Claudiu Bixa's painted furniture workshop in Rasnov

How did I find out about the Painted Furniture Workshop in Rasnov? From Claudiu Bixa, who owns it. When we launched the magazine, Claudiu Bixa followed every post with interest and always had a good word for us. We liked his interest and wanted to find out if his work was related to wood. That's how we found out that he deals with the restoration of old painted furniture, but also that he is an appreciated painter of firms and other wooden objects. The story of the man, but also of the painter and restorer of old furniture, appealed to us and prompted us to share it with you.

The talent inherited from his father, a church painter

Painting for Claudiu Bixa is the medium in which he was born and raised, his father being a church painter for over 40 years. Although fate took him to Râșnov, he was born and spent his childhood in Turda, Cluj county. The beautiful years he spent there left their mark on his personality. He was encouraged to believe in what is good and beautiful, to do whatever he wanted.

After a while they moved to Hunedoara, where he began his apprenticeship with his father in the church. He was mainly left to do the decorations. When he was 19, he left for the army. That's when he discovered he had a talent for painting letters, so he spent his army days painting banners in Brasov. He liked it so much that he wanted to continue after the army and so he ended up painting everything that meant visual propaganda at the Hunedoara Steelworks, which he did until 1989.

As visual propaganda disappeared after the revolution, he entered the free market and became a commercial painter. He says sadly that he is probably the last generation of commercial painters in Romania, a dying profession. In 1993, he opened a professional advertising graphics painting studio, as it was then called, and started working, studying marketing in parallel. After a year's work, having to pay his "dues" to the state, he felt it was unfair that they represented 44% of his work. He realised that the state did not support creative people in any way and, also influenced by the marketing course, began to think about emigrating.

Emigrating to Greece

And he did it in 1996, going to Greece where he lived for 16 years and which became his second homeland. He says it was a very good decision that he's convinced living there influenced him forever. He adapted so well that he didn't think he would ever go back. In Greece he lived all in the world of colour and creation, painting and painting. There he learned the term "technotropy" - artistic technique. He used special products to imitate marble, wood, stone or to patina materials. He still uses the same techniques in his projects, using materials imported from Greece.

Due to the crisis in Greece, he had to repatriate in 2012. And he did it in Rasnov, a picturesque area with a lot of wood and tradition. He slowly rediscovered Romania, readapting. Being a Saxon area, there was a tradition of painted furniture. So he focused on this area and started painting furniture. He studied Transylvanian furniture painting, practised and discovered the peculiarities of the style. She opened her own workshop, licensed in 2014 for rustic firm activities, painted furniture and rustic decorations.

A new field - recycled furniture

In Râșnov he discovered a new love for wood, for old wood, full of history and memories. He focused his workshop activity on miniature carpentry and painting. That's how he started reconditioning old chest of drawers and furniture. She likes to paint flowers on old wooden boards, which can be used as decorations. She is gradually discovering a new field - furniture recycling, which is a growing trend in Romania. An old piece of furniture can, with a little effort and imagination, become a beautiful and useful piece of furniture.

All the experience he has gained is now useful in working with wood. After 4 years in the business he has become well known in the area and beyond. He has done work for clients even abroad. He respects his customers very much and they appreciate his professionalism, reliability and promptness.

Because everything is done with love, passion and respect.