I PAINT EVERY DAY, I SEARCH EVERY DAY!

Growing up surrounded by artists and designers, it’s no surprise that my passion for art runs deep. My earliest inspiration came from my great-grandfather, Yakim Banchev, a WWI veteran and a gifted painter whose works now grace the Sofia Art Gallery. During his decade in the USA, he created numerous commissioned portraits that today belong to private collectors. My step-father, Peter Petrov, was a celebrated visual artist, a professor at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, and the recipient of numerous international awards.

Being immersed in this creative environment fueled my desire to pick up the paintbrush and explore my own artistic journey. After graduating from art school in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1988, my career took a different path, focusing on designing retail and residential spaces. However, the love for creating never faded. A few years ago, that passion for art was reignited, stronger than ever, bringing me back to my roots and to the canvas.

My artistic journey focuses on non-objective abstract art, where I’m most drawn to exploring the unknown. Currently, I work primarily in mixed media, incorporating acrylics, pastels, handmade collage papers, alcohol-based inks, resin, and even a few unconventional kitchen tools! I find joy in crafting my own papers and am endlessly fascinated by how colors interact, overlap, and transform as I build layer upon layer.

When I begin a painting, I rarely have a fixed plan. Instead, I let the process guide me, allowing colors and shapes to emerge organically. Each stroke takes me deeper into a dream world—sometimes serene and tranquil, other times stormy and chaotic, or suspended somewhere in between. My curiosity and desire to experiment drive my work, demanding focus as I respond to every new mark on the canvas, often leading the piece in a completely different direction.

The result is always unexpected and uncharted, with many of my previous creations becoming a source of fresh inspiration. My art is an invitation to explore the unknown, aiming to uplift and spark your imagination, while touching the depths of the soul.