Vladimir Zlotskiy

I am a figurative artist, focusing on portrait drawing and painting. Nicolai Fechin is one of my favorite portrait artists. Drawing from life holds a special meaning to me. The dance of the hand movements holding a pencil, the magic of the present moment taking roots on paper gives me an incredible joy and sense of harmony. Pastel medium has become a natural choice for me as a step into the world of color. 

I grew up in Feodosia - a small town in Crimea with a rich 2,500 year old history, famous for the great Russian marine artist Aivazovsky, Voloshin, Bogaevsky and many others. I did attend a very good children art school, but the curriculum there was mostly focused on still life and landscapes. I did not consider art seriously at the time and chose to go to an engineering college. Being for the most part a self-taught draftsman and despite choosing an engineering career, I nevertheless always felt the desire to draw portraits.There was even a period in my life between jobs, when I worked as a street portrait artist. I took a break from art after moving to America, while trying to build my life here. The Art Students League of New York gave me an extraordinary opportunity to reconnect with my passion for the figurative art after a 30 year hiatus.