Iryna Zarutska
| Medium | Pastel Pencil on Toned Paper |
|---|---|
| Size | 6 x 8in |
| Date | September 2025 |
I created this portrait drawing in memory of Iryna Zarutska (2002-2025), a beautiful and passionate artist, designer, and animal lover who bravely emigrated from Ukraine to the United States to escape the horrors of war.
She came to this country in search of peace and safety, only to have her life tragically taken at the hands of a murderer while she innocently rode home to her family on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her killer, a man with a long history of severe mental illness and a long criminal record of violent offenses, should have never been on the streets to begin with. But the courts prioritized judicial activism over public safety, costing a sweet, young girl her life while the media kept largely silent.
Please pray for her family and friends. May the beautiful memories that she created remain with those who knew her personally. And may everyone who shares her blood on their hands be brought to account.
In light of Iryna's heartbreaking story, this was an especially emotional piece to work on. But with numerous breaks along the way, I was able to create it with Faber-Castell pastel pencils on 6 x 8in Strathmore toned tan paper.