease. 

Out of the need to try something new, I have started to work with clay and recently I finished a ceramist certification.

Both mediums share a deep connection to process, repetition and the interplay of control and chance.

In ceramics, my recent works draws inspiration from the fluid, organic forms of animals, insects, and their metamorphosis into vessel like structures, which blurs the line between sculpture and utility, and invites to see it as a living, breathing entity. The shift into three dimensions and use of glazes, transformed by fire, opened up endless exploration. 

-What inspires you and brings you the most satisfaction in doing your creative endeavors?

Inspiration permeates every interaction within the relentless stream of visual stimuli. As an artist, my perspective on the world shifts, heightening my awareness. Trained to observe the dance of light and shadow, my mind reshapes perspective, crafting a unique reality from imagination. 

The wellspring of your vision can stem from fellow creators, the pulse of life, the sting of pain, and the enigma of unresolved questions.

Creating, especially if you find your niche, can pull you into a flow state, a higher level of consciousness where the world fades and you're fully immersed in the act.  

It's like diving into a parallel universe of your own making—time vanishes, self-awareness dims, and you're just in with a deep connection to something bigger, while tapping into a universal stream of ideas. This highly addicting state of mind will reshape you into eternal seeker of that transcendent spark. 

Social Media: Instagram @radkasart