Oana Gamlowski

Growing up in communist Romania, my artistic journey began with an act of childish vandalism – adding toothpaste flowers to my parents’ only painting. Little did I know this would foreshadow a lifelong passion for putting my own spin on things. The Romanian Revolution opened new doors, and I eagerly walked through them – right into a corporate career that took me around the globe. But even as I climbed the digital ladder, the creative itch persisted. So, I picked up a paintbrush, determined to balance my binary world with some analog color.

Oil on canvas became my playground, where I gleefully blend representation and abstraction into expressive works. My visible brushstrokes and vivid palette are a joyful rebellion. I’ve developed a surprising meditative ritual: underpainting, composing within the rule of thirds, and preparing color piles. It’s my way of entering “the zone” – a magical place where time flies and my paintbrush becomes my dance partner. Every painting is an adventure—part technical study, part spiritual journey. In addition, finding the right frame, name, and presentation is like playing a matchmaker between my art and its future soulmate.

Looking back, I’ve come a long way from that toothpaste-wielding child. Now, I have proper art supplies to play with as I shape my artistic voice, blending influences from Impressionism and masters like Sorolla, Coburn, Brâncuși, and Bogart. Each stroke is a step in my ongoing journey to master value, color, and composition – all while dancing to my own artistic rhythm.