“Secrets to Portraiture - The Russian School”
August 18, 19 and 20, 2004
Special Summer Workshop in Darien, CT
Drawing with Graphite Pencil or Charcoal
Pastel as a Drawing with Color Chalks
Oil Painting – The Medium of the Masters
THE IGOR BABAILOV INSTITUTE OF REALISM
MISSION STATEMENT
The Institute is dedicated to the principles and values in Fine Art, as taught by the Masters of the academic traditions of the 19th and early 20th century. The in-depth study of the human form, particularly in portraiture, is an essential and fundamental prerequisite for a sound art education. "If you can draw a portrait, you can draw anything"....Ilya Repin (1844-1930).
BABAILOV INSTITUTE COMES TO DARIEN
The Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists is delighted to bring Igor Babailov to Darien this summer. His Long Island institute will be relocated to the Darien Arts Center for three days only (Aug 18-20 2004) to offer private instruction and workshops, where students learn the "forgotten secrets" of the drawing and painting skills of the Old Masters, taught by Igor V. Babailov, whose fine art education (1974 to 1990) belongs to the acclaimed Russian - European academic school of art. He is a third generation student of such masters in the history of Fine Art as Repin, Serov, Korovin and Favorskiy.
The intense and deeply profound nature of this instruction will enable the artist to quickly and efficiently achieve a higher level of their artistic and professional skill.
Igor V. Babailov, portrait and figurative artist, experienced teacher, and spokesperson for the traditional school of classical realism, is a recipient of national competition awards and honors, and is a graduate of the world acclaimed Surikov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. A Master of Fine Arts, Mr. Babailov has a strong belief in the eternal values offered by the artists of the Renaissance, which are love and respect for God's creation, appreciation of life's harmony and beauty without alternations, a knowledge of anatomy, perspective, composition, painting and drawing methods, and a "must" of the drawing skill, based on that knowledge.
Over the past 20 years, Mr. Babailov established his reputation as a traditional master of portraiture and has painted numerous portraits of social, business and political elite. His recent commissioned portraits include those of U.S. President George W. Bush, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Former Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani and Nobel Prize Peace Laureate, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II. Painting multi-figured murals is traditionally recognized as the highest achievement of the artistic expertise. Besides being a portraitist, Mr. Babailov's uniqueness as artist is also evident in his large-scale mural size works such as the historical painting of the Columbus Voyage to the Americas (pictured above) and another work currently underway entitled: "Who Has to Suffer..and Why? a multi-figured composition dedicated to the innocent victims of world terrorism.
In 1996 he organized the first official delegation visit of American artists to Russia in conjunction with the Russian Duma and the Union of Artists, and recently taught at the prestigious Florence Academy of Art.
The Igor Babailov Institute of Realism
CURRICULUM OF STUDIES
“Ability to work from life is the key to the growth of the higher artistic skill..”
- Igor Babailov
MORE ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
The school’s level of instruction is designed for art professionals and art students.
The institute offers several 3-day workshops during the academic year.
The studies are based on working with live models. Highly individualized attention
is given to the students so therefore the workshop sizes are kept to a maximum of
15 students.
Many contemporary schools offer portrait and life drawing classes and the students
enter these stages without having acquired a knowledge of anatomy, so they have
been taught to draw the “mask” with out knowing what’s underneath. At the institute,
anatomy lessons are ever present and woven into the instruction so that the student incorporates this knowledge into their artistic skill.
The focus of studies is “the portrait” – the most complex and challenging form in realistic art, which is an “essential” for the strong artistic skill. According to I. Repin, “If you can draw a portrait, you can draw anything.”
Mr. Babailov teaches his students to free themselves from the contemporary slavery of the camera and photography, so they can work comfortably from life, which is a key to the growth of the higher artistic skill.
Another characteristic feature of the institute’s studies is a concentration on developing and improving the skill of drawing, which is essential in the painting as well. That incorporates the knowledge of impeccable composition, perfect proportions, and the right perspective with the proper foreshortenings and of course, the indispensable chiaroscuro.
Mr. Babailov shares his knowledge and experience of working with a limited number of colors on his palette, just like the Old Masters did.
The institute, normally located on the northerrn shores of Long Island, will be recreated at the Darien Arts Center, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien CT as part of the CSOPA Faces of Summer 2004 Special Events.
