Today we’d like to introduce you to Oyunaa Waskin.
Hi Oyunaa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as an artist began long before I ever thought of calling myself a professional artist. I was born and raised in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where drawing was something I naturally loved from a very young age. My first art teacher was my father. He taught and encouraged me from an early age, and my mother was always beside me, supporting my love for art. Having both of their encouragement played an important role in developing my passion for art.
I feel that I am still growing and discovering where this journey will take me. For me, becoming an artist wasn’t one big decision—it was something I kept returning to until I finally realized it had always been a part of who I am.
Life, however, did not take me directly into a career as an artist. I studied interior and graphic design and later worked as an Information Technology specialist and webmaster. After moving to the United States, my life became centered around building a family, raising my kids, and eventually caring for my aging mother. Like many women, I spent many years putting different responsibilities ahead of my own creative ambitions.
But art never really left me.
Over time, I found my way back to drawing and painting. I began working seriously in graphite, charcoal, and oil, with a particular love for portraiture. I am fascinated by the challenge of capturing more than physical likeness. Whether I am drawing a person, a beloved dog, a horse, or wildlife, I want the viewer to feel the personality and emotion of the subject.
My path has not been a straight one, and I think that has shaped the artist I am today. Motherhood, caring for family, loss, and starting again at different stages of life have all influenced the way I see people and the subjects I choose to paint.
Today, I continue to build my fine art practice in Northern Virginia, creating commissioned portraits and original works while exhibiting my art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I have worn many hats throughout my life—wife, mother, daughter, caregiver, and artist. There were many periods when art had to take a back seat because my family needed me more.
One of my biggest challenges was finding the time to continue creating while raising my special needs child and, later, caring for my aging mother. For many years, especially toward the end of my mother’s life, caregiving became a major part of my daily life. It was physically, financially, and emotionally demanding, and there were times when picking up a pencil or paintbrush simply wasn’t possible.
Building an art career also comes with its own challenges. There is rejection from juried exhibitions and galleries, uncertainty about whether your work will sell, learning how to run and promote a business, and constantly questioning and pushing yourself to improve. As an artist, you have to learn not to let rejection define the value of your work.
Losing my mother recently has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life. She was one of my earliest supporters and always encouraged my art, so returning to my work after her loss has a different meaning for me now.
Through all of these experiences, art has remained something I come back to. I have learned that you don’t have to follow a perfect or traditional timeline to pursue something you love. Sometimes life interrupts your plans, and sometimes you have to begin again. I think those experiences have given me more patience, empathy, and emotional depth, and ultimately they have become part of the artist I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Oyunaa Waskin Fine Art. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Oyunaa Waskin Fine Art is my Northern Virginia–based fine art studio specializing in realistic portraiture and original artwork. I work primarily in graphite pencil and oil on canvas and copper. My subjects range from people and pets to horses and wildlife, but portraiture has always been at the heart of my work.
I am especially known for my detailed graphite drawings and realistic oil portraits. What matters most to me is not simply creating an accurate likeness. I want to capture something recognizable about the subject—the expression in the eyes, personality, character, and the emotional connection that makes that person or animal special to someone.
A large part of my business is commissioned portraiture. Many of the pieces I create have very personal stories behind them. I have created memorial portraits of beloved pets, family portraits, wedding gifts, and portraits celebrating animals that have played meaningful roles in people’s lives. When someone becomes emotional seeing a finished portrait because it brings back a memory or feels like the subject they love, that means more to me than simply hearing that the drawing looks realistic.
Alongside commissioned work, I create original fine art and regularly participate in juried exhibitions and competitions. My work has been recognized by the Portrait Society of America, where I have been named a finalist twice. I have also held solo exhibitions for three consecutive years in Staunton, Virginia, and have exhibited with Artists in Middleburg, where I received the Anita Baarns Best in Show Award in both 2025 and 2026. In 2021, I was selected as a finalist for Strokes of Genius 13: The Best of Drawing, and my artwork was published in a special-edition publication by the editors of Artists Magazine.
These recognitions are especially meaningful to me because they encourage me to continue challenging myself, both technically and artistically, while continuing to grow as an artist.
What I believe sets my work apart is the combination of very detailed realism with emotion. I can spend many hours studying tiny changes in value, texture, light, anatomy, or expression. But technical detail alone is never my final goal. I want the finished piece to have life and feeling.
I am most proud that Oyunaa Waskin Fine Art has grown organically from something I deeply love into a business that allows me to create meaningful artwork for other people. I don’t want my work to feel mass-produced or impersonal. Every commission receives my individual attention, and every piece has its own story.
I want readers to know that commissioning original art doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can be a deeply personal way to preserve a memory, celebrate someone you love, honor a beloved animal, or create something meaningful that can remain in a family for generations. That connection between art, memory, and people is really at the heart of Oyunaa Waskin Fine Art.
I also encourage people to think of buying original artwork as more than simply decorating a home. Art can be a meaningful long-term investment, particularly when you support an artist who is committed to continually improving their technique, developing their own distinctive style, and building recognition throughout their career. When you purchase an original piece, you are not only acquiring something unique—you are also becoming part of that artist’s journey and growth.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have been very fortunate to have people throughout my life who believed in me and encouraged my art.
My first art teacher was my father. He recognized my interest in drawing when I was very young and helped develop that love for art. My mother was also one of my greatest supporters. She always believed in me and encouraged me to continue creating. Her support meant so much to me, especially during the times when life became busy and art had to take a back seat.
My husband and kids have also been an important part of my journey. They have supported my decision to pursue my art seriously and have been there through the exhibitions, competitions, commissions, successes, and disappointments that come with building a creative career.
My very first oil painting teacher was artist Patricia Rice. She generously shared her knowledge with me and helped me build the foundation of my oil painting skills. Her guidance, patience, and willingness to share what she knew played an important role in my development as an artist, and I am very grateful to her.
I am also very grateful for the artists, art organizations, galleries, judges, and local art communities that have given me opportunities to exhibit my work and grow as an artist. Being surrounded by talented artists continually inspires me to learn, experiment, and improve.
And, of course, I owe a great deal to my clients and collectors. Many people have trusted me with incredibly meaningful commissions—portraits of family members, beloved pets, memorial pieces, and special moments in their lives. That trust is something I never take lightly. Every commission has taught me something, and seeing someone’s emotional reaction to a finished portrait reminds me why I love doing this work.
I don’t believe any success happens completely alone. My family gave me the foundation and encouragement, my teachers shared their knowledge, the art community gave me opportunities to grow, and my clients gave me the trust to turn something I love into Oyunaa Waskin Fine Art. I am deeply grateful to all of them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oyunaawaskin.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oyunaa.waskin.art
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oyunaa-waskin-b96bb192/
