An Interview with Artist and Doctor Barbora Šebeš

1. Barbora, what are your earliest memories of making art?

I remember being fascinated by drawing from a very young age. My parents weren’t thrilled, especially when my artistic attempts ended up on the walls of our living room. Even so, I managed to save a few drawings in old books, and they always encouraged me to keep going. As a young child, I mostly drew princesses, as many girls did. Gradually, though, I moved on to drawing animals from encyclopedias, which helped me improve and learn new techniques. I still enjoy drawing with pencils, especially Faber Castell, which are my favorites.

2. You started attending an art club in kindergarten. How did that influence your work?

The art club was a huge inspiration for me. I was excited to spend time drawing without worrying that I might damage something at home. Later, I continued at the Center for Leisure Activities, where I could really let my creativity run wild. That was when I discovered the joy of art and realized it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

3. During your studies at a bilingual high school and later in medical school, you took a break from art. How did you return to it?

Yes, I didn’t have as much time for art during high school or my six years of medical school. I earned my medical degree and started working as a pathologist. It was this work that helped me see the beauty in the microscopic structures of organs, which eventually led me back to painting. I started by drawing, and later began painting as well.

4. Which techniques and materials do you enjoy using most in your work?

Since I have limited time because of work and family, I’ve really come to love acrylic paints. Their rich color, fast drying time, and easy blending are just what I need. I most often use Amsterdam paints and Eufória by ARTMiE. I mostly paint on professional cotton canvases, but I’d also like to try linen canvases. I often incorporate texture paste into my paintings to create 3D flowers and different textures.

5. What helps you most when creating?

I like experimenting with different materials and techniques. When I get a “Tinkerbell” moment, as I call it, I even reach for gilding. My husband Jaroslav isn’t too thrilled about it, since he finds bits of gold in his dinner, but he always gets over it in the end because he’s artistic too.

6. What are your future plans in art?

For the past few weeks, I’ve kept talking about how I’d like to paint mystical nature and animals with oil paints. I’ve been fascinated by this technique for a long time, and although it’s time-consuming, I believe I’ll manage to do it.

Thank you for the interview, Barbora. We wish you every success in your artistic and medical careers!

Thank you so much, it was my pleasure!

If you’d like to follow Barbora’s work, you can find her on Instagram at @b_pathological or on her website at www.bpathological.com. Alongside her art, she also debunks medical myths and shares practical tips for preventing various illnesses.

ARTMiE