Could you tell us the story of how your journey in art began?

I’ve loved to draw for as long as I can remember—even as a very young child. Sometimes, I would even draw on the wallpaper at home. Seeing this, my mother decided to enroll me in an art school. I was incredibly fortunate with my teachers there, and to this day, I remain deeply grateful to them and to my parents.

Over time, I tried different professions, but I eventually realized that I simply couldn’t live without art. My journey included working in television and documentary filmmaking at a film studio—fields that are closely connected to the arts. But true harmony, for me, comes when I’m painting.

Your art is known for its rich symbolism and philosophical depth. What draws you to express meaning in this way, and how do you choose the symbols you incorporate?

I’ve always loved reading. As a child, I read countless fairy tales from different cultures around the world—thanks to my father. He had a refined taste in literature, and in our family, the pursuit of knowledge was strongly encouraged. Fairy tales, mythology, and world literature have all had a deep influence on my creativity and associative thinking

How does your love for the sea and its calming presence influence your creative process or the themes you explore?

Unfortunately, I don’t live near the sea. That’s why I cherish every second I get to spend by the seaside whenever I have the chance to travel. I’ve been incredibly lucky to see different seas, and it’s so striking how each one has its own unique character and color. The Black Sea is warm, gentle, and turquoise. The Baltic Sea constantly changes its house, and its waves are the most unruly. The North Sea is known as one of the most dangerous seas in the world—and you can feel that—but it also holds an air of mystery, with a steel-gray tint unlike any other. And the Atlantic Ocean coast offers a sense of power, freshness, and eternity I’ve never experienced anywhere else.

The sea, to me, is a symbol of eternity, a cradle of life. I adore the sea, and I always paint it only from life. In fact, I believe that everything should be drawn from life. Everything that surrounds us truly comes alive on canvas or paper only when drawing directly from nature.

The Storm in my Garden carries a beautiful tension between chaos and serenity. Can you tell us what inspired this piece and the emotions you hoped to express through it?

It was early autumn, and I was painting out on the terrace. A strong wind picked up, and a massive thundercloud was moving toward the house. The wind knocked over the sheet of paper I had been working on, smearing the fresh drawing. My creative serenity was broken—but I started a new sketch in ink on another sheet. The wind kept tearing the paper from my hands and getting in the way. So, I decided to use it in my creative process. I held the paper up so that the wind would strike it from one direction. Then I drew the branches and blades of grass following the lines the wind had made. 

In a way, the element became co-authors of this work. Light pastel strokes helped convey the movement and chaotic gusts of wind. I can honestly say that “Storm in My Garden” is one of my favorite works.

What do you hope a viewer feels or understands when they see The Storm in my Garden?

In this work, I wanted to express the wildness and untamed spirit of nature.

It would be wonderful if the viewer could sense the movement of the gusting wind, the shifting air currents, their strength. I hope they feel that tense in the air just before the first thunderclaps. I want them to sense the fragility of branches and grasses in the wind, to hear the rustling and howling of the gusts.

That feeling of being defenseless before nature’s power—yet simultaneously filled with an intoxicating sense of freedom that only true, wild nature can inspire.

What would be your advice to artists starting their journey in art?  

Don’t be afraid of anything! Love life in all its forms and value yourself.

Each of us is unique.