Los Angeles-based artist Dani Vinokurov tells stories through her mixed media collages that are currently featured in the Moorpark College art gallery.

“Viewers are rewarded with the beautiful way she combines miniature ink drawings, weavings, cut paper elements, and embroidery into complex micro environments,” said art gallery curator Erika Lizée.

“(My work is) one part magic, one part dreamscape, one part folk art, and one part nature,” said Vinokurov.

Much of Vinokurov’s work tells a story that can only be seen when connecting with one of her pieces. Vinokurov creates tiny pieces in order to produce both a sense of intimacy between herself and the piece, and also for the viewer to come close and feel the same intimacy to understand the story. The only tool she uses to create the small pieces in her work is an X-acto knife.

”I get really excited and I really geek out [about my collages],” said Vinokurov.

Her pieces are intended to display elements of fantasy and magic, that result in delicate pieces of folk art that are whimsical with a feminine touch.

Vinokurov’s art process begins with just a loose concept or idea. She describes how she does not use a sketchbook, but creates her work after coming up with ideas or thoughts that she has written down. For reference however, she has a digital library or scrapbook on her computer for inspiration.

Her work is not only limited to mixed media collages, but also includes graphic design and stop-animation pieces. Vinokurov uses an app call Stopmotion on her iPhone to create her stop-animation pieces. She hopes to start filming her process of creating pieces and turning them into stop-animation.

Aside from locally showcasing her work, Vinokurov has several goals set for the upcoming year. She plans on creating larger works, delving deeper into the stories and symbolism behind pieces, having more installments, creating more stop-animations pieces, and combining her artwork with her graphic design work.

Her work will be on display in the Moorpark College art gallery until Nov. 12. For more information about Vinokurov and her art, visit her website at danivinokurov.com.