In the Mirror Painting

Academically educated painter, graphic artist and scluptor Željko Karaula was born on 29th of August, 1958 in Prisap near Livno, Bosnia and Hercegovina. He has artwork worldwide, in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Australia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, etc. He finished primary school in Livno in 1974, continued and successfully finished the School of Applied Arts in Zagreb in 1978. At the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb, he graduated in history of art and ethnology in 1982. In addition, Karaula graduated Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1984 in the class of prof. Ante Kuduza. He exhibited at over twenty solo exhibitions and dozens of group exhibitions while he also has fourteen of his works permanently installed at the respectful locations. He has participated in several art colonies and gladly responded to humanitarian donations. In addition to painting, Karaula is engaged in design and sculpture which he proved in different materials and techniques. These are terracotta, porcelain, bronze, wood sculpture, watercolor, oil pastel, oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas and stained glass painting. He took part in public tenders for memorials to killed veterans, blessed Alojzije Stepinac in Lepoglava, Holy Father John Paul II. in Dubrovnik. Some of his competition entries have already been carried out: Women - slave for Croatia, corpus Christ on the Homeland cross in Požega, the Chapel of the Nativity of Mary in Kusonja and the Chapel of St. Stephen Čelebići. Karaula is a member of HDLU Zagreb (Croatian Association of Visual Artists in Zagreb), ULS Zaprešić (Association of Visual Artists in Zaprešić) and the Art Academy. He lives and works in Zaprešić, Croatia. Regarding style of work, Zeljko belongs to the class of mid generation Croatian artists. His thematic includes figurative tradition. By interpretation, he can be categorized in an opened coloristic concept with romantic ambient. Zeljko finds inspiration mostly in nostalgic romantic childhood memories along with such memories from the rest of life. His role models are masters from expressionism, impressionism and abstraction movements. Zeljko enjoys creating something new and he wants to leave a mark and enrich the community where he lives. He lives his future as an artist who enjoys the results of his work, and the time will categorize him.