I have been a self-taught artist for over ten years now

Artwork by Marija Blanc

marijablanc.com

I am a first generation Macedonian American. I have been a self-taught artist for over ten years now. I have changed many mediums over the years and painting became my end point, and the one I have stayed with the longest. I have taken some art classes but never wanted to spend the money on an art education, so I chose to study biochemistry instead. However, there is still a lot about art I want to learn in terms of a traditional sense, which is why I’m so glad that I discovered Old Masters Academy. A big part of learning how to paint for me was visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts, and closely observing the paintings of the old masters. I would write down notes on my observations and try to apply those practices to my own paintings.

I love learning the stories of other artists through history, and I am interested in their unique approaches. I don’t claim myself to be an artist because I believe all people are artists, the difference is some just choose to practice it more than others. I choose to practice art so I can manifest my dreams, and spirituality through a visual format. I paint every day and I also bring a sketchbook everywhere I go. I study the shapes and colors of the clouds during sunset and review ways I can improve my painting by looking at the light and shadows of nature. I love that the process of painting is healing and peaceful, it utilizes so many areas of the brain and it is a continuous effort of creating new neural networks. I would like to win this course so I can tune my technical and anatomical skills so that I can achieve the results I strive for in translating my ideas because those gaps are missing in my work.