My love for nature began at a young age. I was always barefoot, with dirt on my clothes, exploring, and picking mulberries from the tree in my backyard in Monee, Illinois. Growing up in the rural-suburban mix of this town, I developed a deep appreciation for nature and its creatures. I kept a feather collection in a wooden box and built little houses for toads. I wanted to learn about animals, draw them, and truly know them!

By my teenage years, I became somewhat of an outcast and lost the enchantment I once found in nature. I was always confused about who I was supposed to be, how to act, and who to hang out with—often choosing the wrong crowd. This left me feeling unmotivated and unwilling. It wasn’t until I had my two children that the spark of wonder returned to me! Their love for exploring and their boundless curiosity reignited my own sense of adventure. They were fascinated by bugs, birds, dirt—anything grubby or interesting was absolutely captivating!

Later, I rediscovered my love for photography and rekindled my passion for animals. And then, I learned how to paint! Combining these interests has created an incredible life experience for me. I discovered that every being, whether big or small—tree or cloud—has a story, and I want to help them tell it. ✨

A few Fun Facts!

~Nature is my biggest inspiration and my greatest teacher!

~I release bugs that get into the home back into the wild, they are after all just misplaced!

~Sunsets and Sunrises always wow me, no matter how many times I see the phenomenon!

~Foreign languages, especially in writing are so intriguing to me! I think it’s so beautiful to see a phrase written in French or Italian!

~Birds are my favorite creatures (if I have to pick one!)

~If I could spend all of my money on coffee, flowers and tubes of paint and I would be ok with that 😂😆🤣

~Country music makes me cringe, so does the background music playing inside of big box stores!

~I have a hard time visiting animal shelters, hospitals and the obvious -funerals, the emotion is sometimes too overwhelming!

~My favorite foods are potatoes (baked), crab cakes and chocolate!

~My ideal scenery is Pine trees, mountains and a river- sounds so peaceful!

Let's slow down and savor the enchantment of the everyday. Let nature captivate you as it once did when you were a child. Listen to the birds sing, feel the wind rustle through the trees, and watch fireflies dance as the summer sun sets.

Collect fallen leaves and revel in the magnificent beauty of an autumn landscape, surrounded by crisp, cool air.

Enjoy the calmness of a winter day, watching the glittering snowfall as flakes twinkle in the sunlight, and follow the tracks of a doe through the snow.

Relish the excitement of new blooms and births as crocuses sprout and rabbits flourish in the spring!

~Maria

I'm Maria, a multi-passionate creative whose journey began with drawing, digital art, and photography. Over time, I discovered my love for painting with watercolors, acrylics, and oils.

To further develop my skills, I enrolled in the Milan Art Institute's Mastery Program, where I continued to refine my craft. Inspired by nature, I strive to weave stories of inner desires, adventure, and magic into my art.

Currently, my practice involves fine art watercolor paintings and digital illustrations in Procreate! I love creating so many new forms of artwork from one painting! I am also learning to effectively use surface design and create seamless patterns for various products!

I work from my home studio in Valparaiso, In! I have lots of pets (chickens, dogs, cats, lizards), two teenage kids, and a husband. I love coffee and slow mornings with my rooster crowing while the sun rises!

I dream that my art will support me and my lifestyle in more ways than one. I long to travel to National Parks and other beautiful scenic places in the U.S. for the scene, the experience, and the inspiration!