For the past few years, my whole artistic journey has changed completely. I have stopped making art for commercial hype and now try to make more of a personal statement through my work. The Past: Just Painting for Profit
My career was primarily concerned with monetary gain at the time. I had learned to make popular pieces that sold:
- Prints in all sizes
- Online and offline sale
- Passive income while I slept
- What to create and in what colors
It was indeed profitable, but I was creatively bankrupt. Read on — I don’t want you to think I have something against selling — I absolutely loved the craft of selling when I spent years as a business person. But as changes in my life happened, I started craving for more meaningful content.
The Present: A Shift Towards Introspection
These days my artistic process has turned into a way of meditating and self-discovery. I have gone inside, delving into themes that are important to my own life and the world I live in. My paintings now act as a vessel for meditations on our place in the universe, each flower a microcosm of the larger cosmos.
From the Garden to the Canvas
My creative journey begins in the garden, where I seek inspiration and learn valuable lessons that inform my work. I’ve developed a new approach to translating these experiences into art:
- Writing stories and ideas that motivate each painting
- Focusing on the symbolism and deeper meaning behind each piece
- Embedding thoughts and messages within the artwork
- Striving for a richer interpretation beyond mere visual appeal
This process of writing has helped me find the language to express my thoughts more effectively, allowing me to infuse each painting with greater significance.
The Evolution of Style and Medium
My style evolution is the reflection of changes in subject matter and intent, but also of medium:
- Less hyper-realistic floral and landscape paintings
- More simplified, minimal and stylized
- Back to traditional oils; I had gone from oils to digital painting, and now I am back to oils
- Trying to reconnect with the physical act of painting, without technological intermediaries
This return to my roots has given my work a renewed sense of intimacy.
By removing a $20,000 digital system that stands between my body and the canvas, has fostered a more direct and personal creative experience.
A New Artistic Identity
As my forms have become more simplified and my thinking has deepened, I find myself relating less to traditional floral painters and more to:
- Meditative artists
- Minimalist painters
- Abstract expressionists
My work is no longer just about capturing the visual beauty of flowers, colors, or forms. It’s a reflection of my thoughts, feelings, and personal growth. The garden has become my teacher, offering universal lessons to those who observe quietly and attentively.
Art as a Spiritual Journey
This journey in art has taken me to a place where every painting I make is an expression of ideas, an indicator of personal and universal truths.
They say: “I’ve found myself, with my art, by moving completely away from anything commercial, anything quantitative, and instead doing something that is far more qualitative and personal, and I feel like I’ve tapped into this whole new source and resource of creativity that is far deeper, fuller, richer and in some ways far more meaningful.”
My story is a reminder that true artistic fulfillment is often reserved for those willing to relinquish financial security in exchange for self-discovery, spiritual growth, and surrender.
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