Nikolai Blokhin: Russian Master Portraits Nikolai Blokhin

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 Highlights of Nikolai Blokin in Russian Master Portraits

• Master Russian Impressionism with one of Russia’s master artists
• 19th-century art techniques from the “Russian Golden Age”
• See Blokhin’s amazing art studio (there’s a cat!)
• Never-before-seen oil painting methods
• Effective techniques for posing a model
• Unique “finger painting” techniques
• Bringing out the features in your painting
• Developing the face and figure like a sculptor
• See how Blokhin manipulates his brush
• Go beyond the brush to create amazing effects
• The secret to using thick paints
• How to turn gooey tendrils of color into textile
• Palette knife and scrape techniques
• Creating unexpected effects with skillful brushwork
• An interview with the artist conducted by Eric Rhoads
• Plus much, much more!

 

Explore how artist Nikolai Blokhin brings the timeless Russian style to his artwork. His techniques have never been documented before but now, for the first time, you can study with this Russian master artist by way of this video.

All throughout, Nikolai shares the 19th-century art techniques of Russian Impressionism that have been handed down through the generations.

The Birth of Russian Impressionism…

When the Empress Catherine the Great ruled Russia, from 1762 to 1796, the country went through a major change. During her reign, she revitalized Russia; it grew larger and stronger, and was recognized as one of the great powers of Europe.

Today, that period is widely considered the Golden Age of Russia.

One of the Empress’ goals was to fill her homeland with beauty the world had never seen before. She desired to make cities like Saint Petersburg so beautiful that Paris would look bland in comparison.

So she came up with a genius idea…

She imported Paris’ best sculptors, painters, and architects to design her city and train her craftsmen. During this time, the Imperial Academy of Arts opened in order to train young Russians to achieve her vision.

The prestigious Imperial Academy stands today as one of the largest art schools worldwide — complete with a significant museum of paintings, sculpture, and plaster casts. 

The Academy has developed a reputation as one of the finest art schools in the world, training artists who became world-renowned, like Ilya Repin, Ivan Shishkin, Vladimir Makovsky, and many others. These artists were responsible for what has become known today as the “Russian Style.”

Today, the Academy, now known as the Saint Petersburg Institute for Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, has stayed true to the vision of its founding in 1789!

The Institute’s goal is to train and prepare artists to reach their highest level of mastery, and only the finest artists get to become professors there. 

To be accepted as a student into the Institute is not easy. Out of hundreds of applicants, only 20 to 30 students are accepted each year. 

These are the best of the best, and most of these students start drawing at age 7! Then they spend the rest of their lives refining their craft under the guidance of some of the Institute’s top instructors.

Today, you have the rare opportunity to study with one such artist — Nikolai Blokhin. Nikolai rarely teaches in person anymore, which is why we feel truly honored that he accepted our invitation to produce a video that will forever showcase his incredible talent.

Chapter Outline

Introduction

Setting the Model and Palette

Placing the Figure

Block In the Painting

Bring Out the Features

Develop the Face & Figure

Work on the Face

Work All Over

Finish the Painting

Make Final Adjustments

Also included:

• Interview with the artist conducted by Eric Rhoads 
• High-Speed View of demonstration painting
• Exhibit of Works