I'm a Romanian artist. I always knew I wanted to be one, as I never even played a doctor or princess as a little girl. I just painted.

After I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, Bucharest, I struggled to make a living on what I loved most: art. I worked in graphic design and web design and even was a cake decorator for a while. I met my husband, who is a church painter, quit my job at that time and left with him to paint together and pursue my dream.

Since I started painting on glass, I've also discovered other surfaces. I paint on mirrors, wooden boxes, and vases, upcycling them into ethereal artworks. I also love painting fantasy art and telling little stories on canvas. My social media and Etsy shop grew steadily, so I've been able to get closer to my dream of becoming an independent artist.

It depends on the complexity of the painting, but it usually takes me a few hours to complete the image and a day for the varnish to dry completely. I use non-toxic acrylics and varnish for protection. I only apply it (with a small brush) on the painted surface, so the glass remains clear.

I hope readers know that every handmade item comes with love and a little piece of the artist's soul. Supporting a small art business is helping a person get closer to a dream.

I know it's a cliche, but it is true that if you work really hard and don't give up, with a little patience, you will succeed, no matter how impossible it seems now.