ART by MARA

My name is Maria, but my artistic name is MARA:)My love for art started as a child and I have been obsessively honing my skills ever since. My mother is a Art teacher and she was teaching me since than. I had a talent for capturing the character and emotion of my subjects. I am a professional self taught artist specializing in hand drawn charcoal portraits. Over the past few years I have also taken up oil colors and acrylics and really enjoy working in all mediums to express my interpretation of my subjects. My artwork is held in private collections throughout Europe and the United States.The process of transforming an empty piece of paper into a captivating expression has always struck me as magical process. For me, this process is not just about rendering a likeness, but about rendering the character and essence of my subject. Though I work quite deliberately, consciously employing traditional and non-traditional techniques, my subconscious is the undisputed leader in the process.Portraiture fills me with a sense of completion and contentment and has proven a most natural vehicle for translating my inner vision to reality. I like that portraits become treasured heirlooms that families enjoy, discuss and remember for years to come. It is very fulfilling to know that my drawing or painting can become a valued addition in someone’s life and as an artist, it is the greatest satisfaction.Realistic interpretations of the subject is what I strive for, however my goal is not to imitate the reference material used but to obtain a truthful and accurate depiction of the subject. A strong likeness happens naturally during the drawing process. Many of my art portraits are custom commission charcoal portraits drawn from my client's family photos of a favorite pet, baby, child or wedding portrait photo.