“According to the art experts  Maria is a representative of the modern artists in contemporary realism.      Her still life paintings are inspired by the Dutch and Flemish masters of the 16th and 17th centuries.      With her still lifes made in the best tradition of the genre Maria demonstrates her desire for more harmony and beauty in our busy life.      Her specific exceptional technique of acrylic and oil with many layers of colors, made by ordinary brush and airbrush, give her paintings a magnificent depth and atmosphere. She makes unique combination of the old traditional paint technique with modern instruments as airbrush.      Maria uses canvas prepared by the old technology with hand-made ground coat following the old traditional way. The painting process starts with a precise under painting with acrylic over black background. Using small brush strokes to build the three-dimensions of the subject, Maria defines the form and accentuates its highlights. Then, using airbrush, she applies to the painting transparent oil glazes of colors. The life-like quality that characterizes her paintings is due to this unique multi-layer technique of transparence airbrush glaze over lucent acrylic.      Her exquisite still life feature compositions of opulent fruit, fabric, flowers, glasses and candles show her mastery and prove the eternity of this fine art genre.      … And the result is extraordinary – classical realistic still lifes, dramatic and in the same time - deep and intimate, which relate stories and suggest moods.”   TV Bulgaria - the Satellite Channel of the Bulgarian National TV is making a film about Maria more photos Back to top

 

BIOGRAPHY

Maria was born in Bulgaria in 1966. In 1980, after she gets First Place on the entering  examines, Maria began to study painting, printing, sculpture and art composition at the "Tsanko Lavrenov" High School Of Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria , where she graduated on First Place in 1985.  In the same year - 1985 - she continued her art education in the Fine Arts Department of "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" University, Bulgaria, specialised in plastic arts and oil painting and graduated from the University with Master of Fine Arts in 1990.      She is a Teacher of the Year in Fine Arts, Bulgaria, 1992.      1993 - 1995 Maria is a lecturer in art composition and painting at the High School Of Fine Arts in Plovdiv, and now is working full-time on artworks in her studio in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.      She has been a member of the Union of the Bulgarian Artists, Plovdiv since 1992.      Besides in the field of Still Life she also works in the field of portrait.      Since 1995 Maria is working with many galleries all over the world: "Galleriet" and "Amare" in Stavanger, Norway; "Voshan", CA, and “Reign Gallery”, RI, in USA; with "Seki Art Salon" and "Triumph Gallery", Tokyo, Japan; and “Ronald Coles Investment Art Galleries”, Sydney, Australia, as well as with many Bulgarian Art Galleries.      Maria has several solo shows, participation in numerous National and International juried exhibition, and realized Collaborative Projects with her husband, the artist Valery Varbanov.         Maria's artworks are included in Corporate and Private collections in Bulgaria, Norway, USA, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and in many other coutries all around the world.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:   1993             - National Gallery "Zl. Boiadziev", Plovdiv,                        Bulgaria 1995             - City Gallery of the Association of Artists in                        Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1997             - Art Gallery "Galleriet", Stavanger, Norway 2003             - Art Gallery "Galleriet", Stavanger, Norway 2006             - Art Gallery "Teddy", Varna, Bulgaria 2007             - Art Gallery "Sezoni", Sofia, Bulgaria 2007             - Art Center "Altera" in the World Trade Center Interpred, Sofia, Bulgaria 2007             - Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, "Sredets" Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria   Maria at Teddy Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria   Maria at Gallery "Sezoni", Sofia, Bulgaria more photos   Maria at Art Center "Altera" in the World Trade Center Interpred, Sofia, Bulgaria more photos   Collaborative exhibition of Maria and Valery Varbanov - "The Apple - Realistic and Abstract"at Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, "Sredets" Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria more photos   SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:   Since 1992    - Participation in the main exhibitions of the                         Association of Artists in Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1995             - National Art exhibition "Autumn Saloon",                        "Shipka 6" Art Gallery, Sofia 1993             - International Art Bienale, Gabrovo, Bulgaria 1994             - National Art Exhibition, Kjustendil, Bulgaria 1995             - National Art Exhibition, Lovetch, Bulgaria 1995             - Art Gallery "Galeriet", Art Gallery "Amare"                        in Stavanger, Norway 2002             -"Voshan" Fine Arts Gallery, PaloAlto, CA, USA  2002             -"Seki Art Salon", Tokyo, Japan 2003             -"Triumph Gallery", Tokyo, Japan  2004             - Tokyo International Art Fair   2004             - Ronald Coles Investment Art Galleries, Sydney,                          Australia 2005             - Astrohome Design - LLC, Washington, DC, USA 2006             - Reign Gallery, Newport, RI, USA 2007             - Gallery Art-M, Tryavna, Bulgaria 2007             - Maria represented Bulgaria on the First Biannual EMMA -                     European Masters of Modern Art, in the Water-Castle of Burgau, Austria         Maria represented Bulgaria on the First Biannual EMMA - European  Masters of Modern Art, in the Water-Castle of Burgau, Austria.   60 artists from 33 countries were selected for the EMMA exhibition. Maria won 3rd place at the EMMA Visitors' Award.    The three paintings, which Maria showed at EMMA are the best from her  “Portraits of Apples” Series. Sponsor of Maria’s participation at EMMA is the Bulgarian pharmaceutical company –Actavis.   more photos from EMMA        Back to top

 

 

FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS   Maria and Valery Varbanov will represent Bulgaria in  Stavanger - European Capital of Culture 2008 with their Collaborative exhibition  in the biggest private gallery in Norway - Gallery "Amare", Stavanger - 8th May - 6th June 2008

 

Galleries that handle Maria's art works   Gallery Art-M, Tryavna, Bulgaria "Altera" Art Gallery in the World Trade Center-Interpred , Sofia, Bulgaria Art Gallery "Seasons", Sofia, Bulgaria Teddy Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria Reign Gallery, Newport, RI, USA  Ronald Coles Investment Art Galleries, Sydney, Australia Astrohome Design - LLC, Washington, DC, USA "Seki Art Salon", Tokyo, Japan "Triumph" Gallery, Tokyo, Japan "Voshan" Fine Arts Gallery, Palo Alto, CA, U.S.A. Gallery "Amare", Stavanger, Norway Gallery "Galleriet", Stavanger, Norway     PRESS RELEASES:     The Bulgarian most luxury life-style magazine – "Premium Lifestyle", represented Maria’s art and her participation at EMMA respectively in its Spring 2007 and Summer 2007 issues.     “Gulf Connoisseur” Magazine January/February 2004 issue “Gulf Connoisseur” Magazine October/November 2005 issue “Essence” The Ritz-Carlton  Magazine, Jan/Feb/Mar 2006   To view the issues of "Gulf Connoisseur" and "Essence" - The Ritz-Carlton Magazine for Middle East and Turkey click here   Back to top         Why do I choose to work in classical realistic style?          Artists learn everything they can about other artists' styles and techniques throughout history, filter this information through their own experience and temperament, and generate their own style.      It can take years for an artist to develop a specific style, reflecting his or her artistic range and personal temperament. But, in my opinion, an artist's work must not stop there. Artists have to constantly take on new stylistic challenges. In this sense, I’m not afraid of searching for new ways and means of expression. I’m always trying out new subjects, media, and perspectives - to keep my work fresh and original.      Some artists find that the emotional impulse drives them to create, and seek to reveal that emotion in their art. Other artists are drawn to innate logic and order; they are likely to take a rational approach to art. Concerning my art, I would say that I’m seeking to find the balance and accord between emotion and rationality in my paintings.      I think that the art with classical or rational tendencies continues to be very popular because it brings to our busy lives a sense of balance and harmony. With my art I try to persuade the viewers that if we look carefully enough, we can find a certain classical beauty and elegant form in the most ordinary objects and materials. I try to suggest trough my images that perhaps there is a mysterious, underlying order even in our chaotic world. Back to top          What is Still Life for me?         On definition a Still life is a picture of inanimate objects. It has always been an important formal exercise for an artist. The aim of the artist is to capture volume, texture and color convincingly enough to convey an illusion of reality. I always try to create still lifes that are more than just a picture of objects. I would like my still lifes to have a hidden content, to tell a story or to remind us of life’s brevity.      When I arrange my still lifes, I don’t simply choose attractive or interesting objects to depict, but I choose objects that symbolize aspects of our existence and human presence. My sill lifes have to look like deserted stage sets in a state of suspended animation - just waiting for the next act to begin, like someone has just left or someone will just come. Back to top        The creative process         When I decide to create a still life, I always have a plan in my mind. I always have a screenplay for the story I would like to relate. When the idea is clear, I begin to think about the ways to realize it. When I set the scene, I have to find the best and the only one possible composition which should convey my idea, I have to find the most attractive combination of the objects themselves, their location, the lighting conditions and last but not least - the point of view. In my opinion, the most important and powerful means for the still life is the light. When I arrange my still lifes I prefer to use light which imitate the natural illumination – like in a late summer afternoon or morning, and sometimes - intimate candle lights. This way I achieve warmer and more intimate atmosphere, the feeling of romantic contemplation or dramatic tension in my still lifes.      For the painting - I use canvas prepared with hand made ground coat, following the technology of the old masters, with gesso-ground based on natural organic substances.      I prefer to paint on black or dark gray background. While I paint, I like the objects in my still lifes to appear from the dark. First I make a precise under painting with acrylic, using a small ordinary brush. Then I continue with oil using airbrush and brush. My latest still lifes are made with acrylic only. Back to top         I’ve been often asked with question -      How long does it take to paint one still life like this?        The answer I always give is that each painting is different and it depends on the size and the objects. But it is always at the cost of 25 years painting practice, experience and knowledge. Back to top        When do I decide that the painting is completely ready?        As to me - “That is the question!” It is very important to know when to stop. One painting, especially realistic, could be painted lifetime. You have to believe me that it’s a very big temptation and challenge to paint out to the full the painting (especially when you have the experience to do this). To me each painting is like a child who grows and suddenly it gets its own personality and character. And there comes the moment when you have to respect and follow its own life. The key is to realize where to stop, to overcome the artistic narcissism and desire for a skill demonstration, and to conform to the painting’s life. I’ve been always aspired to keep the painting’s freshness and achieved mood; do not overpaint it. I’ve never had the ambition to achieve a hyper realistic quality in my paintings because I find it senseless for my still lifes. It’s more important for me to attain the mood, atmosphere and to tell the story I would like to share. Back to top

PORTRAITS:

Maria Varbanova in process of creating a copy of a portrait from 19th  century in the National Museum of Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria   To see some of Maria's portraits - click on the banner below:   Back to top

 

e-mail: mariavarbanova@yahoo.com

 

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