A year later, in 1902, receiving a diploma, Chiurlionis returned to Warsaw.
Here he continues to write music, gives private lessons, which are his main income. The young composer could hardly make ends meet and painful experiences that can not help their parents.
Soon the young man woke up an incredible attraction to painting, with which he was unable to control. From now on, musical and artistic interests is constantly intersect, defining the breadth and diversity of its educational activities in Warsaw.
Chiurlionis worked hard, adding to their albums all the new sketches, sketches, sketches from nature, has worked diligently with plaster masks. He visits the art studio. Chiurlionis sought to ensure that the painting began to sound, the colors and submit to the musical rhythm. In 1903 he created his first painting "Music of the forest".
In 1904 in Warsaw, he entered the School of Fine Arts. At school he was enthusiastically engaged in astronomy, cosmogony, Indian philosophy and especially the work of the great poet and sage of India, Rabindranath Tagore.
In 1905, due to the outbreak of revolutionary events, Chiurlionis leave Poland and fled to Lithuania. In 1907 in Vilnius, Lithuania opened the first art exhibition. Unique paintings Churlionis fascinated subtle colors and ideas of cosmic scale - a series of "Creation", "Zodiac" and others.
Symbolically, a generalized, subtle colors in the painting Churlionis brings the viewer into the world of fairy tales - "Fairy Tale" series "Tale of kings", the fantastic visions of mysticism - "The Creation", "Zodiac Signs", popular perceptions and superstitions "Spring", " Winter "," Zhemayskie crosses, continues to be associated with musical creativity Churlionis "Sonata Sun", "Spring Sonata" "Sonata of the sea", "Sonata stars.
In 1908 he married Sophia Kimantayte. In the same year they left for St. Petersburg.
In St. Petersburg they had no work, no money, no friends. Despite all the difficulties, something inexplicable kept the artist in this city. He was passionate about Russian culture. It was here that he composed his best music and wrote his best paintings. Unfortunately, he failed to keep his wife, not accustomed to this lifestyle. She returned home.
In St. Petersburg Chiurlionis met with prominent Russian artists such as Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, Lev Bakst, Roerich, Lansere, Konstantin Somov, which greatly facilitated its existence in St. Petersburg. They gave him the opportunity to earn and participate in exhibitions.
In St. Petersburg he had struck up a reliable contact with the circle of Alexander Benois in the Russian Art Society, which later degenerated into society, "World of Art". By the time Čiurlionis already been created the most famous of his cycle of paintings - "Sonata", consisting of parts of the Allegro, Andante, Scherzo and Finale, as well as the Preludes and Fugues ".
In 1909 he took part in "Union of Russian Artists". The newspapers began to appear favorable reviews of his paintings.
Since 1909 the artist more and more often experienced a feeling of depression, causeless melancholy, uncertainty. The non-recognition, confusion, inability to change their lives for the better all worsened his condition.
In 1909 Chiurlionis painted, which was called "The Ballad of the black sun". Above the world goes black sun, his black beams across the sky and put out his paints. Through the darkness grows tower, the cemetery bell tower and cross. All this is reflected in dark water, splashing at the foot of the tower. And above it all, stretched black wings, hovers an ominous bird, messenger troubles and misfortunes.
Status of the artist was getting worse, he ceased to communicate with friends and acquaintances. My wife carries it home in Druskininkai.
In 1909, doctors discovered he had mental illness. In early 1910, he was placed in a small clinic for the mentally ill near Warsaw. He was banned from paint and play music. This is further exacerbated by his severe condition. Later, he escapes from the hospital in the woods. Circled the woods, unable to find their way to freedom, he returned to the hospital with pneumonia and a brain haemorrhage. April 10, 1911 painter was no more.