Sergey Minaev, 1977 | Romantic Impressionist painter

Minaev Sergey Vladimirovich /Минаев Сергей Владимирович was born in Borisoglebsk Voronezh region, took a course in art school at the Children's home town of creativity.

In 1997 he graduated from art and graphic Buturlinovka College.

He studied painting at the Institute.

Education - teacher of drawing in schools and the GPA, the artist - designer.

Ivars Jansons, 1939 | Plein Air painter

Ivars Jansons was born in Latvia. After completing his secondary education Ivars took up architectural studies where the opportunity arose to express him self artistically so he would often produce small watercolor studies.

In 1964 Ivars turned professional and in 1967 held his first solo exhibition in Green Glades Gallery Melbourne, one of many successful exhibitions which were sold out within an hour of opening. Painting trips locally and interstate were very much a part of Ivars career. In 1969 he painted extensively in New Zealand and in 1972 traveled overseas to expand his knowledge in art. Leonard Fuller was Ivars teacher at the St Ives School of Painting.

Derek Penix, 1980 | Cityscape /Seascape /Figurative painter

Derek Penix was born on December 29, 1980 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Growing up Penix was surrounded by artists in his family as his mother and grandfather painted. Penix did not pursue painting until after graduating high school. Penix’s mother encouraged him to pursue his talent and took his paintings down to a local gallery where he sold his first piece.

Through the years Penix has been inspired by old masters such as Nicolai Fechin, Sargent and the French Impressionists, but it has been over the last few years that Penix has been the most influenced by artist Quang Ho. Penix had the opportunity to take a workshop under Mr. Ho and later to study briefly with him. Since then, Penix believes his paintings have grown more in the last two years than in his last ten years of painting.

André Lhote | Cubist painter and sculptor

André Lhote (1885-1962), French painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscape and still life; also very influential as a teacher and writer on art. Born in Bordeaux.

Apprenticed in 1897 to an ornamental sculptor, and also studied decorative sculpture from 1898-1904 at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux; began to paint in his spare time. Left the sculpture studio in 1905 to devote himself to painting.

Alexander Ilichev, 1958 | Abstract painter

"When I paint a portrait I create textures, I see to the coloration so that the paint would spread naturally and diversely thus producing an effect of lightness and breadth.

I paint spots of color, lines and dots.

I know not how to paint psychology, depth of an image or a life lived by someone.

And yet in a surprising way this all appears by itself.

A mystery inexplicable for me" - Alexander Ilichev.