Artists

5 Minutes with Stanislav Sidorov

Stanislav Sidorov is a talented artist born in Russia’s far east who has lived and worked in Colorado, USA since 1997. His work has been exhibited throughout the US and is held in private and public collections around the world. Having deviated from his classical training towards a more decorative style with expressive brushwork and a bright color palette, he creates dramatic, immersive pieces that tell stories of streets, moments, and characters.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I was lucky to have been born into a family artist, who nurtured and encouraged my artistic inclinations. I enjoyed the ability to express myself through drawing. Frequently, I imagined stories and adventures I wanted to go on and meticulously drew out the scenes.  

My art education began early in my childhood, in the Creative Scholl for Gifted Children. After four years in college, I was accepted to the Vladivostok University of Fine Art in Russia and Graduated with MFA in the Realistic School of Painting.

Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?

I am most inspired by the Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters. Van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet were definitely my strongest influences, along with several Russian Impressionists like Konstantin Korovin and Mikhail Vrubel.

I appreciated the bright and airy quality of much of their work, which seemed to have light flowing through it. Van Gogh’s “Auvers After the Rain” is perhaps one of my favourite pieces. At first glance, it may seem like a simple painting, but the wet and humid atmosphere is conveyed so masterfully that I could almost feel the cool moist air. Likewise, the horse and buggy in the painting convey movement and life with just a few simple brush strokes.   

Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others?  

I enjoy spending time with other artists socially, but I prefer to do my work alone. Once I enter my zone of concentration, I can focus on my piece. I can spend all day painting!

In my youth, however, I greatly enjoyed Plein Air painting in a collective with other artists. 

Can you tell us about a project you’re currently working on? 

My newest project is a series of paintings featuring small picturesque towns in France and Germany.  I love painting cozy streets featuring old European architecture. There are so many pleasant and attractive spaces tucked away in nooks and crannies all over the world. I enjoy capturing scenes of life happening in these places.

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t an artist?

Honestly, if I were not a painter I would probably be a writer. I have allowed stories to inspire and guide me throughout my life from childhood to adulthood. Writing is simply a different art form that allows us to communicate ideas and feelings. In fact, many of my paintings are short stories of their own. Showing a scene, or a moment in time, in which the viewer gets to fill in the blanks and infer what may be happening. Getting lost in a story helps me maintain my flow when I work on my own projects and I often listen to audiobooks when painting.

Have you found any other artists on SINGULART whose work you admire? 

There are many talented artists here but I particularly enjoy the works of Benoît Havard. His work is expressive and almost abstract. I especially like his cityscapes.

Likewise, I enjoy the works of Irina Laube. Her colors are bright and dramatic. Semi-abstract paintings of this style are definitely one of my favorite genres.  

Evening Light. Canal in Bruegel, Belgium. (2020), Stanislav Sidorov

What advice could you give to young artists starting out?

Simply put, paint often and enjoy what you paint. The more practice you get, the more you will be able to develop your unique style.

Make sure that you paint from your heart and do not worry about what is trendy or popular.

Continue to create what you are passionate about and you will carve out a niche for yourself and find an audience.

For more artworks by Stanislav Sidorov visit his SINGULART page here