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Reflections |
Passing Beauty |
In the Pink |
Yellow Rose 2 |
Raindrops on Roses |
Yellow Rose 1 |
Out of the Shadows |
First Blush of Morning |
Opulent Temptation |
Still Life with Gilded Vase |
Fruits Among Roses |
Still Life by Candlelight |
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The Fruits of Your Labor |
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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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