Abouth me

I'm Patricia Maria, a dutch artist. My creative journey didn’t start on canvas, but on paper. For years, I lived in the world of books: I wrote two young adult fantasy novels and ran my own publishing company focused on the fantasy genre.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with VSS, a neurological condition that makes it difficult for me to spend extended periods in front of a screen. I had to let go of writing and design work, forms of creativity that had shaped my identity for years. Letting that part of my life go felt like losing a piece of myself.

Over time, I realized how deeply I missed creating. Without it, I felt disconnected, as if something essential inside me had gone quiet. That’s when I returned to painting. And something shifted. I felt alive again, but this time in a different way. Softer. Slower. More grounded. What began as rediscovering creativity slowly became a healing journey.

I am currently a BRN student at the Milan Art Institute, where I follow The Mastery Program. This experience has deepened not only my technical skills, but also my understanding of art as a path of self-love, courage, and inner growth.

Art, for me, is a way back to myself.
A way to process, to soften, to remember.
Through my work, I want to connect with those who feel deeply. The dreamers. The sensitive souls. The ones who sometimes forget they are allowed to take up space.

I believe we are all equally valuable. I believe in walking your own path, even when it looks different from others. I believe self-love is a quiet revolution. If my art can offer a moment of peace, recognition, or gentle reassurance — then it has done what it was meant to do.

Unsurprisingly, the themes of fantasy and storytelling still shimmer through my work. But now they are interwoven with something more personal: healing, softness, and coming home to yourself.

The Story Behind My Paintings

I like to think of my paintings as small portals, windows into other worlds, but also mirrors of the inner one.
My love for books — especially fantasy — still lives within every piece. But instead of telling stories with words, I now tell them with layers, texture, and light.

Each painting carries an intention:
to create stillness, to invite reflection, to hold space.
I hope that when someone stands in front of my work, they feel a sense of calm wash over them. A quiet recognition. A reminder that they are allowed to be exactly who they are and that they are not alone.

My Techniques

Through The Mastery Program at the Milan Art Institute, my creative process has expanded deeply. I now work with acrylics, oil paint, and mixed media, allowing me to build rich layers and intuitive textures.

I am especially drawn to gold — gold leaf, gold ink, subtle metallic details. For me, gold represents light within the darkness. The sacred in the ordinary. The quiet magic of simply being.

My style blends dreamy, fantastical elements with softness and depth. I don’t just want my art to be seen, I want it to be felt.

Like a gentle exhale.
Like coming home.