Hey!
My name is Živa (b. 1997), and I come from Slovenia.
Since childhood, I’ve expressed myself through every medium of art I could get my hands on. I remember drawing and painting, shaping little figures out of modeling clay, sewing clothes for my dolls, building houses out of cardboard, and creating something new from whatever I could find. I found “normal toys” boring, so I invented my own. Once, I even drew faces on all the shampoos and creams in the house so I could play with them.
I studied Industrial Design at the High School of Design and Photography in Ljubljana. Later, I studied Visual Communications at the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana, where I earned my degree. During my studies, I also spent a semester in Dublin at NCAD, focusing on illustration.
For the last five years, I’ve worked as a freelance Graphic Designer, Content Creator, and Illustrator for a variety of clients.
Eventually, I felt called to pursue something deeper, something for my Soul’s Essence. That calling led me back to painting.
I’ve always been drawn to the mystical and felt that there is so much more happening than what we perceive with the naked eye. I’ve had experiences that continue to inspire me to dig deeper into the mysteries of the universe and into the mysteries of myself.
Thank you for being a part of my journey!
Painting Your Essence
HOW IT STARTED
I’ve had different commissions before. For weddings, birthdays, and other special moments. But the very first essence I ever captured was a portrait for a friend. I drew a large charcoal portrait to show him how I see him. When I gave it to him, I could see how deeply touched he was and how it empowered him. That moment made me realise: this is what I want to share with others. The feeling of being seen, honoured, and empowered. I believe the world needs more of that right now.
Not long after, I went to Egypt. Those of you who have been there probably know how energetically potent it is. It was an initiatic journey guided by Mateya Triglav. When I returned home, I felt called to give her a gift – specifically, a portrait. At first, I thought it might be “too much” as a present. But then one day, as we were sitting in my living room, she mentioned that she would love to have a painted portrait from me.
About a week later, I went to bed and saw a vision of exactly how the painting should look like. I started painting, and about a month and a half later, I gave her the finished piece. To my amazement, it captured her essence with all the symbols she immediately recognised. That was the moment I realised I could do this not only for people I know personally, but also for those I haven’t met. By tuning into their energy and drawing the information from beyond the visible.
And so the journey continues. I began painting the essences of my friends, and soon I started receiving commissions from people I had never met before.
