At the end of my swan series, I wasn't quite sure what or how I wanted to paint. I also felt that my painting skills were limited, and I wanted to improve them.

I stumbled across a video from the Milan Art Institute and was captivated by Elli Milan. She's a fantastic artist and has accomplished a great deal in her life.

I enrolled in the online masterclass at the beginning of January 2026 and dedicated 35-40 hours each week to improving my painting skills.

During the one-year Mastery Program at the Milan Art Institute, I deepened my knowledge of the classical fundamentals of drawing and painting while simultaneously developing my own artistic style.

At the beginning of the program, I focused intensively on the basic principles of drawing. This allowed me to deepen my understanding of proportions, perspective, anatomy, and the effective use of light and shadow. I also expanded my knowledge in the areas of color theory, composition, and pictorial structure.

A particular emphasis was placed on the practical application of various painting techniques. In oil painting, I learned the techniques of the Old Masters, such as alla prima, the fat-on-lean technique, the subtraction method, layering with glazes, the creation of underpaintings, and the deliberate use of transparent and opaque layers of paint, as well as chiaroscuro. Furthermore, I explored a wide range of brushes, mediums, and supports, as well as techniques for creating different textures and surfaces. In acrylic painting, I further developed my skills through the use of layering techniques, glazes, dry brushing, and texture-enhancing materials.

As the program progressed, I combined these classical techniques with contemporary methods. Through the use of mixed media, collage, mark-making, ink, spray paint, and abstract design elements, I developed a more experimental approach and refined my personal visual language. The interplay of traditional painting techniques and modern forms of expression has profoundly shaped my artistic process and remains an important foundation of my work to this day.

I completed the practical part of the course from January to May 2026, and I learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed it.