Hi, I’m Mirna. Nice to meet you.
About
Biography
Mirna grew up in Bosnia and, at age ten, immigrated to Germany during the Bosnian war in the 90s. A few years later she returned to Bosnia, then finally immigrated to the United States for good. None of those transitions were a breeze. Art was her grounding force, and more importantly, a way forward.
Mirna received her bachelor’s degree in Illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design and was recruited by Hallmark Cards, where she still works today. Mirna enjoys working with a collaborative, creative team of writers, photographers, and artists alike, to create colorful works that help people celebrate their unique relationships and life moments.
Aside from her career, Mirna is curious to keep exploring her personal illustration style. She loves painting loosely, keeping the image energetic and dynamic. Thriving in a versatility of styles, she also enjoys painting on cut color paper with gouache. Crisp colors, loose edges, and decorative flourishes define her illustrations. In her themes, Mirna explores nature, food, and lifestyle illustrations with lively color palettes.
Artist Statement
Something has shifted. Now in my forties, motherhood has slowed, career ambitions have softened, and art has become a way of being rather than a pursuit. The pressures have lifted, leaving me with space—both mental and physical—to create the kind of work that excites me. Work that preserves something I love. That’s the work I’m showing here on this website.
After years in the industry, I’ve learned wonderful techniques, channeled other people’s visions, and embraced trends. It’s been a fulfilling, creative career with many friendships made along the way. But when what you love becomes your job, you risk losing sight of what truly inspires you. I realized I hadn’t been listening to my own creative voice for a while. So, I began stealing away time to sketch—mostly travel sketches. They were rough, imperfect, but they held something precious: the beauty of a moment, preserved in a way that was uniquely mine.
Now, what I crave most is to create that kind of intimacy and authenticity in my work. I am particularly drawn to themes of nature and culture, whether expressed through landscape, fashion illustrations, or anything that falls in between. I lean toward traditional mediums because they offer the space for intuition and spontaneity—elements that digital tools, with their infinite options, can’t replicate. I’m not inspired by trends or marketability; I want to invite, not persuade. I want to assign colors that carry emotion, leaving pieces of myself in every stroke and texture. I don’t want to paint like an algorithm. I want to paint like an exhale—natural, human, and sincere.