Art Kaleidoscope

Naive Painting by English artist Beryl Cook (10 September 1926 – 28 May 2008)

Naive Painting by English artist Beryl Cook
Undoubtedly, there is a difference between an amateur and a naive artist. The amateur is engaged in painting for the sake of pure pleasure, and considers this occupation his hobby. However, a naive artist, not being a professional, continues to work and learns to use traditional techniques, but this does not mean that his painting is imperfect. In addition, the naive artist is more obsessed, and his lack of academic training often leads to the development of a bright individual style. And this is true with regard to Beryl Cook, who for the first four years of work became famous throughout the country.
Born 10 September 1926 in Reading, a bustling town 40 km west of London, Beryl Cook created her first picture only 37 years later. Happily married, she lived in the former Rhodesia, when she suddenly had the idea to draw a portrait of her neighbor – a large Indian woman. This portrait remained her only work until she and her family returned to England, where they settled in Cornwall, on the remote south-west coast of the country.
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Family angel with one baby. Wooden sculpture 23-26 cm. Protecting angels by wood carver Nikolay Shiroky

Protecting angels by wood carver Nikolay Shiroky
Angels that remind us the most important is the family. Mom, Dad and their baby. No matter, a baby or an adult, parents always want to hide him under the wing from all sorrows and difficulties, and the angel can do it. The angel can cover the whole family with wings and protect it.
Russian artist wood carver Nikolai Shiroky makes amazing angels from birch, oak, and other trees. Among these angel there are no similar, each is unique and waits for its owner. According to Nikolay, he simply can not help making angels – it’s not he who chose his work, but the work chose him.
Noteworthy, angels created by avant-garde artist Nikolai Shiroky have no face, but they have a mood. Everyone to whom they “fly away” from under the light hand of the master, believe that angels bring happiness. Traditionally, Nikolay created unique author’s works: furniture, boxes and other interior items. In fact, angels came to his life about four years ago, and, as the master himself says, it was a miracle. Engaged in wood carving for about 20 years, now in any piece of wood he sees an angel which he must create. At first Nikolai simply made angels as a hobby and gave them to people. And then the creation of angels from wood became his main work.
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Paul Cesar Elle ‘Portrait of a young woman’, Singer Anna Sedokova, Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya photo reproductions of paintings

Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya photo reproductions of paintings
Born on July 17, 1957 in Moscow in the family of the poet Robert Rozhdestvensky and literary critic Alla Kireeva, Ekaterina Rozhdestvenskaya has become famous for her photo reproductions of paintings.
In fact, she started to take pictures in 1998, inspired by the luxurious outfits of famous people at the TEFI award ceremony. According to Rozhdestvenskaya, these people reminded her of the works of famous artists.
Thanks to the support of her husband, they organized a photo studio, where they invited famous actors, singers and politicians for shots.
Already in March 2000, her creative works appeared in the magazine “Caravan of stories”. Titled “Private collection”, these photographs based on the paintings by famous artists, attracted much attention from readers. By the end of 2001, more than 200 people have already starred in the project. Among them – well-known Russian politicians, TV presenters, actors and journalists, singers, and sportsmen. With the use of makeup, costumes, decorations, they resemble the heroes of the paintings of the great artists of the past.
Of course, within the limits of one publication, it is simply impossible to show all her works of the project “Private collection”. Therefore, I will introduce you only to some of them, published in magazine “Caravan of stories” in 2013.
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Tulips – yellow and white. 1961. 73 x 92 cm. Watercolors by Vietnamese impressionist artist Le Pho (August 2, 1907 – December 12, 2001)

