The world of art is often presented as a closed territory for the elite, but Irina Vissotski’s story proves the opposite: true creativity is not about a diploma, but a state of mind and the courage to be oneself. Having journeyed from a successful entrepreneur in the Lviv region to a certified coach in Israel, Irina has managed to integrate the iron logic of business into the fragile world of poetry and painting.
Today, she is a multidisciplinary author whose poems become the foundation for songs, and whose canvases become visual meditations. How does one combine managing major projects with writing sincere lyrics? How can moving to a new country become a point of powerful creative takeoff? And why is the “search for treasures” within a person the main task of both a coach and an artist? We talked about this and much more in our candid interview.
Irina, your journey began with economics and business in the Lviv region, and today you are a coach and a creator in Israel. How does this rational background help you today in art and coaching?
On the contrary. Childhood hobbies in drawing, a love for beauty, and later poems and songs helped me in my profession—organizational work (for over 20 years), in business, and now in coaching. Beauty is in everything! In it lies the magic and creation of life, and at the head of it all is love. The task of a coach is to search for a person’s talents and strengths, to mobilize the hidden power within them, a short-term process toward their goals, toward the treasures hidden inside… This is what I successfully do; my clients’ lives change by 180° for the better and with concrete results.
What was the starting point for your creativity, and how did you manage to combine it with managing people?
I simply always did what I liked, listened to my heart and intuition. I always worked with a huge number of people; very early on, I learned to solve my own issues and the issues of others independently… My love and empathy played a big role in this. Poetry and paintings are an opportunity to express oneself and a chance to share feelings and mysteries with blank pages…
Moving to a new country is a challenge. How did Israel and studying at Yozmot College influence your worldview?
I have visited more than 60 countries around the world since the age of 20. These were tourist and business trips; I never left for more than a month and could not imagine that I would go to live in another country. But it so happened that I found myself in Israel and stayed here… And again, I started life from “0.” I was never afraid to go into the unknown; I was very interested in testing myself in something new again. The country is unique; people have come here from all over the world—different cultures and influences—they are very sociable and sincere, they talk everywhere and are interested in everything, they help with everything… Yozmot College translates to “Initiatives.” This is mine! I was engaged in this in my activities for more than 25 years, but I lacked the qualified tools that I have now. Since my youth, I was occupied by the question “Know Thyself,” and it was resolved! And a 180° turnaround happened, which certainly had a positive impact on my life and creativity. My “handwriting” became more conscious, and the flow of information clearer and wider…
You are a self-taught artist. In your opinion, what is the advantage of an author who is not limited by the framework of an academic school?
I write about what pours from my heart and soul. Yes, I do not know many technical rules, but love and sincerity give birth to naturalness… a manifestation of Oneself, as One Is. We do not come into this world by chance and are connected by invisible threads to each other. The core is the energy of love; the thoughts we produce and our dreams create reality and illusions… This is how we know ourselves, our world, and the Universe.
Your literary collections, "Eternity" and "Starry Nights," are separated by almost 20 years. How have the themes of your work changed during this time?
Previously, I wrote more about myself, about my feelings, but now it is about others, about the Universe, about mysticism, philosophy, about relationships… Mostly, all people want to be happy but are afraid to look inside themselves, to know their shadow, who they are, to open their heart. I write a lot about this now: about self-discovery, about the world, and, of course, about love, about eternity…
You write in Ukrainian, Russian, and Hebrew. How does language affect the author's "voice"?
Yes, the inner state is different, the texts are also different; thoughts are explained differently with each language, coming from different worlds… A singer once asked me to translate my song from Ukrainian into Russian. As a result, a new song was born. He then translated three of my songs himself and sang them. Unfortunately, I do not sing on stage myself; I only write words, lyrics, and a bit of music. I only sing at home for friends.
Tell us about the birth of your musical album "I Call You an Angel." What did you feel at that moment?
A friend of mine, to whom I read my poetry, said that writing poems is like giving birth. A new, long-carried creation is born into the light; look how wonderful it is… He did not write poetry himself but loved and valued it very much. It is very important to have like-minded people… The album “I Call You an Angel” was released in 2007, and before that, there was a long process of birth, a path called “happiness”… these are unforgettable feelings!
Does your personal optimism help in your work as a coach? Is it possible to teach a person to see beauty?
Yes, I am a 100% optimist! I love life in all its manifestations. All people are born with talents, but due to various circumstances, they forget about themselves, about their dreams and goals, and do not know how to get out of this rut, how to love themselves.
This is exactly the direction in which I successfully work as a coach, plus my many years of experience and the living example of my personal life, plus my creativity, career, and the fulfillment of my dreams… “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself” (Galileo Galilei)—this is my task as a coach.
Is creativity your main source of strength and "resource state"?
100%. For me, it is consolation and energy, creation and a source of strength, happiness and love, faith and dreams, self-realization and a spiritual need…
I breathe and live by this!
What journey or meeting left the deepest mark on your soul?
At the age of 30, I flew on a one-month tour to India. And India changed my worldview by 180°. I saw a different world… and from that day on, I began to study all the world’s religions and their influence on people and society as a whole, which was reflected in my work.
I am very lucky to meet great, conscious people who influenced my life and creativity as a whole, my values, consciousness, and destiny. This has been happening since childhood, and to this day, I meet such unforgettable people… And with great gratitude and respect to them, I write about them in my poems and songs. They inspire me and become my muse, leaving an unforgettable mark on my soul…
