Alexi Torres, 1976 | Symbolist painter

Cuban painter Alexi Torres creates works that capture the creative powers of the universe as well as the problems facing it.

He grapples with how to express the influences of the past, possibilities of the future and the responsibilities of the now.

Torres creates woven canvasses which immortalize influential figures and emblems past and present.

Romel de la Torre, 1963 | Figurative painter

"I find spiritual beauty in all the things that I paint.

The innocence of a child's face, the endless blue color of the sky, the smell of flowers in the garden, the sound of raindrops falling on the roof.

These gives joy in my heart, inspiration, and gratitude... of being an artist" - Romel de la Torre

Born in Cebu City, Philippines in a community of artists, Filipino painter Romel de la Torre's artistic interest started at a very young age.

With the encouragement of his parents he began sketching the world around him.

Silvia Cordedda, 1991 | Fractal Garden

Italian artist Silvia Cordedda was born in Carrara, Italy.

Cordedda attended Chemical Engineering in University of Pisa and took Japanese lessons in her free time.

She creates extraordinarily beautiful fractal flowers that look like they could only exist in our dreams or in a wonderfully magical world.

She has been fractalist since January 2012.

John Ruskin: "All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness"

Quotes and paintings by John Ruskin

• "All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness".

• "Tutte le opere grandi e bellissime nascono dall’aver prima guardato, senza indietreggiare, nell'oscurità".

• "We blanch cotton, and strengthen steel, and refine sugar, and shape pottery; but to brighten, to strengthen, to refine, or to form a single living spirit, never enters into our estimate of advantages".

Ilham Mirzayev, 1965 | Abstract painter

Ilham Mirzayev was born in Nakhchivan, the Azerbaijan Republic.

He studied at the Azerbaijan State Art School named after Azim Azimzade (1980-1984).

He is a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan (1989) and the Union of Artists of Nakhchivan AR (2012).

Zhang Jing Sheng, 1940 | Plein air painter

Zhang Jing Sheng 张京生 is a Chinese painter, professor and tutor for graduate students at the Tianjin Fine Arts Academy.

He received State Allowance.

In 1967, he graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Central Fine Arts Academy.

He won the silver prize at 'The Chine Fine Arts Exhibition'.

Between 1989 and 1990 he went to America to visit scholars and hold an exhibition, at the request of the Tao Sen University.