Kamelia Tomanov

I moved to Chicago, IL in 1997 from Sofia, Bulgaria-- where I was born and raised.

Shortly after my move to Chicago, I went back to Bulgaria in 1999 to complete my bachelor’s degree. I graduated from Sofia University - St. KlimentOhridski in Bulgaria, and majored in Education with a focus on Pictorial Art.

In my early career, I was a fashion designer. I made design sketches and brought them to life by sewing fabrics and hand-knitting.

In 2004, I expanded my design skills; I became certified in Web Design from the College of DuPage in Illinois. Since then, I’ve worked on a variety of freelance projects designing logos, brochures, marketing fliers for print advertisements, and website layouts.

My background in fashion and web design has enabled me to work in various fields within the design industry. However, my true passion is painting.

My paintings are mostly acrylic and oil on canvas with implants of metal, fabric, yarn, and leather. The inspiration behind my art is focused on my cultural experiences. I have both abstract and realistic paintings which aim to present stories and feelings within myself. My creative process begins without prior planning; I paint with spontaneity to deliver my emotions to the canvas, experimenting with various techniques and colors along the way.

Nowadays, I am an art teacher at a Bulgaria school held on Saturdays. I teach elementary through high school level students who have an interest in further developing their art skills.

Additionally, I currently work as a freelance costume designer for figure skating dresses and theatrical costumes made for the ice. I work with coaches and figure skaters within the Chicagoland area to design and create tailor-made athletic costumes. I enjoy the challenge of designing costumes from various historical time periods, places, themes, and characters from fairy-tale stories.

I have made art my lifelong passion that consistently develops over time, taking shape within new forms.