From Self-Taught to Celebrated
Maya Schulz’s
Journey Through Art and Heritage
From a young age, Maya Schulz’s journey into the world of art began when she immigrated to the UK. Art became her medium of communication, allowing her to express herself and connect with others. At the age of seven, she won a national art contest in honor of the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana. This early recognition fueled her passion for art and solidified its importance in shaping her identity. Since then, art has been a constant and significant part of her life, guiding her on a path of self-discovery and creative expression.
Maya’s rich cultural and Asian heritage has profoundly shaped her artwork. Deeply inspired by Islamic art and the vibrant aesthetics of her Asian Bengali heritage, these influences are intricately woven into her paintings, reflecting the beauty and traditions that surrounded her growing up. The colors, patterns, and stories from her cultural background infuse her art with a unique and personal touch, allowing her to create pieces that are visually striking and deeply meaningful.
Winning the national art contest at a young age was a transformative experience for Maya. It not only filled her with pride and accomplishment but also instilled the confidence to pursue painting as a serious career.
This prestigious honor served as a catalyst, propelling her to enter and win several other competitions. Additionally, it allowed her to excel in her art studies from a very early age, setting a solid foundation for her future artistic endeavors. Winning this contest was a pivotal moment that shaped her career and fueled her passion for creating art.
Maya’s recent artistic endeavors have been greatly influenced by her exploration of layering in mixed media art. Inspired by renowned artists such as Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne, she developed a deep appreciation for Impressionism and its layering techniques.
This admiration led her to delve into mixed media art, where layering adds rich texture and depth to her pieces and allows her to experiment with various mediums. Recently, she has been blending different techniques to create her unique style, incorporating elements like gold and silver leafing, which have become central to her artistic expression.
electing colors for her artwork is a deeply intuitive process for Maya. She relies on her emotions and instincts to guide her toward the right hues that resonate with the message and feelings she wants to convey.
Colors play a crucial role in bringing her art to life and connecting with the viewer on a visceral level. Bright and vibrant colors can convey energy, happiness, and passion, while muted and softer tones can evoke tranquility, nostalgia, or melancholy.
In her art, colors serve as a tool to create an emotional atmosphere, tell a story, and invite the viewer into a deeper experience. One artwork that holds immense personal meaning for Maya is a piece called “Winnie.” This painting represents a significant period in her life, marked by the loss of a dear friend. Her late friend was not only a close companion but also her biggest supporter and advocate for her art. To honor her friend’s memory, Maya poured her heart and soul into creating “Winnie,” a modern piece that incorporates layering and building techniques with fluid art.
The process of creating this artwork became a form of therapy for Maya, helping her navigate through her grief and find solace in expressing her emotions on canvas. In addition to creating the artwork, she dedicated her first solo art exhibition to her late friend and chose to raise money for her favorite charity, MIND.
Born during a civil war in Bangladesh, Maya’s journey as an artist has been deeply influenced by the personal experiences that shaped her upbringing. Growing up amid conflict, she witnessed the incredible resilience and courage of her family as they fought for freedom.
These experiences have left an indelible mark on her creative path, guiding the themes and subjects of her work. The foundations of her art lie in the themes of resilience, unity, and the indomitable spirit of humanity. Maya draws inspiration from the stories of ordinary individuals, like her family, who faced extraordinary challenges during times of war.
Being a self-taught artist, Maya faced numerous challenges but managed to conquer them through determination and perseverance. One major hurdle was the lack of formal guidance and structure that traditional art education provides. She overcame this by actively seeking alternative resources such as online tutorials, art books, and workshops.
Another challenge was the absence of constructive criticism and feedback from experienced artists. Maya sought out art communities both online and offline to receive valuable feedback and critique.
Self-doubt and comparison to formally trained artists were also obstacles she encountered, but she learned to embrace her unique journey and view her lack of formal training as an advantage. Maya stays inspired and continuously finds new ideas for her artwork by actively seeking out sources of inspiration from the world around her.
Nature, people, everyday objects, and even mundane situations serve as catalysts for new ideas. She finds inspiration in other artists and their works, exploring diverse styles, techniques, and concepts.
Maintaining a sketchbook or an idea journal helps her capture fleeting thoughts and concepts. Experimentation and pushing boundaries, along with introspection and self-reflection, also play significant roles in fueling her inspiration.
To aspiring artists, Maya advises embracing the joy of creating without fear of making mistakes. She emphasizes the importance of practice and discipline, seeking inspiration from a wide array of sources, and sharing work with others for feedback and support.
Believing in oneself and trusting one’s artistic intuition is crucial, as is staying true to one’s unique style and vision. Maya’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence, passion, and the continuous pursuit of growth and self-discovery in the world of art.
