olechko

I’ve got two new small paintings to share with you: a still life of caviar sandwich (typical fare) and black tea in a traditional Eastern European (not just Ukrainian because Russians use it too) glass holder. I’ve painted this combo repeatedly because it brings such strong association with short cold days of visiting back home, or taking a trip on a train around the country (see thumbnails below for older paintings).

Besides the new still life, I am updating my olechkodotorg Etsy shop with oldish London 6×6 paintings that came back from the exhibit today.

oil on panel, 15×15cm, 2009, on Etsy

My dad used to be a forest manager, taking care of the woods in the area. For every tree he cut down he planted ten  young ones in the spring. Felt like painting this today, in anticipation of this season to finish soon.

oil on panel 15×15 cm

Please email me if you would like to own this piece (at $75 USD).

More bits on Ukrainian art – cinema about art to be specific. According to sumno.com “Cityscape” (Міський пейзаж) is  nice movie about love, art and most importantly set in magnificent Kyiv. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.

This little coffee place in the basement of Prorizna and Pushkinska also has a well stocked bookshop. Loved browsing there one day when I snapped this image. The choise to paint the model from the back and instead going into detail with the books on the shelves stems from trying to depict how one can get lost in the bookshop.

2008 oil on panel 15×15 cm

Please email me your bid (starting at $75) if you’d like to own this piece.

2008 oil on gessoed board 15×15 cm

Please email me your bid (starting at $75) if you’d like to own this piece.

Kyiv 2008 oil on gessoed board 15×15 cm

Please email me your bid (starting at $75) if you’d like to own this piece.

She looked really cold, wayting for her ride; in some ways still maintainting her Kyiv glamour.

2008 oil on gessoed board 15×15 cm

Please email me your bid (starting at $75) if you’d like to own this piece.

I noticed in my progress the Ukrainian orthodox theme repeating over and over. I like the traditional ceremony, decor and dress. besides my parents are great appreciators for going to church (not as much for worshiping as for admiring the festivities, architecture and company of others at church).  In fact this instance happened during the Honey Spasa festival when the priest blessed the first crops of my dad’s honey and the jar of honey wine you see at front here.

This painting is part of my post-Soviet series. Please send your bid by email if you want to purchase it.

15×15 cm, oil on board, 2008, nfs

I was fascinated withBbabylegs product for a while, but realized the winter will be over by the time I get them ordered from the States so I went off improvising.  Roma ended up with a pair of my toe knee socks on, looking quite disheveled and terribly funny. I wonder what he’ll have to say about this number when he grows up, hm…

Everybody in expat community knowns of Inna Panteleymonova art

My current inspiration comes from Caro Niederer’s landscapes that she presents in the context of her living environment.

Oxana Mas is one hot selling pancake in the US art market, a creative young Ukrainian artist, some describe her art more as interior design, but it totally fits my “living with your art” concept.

And finally take a look at the new work by Jeremy Lipking.

Oleksandr Kovalchuk at Central House of Artists

Valentyna Telychko at Central House of Artists

Volodymyr Podlevskyi at Central House of Artists

Temo Svirely, image from http://www.svirely.com

Illya Isupov (currently at Zeh)

Pikul, currently at Zeh

I forgot the name of this artist, also at Zeh

It got warm enough to go outside today for a quick sketch directly in oil. The result is pretty shaky (still just 4C above zero here). It’s my parents’ back yard – complete with nationalistically painted bee hives and the power plant at the back – yuck. It’s environmentally clean, and papa gets organically certified honey from these bees, if you can believe it.

15×15 cm, oil on board, 2008, nfs

Discovered a fantastic set of Soviet posters on women’s theme on artpages .