🖌️🎨Veneta Docheva (born 1974) - Bulgarian watercolor artist

 🖌️🎨Veneta Docheva (born 1974) -
Bulgarian watercolor artist.
Clarity of lines and freedom of color
Favorite materials: Escoda brushes, flat Chinese brushes; Saunders Grain Fin paper, Arches Rough, Mijello watercolor.
Veneta Docheva was born in 1974 in Sofia.
She studied painting on her own.
Here is how Veneta tells about herself:
"There was only one decent art school in Sofia. I really wanted to go there. I got a "C" on the first exam, decided that I wouldn't get in anyway at this rate, and helped all my "competitors" during the watercolor exam - I painted their works. By the way, I passed the watercolor exam with flying colors. But I was never accepted into the art school.
I was upset and gave up drawing for about ten years. After high school, I entered the law faculty.
When I was 22-23 years old, I went with my parents to an exhibition of an artist who began painting at the age of 50.
We bought one of his paintings, talked, and he said that he believed that I would become a famous artist. I was amused at the time, because I dreamed of becoming a great lawyer.
However, the very next day I bought watercolors, children's ones in some glass jars. I tried to draw - it didn't work out. Then my mother gave me watercolors and better paper, she said she wanted me to enjoy drawing. I tried again - and the drawing looked as if I had been drawing with watercolors all my life! Then I continued drawing "for myself".
Once a friend of our family saw my works and suggested exhibiting them in a gallery. I said that I would think about it and forgot about it. Thanks to my husband - he reminded me of the offer, I exhibited one drawing and it was bought on the same day. It inspired me!
By that time, I had finished my studies and began working in my specialty, as a lawyer, but very soon I realized that this was "not my thing", but I still continued to practice law.
Gradually, drawing brought me more and more pleasure, and even some fame. I took part in several large exhibitions, and in 2006 I organized a personal one.
In Bulgaria, I regularly organized exhibitions, then there was my first exhibition in Bratislava, Warsaw... And finally - in Paris! My childhood dream came true! My works started selling well, and I started looking at drawing as a way to earn money.
...To be honest, I didn't expect such a positive reaction from my subscribers to my works. As a result, I left my job as a lawyer and began to devote all my time only to drawing.
My subscribers and art lovers in Bulgaria love me, but Bulgarian artists - not so much. I was not even accepted into the Bulgarian Union of Artists, but I'm not too upset. I like to say that I am an "artist of the people".
However, the attitude towards me on the part of the creative community changed after I won 2nd place at the international watercolor exhibition in Pakistan.
I like the Chinese and Russian schools of watercolor. In my opinion, watercolor is ideal for the Russian character. You reveal the very essence of this material. Europeans do not cope with this very well, in my opinion, they are more reserved and passionate about detail. I adore the works of Sergey Temerev and Ilya Ibryaev.
Every day before I start painting, I meditate - I drink coffee, listen to music, decide what color I want to do the work in today. And only after that I start. And so for 10 years already, like a conditioned reflex.
I never paint to order. It kills inspiration.
Do not control the watercolor. Water and pigments will "paint" everything themselves.
My best works were created when I lost control.
Watercolor is like music lessons. If you do not paint every day, you lose the feeling of water.
Every day I look for what would be interesting for me to paint. I try to diversify themes. Otherwise, routine appears, it destroys watercolor."
Since 2006, Veneta has participated in personal and collective exhibitions in Europe and around the world.
The artist's works are stored in private collections of watercolor lovers in many countries.