Art Kaleidoscope

Jaguar. Painting by Italian artist Floriano Buccigrossi

Italian artist Floriano Buccigrossi
Born in Palo del Colle on 14 December 1970, Buccigrossi is a self-taught naturalist painter. From an early age he was a true nature lover. He was especially fascinated by animals. When he was 8, his parents gave him “book of animals and plants in their natural environment”. It was his first book. He recalls that he loved watching nature documentaries, in particular “the world of Quark”, and David Attenborough’s “the living planet”. When he had a chance he tried not to miss any TV documentary about nature, plants and animals and collected photographs from any magazine or newspaper that he could get.
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Beautiful Still life with Poppies by Natalie Panga

Still life with Poppies by Natalie Panga
The great events of life often leave one unmoved; they pass out of consciousness, and, when one thinks of them, become unreal. Even the scarlet flowers of passion seem to grow in the same meadow as the poppies of oblivion. Oscar Wilde
Natalie Panga is a talented self-taught photographer from the city of Rivna, Ukraine. Doctor therapist by education and profession, she appreciates and understands the value of life, capturing its beautiful moments. The wonderful artist as if transmits her beautiful inner world into photography. The main subject of her inspirational work – classic still life. Among variety of photo albums I offer to look at the series ‘Still life with Poppies’.
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Memories of Shanghai. Fan Ho inspirational photography

Fan Ho inspirational photography

Chinese photographer, film director and actor, Fan Ho is one of the most famous Chinese in the world. The pride and treasure of the nation, he has many titles and more than 280 awards. Widely collected and exhibited in Europe and Asia, his art decorates numerous private collections. Born into a family of film director, in Shanghai in 1932, his family later moved to Hong Kong. While still a boy, Fan Ho received Rolleiflex as a gift from his father, and that was the first camera, with which he made his first shots. Meanwhile, in the 1950s and 60s Fan Ho was actively experimenting in photography. In addition, since 1956 he began shooting in films. To date, he has acted in 15 films and directed 11 films.
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Colonel Gaddafi, Libyan revolutionary and politician. Chinese straw art

Chinese straw art
Traditionally, the straw art has been popular in East Asia, where the inhabitants cultivated a variety of cereals. And the attitude to rice grain was similar to European’s to wheat. In fact, the attitude was due to the belief in the divine power of grains and, in particular, straw. According to supported in China, Korea and Japan belief, straw symbolizes purity, glory, the sun’s energy, knowledge, abundance, happiness and fertility. Besides, in the myths rice is a gift of the gods.
Also, in China, the rice grains have been a symbol of protection from evil spirits. Noteworthy, in Bali there is the cult of the Mother of Rice – a figure of which were long (masculine) and short (feminine) sheaves of rice straw. It is an expression of faith of the peoples of Southeast Asia that stalks of rice, like humans, contain vital energy.
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Birth. Dreams Of Stone pendants, Handmade pendant by Russian artist of applied art Dreams Of Stone

Dreams Of Stone pendants
Moscow based artist of applied art Nina works under a nickname ‘Dreams Of Stone’. The mixed media artist creates artworks made in different techniques and material – Batik, Beading, Felting, plastic, wicker, painting, and photography. Unfortunately, there is no personal information about the artist on her website, and all I have found there – comments on Dreams Of Stone pendants from her admirers. So, as they say, her artwork speaks much about the artist herself.
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Inspired by French impressionists Felted brooch. Miniature wool painting by Svetlana Dmitrieva, Saratov

Miniature wool painting by Svetlana Dmitrieva
According to Russian artist Svetlana Dmitrieva, French impressionists inspire all her creativity. In particular, the artists of that era chose to portray reading ladies. Why reading? Of course, there was another option – a sitting or strolling lady, meanwhile, fanning herself. In addition, the same ladies of past eras did something else. For example, played music, drew, sang, played with cats or dogs … But still, in the paintings of artists they are mainly fanning themselves and reading.
In fact, the reading girl is the personification of peace, prudence and intellect. Besides, it is convenient to paint static figure. In addition to these classical canons of painting of a certain period, a reading girl was in fashion. And finally, a clever girl has always attracted a man.
Russian artist Svetlana Dmitrieva lives in the old city of Saratov. Until recently she thought that all that she wants to do in life – to paint. And she painted. Oil, tempera, acrylic … Quite accidentally Svetlana Dmitrieva has discovered felt, and, according to her, ‘fell in love’. ndeed, Wool replaced everything – drawing, painting, and instead appeared wool paintings, miniatures, and brooches.
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Stunningly beautiful figure of fish. Valeri Timofeev plique-a-jour enameling art

Valeri Timofeev plique-a-jour enameling art
Talented Russian jeweler Valery Timofeev (1941, Latvia – 2014, United States) was born in Latvia. He moved to Moscow in 1967 to get the art education. After graduation he got a degree in arts and crafts. Timofeev decided to become a jeweler in 1972, when he saw the work of Rasul Alikhanov, a prominent jeweler artist of Dagestan. In his work Dagestanian jeweler used techniques of engraving, filigree, cloisonn’e enamel. Technical virtuosity of his products inspired Timofeev. In the process of mastering the traditional methods, he studied the technique used by jewelers of the older generations. Works by legendary jewelers Pavel Ovchinikov, Ivan Khlebnikov, working for Faberge, are real masterpieces of plique-a-jour. He studied plique-a-jour enameling art in the museums, read and experimented, learning the secrets of the time.
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