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The paintings by Viatcheslav Tchistiline are cast in an archaic technique, which flourished between the 2nd and 9th centuries A.D. and then died out because of its difficult and complicated nature. The ancient method of mixing paint pigment heated or burned in with melted beeswax, known as encaustic, was extensively employed in Egyptian bas-relief and Byzantine icon painting, but has been rarely used in the 1,100 years since. Slava is a bright example of an artist who synthesizes this ancient, long dormant medium with expressionistic representational art. The main theme for Slava’s work is the longing for the ideal resulting in a sincere, gem like painting which awakens our imagination and naïve outlook on the world. His landscapes are quiet, simple and deserted but the color is hot and pulsating with life as he balances on the edge of primitive and neo-expressionistic.
Slava was born in Kursk, Russia May 6th 1952. He studied Fine Art and interior design at Kharkov University in the Ukraine and later frequently traveled to Germany and Holland to study art and exhibit his paintings. In 1995 he immigrated to Canada where he, his wife Natalia and daughter Olga reside. Currently Slava’s works are exhibited across the U.S., Germany, France, Russia as well as Canada.
Michael Barnes:
The sculptures by Michael Barnes are made of either porcelain or stoneware constructed through the manipulation of slabs, wheel thrown forms and solid masses of clay. Once the creative stage is complete the sculpture is then dried and subjected to a preliminary firing which makes the piece ready for glaze. This method of firing, termed “hi-fired,” is historically related to those used in ancient China resulting in pieces that are highly vitrified, stable, and exhibit subtlety of texture and color.
“The heads, faces, and figures I create,” Michael Barnes says, “are imaginary beings that are suggestive and hopefully inspiring images that are neither race nor culture specific. They are more like composites of real, fictional, and dreamed people pushed, shaped, and fired for life in a vitrified world. The works are a response, both conscious and other, to the inputs I have received from life. Inevitably, I hope my work reflects the viewer’s inner self and progresses beyond my personal scope.” Michael Barnes acquired both an Art and Geology degree from Southern Illinois University in 1979 and has worked as an Exploration Geophysicist, Construction Engineer and Professional Ceramic Sculptor in the years since.
Sergey Cherep was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on January 24, 1969. His creativity and artistic talents were recognized early and with encouragement he began studying art by the age of eight. It was during this time of development that Sergey discovered his absolute love of art and set his goal of attending one of the most prestigious art schools in Europe, the Serovo Art Institute. Included in his extensive studies are all the classic forms of art, including European art history, photography, printing processes, sculpture, restoration methods and painting everything from still life to portraits. His work is currently exhibited throughout the United States, in several European galleries, Australia, as well as St. Petersburg and Moscow in his own home country of Russia.
Today the images painted by Sergey combine both his passion for French Impressionism and his love of color. Imagination, fueled by a lifetime of wanderlust is the key to his lively landscapes. Energy flows from his paintings with a gentle yet powerful force that keeps one captivated for a lifetime.
Lara Periut was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. Encouraged early in life towards creativity by a very supportive family, she excelled in private art classes and later acquired a Fine Art degree in painting and watercolor. Branching out from the formality of classes, Lara has painted murals and produced several artistic solutions for clients including hand painted furniture, frames and wild doggie doors. She now owns two store locations in West Knoxville featuring original art and custom framing called Frameworks which keeps her busy on a daily basis. Currently training her own 5 year old child prodigy Cora to be the next Picasso has made painting for Lara a joy and not a task.
Dmitri Proshkin:
Dmitriy Proshkin was born in Ufa, Russia in1973. He received his early art education at the Ufa’s College of Art from 1988-1992, after which he successfully passed the difficult entrance exams for the Ufa’s Art Institute. Within the walls of the Art Institute he became enthralled with painting’s prominent masters of landscape such as Claude Monet, Pissaro and Sisley. His studies also included the great masters from the Russian School such as Korovin, Shishkin, Savrosov, Vassilev, Levitan and others, each of which proved to have a great influence on the young artist. The elevated tradition of Russian masters became fundamental to him and in its own way a sort of guide book through the labyrinth of his creative search. The result of his nine year intensive study of paintings and the art world helped to bring about a young artist with a boundless desire and determination to realize his creative potential and to reveal in his paintings his disposition, feelings and entire “self”.