Valeria Shuvalova Art

In this moving piece by Rudolf Kosow, the canvas captures a tender and intimate moment between species. The focus is a deeply expressive black dog, portrayed with a level of detail t...

Jean Grimal is a true 20th century discovery. This breathtaking piece is a gorgeous example of his mastery as an artist. He beautifully creates chiaroscuro in this painting. The way the light touches the edges of the Chinese bowl and the grapes is an example of his skill in representing light. Jean Grimal (1942-1998) was born in the town of Tulle, France in 1942. Jean’s family moved to Paris when he was 8 years of age. After receiving a classical French education with studies in Latin and Greek, Jean Grimal entered the University to receive his Baccalaureate. He then attended Claude Barnard School for three years, when he received his Art Degree.  Upon completion Grimal taught art for seven years.  As Grimal’s own interest in formal painting and art began to possess him, the artist’s destiny changed.  In 1967 Jean Grimal stepped aside from teaching and pursued a career in professional painting and working as an illustrator in advertising.  As an advertising illustrator, Grimal worked with Lise Goldfard for more than 25 years at Studio 44 where they collaborated with major and important accounts, such as: Air France, Christofle, Peugeot, Lacoste, to name a few. At the same time he began presenting his formal paintings to galleries in Paris and Cannes, France and in London and Windsor, England.  Much to his surprise, Grimal found that his paintings were sought after by major art galleries and collectors throughout Europe.  After a number of years of being an important and successful art illustrator for these major accounts, he found himself having to choose between the two.  Fortunately for collectors, he chose to dedicate his life to the classical style of painting.  Jean looked at the simplest things in life through a microscope, where he could take the simplest object and depict the age of the fruit or the leaf. Jean Grimal received great pleasure from his work and painted for over thirty years.  As his style matured and became ever more perfect Jean Grimal truly reached the pinnacle of his career.  The artist’s methods were particularly distinguished when measured against his peers.  Grimal’s painting skill was distinctive and exceptional. Jean Grimal was known for his realistic trompe l’oeil and still life paintings.  The artist would carefully arrange the objects to form a satisfying composition.  By painting every shadow, highlight, and reflection within each composition Grimal brought mundane subjects to life.  His tight rendering combined with his attention to light and detail allowed him to blur the lines between illusion and reality, truly making his works one of a kind.  Grimal’s trompe l’oeil paintings consist of intricate compositions of cards, envelopes, photographs, paper of different materials and weights, backs of canvases, images of other artists’ works, kitchen utensils, pistols, and more.  Grimal had a talent for mastering these illusions that deceive the eye in his trompe l’oeil paintings.    No matter what genre Grimal was painting, tight, unperceivable brushwork characterizes his work.  The artist painted every crease and crinkle, every shadow and highlight, every detail.  By doing so, he was able to capture each individual surface texture of the objects in his paintings.  Grimal was also fabulous at depicting light in his paintings- often contrasting strong lights with strong darks, creating chiaroscuro modeling.  His still life paintings are reminiscent of Dutch seventeenth century...

Pocket Wild Apple [2022] original and hand signed by the artist Oil paint on canvas Image size: H:15 cm x W:15 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:5 cm x W:5 cm x D:2cm Frame Size:...

These stunning magnolia placed in a transparent vase. A dark background helps to reveal delicate forms of flowers and capture the reactions of light with glass. The medium used is oi...

"White lilies" floral still life realism of the Volsky Lily. The painting is done in oil on canvas. It is written in 3 layers. Flowers look very impressive on a dark background. Lil...

"Serenity" (2024) by Sheri Farabaugh (United States Based) is a beautiful handmade still life oil painting that depicts a bundle of lotus flowers and pads resting in a clear blue pon...

This captivating oil portrait from the late 18th to early 19th century depicts a mysterious charming young woman, painted by an unknown but clearly professional master, presumably Fr...

This is a charming breakfast still life featuring fresh blueberries served on an ornate blue and white patterned plate, accompanied by a glass of milk. The composition is set on a wh...

People encounter a domestic animal that is commonplace and familiar, but the disproportionate scale creates fascination, fright and this perspective renders the human speechless. Similar to the satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels", people are confronted with an inexplicable encounter and do not know how to react to it. Is the situation perplexing because a dog is huge, just taking a nap and does not notice the people around it, or are humans too tiny and do not recognize their "absurd" existence? keywords; surrealism, animals, cat, oil painting, earth tones, figurative painting, strangeness, contemporary surrealistic, unsettling, contemporary figurative painting, dreams, symbolic composition, cat paw

Early 20th century Still Life with Fruits is by Reginald Bathurst Birch (1856-1943). Birch is best known as the famous illustrator of Frances Hodgeson Burnett's book 'Little Lord...

"Tense," a thought-provoking piece by Rudolf Kosow, presents a surreal interplay between a colossal bulldog and a diminutive baseball player. The dog's face, detailed with astonishing realism, conveys a palpable intensity through its piercing gaze. The size disparity between the dog and the player underscores a narrative ripe with anticipation. The baseball player, clad in traditional attire, stands with bat at the ready, embodying a moment of concentration and readiness. This portrayal of the player, so starkly contrasted against the vastness of the bulldog's features, evokes a feeling of an undercurrent of suspense, as if the outcome of this encounter balances on a knife-edge. Through "Tense," Kosow delves into the theme of confrontation and the moments that precede action. The artwork captures the stillness before the storm, the quiet before the play, offering a metaphor for life's high-pressure situations where individuals face larger-than-life challenges. The painting invites reflection on the psychological interplay between fear and courage, the small against the mighty, and the personal tenacity required to stand firm in the face of overwhelming odds. "Tense" is not just a snapshot of a surreal encounter but a broader commentary on the emotional landscapes we navigate when confronted with formidable obstacles. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...

"Protectress" by Rudolf Kosow is a compelling oil painting that uses surrealism to explore themes of guardianship and scale. In this striking work, a colossal Doberman sits attentive...