Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Ghosts in painting

Ghosts in painting. Viktor Borisov-Musatov 'Ghosts', 1903

Viktor Borisov-Musatov ‘Ghosts’, 1903. Ghosts in painting

Ghosts in painting
Undoubtedly, many of us know the expression “River of Time”. And in the painting by Viktor Borisov-Musatov “Ghosts”, you can see what’s going on on its mysterious shores. Time is fleeting, however, it has only one direction: from the past to the future. And into the past you can return only in your dreams and memories. On the canvas of the artist ghosts of the past “come alive”. It is getting dark in the old manor park. The path of a quite specific park in the estate of Zubrilov, where he painted this landscape, takes fantastic shapes. The painting is filled with a soft rustle of leaves and a whisper of long-extinct votes. Smears of matte tempera are put so easy that through them shines weave of the canvas, and the rhythm of figures is incorrect, elusive. Their lines are swaying, melting, and it seems that you can hear the quiet melody.
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Snow Maiden by Viktor Vasnetsov

Snow Maiden by Viktor Vasnetsov. Sketches of theatrical costumes. 1885

Sketches of theatrical costumes. 1885. Snow Maiden by Viktor Vasnetsov

Snow Maiden by Viktor Vasnetsov
We are accustomed to the fact that the tale has to be with a happy ending. But in the spring fairy tale verse “Snow Maiden”, written by a playwright Alexander Ostrovsky, the tale has a sad end. And the scenery created by Viktor Vasnetsov for the first stage of home theater of Savva Mamontov, and then to the opera “Snow Maiden”, were unaccustomed to the public. Making this performance in 1882 led to the fabulous discoveries, important not only for the theater, but also for the painting of the time. Until Vasnetsov luxurious and ornate decorations traveled from one setting to another: today it was a Russian fairy tale, and tomorrow the east.
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Russian artist Olga Larionova

Admiration. Painting by Russian artist Olga Larionova

Admiration. Painting by Russian artist Olga Larionova

Russian artist Olga Larionova
St. Petersburg based artist enjoys romantic scenes as a genre of painting, and also expressive still lifes and portraits. Meanwhile, her paintings is a combination of realism and decorative elements. According to the artist, she takes her images from life, fantasies, and her own memories. Olga loves red and blue, so, her works are bright and rich in color. Optimistic perception of the world allows the artist to achieve a sharp poetic expression from even a simple plot. Paintings by young artist Olga Larionova were exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in her native St. Petersburg.
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Russian artist Andrei Markin

Female portrait. Painting by Russian artist Andrei Markin

A woman with a rose. Painting by Russian artist Andrei Markin

Russian artist Andrei Markin
Born in 1976 in the village of Andreevka Moscow region, Andrei grew up in the family of artist Victor Markin. Since early childhood he was familiar with the smell of paints, and his first models were his favourite toys. At first he drew pictures in pencil, then started to paint. He also had a lot of albums for colouring. According to the artist, through coloring different pictures and patterns he learnt to be accurate in work. “Just paint within the lines”, – I kept telling myself”. In 1991 he graduated from Zelenograd art school and entered the Moscow Art School, where he was taught by Honored Artist of Russia Mikhail Kugach. In 1994, Andrei entered the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after Ilya Glazunov. In 2000 he graduated from the Russian Academy of Art.
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Russian artist jeweler Timofei Zhuravlev

Russian artist jeweler Timofei Zhuravlev. Brooch 'Ebisu with Tai fish'

‘Ebisu with Tai fish’ brooch. According to Japanese mythology, Ebisu brings good luck, success and wealth, business prosperity, and health to children. 875 silver, blackening or brass. Work by Russian artist jeweler Timofei Zhuravlev

Russian artist jeweler Timofei Zhuravlev
A member of the Artists’ Union of Russia, Timofei Zhuravlev has been in jewelry business for more than 30 years.
In his work Timofei Zhuravlev continues the tradition of ancient jewelers (Byzantium, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient East) and Russian national heritage.

He is the author of unique pectoral cross and panagias for the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church. And the artist became known for his jewelry artworks of rare beauty and elegance, made in the tradition of gold and silversmiths of ancient Russia.

Zhuravlev participates in the creation of interiors and restoration of Orthodox churches in Russia. He combines fluency in sophisticated technology and multi-faceted jewelry craftsmanship with distinct identities, harmonious and unique design works. Noteworthy, in his works the master jeweler uses old and rare objects of ancient Rome, Greece, and Ancient East collections.
The works of the artist are in private collections both in Russia and abroad.

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Yellow color meaning

Yellow color. Immersed no 2. Painting by Jennifer Lommers. Yellow color meaning

Immersed no 2. Painting by Jennifer Lommers. (Image from website fineartamerica.com). Yellow color meaning

Yellow color meaning
First of all, this warm color of sunshine has conflicting symbolism. On the one hand, it denotes happiness and joy. However, on the other hand, yellow is the color of cowardice and deceit.
Traditionally, taxis in New York and some other places, school buses in Canada, the U.S. and in the UK – painted yellow. Besides, yellow are mailboxes in the Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany and France. For a long time in the Netherlands, yellow was the color of public transport – buses, trams and passenger trains.
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Beautiful Porcelain flowers by Julia Korshunova

Pansies. Porcelain flowers by Julia Korshunova

Decorative wall panel with colorful pansies. Porcelain flowers by Julia Korshunova

Porcelain flowers by Julia Korshunova
Truly work of art, beautiful and realistic porcelain flowers received popularity in the 19th century. However, in those days, only members of the nobility or very rich and famous people could order such flowers from masters. In fact, the production of even a single composition of porcelain flowers requires much time, energy and money. Accordingly, porcelain flowers decorated expensive furniture or rich interior of stylish people with impeccable taste.
Meanwhile, Russian artist of applied art Julia Korshunova has created the gallery of beautiful porcelain flowers – roses, violets, poppies, snowdrops, and irises. According to Julia, she lives in Kislovodsk of Stavropol region, where she creates her realistic porcelain flowers.
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