Milica Stojaković
How have growing up in Serbia and studying in Belgrade shaped your artistic identity?
My name is Milica Stojaković, and I am painter. Growing up in Serbia is not easy. I really mean that because people here are difficult and different. I was born 1990 in small town who names Valjevo. I love art since I was kid. I finished art school and here in country I was studied. Studying here is nice; you can see many artists and people who love arts, but Belgrade prefer modernism. It’s not big number of us who prefer realism. When I was child, I saw art of old masters and they inspired me. I adore art of this genius and I try to understand their techniques and I learn. I preferred west still, and I have my ideas. I always love realism and I get starting with him immediately when I start to paint. Inspired by that still and many situation from my life are built my artistic identity.
What draws you to realism, and what do you hope to express beyond the visible appearance of your subjects?
When I mean realism, I mean classical realism, hyperrealism and fantastic realism. I want to express my feelings, my opinions in different ways of realism. The subject who appearance in my realistic art is the flower, fruit, body, portrait of someone, segment in the nature or mystic symbols and elements. I insist on great naturalness and realism.
You have explored different techniques but prefer oil on canvas. What qualities of this medium make it especially suited to your artistic vision?
Yes, I explored different techniques by watercolor, acrylic, pigments, gouache, oil, but I prefer oil on canvas. The material must be perfect. My material includes primary colors who I mixed, and oil and brushes. The best materials for me is Rosemary brushes. This material is in my first place for work, but I love and others like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Lukas and Spektar. It’s very important the materials which we work with.
How does a painting begin for you—with an image, an emotion, a story, or something else?
My art for me is my life. It is my story about me. I adore my art. My best painting is “Ella”, and she is protection symbol of my art. “Ella” in Latin language and religion means God. That story of my life including people who is obeležili my life—my family, friends, mystic situation and happenings which were. We always learn in life. But it’s very important when is God with us, because art learn us that we must love and believe in life and we must to survive and last in the world around us. Artworks is for all life. With art we are not alone. The best feeling is when my hand makes different moves and creates my new ideas.
Your practice includes still life, portraiture and landscape. What makes a particular subject compelling enough for you to paint?
The particular subject who is compelling enough for me is still life. I love flowers, especially peonies and roses. I love to paint that. And like flowers and I adore religion.
Has your experience as a teacher changed the way you understand or approach your own creative practice?
Working with young people is wonderful experience. They are young and they are inspired to learn about art. I try to they understand art in different ways, like drawing, painting and books. They must be creative and must have their personality artistic identity. They learn from different books and literatures about art and artist. My experience as a teacher learn me patience. I try in easy way in my class to learn young people how to finish the art problems and to build their own style.
Having exhibited in Serbia and internationally, what have you learned from seeing different audiences respond to your work?
Yes, I have the exhibition in Serbia and internationally. It makes me to understand better art and other cultures, people and countries. That’s not all. Realism is growing especially in the world and everyone who preferred realism proud to be part of it. It’s heavy style and needs a lot experience and knowledge and talent. I love to hear experience by many people here and in others country, and that’s the way who inspired me for my ideas. People speak through their art. You can see the different feelings, different opinion, and many question about art and how art will looks in the future. And I try to learn a young generation to explore the world of art, to be creative and to love the art. As Descartes said: “I paint, therefore I exist.” Art will save the world.
