Pastoral nostalgia

My name is Elka Veselinova, and I come from the mountainous city of Vratsa in Bulgaria. I began painting at the age of 57, in the aftermath of my husband's passing—a profound turning point that led me to art as a path of healing, reflection, and rediscovery. With no formal training, I turned to the canvas instinctively, allowing emotion to guide my hand and memory to shape the forms. My works are not just images — they are emotional landscapes, painted in a language I discovered only when words fell short. Through them, I’ve come to understand that change, while often painful, can also open the door to new beginnings.

Winds of Change (2025), Golden Duck Gallery, Budapest

Wool painting on felt

41 x 25 cm

Bulgaria