Meet Dinija Berkien | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dinija Berkien and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dinija, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
As an artist I find inspiration in almost anything I see or feel. Weather it’s nature, people, faces, interesting shapes, colors or moods. I love the process of creation and discovering the unknown as I paint. And the more I paint, the more I learn. Studying Old Masters works is another way to get inspired. And of course music. I like to listen to classical music while painting. It helps to relax my thinking and open the channels of intuition.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey started in kindergarten when my drawing was recognized as one of the best. That’s when my parents started guiding me through the art path. I took lessons in pottery sculpting and leather crafts — making little leather treasure boxes and leather covers for small notebooks, and in high school I started drawing still life and continued for many years. However, my upbringing in Eastern Europe has brought its challenges, as art materials during the oppression were scarce, and it was difficult to freely express your talents. Later in life I discovered oils and how wonderful the medium is, and I immersed myself fully in studying the Old Masters way of painting still life, and gradually expanded my horizons enjoying painting flowers and the ocean. I’ve become quite versatile in my art these days and love painting figurative and abstract. Over the years I have learned that there is no limit to creativity and I am honored to have the freedom of expression and the ability to share this with the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A day at the beach is a must in Florida, so a visit to Crandon Park in Key Biscayne followed by sampling a colada in South Beach would make a great day. Next on the list would be the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens and with any luck we would witness a wedding. Traveling a bit north, a visit to the Norton Museum of Art and lunch at The Breakers in West Palm would be fabulous. Our journey would end on the Treasure Coast with a day of painting the Banyan Tree tunnel in Stuart and visiting several of my favorite artists and their studios.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family and friends. Growing up, my mom was the biggest support in my artistic path. We often went to museums and art exhibits, and she encouraged me by signing me up for various art lessons.

Website: www.dinijastudio.com

Instagram: @dinijab_studio