Do you have an art school? Where did you learn to draw?

These are the two questions I get asked almost daily

The truth is, I did attend art school, but that doesn’t mean I was born with talent. At school, I learned how to draw—we were taught different techniques, and that’s when I discovered my passion for pencils. However, I lacked patience. I wanted instant results, often rushing through drawings in just two hours, and, unsurprisingly, my artwork reflected that haste.

In 2011, I came across Živé Ateliéry and enrolled in my first drawing course. That’s where I began to develop patience and learned to use pencils in layers rather than relying on a single one. Before, I would adjust shading simply by changing the pressure on my pencil. Now, I use a range of pencils, from 8B to 6H, to build depth and achieve more realistic results. My approach to time also changed—I no longer complete drawings in two hours but rather dedicate 15 or more hours to a single piece. A great example of my progress is a drawing I did twice: the first version in two hours, and a year later—after drawing almost daily—I redid it to see how much I had improved.

Since 2011, I’ve drawn almost every day, even if only for an hour, just to keep my skills sharp. The more I draw, the better I get. My biggest inspiration is Paul Cadden, a Scottish artist known for his hyperrealistic work, which is exactly where I aim to take my art.

Beyond drawing daily, I occasionally attend classes at Živé Ateliéry when I need inspiration. I also had the opportunity to study perspective under Slovak academic sculptor Mr. Durbak. Learning perspective was one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced—it once took me three hours just to draw all the guiding lines and shapes of a still-life composition! But the struggle was worth it, and the results speak for themselves.

In addition to pencil work, I experiment with dry pastels, drawing inspiration from my talented artist friend Michael Breyette, who excels in this medium. The funny thing about working with dry pastels is that it’s a full-body experience—most of the work is done with my hands, and by the time I’m finished, both I and my clothes are covered in color. A shower and laundry session are always required afterward! 😆