“God gives each of us something at birth. A person doesn’t become an artist – he is simply born an artist”, …and so it began for Martiros Manoukian, the artist born on August 5, 1947. His talent emerged at an early age and he began painting seriously at age 11. Even as a child, Martiros exhibited his great enthusiasm for freedom, adventure, and nature. Full of energy and the desire for self-expression, he was already rebelling against the status quo, conformity, and anything “collective” in character. Once, after skipping school, he reappeared with a painting in hand, explaining that he couldn’t attend school because, “Nature grabbed me and seduced me… and I had to paint it”.