“Portrait of Alexy Steele”  by Ignat Ignatov

Ignat Ignatov can capture a persons soul in a painting. I go back to this painting every time… it’s captivating. He painted Alexy Steele, a Russian artist living in Los Angeles, CA. I love how the background is very loose, busy and calm all at the same time, there is a sense of urgency to it, and then the face, it looks as if he could step out of your computer screen and walk right into the room. Amazing!

You know how you hear of some people just being born with the talent to do certain things like sing… I believe Ignat has that talent with his painting… without a doubt! Here’s a blip about Ignat Ignatov from his WEBSITE:

Ignat Ignatov – (b. 1978) is a young artist with exemplary talent. His interpretation of the spirit of fine art saturates his paintings with a unique expressive richness. Although each new subject seems to dictate the style and approach, his paintings are always alive with color, light, texture, atmosphere, energy and emotion.

Ignatov was born in Veliko Tarnovo and grew up in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. At age thirteen, his promising talent in drawing, painting and sculpting gained him one of only thirty positions to the renowned School of Arts in Tryavna, Bulgaria. In the 5 years there, he established the foundation of his academic Art training. Following graduation in 1996, Ignatov was accepted into the University of Arts in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria where he studied under the demanding atelier approach to fine art. In 1997, using proceeds from the sale of his art, Ignatov financed his move to the United States and is now a U.S. citizen living in southern California. He then studied at the prestigious California Art Institute in Westlake Village, Associates in Art in Sherman Oaks and the American Animation Institute in North Hollywood. In 2005 Ignatov began teaching painting classes at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art.

In the course of establishing for his own “artistic roots”, Ignatov was influenced by Nicolai Fechin, John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorolla. Ignatov’s work includes figures, portraits, still lifes, and landscapes. His goal is to continue to develop his ability to express the anatomy and form as well as color and composition in terms of the artistic disciplines employed by the Old Masters.

Ignat Ignatov is a Signature Member of the California Art Club.

Catch you back here tomorrow!