About Myself

I was born in Transylvania, Romania during the Communist era, a world with Kafkaesque undertones that led the individual on a covert quest for expression, in terms that would not be questioned, yet the message was still intact. In my home country, I developed a passion for music, art, and seeking an understanding of the human condition as well as the universe in which we live.  I have made it my life’s work to provide psychiatric care to patients diagnosed with a serious mental illness, and I find working with these individuals to be an inspiration and a master teacher day after day. 

I never thought of myself as being a painter; however, the pandemic forced me to seek out a new and creative outlet to maintain balance.  Being welcoming of challenges, I made the decision to buy art supplies.  I purchased canvases, brushes, and paints.  Shortly thereafter, I found myself staring at a blank canvas—not knowing what to do or where to begin.  I started to paint; thus, beginning my journey as a self-taught artist.

I also began to study art and found that I had a particular interest in the abstract expressionist movement and the way that the artists conveyed their messages through nontraditional ways.  To paraphrase the viewpoint of William Seitz and echo others involved in this movement, these artists valued expression versus perfection, vitality over finish, fluctuation over repose, the unknown over the known, the veiled over the clear, the individual over society, and the inner versus the outer.  I found that I ascribed to their definition of art:  the expression of human creativity in physical form.  I studied the work of Jackson Pollock and became fascinated with my ability to find something new each time I looked at one of his paintings.  I discovered that I had a specific interest in the creative process rather than the result. 

It is my belief that art goes beyond the physical barriers and touches the soul.  When I am in front of the canvas, I don’t start with a plan; rather, I allow the artistic process to occur naturally.  I find myself in a moment where time stops and I am one with the canvas and paints.  I prefer to not place myself in any specific categories, although I do find some commonalities with action painting.  I find that my painting style continues to evolve as I strive to capture each moment that I am painting accurately.  It is important for me to be able to let go of all preconceived standards that confine my soul and allow myself to be raw, vulnerable, and imperfect in a way that feels right.  I attempt to work without fear of scrutiny as I abandon control and allow the canvas to direct my work.  I approach my art with a sense of openness and freely flowing movements.  The result is a seismograph of emotions and movements that are initiated at the time of the birth of the painting and continue throughout the process of creating the piece.  With each painting, I discover a part of myself that I desire to share with my audience.  I attempt to transmit a sense of emotion, passion, and movement to my audience in such a manner that does not stifle their individuality or personal experience as a viewer.  The final art piece does not dictate what one wants to see; rather, it allows one to have the freedom to see what individually resonates.  It is my hope that the viewer will be able to connect with some element of every painting in such a way that it is able to elicit an emotional state—a spontaneous, individualized response that is both liberating and unique.  If my art resonates with the core of even one individual—helping them to find feeling, inspiration, or emotion—then I have achieved my goal as an artist.

I was born in Transylvania, Romania during the Communist era, a world with Kafkaesque undertones that led the individual on a covert quest for expression, in terms that would not be questioned, yet the message was still intact. In my home country, I developed a passion for music, art, and seeking an understanding of the human condition as well as the universe in which we live.  I have made it my life’s work to provide psychiatric care to patients diagnosed with a serious mental illness, and I find working with these individuals to be an inspiration and a master teacher day after day. 

I never thought of myself as being a painter; however, the pandemic forced me to seek out a new and creative outlet to maintain balance.  Being welcoming of challenges, I made the decision to buy art supplies.  I purchased canvases, brushes, and paints.  Shortly thereafter, I found myself staring at a blank canvas—not knowing what to do or where to begin.  I started to paint; thus, beginning my journey as a self-taught artist.

I also began to study art and found that I had a particular interest in the abstract expressionist movement and the way that the artists conveyed their messages through nontraditional ways.  To paraphrase the viewpoint of William Seitz and echo others involved in this movement, these artists valued expression versus perfection, vitality over finish, fluctuation over repose, the unknown over the known, the veiled over the clear, the individual over society, and the inner versus the outer.  I found that I ascribed to their definition of art:  the expression of human creativity in physical form.  I studied the work of Jackson Pollock and became fascinated with my ability to find something new each time I looked at one of his paintings.  I discovered that I had a specific interest in the creative process rather than the result. 

It is my belief that art goes beyond the physical barriers and touches the soul.  When I am in front of the canvas, I don’t start with a plan; rather, I allow the artistic process to occur naturally.  I find myself in a moment where time stops and I am one with the canvas and paints.  I prefer to not place myself in any specific categories, although I do find some commonalities with action painting.  I find that my painting style continues to evolve as I strive to capture each moment that I am painting accurately.  It is important for me to be able to let go of all preconceived standards that confine my soul and allow myself to be raw, vulnerable, and imperfect in a way that feels right.  I attempt to work without fear of scrutiny as I abandon control and allow the canvas to direct my work.  I approach my art with a sense of openness and freely flowing movements.  The result is a seismograph of emotions and movements that are initiated at the time of the birth of the painting and continue throughout the process of creating the piece.  With each painting, I discover a part of myself that I desire to share with my audience.  I attempt to transmit a sense of emotion, passion, and movement to my audience in such a manner that does not stifle their individuality or personal experience as a viewer.  The final art piece does not dictate what one wants to see; rather, it allows one to have the freedom to see what individually resonates.  It is my hope that the viewer will be able to connect with some element of every painting in such a way that it is able to elicit an emotional state—a spontaneous, individualized response that is both liberating and unique.  If my art resonates with the core of even one individual—helping them to find feeling, inspiration, or emotion—then I have achieved my goal as an artist.