"Sacred Space" Painting

Born in Bulgaria, I began my studies of classical piano and drawing at an early age. Bulgaria is a beautiful country, but it was Communist then, and my mother worked very hard to get us out into the free world. Thanks to the humanitarian efforts of a fellow Armenian philanthropist, George Mardikian, we were able to immigrate to the United States. I continued my piano studies at the Juilliard School of Music, and later oil painting at the Art Students' League, both in New York City. While teaching piano, I pursued my love of the visual arts by painting in oils in my New York studio. East Hanover, New Jersey, has been home for the last 20+ years.

After I moved to New Jersey, I explored and enjoyed painting with watercolors, and studied this fascinating medium at the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, and with international artists like Alavaro Castagnet - a fabulous South American artist, Edwin Havas - a dear friend and a mentor, Carl Burger - a generous teacher and mentor, and other known watercolorists.

In the past few of years I have been delving into abstract art with acrylics and collage. I find it challenging and exciting! I hope you enjoy seeing my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them.

My art is greatly influenced by my world travels and inspired by my love of music, people and nature. I endeavor to capture the essence and spirit of my diverse range of subjects with expressive realism, a touch of impressionism and abstraction. Music is an integral part of the creative process for me.

I am an Elected Member and a Fellow of the American Artists Professional League in NYC, a signature member of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in NYC, the North East Watercolor Society and Garden State watercolor Society, as well as the Essex Water Color Club, New Jersey's oldest watercolor club, where I served as President.

My work is in private and corporate collections in the United States and Europe.