A friendly smiling face – that was my first impression when a few days ago I met Veronika in the centre of Sofia; it is not very often one gets to see such a radiant face among the hurrying figures in the streets. We got to talking and soon I found out she did decoupage. “What could that be?” I said to myself. But she soon cleared it up for me – it is a form of applied art when you cut out a shape or a figure out of different materials – paper, wood, leather or tissue paper. Then it is glued or otherwise attached to the chosen surface: wood, metal, fabric or glass. Decoupage is a good way to decorate all sorts of things – jewellery boxes, hair brushes, plates, vases, bottles, candlesticks, clocks but also furniture.

To some decoupage may just be a hobby, but to Veronika Botsova it is so much more. She has been making beautiful things for five years. She now has a decoupage, painting, sculpture and woodcarving studio called Veronik Art. Together with her husband, artist Angel Botsov, the two created it to instill their own passion of all things beautiful into the kids from the neighbourhood. Now the studio is full of children of all ages every day who go there to take a break and learn something new. For many years Veronika occupied a high position in a different sphere, but has now dedicated herself entirely to this form of art.

“I lost someone very dear to me and I needed to drag myself out of the state I was in. When I was at school I used to draw but it never became a hobby. When my grandmother passed away art was what helped me realize that life goes on. Decoupage helps me express myself. When I make things I think of the person I am making them for. If I am feeling down I never sit down to draw. I believe the things we make absorb of our soul and emotion. The art studio is our dream come true. We encourage children to be creative, to work as a team and to never be afraid of sharing their ideas. I give each and every one of them my attention.  The tasks we give are tailored depending on their age. With children there is nothing phony, everything is genuine. Children have to be told the truth. Acknowledging their work motivates them. We believe that dreams can come true, but you must never give them up. At the studio children are free to be themselves and forget their problems.”

Working with children is no easy thing but Veronika has found a way to their hearts. To them she is more than a teacher, she is a true friend they can share their worries with.

“Our motto is “Together we can do more”. I think the only place soloists are needed is the opera. Whatever you may be doing, if there is no team work, if you don’t adapt you are lost. We make the gifts for our loved ones ourselves. Children make their teachers, their parents presents and that makes them so happy knowing they are the fruit of their own hands. It wasn’t easy setting up the studio with all the red tape it involved. But I am so glad when people come here and say: I don’t have children but I want to congratulate you on what you are doing! We started out from scratch but the very day we opened doors, children came here and we have been together ever since.”

In today’s digital world it is difficult to tear children away from computers. Veronika and her husband suggest we don’t forbid the use of computers but use the Internet as an aide. The children from Veronik Art use the net to find interesting ideas in their work. Here is 11-year old Ivet Nikiforova who regularly goes to the studio:

“Decoupage is one of the things I love best. My favourite part is when Veronika teaches us new techniques. This is a place I can relax and forget problems at school. My big dream is to be able to make new and beautiful things out of old furniture. I want to be a designer.”

Not long ago Veronika and Angel Botsov, the children and their parents raised money and collected clothes for the Mother Theresa home for children without parental care in Plovdiv. Together they went to the home and spent the day in fun and games.

English version: Milena Daynova