Blossom One

Once a year I do a painting of rather a larger scale. This is my last work that represents 2011, is called "Blossom One", it concludes yet unfinished series on paintings on a theme of one. I got inspired taking a walk on the promenade in Uzhgorod, Ukraine where my father lives and it was the moment of truth full of blossom, rebirth and new beginning. Since it's Thanksgiving, I am very Thankful to walk this Earth, breath it's air and wake up every morning doing exciting stuff, and of course I love my family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Painting is oil on canvas 50 x 50'

Amphitheater in Arles

First thing I do when I land in Europe is to get a shot of espresso, have a quick bite of fresh baguette and maybe a glass of red wine if it's after midday. Europe is a playground, a place full of memories from the past yet a place unknown. I lived in Europe until 20 and have lots of memories associated with this continent. Some come from growing up there, some from art books, lectures, good conversations, books, poetry, family, plan-airs, art seminars or some random fun experience. I feel at home here! My last trip was to France was dedicated to my favorite artists that lived and created here, I wanted to be in their skin, walk their land and see theirs mountains, coasts, experience what they were inspired by and created their art. Even though the times have changed, there was a sense of flow in nature that resembled images from Cezanne's canvases, Van Gogh's vivid brushstrokes, Matisse's vast color plains or Picasso's distorted reality.

Arles was associated in my mind with Vincent Van Gogh, he lived here in Yellow House and Paul Gauguin visited him here. I also remembered the Roman Amphitheater, one of the biggest and oldest in Europe dating back to the Roman Empire. It brings a lot of character to this old town and yet it's still used for bull fights occasionally.

View on Arles

Les Beaux

Le Chateau in Aix en Provence

Arles ruins

Gordes

Bonniouex

View on Antibes

View on Antibes

Street in Aix en Provence

View on Cote'd Azure

Red Volcano Cliffs

House on the Coast

Mauna Kea

I was going over some of my old sketchbooks and I found this drawing I made while visiting the Big Island in 2009. I was on one of the most private places on earth with ocean's surf creating soothing and calming atmosphere away from all the stress from civilized world. One one side there was a vast Pacific with somewhat visible peaks of Maui Island in the further back and on my right the view of the biggest volcano Mauna Kea.

Hankook Ad in Times Square

Recently I walked through the Times Square and I noticed a billboard I worked on last year for Hankook – the tire company. The idea was to wrap around a circular-like lobby of the hotel Marriot Marquis on 45th and Broadway. It's simple, catchy, and maybe a few people will notice it. It felt good and rewarding to see something you were working on!

Pow Wow Ceremony

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I was always fascinated with Native American culture, its rituals, traditions and spiritual way of being. A Pow wow is a Native American gathering ceremony that brings music, drumming, dancing, singing and the celebration of life from the past to the present. The word itself derives form Narragansett meaning "Spiritual Leader". Both men and women perform spiritual dances that transcends them into birds, buffalos, wolves, horses and other creatures that inhabit Native American lands. One of the most dramatic dance is called the Fancy Dance featuring vivid regalia. Some of the members have body painted faces, they wear hand-crafted jewelry, feathers, colorful stripes and hat wear that all adds up to a unique cultural experience.

I was inspired to make a series of drawings after I saw a gallery The Gateway to Nations Pow Wow by Oskar. Special Thanks to Oskar for his amazing photography!