Russian technique for painting figures.

[Roc]

I've received several e-mails form our members wanting to know about the Russian technique for painting figures. We have all seen these beautiful figures at shows and wonderd how do they achieve such striking details.

If any of our Russian members would like to explain, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Roc.

 

[John Long]

I would certainly entertain any help in painting patterns and details from these people. What medium do they generally use?

 

[Roc]

I think they use acrylics.


Cheers
Roc

 

[Gordon Shumnoae]

Originally posted by Roc@Aug 23 2005, 07:14 PM
I think they use acrylics.


Cheers
Roc

If what i hear about the way they knock them out is true ,i guess it would have to be acrilycs , but it seams that the secreat is in the strange mediuns they use i would be very surprised ifanyone post themhere!

 

[Steve]

I don't have them at hand and so cannot quote issue numbers but Historical Miniature has addressed this issue in good depth. The work accomplished in the St. Petersburg studio is addressed from inception to completion, and painting is described, though the article is not concerned only with painting, by the man behind the studio and perhaps the "Russian Movement", Andrei Arsynev. In addition there is more than one article in different issues on this subject. Hope this helps.--Steve

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi

Gordon, Rocco, the article in Figure International about Russian Vityaz, who produce some of the most detailed of figures I have ever seen, seems to cover their particular style quite loosly but does tell you that they actually use water colour rather than acrylic, which I was completely stunned by considering the intensity of colour that they produce, but is quite understandable considering they can paint ontop of each coat again and again without loosing much casting detail at all

But I do agree, it would be great to see how they produce a figure from start to finish...

Dave

 

[Major_Goose]

well one more applying for this !!!!

 

[megroot]

Hello Guys,

Whe have a Russian paintress in our club Larissa Tamberg. She also is from the Russian school. She paint only with acrylic's.
Yesterday evening i have heard a rumour that she is been asked for the Chicago show next year to demonstrate. But it is just u rumour.
Maybe Gino Poppe nows more, he spoked her yesterday evening.

Marc

 

[Roc]

Marc, can you and Gino talk to her, maybe she can shed some light by doing a tutorial for our members on on this inique style.

If there are any Russian painters lurking out there please e-mail me.

Cheers
Roc.

 

[Pete_H]

Originally posted by Steve@Aug 23 2005, 11:56 PM
I don't have them at hand and so cannot quote issue numbers but Historical Miniature has addressed this issue in good depth.

The issue in question is #38. Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more. The article is nothing more than a over-glorified 13-page "rah rah" advertisement for how great the Vityaz firm is. I didn't find absolutely nothing of any benefit for a painter or sculptor of any skill level. Their "step-by-step" offer nothing of substance beyond the basic-intermediate-finished product pictures (at most, 3 in all) of a couple of their products. If you're looking for in-depth coverage of what may be "their" methods of painting, then I recommend Mario Fuentes' articles in Historical Miniature magazine.

 

[Pete_H]

I think that the "added mystery" of their painting techniques speaks volumes of their intentions towards being true members of the hobby community.

$$$

 

[megroot]

Rocco,

I send you a pm.

Marc

 

[thegoodsgt]

The "powers that be" in the hobby should make an effort to bring a couple of the Russian painters to American and British shows to do demonstrations.

 

[mgard]

I have seen some posts over on the Track-link site by a Russian figure painter Vladimir Demchenko and he said he uses tempera paints on his figures. He said he would post a SBS article one day.

Mike

 

[Guy]

Originally posted by Roc@Aug 24 2005, 04:53 AM
Marc, can you and Gino talk to her, maybe she can shed some light by doing a tutorial for our members on on this inique style.

If there are any Russian painters lurking out there please e-mail me.

Cheers
Roc.

We have an article by Larissa on painting Pili Pili's Kyoto Belle in our Articles section under Features. It has been translated into Russian and Italian.

Larissa'a Article - click here

 

[Roy]

Thanks for posting that reminder Guy...Larissa's aricle is very interesting with some superb close-ups of the wonderful painting..

