"Painted Desert" by Silvia Vassileva. Ever since her first art class at twelve years old, Silvia Vassileva imagined to do nothing else, but art. From her native Bulgaria, she attained a bachelor's and master's degree from the Academy of Fine Art, Sofia. Silvia likes to put "joie de vivre" or "joy of life" in her art work. Her work is heavily influenced by Japanese wood block prints, renaissance masters, French impressionists, and Pablo Picasso. In two words: "free" and "bold." Her paintings are known worldwide from galleries, corporate buildings, and residencies.