Search Results

Portrait Master, Igor V. Babailov - Established Portrait Painting Procedure & Portrait Fees. Igor V. Babailov, Hon. RAA, KStA PORTRAIT PROCEDURE PLEASE NOTE: or a successful Portrait Painting, especially when photographic references may be used, it is VITAL for an artist to have the enriched experience and ability to work from life, particularly DRAW FROM LIFE. Such experience enables the artist to portray likeness with the most natural and life-like appearance which truly immortalizes the person, and creates the portrait far beyond its photographic references. ~ Igor V. Babailov, Hon. RAA F Prime Minister Brian Mulroney - official portrait sitting. U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Samuel Alito. In preparation for the official oil portrait. Established Portrait Painting Procedure and its vital initial step, Drawing from LIFE. Igor Babailov ' s life-time experience in portrait painting allows him to work comfortably from life or from photographs. When working from photographic references is necessary, in the instances when clients have busy schedules or with children for whom it is difficult to sit for extended periods, or for posthumous portraits and those commissioned as a surprise, Mr. Babailov applies his invaluable knowledge of painting from life, acquired through his life-time experience and unsurpassed formal 16 years of traditional fine art education (1974-1990) within the master-studios of the historic Russian Academy of Arts (founded in 1757 by Catherine the Great). The initial meeting with the client usually takes two and a half hours and is scheduled at the artist’s studio or the client’s location. At this meeting, the overall idea, size and the wall location where the portrait will be displayed are discussed, and Babailov will take up to 300-plus photographic references of the subject, to be used in the creation of the portrait. Since one of the MOST IMPORTANT steps in any Master's Portrait Painting Procedure is DRAWING FROM LIFE , in preparation for painting, Igor Babailov masterfully demonstrates his skill in Drawing as well. "If one can Draw from life, one can always Paint !" ~ Pietro Annigoni, Royal Portrait Painter The Igor Babailov Unique Drawing Studies from Life Igor Babailov, Hon. RAA is one of the very few artists today whose Portrait Painting Procedure resembles precisely those of the Great Masters of Portraiture, such as Ilya Repin and John Singer Sargent , as it includes preliminary DRAWING studies from LIFE. In these studies, Igor Babailov captures impeccable likeness, character and personality in a matter of minutes and seconds, regardless of the sitter's age. This requires the artist's independence from the camera and ability to DRAW entirely from Life, which today is a fundamental challenge for many painters. Such knowledge and experience in drawing enables the artist to portray likeness with the most natural and life-like appearance which truly immortalizes the person in the painting, and creates the portrait far beyond its photographic references, when photographic references are used. SAMPLES of Drawings from LIFE MORE Drawing Studies from LIFE In these DRAWING STUDIES, the artist assumes the challenge of the monochromatic drawing method which, unlike a color painting sketch, requires 100% accuracy in tonal values and proportions and does not forgive mistakes in likeness! They say: "Drawing never fails, but often the artist does", this is why the vast majority of today's portrait painters do not draw from life in front of their clients. However, it's the DRAWING studies from LIFE that have been recognized by generations of Portrait Masters, as the VITAL STEP in preparation for a portrait painting. It provides the immense opportunity to ultimately understand all the nuances of the subject's features and likeness, in order to get a deeper sense of beautiful uniqueness, character and personality, in direct communication with the person (please see What You Need To Know When Commissioning A Portrait Painting ). Igor Babailov's life-time experience and years of formal academic training allow him to complete each finely detailed DRAWING STUDY from life within 30 minutes . At the same time, clients have the opportunity to see the artist in 'action' and his skill in capturing a full of character life-likeness, right on the spot, within a brief period of time, with only a black & white pencil. After all, "if one can draw from life [NOT from photos!], one can always paint", said master portrait painter Pietro Annigoni . After the initial meeting, Mr. Babailov provides the client with several original, artistic and hand-created compositional master-studies, to determine the best compositional setting of the figure in the background, most suitable for the portrait. Once the decision on the choice of composition is made, the artist professionally prepares the museum quality appropriate weight canvas to start painting the actual portrait. Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza Any photos provided by the client will be returned upon portrait completion. A 40%-50% deposit (the amount of deposit is determined by the size of the portrait) is required upon the signing of the Portrait Agreement and before the work begins. Mr. Babailov travels extensively to the schedule and convenience of his portrait client’s location and caters to a distinguished professional clientele, in the United States, Canada and around the world. A NOTE for Portrait Clients and their Interior Designers Traditionally and historically, a great portrait painting stands on its own - it is not a decorative item that fits a particular interior style, or caters to a color trend / fashion of a moment in time, because the great portrait painting is timeless and it passes onto children and their children and onto future generations in the family. The great portrait painting also stands far beyond photography, because it is NOT a copy of a split second photographic moment of a physical appearance, but it captures the inner world of the person. Unlike photographs which visibly fade and deteriorate in just a couple of decades, it takes 450 years for oil paint to dry completely, making a portrait painting truly a Legacy portrait that lasts forever. Fees Igor Babailov's Fees are quoted in U.S. Dollars and available upon request at Info@Babailov.com Prices are determined by the portrait size, number of people and medium used. Available traditional portrait mediums are: Oil on Canvas /Linen, Charcoal /Sepia /Graphite and Pastel. Portraits of Men Family and Children Portraits of Women What You Need To Know When Commissioning A Portrait Painting CLICK Testimonials CONTACT US

Official Portrait of His Holiness Pope Francis by Igor V. Babailov. Collection: Vatican. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits His Holiness Pope Francis Collection: Vatican Official Portrait Unveiling Igor Babailov shares with Pope Francis the painting's symbolism. "The Holy Cross" Portrait of His Holiness Pope Francis Oil on Canvas, 72" x 48" ( 183 cm x 122 cm ) Original Concept & Composition, Copyright © Igor V. Babailov "This work is inspired, it touches my heart!" ~ Pope Francis ABOUT THE PORTRAIT "Like with my many other portrait works, Pope Francis’s portrait is more than a portrait in its traditional sense. Its large canvas incorporates a number of symbolic references reflective of Pope Francis: his spirituality and devotion to the Holy Family, love for children and, of course, his washing the feet of the everyday disciples. The word ‘Pontiff’ derives from the word ‘pont’ (bridge) and means the ‘bridge builder,’ so the rainbow behind the Holy Father, symbolizes a bridge that connects the Catholic Church with other religions (represented in the painting by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey). The theme of cross is present throughout the whole painting. The portrait composition is comprised of five major ‘actions’: Pope Francis in the middle, as the focus of the painting, and four groups, located diagonally in both directions towards the corners of the canvas. The Pope’s figure connects them all together, forming a cross. The other cross is prompted by the bright beam of God’s light that comes from above, between the Dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit) on the right and the Holy Family with the little Jesus in the arms of Mary, on the left. This setting invites the viewer to sense the sign of the cross: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The journey of the viewer’s eye begins with the Holy Father and in circular movement returns back to him, as he gently puts the hands over the cross on his cassock, protecting gesture. This is also his typical posture. I reminisce the unveiling of the portrait to Pope Francis, when he put his hand on his heart and said about the painting, “It touches me” and then he added, “It inspires.” ~ Igor V. Babailov Photo credit: Official Vatican photography Life Portrait Studies, Vatican The papal portrait unveiling featured on the billboard at Times Square, New York City. VIDEO "The Man who Painted Pope Francis" Related LINKS to Igor Babailov's Vatican works Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI Official Portrait of Pope St. John Paul II Official Portrait of the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard The Vatican Splendors exhibition The Sacred Art Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will save the world - article OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official portrait of Michael Novak, diplomat, the Templeton Prize (1994), the White House adviser, by portrair artist Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Michael Novak Frederick Jewett Scholar - the American Enterprise Institute, Author, Theologian, The Templeton Prize recipient 1994, Diplomat, Adviser to the Office of Ethnic Affairs, The White House. Michael Novak (oil on canvas) by Igor Babailov Michael Novak and Margaret Thatcher (left) - The Templeton Prize ceremony, Westminster Abbey, London, 1994 Michael Novak portrait unveiling. Collection: Ave Maria University, Florida VIDEO of the official portrait unveiling OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait of Hillary Clinton, Inauguration Day 1993 (oil on canvas) by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Official collection: Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, Arkansas. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton First Lady of the United States (1993-2001) Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Inauguration Day, 1993. (Oil on canvas, 30" x 24") by Igor Babailov Collection: Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, Arkansas Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, Arkansas To commission a custom portrait by Mr. Babailov and/or for any questions feel free to CONTACT us.

