I gained widespread popularity through my participation in the renowned reality show Survivor Bulgaria. In 2008, I tested my resilience and determination during the third season of the show, filmed in Panama. Six years later, in 2014, I embraced the challenge once again, joining the fifth season, set in the breathtaking landscapes of Cambodia. These experiences not only pushed my limits but also became defining moments in my journey, shaping my character and teaching me invaluable life lessons.
Blood is thicker than water! My father was an artist. A dusty studio, canvases, paints, the smell of acetone – these are my distant childhood memories. Dad used to paint the desolate landscapes of the Danube, and I thought being an artist meant staying still, rooted in one place. That felt so far from my fiery, restless nature. The artist in me was always there, but I left it in the corner of the room, like a shadow. I chose adrenaline, freedom, and traveling as my way of expression. For the first time, I felt the joy of drawing when I was 16 and made three caricatures – one of myself and two of my friends. The result? A lot of laughter! That feeling stayed with me. For years, my passion was motorsport. But my hunger for new adrenaline and my love for combat sports took me to Paris in 2009 to train and compete in MMA. One day, I was bored in my hotel room. I had a camera with photos, plain white hotel paper, and a pen. I looked at them and decided to draw. I made a caricature of a fellow MMA fighter, using one of his photos as inspiration. When I saw my friends laugh, I realized how unique it is to bring joy and entertain people. That was the moment the artist inside me stepped out of the shadows and revealed itself through this unique art form.
In 2008, I embarked on a new adventure – I participated in the TV reality show Survivor. This brought me some popularity and gave me the opportunity to develop my hobby into a profession. Ten years later, in 2019, I was already an established caricaturist with many commissions – the dream of every artist.
I started feeling the need for growth and new horizons. Fate decided to listen to me and led me down a difficult path to give me a new beginning. It took away everything old, so I had no excuses left and knew there was no turning back. That's how I found myself on a journey to Germany with no clear plan, but the Artist in me secretly decided not to abandon me and kept following me like a shadow... He knew something that I didn’t yet! It wasn’t long before a chance meeting with Ferdinand Georg – a quick artist – marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. He directed me to the "father" of this art in Germany, the great Gero Hilger. He holds the Guinness World Record for fastest drawing and became my mentor and teacher. He opened the doors for me to this new world. I had never attended an art school and had never been able to draw people, especially not quickly… I had two months. Non-stop, tireless drawing, with a timer set to make sure each drawing took no more than 4-5 minutes – and I succeeded! I began working. Event after event, month after month, I started reaching the level of my German colleagues and managed to develop my own unique style and signature.
I found the perfect version of myself in fast drawing. Let me tell you why. :)
1. I love making people happy, being at the center of events, and energizing those around me with my smile and energy, while also drawing inspiration from them. The events I’m invited to draw at are exactly like that – filled with positive vibes!
2. I enjoy psychology and psychoanalysis. I’ve traveled around the world and met many people. I can recognize emotions, the soul of individuals, and see their essence in their eyes. This makes every portrait I create unique, just like people are unique. I capture their characters and translate them onto paper.
3. I love to have fun, and fast drawing brings me both happiness and satisfaction. But don’t think it’s easy! This constant concentration is more exhausting than running 10 kilometers. The hand movements, shifting of the head, sitting on the chair... It's more tiring than an hour at the gym. And yes, I’m an athlete! But I love this work! What matters are the message, the emotion, and the satisfied client. :)