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Ignat Ignatov
Ignat Ignatov, a Bulgarian-born artist, has established himself as a master of representational painting with a focus on mark making and storytelling. He discovered his love for art at a young age, and his natural abilities were noticed by his mother who enrolled him in additional art classes to foster his talents. This early exposure to art laid the foundation for Ignatov's artistic career.
At the age of 13, Ignatov was accepted into a highly competitive five-year art school in Tryavna, Bulgaria. Once there, Ignatov received classical European training, constantly drawing various subjects in compositions using the old cross-hatching technique. This foundation in classical techniques helped Ignatov to develop a unique style that is still evident in his work today.
After completing his education, Ignatov moved to the United States in 1997, financing his move through the sale of his artwork. Upon arrival, he worked as a sculptor for the Hollywood movie studios, where he created molds for toys and figurines from popular films such as Star Wars, Terminator, and the Matrix. This experience helped him to develop a keen sense of form and to capture the essence of his subjects, an essential skill for his future work as a painter.
While in Los Angeles, Ignatov continued his education by studying at prestigious institutions such as the California Art Institute, Associates in Art, and the American Animation Institute. Ignatov eventually taught painting classes at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art from 2005 to 2012 where he shared his knowledge and skills with young artists and helped to inspire the next generation of representational painters.
Over the course of his career, Ignatov's favorite subjects have changed as he experiments with new techniques, painting figures, portraits, still lifes, urban street scenes and landscapes. He strives to express form and anatomy, color and composition through a representational painting approach.
Ignatov's artwork has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the "Award of Excellence" at the California Art Club's 95th and 98th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibitions. He was also featured as a "Featured Artist" at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville, AL in 2020. These accolades are a testament to Ignatov's skill and dedication to his craft.
As a professional artist, Ignatov notes that patience is the most challenging aspect of his work. To be successful, he believes that artists have to be willing to work hard and accept incremental growth. There are no shortcuts, so patience is a must. However, the best thing about being a professional artist is the freedom to experiment and explore different techniques and subjects. This allows Ignatov to continue to evolve his craft and to create new and exciting works of art.
Today, Ignatov is settled in Charleston, South Carolina, as a United States citizen, and he continues to create new and exciting works of art. His artwork continues to evolve, with a recent focus on series of landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes, some painted on location and others from photo reference. With a lifetime of artistic experience and education, Ignatov has established himself as one of the leading contemporary representational painters. His dedication to his craft is an inspiration to aspiring artists and a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance.
Awards:
Featured Artist: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL 2020
Finalist in Figurative Category", International ARC Salon 2010-2011
Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2011
Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2010
Award of Excellence", 98th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, 2009, California Art Club
Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2008
Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2007
Award of Excellence", 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition, 2006, Oil Painters of America
Award of Excellence", 95th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, 2006, California Art Club
Award of Excellence", 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition, 2005, Oil Painters of America
Publications:
Southwest Art, January 2012, Article "The Art of the Figure"
CAC Newsletter, Fall 2011, Article "The Artist as Critic: Art that Inspires"
American Art Collector, February 2011, Group Article
Artist Daily online, May 2010, Article
American Art Collector, February 2010, Group Article
Fine Art Connoisseur, September/October 2009, Article
American Art Collector, September 2009, Feature Article
Oranges & Sardines, Fall 2008, Article
American Artist, April 2008, Feature Article (reprint from 2006)
Southwest Art, September 2007, Feature Article
Latitude, Fall 2007, Group Article
Southwest Art, September 2006, Article "21 under 30"
American Artist, April 2006, Feature Article
Southwest Art, December 2005, Article "Artists to Watch"