"Aleksa Šantić: A Soul of Homeland and Sevdah", acrylic on canvas panel, Bishop Maxim, 2025

This portrait of Aleksa Šantić, Mostar’s cherished poet, catches the quiet melancholy and steady strength that ran through his life and words. His eyes, thoughtful under creased brows, hint at a soul torn between yearning and home—a man who felt his people’s highs and lows deep in his bones. The brushstrokes, soft and textured, mirror the gentle flow of his poems, and the muted colors call up the dusty stone and fading light of Herzegovina. Šantić doesn’t loom large here; he’s human—warm, proud, with a glow that’s all his own. You can almost hear his voice in the stillness, murmuring lines of love, grief, and a nation stirring awake. This isn’t just a likeness—it’s a nod to a man who put a voice to a land and its heart.