I am so fortunate to have Boris as my art class teacher! Starting from December 2018, by now I have attended about 20 x 2+ hours of private lessons held in his studio and love going there on weekends. Within few sessions I learned that Boris has excellent educational background and proven life-long miscellaneous art experiences backed up with striking masterpieces - his own art creations.
Boris undoubtedly is a marvelous teacher and educator for those students who want to go beyond mechanistic approaches to the drawing and painting, willing expand their ways to ‘perceive’ the visual art. Boris has an unique talent to deliver information and instructions in a concise and clear manner aided with his unlimited patience and politeness.
Self-trained hobbyist in watercolor, I never took formal classes before; being 45yo engineer by trade, was a bit uncertain if we can get along smoothly due to big gaps on my side. That doubt disappeared after just couple of our meetings. Boris has adapted to my needs well above my expectations by giving just right amount of elements of classical academic disciplines - which I personally was looking for - such as perspective, composition, light and color, forms, constructional drawing. My initial interest was to work in acrylic for landscape painting from photographs on a medium sized canvas. Boris’ suggestion to start with still life painting (completed as the very first project) was a saver for the ongoing mountain depiction project, relatively complex. I am gladly satisfied with his guidance, solution proposals, and corrections – I like the friendly atmosphere in his studio and behind-the-scene explanations why he thinks this or that could be made more professional.
My painting perception is also growing because of art history studies I do at home following talks and lectures Boris gives during our classes; I like to review and study illustrations in books and online materials that he recommends – now I feel much more self-aware of famous artists and major directions in visual art and art advances throughout the centuries. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder to advanced artist who is really experienced, is a stirring feeling but thanks to Boris’ soft skills, I always feel I am respected and taken care of. During 2019 spring break I brought my 15yo son for 4 master class sessions at Boris studio, and they have finished a pretty looking painting on 18x24 inch canvas in acrylic on an extraterrestrial planet theme; which has significantly promoted my son’s interests both in art and astronomy. My son enjoyed talking to teacher, our time was worthy spent on ‘painting bootcamp’.
Boris gives memorable, highly narrative hands-on sessions on color blocking, shading, underpainting, color mixing, value and tone balance solutions, one-line drawing, composition, and many more. I feel I am back to a good school where I do acquire my new painting skills at a rate I can control.
I strongly recommend Boris to both kids and adults.