Workshop – 3 days: August 18, 19 and 20, 2004
“Secrets to Portraiture - The Russian School”
Day # 1 (Wednesday, August 18 10am-5pm)
Solid Drawing as a Fundamental for Strong Painting
10-1:Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Drawing the character through the Values.
1-2: Lunch
2-5:Students work with the model inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Questions and answers.
Day #2 (Thursday, August 19 10am-5pm)
Pastel as a Drawing with Color Chalks
10-1: Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Working with pastel medium, as a transition between drawing and painting.
1-2: Lunch Break
2-5: Students work with the models inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Questions and answers.
Day #3 (Friday August 20 10am-5pm)
Oil Painting – The Medium of the Masters
10-1: Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Drawing and Painting with the brush.
1-2: Lunch Break
2-5: Students work with models inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Questions and answers.
Come to Darien this summer for an unforgettable experience and a rare opportunity!
FEES AND REGISTRATION
Workshop Fee: $375. per person $350 for CSOPA members (Three days)
To reserve your place in the workshop: Complete the registration form and mail to CSOPA.
(The reservation form should be
received with payment at least
15 days prior to workshop date)
We accept personal cheques,
or money orders, payable in
Please send your payment &
Registration form to:CSOPA
86 Cambell Drive
Stamford, CT 06903
ART SUPPLY LIST (Attendees are responsible for bringing their own supplies. A limited number of easels are available on location at the Darien Arts Center. Use the registration form to reserve one, or bring your own.)
Day 1: (Charcoal / Graphite Pencil)
-Medium weight (white/off-white, toned) paper. Size (approx.) 20” x 16”
-Graphite HB – 4B pencils, black charcoal (“Italian”) pencils (3B – 6B), sepia, white pencil.
-Eraser.
Day 2: (Pastel)
-Pastel (toned) paper. Size approx.) 20” X 16”.
-Soft pastel sticks (various colors).
-One pastel pencil (preferably sepia color).
Day 3: (Oils)
-Stretched canvas / linen. Size (approx.) 20” X 16”.
-Oil paints:
oFlake White
oYellow Ochre
oRaw Sienna
oLemon Yellow Hue
oCadmium Red
oAlizarin Crimson
oViridian Green Hue
oUltramarine Blue
oRaw Umber
-Flat Bristol brushes (various sizes), few soft round brushes (small sizes).
-Painting medium: 1/3 Turpentine + 1/3 Linseed Oil + Dammar Varnish.
The Igor Babailov Institute of Realism
Portrait Workshop with Mr. Igor V. Babailov
WORKSHOP ABSTRACT
Master Workshop by Igor V. Babailov
“Secrets to Portraiture – The Russian School”
The three-day workshop will cover the following topics, dedicating each day to the study of “Solid Drawing as a Fundamental for Strong Painting”, “Pastel as a Drawing with Color Chalks”, “Oil Painting – the Medium of The Masters”.
On day one, I will do a completed portrait demonstration, where we will learn how to draw the character through the values. Students will work with a live model, inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session and with questions and answers. Day two will be comprised of a completed portrait demo and we will work with the pastel medium, as a transition between drawing and painting. Students will again, work with the live model, inspired by what they learned in the morning session, with questions and answers. Day three will once again have a completed portrait demo by me, and we will focus on drawing and painting with the brush. Students will work with the live model inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session and with questions and answers.
We will focus on “the portrait” which is the most complex and challenging form in realistic art, which is an “essential” for the strong artistic skill. According to I. Repin, “If you can draw a portrait, you can draw anything.”
Many contemporary schools and workshops offer portrait and life drawing classes and the students enter these stages without having acquired knowledge of anatomy, so they have been taught to draw the “mask” without knowing what’s underneath. Anatomy lessons are ever present and woven into the instruction so that the student incorporates this knowledge into their artistic skill.
I will share my knowledge and experience with working with a limited number of colors on my palette, just like the Old Masters did, and we will concentrate on developing and improving the skill of drawing, which is essential in the painting as well. That incorporates the knowledge of impeccable composition, perfect proportions, and the right perspective with the proper foreshortenings, and of course, the indispensable chiaroscuro.
I teach my students to free themselves from the contemporary slavery of the camera and photography, so they can work comfortably from life at any time and in any situation. Ability to work from life is the key to the growth of the higher artistic skill.
