Alright, now that I've bored you with all this technical talk about art, maybe you'd like to know a little more about the artist.

So much for art. How about the artist?

I was born in Russia in 1957, and I have been trying both hands (I'm ambidextrous) at art ever since. I can remember myself from the age of two, and when I was three, I was the terror of my mother's make-up kit, as I loved to draw murals on the wallpaper with her lipstick. All through my childhood I continued drawing, and in high school, although I left much to be desired in my other classes, I excelled in art and singing. I think that I was not a very good student in other areas because I prefer teaching to being taught. Eventually though, I have learned to learn, too.

I have lived and worked in this wonderful country for over thirteen years now.

I am still discovering, and I am trying to preserve, the unique Flemish Masters oil painting technique of the sixteenth century. I share my feelings with people by producing paintings full of simple and understandable beauty. I share my knowledge by passing the skills that I have to people who are willing to learn.

The main goal of my life is to promote the Action for the Ecology of Culture. I do care about a clean spiritual environment for our children. I am concerned about the future generations' self esteem in view of the global computer revolution.

This was a very brief story about your obedient servant, Russian-American artist Alexei Antonov.

If you would like to know more about things I care about, please go to the Internet and type www.artpapa.com or call me at 253 884 1239.

In 1972 I entered the State Art College in Baku, where impressionistic, realistic, and abstract painting were taught...but no classical. I joined other students in minor revolts against communism by growing my hair out, looked for hot chicks, and even studied quite a bit. In 1976 I graduated, and went to work at the Reseach Institute of Design in Moscow. From1986 to 1990 I lived in Moscow and worked as a graphic artist and illustrator for magazines published by the main Russian Press Agency, "Novosti" (News). I also designed posters for leading pop singers and rock groups during this period of time, but my most important work was the active and attentive study of the technique of the old masters such as Rubens, Van Dyke, and Snyders. This is when I met Nikolai Shurigin, a successful artist and Russian patriot, who, though younger than me, had already discovered much about this technique and was powerful both in his painting and in his personality. I learned much from and with him.

I left Russia for the first time in 1988, when I visited Italy to study the paintings in the museums and exhibit some of my own. In 1989 I opened Rubens Gallery in Moscow, under the sponsorship of the central youth newspaper, "Komsomolskaya Pravda". I also took part in numerous exhibitions in Moscow, which were covered by the Russian Press.

I have been living and working in the USA since 1990, and it's a good thing, because if I were still in Russia, I never would have made this beautiful web page for you to enjoy. This unique classical technique is practiced by very few artists at this time and is no longer taught in art schools. My works are in private collections in many countries around the world.

As for me, I may paint to live, but I live to fish. When I'm not at the easel or the computer, you can find me on the lake, catching the record-breaking bass!

Thanks to:

Vladimir Pavlov, a friend, for translating the bulk of the text on this sight for me from Russian. He has more degrees and titles than I can remember, but if you put the whole alphabet behind his name, you wouldn't be too far off.

Exhibits: I stopped counting when I thought I had enough exhibitions listed for my resume, but if you're really interested in all the others, let me know, and I'll count them just for you.

1995 Art Festival, Carmel, CA
1994 Runnings Gallery, Seattle, WA
1994 Classic Art Gallery, Carmel, CA
1993 Classic Art Gallery, Carmel, CA
1993 Runnings Gallery, Seattle, WA
1992 Elaine S. Baker & Associates, annual fall show, Anchorage, AK
1992 ARTEXPO, Los Angeles, CA
1992 Elaine S. Baker & Associates, annual spring show
1991 Picture This Gallery, Eagle River, AK (group show)
1991 Elaine S. Baker & Associates, Anchorage, AK
1991 "New Horizons", Fairbanks, AK 1991 Elaine S. Baker & Associates, annual spring show, Anchorage, AK
1991 "Artique Gallery", Anchorage, AK
1991 St. John Orthodox Cathedral, Eagle River, AK
1991 Sale Exhibition of paintings from Russia at the US National Picture Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee
1991 An auction of paintings by cinema artists, organized by the Phillips company, London, Great Britain
1989 An auction of paintings at the Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
1989 A sale exhibition of paintings at the Central House of Cinematographers,Moscow, Russia
1989 Autumn exhibition in M. Gruzinskaja, Moscow, Russia
1988 Exhibition at the Festival in Tavazzano, Italy
1988 First auction of paintings by cinema artists, Moscow, Russia
1987 Exhibition of the young artists of the group "ARBATR", Moscow, Russia
1985 Spring exhibition of Moscow artists in M.Gruzinskaja, Moscow, Russia
1978, 1983 Participation in the exhibitions in the Azerbaidzan State Gallery of Painting, Baku, Azerbaidzan

Galleries currently displaying Alexei Antonov's oil paintings:

Classic Art Gallery, 6th and San Carlos, Carmel, CA 93921. 408-625-0464

Nelson-Rovzar Gallery, 118 Central Way, Kirkland, WA 98033. 206-889-4627

Sargent's Fine Art Gallery, 802 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761. 800-440-1278