Berwyn artist Miro Ledajaks gave up on painting after high school, believing he could not make a living out of it, but his art now hangs in a Chicago gallery after a twist of fate led him back to his passion.

Following 15 years of work in a “real job” that ended with the company’s bankruptcy, Ledajaks picked up the paintbrush again to create much of the art that now hangs in David Leonardis Gallery locations in the River North and Wicker Park neighborhoods of Chicago.

Ledajaks said painting was something he always wanted to do. While other students considered art a blow-off period, Ledajaks discovered his life passion during that time.

“That’s where I learned how to mix my colors and one of my favorite things is to see a blank canvas,” he said.

Ledajaks said when he finished high school he did a bit of painting but was not sure if he could make it into a business and was discouraged to pursue a career in it.

Ledajaks was laid off from his job two years ago, after the company’s financial ruin, spurring his return to painting. He compiled a portfolio of his work and went in search of an art gallery to showcase his talent.

“People were enthusiastic about my work, but no one took me in,” Ledajaks said.

It was by chance, he said, that he walked into the David Leonardis Gallery in Chicago. Leonardis said when Ledajaks came to him, he brought him abstract paintings that he liked. Leonardis suggested incorporating more pop art into the pieces, which helped to shape the style Ledajaks is known for today.

“Very nice painter,” Leonardis said. “(With the) abstract, pop art and painting technique, he gives a nice presentation.”

Ledajaks said he has never locked himself into a single style and, because of this gallery, he has added pop to his description. He describes his work as “neo-pop-intuitive-surrealist-abstract.”

“It is fun doing the pop stuff now,” Ledajaks said. “I have the ability to do a caricature of a famous person and, in the background, I am able to do whatever I want.”

Ledajaks said the background of his paintings is where he lets go, putting everything into the abstract part of his paintings.

About 100 paintings have been sold at the David Leonardis Gallery, Ledajaks said. Leonardis said the first piece of art sold in the River North location was a painting by Ledajaks.

Ledajaks said he continues to paint every night after his 3- and 4-year-old children go to bed, and that he has yet to run out of ideas for his paintings.

“The hardest thing is deciding what to paint; putting only one thing on a canvas is hard to do,” Ledajaks said. “The real talent lies in knowing when to stop painting.”