Check Out Miriam Baranov’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Baranov. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a child, we moved around a lot internationally and nationally which made it challenging for me to connect with others since there would be a language and culture barrier. There were two things that no matter where I was helped me communicate with others. Math and Art are those two things that are an international system of communication. Since then, that became my foundation of how I make a living and express myself. 

I always dreamed of going to art school but I could not afford the luxury and needed stability. I started off by working in the Tech industry with data. I had a vision that at the age of 30, I will be so successful that I would be able to take time off to start my art business. 

Which is what I did. At some point, I became so devoted to art that I spent more time drawing than working and so it was a natural transition. I was lucky my husband was highly supportive. Also, I met an amazing mentor ‘Andrew Ameral’ under whom I had the privilege of studying Figurative Realism. 

The business of Art is one of the hardest fields I have ever been in and pursued. Just honing the skill and learning to create portraits took up all my time. I barely had a weekend, took no lunch breaks. And didn’t get much sleep. I lost a lot of close people to me and missed out on many events. Finally, I started making some income doing marketing and teaching. Unfortunately, that was short-lived as the pandemic hit. 

I didn’t give up though. I adjusted my strategy to being fully virtual. I continued honing skills through self-study. Today I teach, work on commissioned portraits, and sell works through galleries. I hustle and take up gigs. Also, I face a lot of rejection daily. I have to say I do miss the comfort of working for a company, getting paid well, being out all day, and mingling with coworkers. I feel like I went from working a 9 to 5 to working 24/7. But you know what, at the end of the day, I do what I love, and I create something that will last beyond my lifetime. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am highly introverted and critical of my work so sometimes it takes me time to warm up and approach others. Covid also made it really difficult as in my business, I rely on human contact. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a fine artist. I specialize in figurative realism. I love painting people and portraits, sometime I will paint pets as well. I also teach! I am most proud of being able to inspire others and share my knowledge; it is really rewarding seeing someone you mentor grow and develop. 

What sets me apart is that I integrate my knowledge of engineering into my artwork, I let it intertwine with the creative part. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I have mentors, artists who I aspire to. They are amazing, and I call them up whenever I need advice. I think it is always important to have someone in your field who is generous and cares about you, to give you an honest opinion. Some artists are old masters and so I go to museums to answer questions I have about techniques. 

Another resource is books. I really love the book by Solomon J Solomon titled ‘The Practice of Oil Painting and Drawing’. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to study figurative art. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.miriambaranov.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miriambaranov/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSGGNL_39xW9o2_DBh6DJXQ
• Linkr: https://linkr.bio/Miriam_baranov_art