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Trained as a designer, now she is living her dream as a painter
The Brampton Guardian
Tina Depko
Photo by Bryon Johnson — Maria Dlvbak knew she wanted to be a full-time artist when she sold her first painting at age five in Poland. Nearly five decades later and a half a world away, she is finally living her dream.
Maria Dlvbak can pinpoint the exact moment she knew she wanted to be an artist.
When she was 5-years-old, she held her first art exhibit in front of her house in Poland. Her drawing of a yellow and green striped tiger, caught the attention of a passerby, who offered to buy it.
"I told him I didn't know how much to charge," recalled Dlvbak, 54. "He smiled and gave me two zlotys. He told me that one day I would be a great artist. That experience made a big impression on me and art became my life's passion."
Unfortunately, passion wasn't enough to convince Dlvbak's parents she should pursue a career in art. Rather than study the great masters, she trained to become a technical draftsperson and designer.
"Even though I wasn't able to go to art school, I continued to paint and draw," Dlvbak said. "I often made art for company events and other functions."
More than three decades later, and three relocations from Poland to Germany to South Africa and finally to Brampton in 1995, Dlvbak is finally a full time artist. She took leave of her job as a draft designer three years ago to nurture her artistic yearnings.
"I wanted to take a break and focus on my art," she said. "Sometimes you have to do something for yourself that is very important to you."
Dlvbak said it has been difficult for to become fluent in English since moving to Canada. Art is a means of communication for her. She is currently working on a narrative series of paintings that tell the story of a cat who becomes lost, only to find his way home many years later.
"The language of art is universal, so being an artist has helped me to fit in and express myself," she explained. "It is the bridge between people of all nations and languages."
Dlvbak works primarily in oils and acrylics. Her bold brush strokes recall the style of the neo-impressionists. Like several of those painters, flowers are her favourite subject. She spends many hours in the spring and summer outdoor in a garden capturing their beauty on canvas.
"When I was very small my father had a beautiful garden and it was a big influence," she said. "When I see flowers, I think, 'This is beauty.'"
Four of Dlvbak's pieces are part of an exhibit called Special Arrangements at Artway in Shoppers World, which runs until the end of February.
Dlvbak is keeping her fingers crossed that her work will garner the attention of the jurors of the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition in July. Being selected for this festival would be the highlight of her artistic career, she said.
"I would love to show my paintings in Toronto this summer," she commented. "This is one of the biggest shows in Toronto and I hope that I will be there."
For more information on Dlvbak or the show Special Arrangements, contact Visual Arts Brampton at 905-453-9142 or visit www.visualartsbrampton.com.