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Out of the Shadows |
Passing Beauty |
After the Storm |
Butterflies and Hurricanes |
Raindrops on Roses |
Rose Amongst the Thorns |
First Blush of Morning |
Still Life by Candlelight |
Antique Rose |
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ALEXEI ANTONOV
Russian
My name is Alexei Antonov. I have
been practicing classical painting for 20 years now. I was fascinated
by the secrets of the Old Masters. My works are in private collections
in many countries around the world. I think it is very important to preserve
the secrets of Flemish masters and to transmit them to the younger generation.
This unique classical technique is practiced by very few artists at this
time and is no longer taught in art schools. I was born in Russia in 1957,
and I've been trying both hands (I'm ambidextrous) at art ever since.
I can remember my self from the age
of two, and when I was three, I was the terror of my mother's make-up
kit, as I loved to draw murals on the wallpaper with her lipstick. All
through my childhood I continued drawing, and in high school, though I
left much to be desired in my other classes, I excelled in art and singing.
I think that I was not a good student in other areas, because I prefer
to teach than to be taught. Eventually though, I learned to learn.
In 1972 I entered the State Art College
in Baku, where impressionistic, realistic, and abstract painting were
taught...but no classical. I joined other students in minor revolts against
communism by growing my hair out, looked for hot chicks, and even studied
quite a bit. In 1976 I graduated, and went to work at the Foundation of
Art and Design in Moscow. As a successful portraitist I have made commission
portraits of famous political figures, such as Aliev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev
and Yeltsin (before he has became a President).
From1986 to 1990 I lived in Moscow
and worked as a Portrait artist and illustrator for magazines published
by the main Russian Press Agency, “Novosti” (News). I also
designed posters for leading pop singers and rock groups during this period
of time, but my most important work was the active and attentive study
of the technique of the Old Masters such as Rubens, Van Dyke and Snyders.
I left Russia for the first time in 1988, when I visited Italy to study
the paintings in the museums and exhibit some of my own. In 1989 I opened
Rubens Gallery in Moscow, under the sponsorship of the central youth newspaper,
“Komsomolskaya Pravda”. I also took part in numerous exhibitions
in Moscow, which were covered by the Russian Press. I have been living
and working in the USA since 1990.
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