Andrei Markin, 1976 | Figurative painter

Russian professional artist Andrei Markin / Андрей Маркин was born in the village Andreevka of the Solnechnogorsk region in a family of the artist Victor Markin.

In 1991 he finished Zelenograd painting school and entered Moscow Art College "In the memory of the revolution of 1905", where he was taught by the Honoured artist of Russia Mikhail Kugach.

In 1994 Andrei entered the Russian Academy of Art, Sculpture and Architecture, the dean of which is the People's artist of the USSR Ilia Glazunov.

In 2000 he graduated from the Russian Academy with honours, his diploma was a portrait of the People's actor of the USSR Victor F. Stepanov.

Andrei Markin: My style

My "golden" series of women’s portraits is a result of natural professional growth. Once I remembered Valentin Serov’s portrait of the Russian singer Fedor Shalyapin, painted with charcoal.

Valentin Serov (1865-1911) Portrait of Russian singer Fedor Shalyapin, 1905

The image was depicted so well black and white that when Shalyapin asked Serov when he would paint it in colours, Serov answered: “Do you want me to “colour” the portrait?” And then I wondered why I “coloured” the backgrounds and dresses if I enjoyed so much to paint every detail of a woman’s face.

And what’s more it is much easier to portray an image by focusing only on a model’s face or even some of its lines.

This series is only the beginning of my creative development. I’m sure there are a lot of new and interesting things ahead.

The key point is to carry your dreams and expectations through everyday routine.

And I believe it is possible, because I’m sure dreams come true.