As for the artists that work for the Vityaz studio..maybe they are under some restrictions as to what techniques they can share with hobbyists in general..it's a shame if that is true though...as when new techniques are learned it helps to push the limits of our experience and capabilities a little further..and would hopefully mean that we can all produce closer to what we want in our creations and in so doing, enjoy the hobby even more.

Here's hoping for some more info.

Roy.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Roc+Aug 23 2005, 11:17 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Roc @ Aug 23 2005, 11:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>I've received several e-mails form our members wanting to know about the Russian technique for painting figures.[/b]

Hi Rocco, even without knowing how they're done in detail I can say with certainty there isn't just 'a technique'; there are a whole host of methods used in concert, much like any painting technique if you stop and think about it as it is applied across a figure.

This is one of the reasons I very much doubt we'll ever see a satisfying how-to from a painter working in a Russian studio, because the methods involved are varied and complex. And quite frankly I doubt they would be willing to go into detail (they want to maintain an aura I'm sure, and who can blame them) plus we'd have to contend with a translation into English which would obscure things further.

As most of us have now heard at one point or another, the original set of painters who turned their hands to this were already artists - icon or decorative painters - so they were trained and experienced professional artists before they started on models. So in addition to the complexity of some of the techniques the level of craftsmanship necessary to pull them off requires both a great deal of dedication and a lot of time to acquire (hundreds of hours, how long have most of us painted?) hence a description of it wouldn't be of much practical help, The problem is much like a good book on portrait painting from life in one sitting: you can see a photo of the sitters, ten stage-by-stage pics of the development of each painting and read the accompanying captions for additional detail, but do we think we could then do the same thing ourselves? This is a common problem with art instruction as a whole unless it's done in person incidentally; and even then, some people are born artists, some aren't


<!--QuoteBegin-Figure Mad@Aug 24 2005, 08:25 AM
...but does tell you that they actually use water colour rather than acrylic, which I was completely stunned by considering the intensity of colour that they produce.[/quote]
It's not watercolour in the sense of what you'd pick up in the local art store I'm sure. If they use a water-based paint it's likely to be more like gouache or what is sold as tempera colour on the continent (which varies). The end result should not be that much of a surprise, pure watercolour is quite vibrant if used appropriately, but in fact quite a bit of the colour in Russian pieces is less intense than one would think from a first look, it's the context that makes it look 'rich'.

I would have to say though, judging from what I've seen and read, some of the work is almost certain to be done in oils, or at least was in the past.

Einion

 

[Einion]

If anyone wants to learn to paint this way don't think about it, start practicing painting patterns now. Then learn as much as you can about your paints and colour/mixing theory and practice painting some more, a lot more. In about two years you'll be at the level you want if you put in the necessary time and you have the innate 'talent' (which in this case is mostly a matter of the necessary motor skills).

Einion

 

[Opsofficer]

Einion has summed it up best!

If you ever get an article by one of the really GOOD paintes from Russia, it'll reveal no "secrets" other than proper training and schooling as an artist (over the period of a decade, more likely) and innate talent (which allowed the education to continue, by the way and is far more than mere "motor skills").

In about two years you'll be at the level you want if you put in the necessary time and you have the innate 'talent' (which in this case is mostly a matter of the necessary motor skills).

Don't forget, that this practice is ALL you do - for at least 10 hours a day! No work, no fun, no "life" just this! Then maybe, just maybe, if God smiles upon you, you might reach that level in 2 years! did I say 2?! I meant 10!

 

[Einion]

Physically being able to paint patterning of this level of detail is mostly a matter of motor skill I assure you Justin; it is a physical ability, very much like being a good typist, keyboard player or computer gamer. Some people are born to it and some aren't.

If I'm right about this two years of dedicated practice should be ample for most people with the necessary potential to develop the skillset - after all this isn't something really difficult like Japanese sword polishing LOL.

Einion