Vietnamese impressionist artist Le Pho
Born August 2, 1907 in Vietnam, Le Pho received a scholarship to study at the Art School in Paris (1932). Returning to Vietnam, he taught at the Graduate School of Fine Arts in Hanoi. In 1937, he returned to Paris, where he lived until his death. Still lifes, landscapes with elongated figures of people, portraits of a woman with a child are a constant theme in his work.
Well-known in the west, the Parisian Impressionist of Vietnamese origin Le Pho created paintings which captivate by the soft, unobtrusive charm of colors. In addition to still life, the main theme of his paintings is a Woman – mother. More precisely, the idea of ​​motherhood. Noteworthy, his images are sketchy, like faces on icons. They always drown in flowers and look like exotic flowers. Perhaps, Le Foe grew up in a happy family and the charge of love that he received as a child, was enough for life. Or maybe it was his dream of such a happy family life.
Amazingly bright works. They do not even have shadows, only juicy colors and sunlight scattered all over the place. In this kingdom of harmony conflicts are impossible, therefore its inhabitants are full of peace and tranquility, walking in the garden, collecting flowers or playing with children.
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Mythological bird Sirin brooch. Silk of dark-blue color, decorated with embroidery, beads and sequins. Face – polymer clay, several layers of lacquer. Maria Knutova mythological jewelry art

Maria Knutova mythological jewelry art
Moscow based jewelry designer and artist of applied art Maria Knutova (aka Marisha) creates fabulous decorations based on Russian folklore and mythology. In her gallery – stunning embroidered brooches depicting a beautiful woman with the body of a bird. In Slavic and in particular, Russian mythology, these are mythological birds Sirin, Gamayun, and Alkonost.
According to Maria Knutova, she is a miniaturist artist by education, and a sham decorator by profession. In general, an artist of applied art.
Noteworthy, each work created by Maria Knutova is unique and can’t be repeated exactly. However, the variations of each item are no less beautiful. To create her brooches the master uses high quality textile, beads, sequins, freshwater pearls and thread. Also, she uses polymer clay, lacquer, watercolors and pencils.
According to the artist, she works in various techniques – jewelry, dolls and toys, papier-mache, plastic, painting, and applique.
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Christmas Angel. Patchwork, application, three layers, sintepon, quilted. Fabulous patchwork by Suzdal textile artist Maryana Zolotova

Fabulous patchwork by Suzdal textile artist Maryana Zolotova
Today the art of patchwork is experiencing its second birth. Many craftsmen raised this type of needlework to an unprecedented height, studying and developing such ancient and ever-new patchwork.
Born in Suzdal, talented craftswoman and textile artist Maryana Zolotova lives and works in this city. In 1990 she graduated from the Suzdal Art Restoration School, where she studied watercolor, oil and pastel painting techniques. According to Maryana, love for patchwork appeared in the school. First, she sewed a cadaver crow for a friend for her birthday. Then a big monkey appeared, and a little caricature doll for a teacher. “I will never forget my first mini-exhibition at the school. It consisted of 10 toys, and I was proud of myself. Organized by my teacher Olga Grigorievna Knokova, she played a big role in my creative life”. Later, when Maryana became a mother, she sewed clothes for the child, decorated them with applique and patchwork. In addition, she continued to make dolls in national Russian costumes.
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New winter, 2017. Figurine in a mixed technique. Materials – wool, wire, acrylic paints, chiffon, self-curing plastic, floss, embroidery. Mysterious felted creatures by Alexandra Petrova

Mysterious felted creatures by Alexandra Petrova
Russian artist Alexandra Petrova (pseudonym Voronikha) began to create felted creatures in the technique of dry felting since the spring of 2007. Petrova graduated with honors from St. Petersburg University of Technology and Design with a degree in Decorative and Applied Arts. The master lives in St. Petersburg, and, as she writes about herself, “I periodically disappear in the forests of the Pskov region.” It is in the forest that she draws inspiration from her mythological creatures. The names of these animals are no less mysterious than the design. For example, the Mistress of Mists, the Mistress of Summer Days, the Collector of pine needles, the Forest Evening, the New Winter, Summer Warden of Winter, etc. Her toys periodically participate in various exhibitions of applied art.
Along with the felted toys, she began to sculpt the creatures of self-hardening plastic (from the end of 2011). Made in a single copy, for each creature the artist used various additional materials – wire, glass, beads, plastic, etc.
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