Leonid Afremov (1955 – ) was born in the city of Vitebsk, Belarus. Afremov graduated from Vitebsk Art School in 1978. The school was founded by Marc Chagall in 1921. Along with Malevich and Kandinsky, Leonid Afremov is one of the elite members of the famous Vitebsk art school.
(Afremov, Leonid. The Loneliness of Autumn. c. 2009.
oil on canvas.)
Afremov built up his portfolio by painting a lot with oil and participating in various exhibitions until he moved to Israel in 1990. There he witnessed the scorching southern sun-filled with vibrant reflective colors which soon had a positive influence on his paintings. Then he began to thrive as a unique artist.
(Afremov, Leonid. The Louvre Museum. c. 2009. oil on canvas.)
Afremov’s artistic style is unique and easily recognized. He uses a palette knife instead of regular paintbrushes to put the paint onto the canvas. The palette knife itself is intended to be used for cleaning old paint off of the canvas. It is very rare that any artist ventures to use it as an instrument in painting together with a brush and it is even rarer that any artist uses it as their only instrument.
(Afremov, Leonid. Nude. c. 2009. oil on canvas. museum.)
Working with palette-knife gives fantastic possibilities, but it is also fantastically difficult to master. It took 10 years for Leonid Afremov to build up his palette-knife handling skill up to the level that it is now.
(Afremov, Leonid. Evening Charm. c. 2009. oil on canvas. museum.)
Afremov now lives in Florida in the United States. His painting technique is accepted by specialists to be completely unique and not capable of being copied. He even does not really need to sign his artwork, it is impossible to confuse it with other painter's work or to forge. His artistic style is distinctive and easily recognized and his work is much appreciated here!
Enjoy! :)
