>>> SHE'S AN ARTIST, ANIMAL LOVER, TEACHER AND NATIVE OF UKRAINE.

A CHICAGO RESIDENT FOR 30 YEARS, ELINA USES HER TALENTS TO PAINT FOLK ART TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE WAR IN THE COUNTRY WHERE SHE WAS BORN.

>> Reporter: WE FIRST MET ELINA IN MARCH OF 2022.

SHE WAS SELLING HER ART TO BENEFIT THE RED CROSS IN UKRAINE, RAISING NEARLY $50,000.

MANY WORKS WERE PAINTED ON GLASS NOW THE ARTIST IS GIVING LESSONS ON HOW TO MAKE THE ART THAT FLOURISHED IN THE 16th CENTURY.

>> BASICALLY ARTISTS STARTED TO PAINT ON GLASS IN REVERSE.

THE SCENES WERE MOSTLY FROM THE BIBLE.

SO YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF VIRGIN MARYS, ICONS, AND SAINTS.

A FEW HUNDRED YEARS LATER, A LOT OF SELF TAUGHT ARTISTS LIVED IN DIFFERENT VILLAGES AND STARTED TO PAINT ON GLASS.

IT WAS A PRIMARILY VILLAGE SCENES.

THEY WOULD DRAW PEASANTS, ANIMALS, IT WAS REALLY PRIMITIVE STYLE OF PAINTING.

IT LOOKS REALLY NICE, VERY BRIGHT.

AND ALWAYS WITH BLACK OUTLINES.

>> Reporter: SHE STILL RAISES MONEY FOR THE WAR EFFORT AND SHE HAS A NEW CAUSE.

HER FRIEND, A PARISH PRIEST NEAR KYIV HAS BEEN CARING FOR THE ANIMALS DISPLACED BY THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

>> HE STARTED PICKING THEM UP FROM EASTERN REGIONS AND STARTED FEEDING THEM, GIVING THEM MEDICAL TREATMENTS.

I ASKED HIM HOW MANY CATS AND DOGS HAVE YOU SAVED, 100, 200, OVER 200?

AND HE SAID AFTER 200, WE STOPPED COUNTING.

>> Reporter: HIS EFFORTS HAVE SAVED MANY MORE ANIMALS.

TO BENEFIT THE ANIMAL SHELTER, SHE NOW LEADS CLASSES ON HOW TO MAKE A PAINTING USING GLASS AS A CANVAS.

>> I HAVE ABOUT 23 PEOPLE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PAINT.

I TOLD THEM NOT TO WORRY.

I HAVE A LOT OF SKETCHES OF MY OWN THAT I GAVE THEM.

IF YOU HAVE TO WRITE ANYTHING, YOU HAVE TO WRITE IN REVERSE.

YOU PAINT ON ONE SIDE AND THE IMAGE IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.

I'M AN ARTIST AND I'M AN EDUCATOR.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I JUST CANNOT NOT DO IT.

I HAVE TO DO IT TO STAY SANE.

YOU HAVE TO PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER AND THINK, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP.

SO LIKE A SOLDIER.

THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.

>> THE NEXT CLASS IS THIS EVENING IN THE UKRAINIAN VILLAGE.

SHE WILL TEACH AGAIN AT THE UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART ON JULY 21st.

THE