Portrait of Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, by Igor Babailov. Collection: Vatican Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Portrait of Col. Christoph Graf Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Vatican Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (oil on canvas, 50"x 42") Portrait of Col. Christoph Graf, 35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Francis, was commissioned to Igor Babailov for the historic portrait collection of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Commanders' portraits. Collection: Vatican Life portrait sitting and life studies of the Commander's armors in preparation for the official oil portrait Official collection: Vatican Official Vatican Pontifical Swiss Guard Seal, presented to Igor Babailov by the Commander Igor Babailov - Vatican portrait sitting with the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Related LINKS to Igor Babailov's Vatican works Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI Official Portrait of Pope Francis Official Portrait of Pope St. John Paul II The Vatican Splendors exhibitions The Sacred Art Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will save the world - article OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait of Margaret Leo of McLean, by portrait artist Igor Babailov, Collection: Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Margaret Leo of McLean Margaret Leo of McLean (oil on canvas, 30" x 24") Collection: Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC Portrait Unveiling with the Leo family at the Catholic Information Center, Washington, DC

An educational article by portrait artist Igor Babailov, featured in PRIMO Magazine, Italian-American magazine, U.S.A. The Latest News…from an Italian-American Perspective PRIMO magazine Italian Influence on Realistic Portraiture by Igor Babailov Portrait Artist Igor Babailov, the only Living Artist in the Vatican Splendors Exhibition, tells PRIMO why Artists Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Pietro Annigoni are his Key Influences. Igor Babailov's painting "For Gold, God and Glory" on the cover of PRIMO magazine. The great Italian contributions in the history of art are immeasurable. On my website www.Babailov.com , there are a number of artists, whose works I recommend to study, and among them are Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 - 1770) and Pietro Annigoni (1910–1988). These are only two great names out of many fine visual artists of Italy. They represent two different centuries, yet both come from the same educational background in the classical tradition of one of the oldest art schools in the world: the Italian Academy of Art. “La Strega” by Pietro Annigoni “Head of a Young Man in Three-Quarter View Facing Left, Looking Upward,” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Given that they lived in different eras, both Tiepolo and Annigoni faced unique challenges. Tiepolo’s challenge at his time was to explore the knowledge of the Masters before him and around him and to apply it to his own beautiful figurative works, which were celebrated by his contemporaries, as the sophisticated appreciation of the skill in art was taught and very much present at the time. Pietro Annigoni, the utmost admirer of the Old Masters, had a very different challenge at the peak of his career in 1950s-70s, being constantly attacked by the “art critics” for painting beauty and emphasizing the importance of the masters’ methods and techniques as prerequisite of skill for any artist. The celebration of Beauty and God’s Creation is the main focus of the traditional school of painting, which requires more than talent, but the skill to produce, and consequently cannot be achieved without the proper education. It has always been at the core of the academic curriculums and the Italian academy has given the world some of the best known names in the history of art, until about the mid 20 th century, when the rich inheritance of the Renaissance Masters suddenly became “debatable” by “art critics who couldn’t draw.” I became familiar with the name Annigoni when I was invited to teach at the Florence Academy of Art, in Italy in 1999. When I discovered more about his life and works, I immediately felt the closeness to this artist, fully relating to his values and ideals. I myself being a contemporary realist artist, like Annigoni, was asked on numerous occasions “if there was enough of Renaissance in the period of Renaissance…” This question was well answered by Pietro Annigoni, who I quote: “Only those who know nothing about art may think that a Style is repeatable in every age. It is the destiny of every artist to strive to say something NEW with an OLD language.” In 2008, my life size portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was officially presented to the Pope upon His Holiness’s arrival in the United States. Two years later, I received a call from the Papal Nuncio in Washington, D.C. with the news that my papal portrait arrived in America to exhibit in Vatican Splendors, the North American museum tour from the Vatican Collection. The Vatican Splendors exhibition consists of almost 200 objects representing 2,000 years of the Vatican’s history. They include historic works of art, important period documents, even the relics of St. Peter. The significant part of the exhibition are paintings, sculptures and other works of art; as well as the Papal portraits, with my portrait representing the Papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. At the opening of Vatican Splendors I approached the Vatican Curator Roberto Zagnoli to thank him for selecting my work for such an important exhibition and he replied: “No, no, no, Maestro, the Pope chose it!” That was, of course, a huge honor. Some of the artists’ works on the exhibition include the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Bernini, Guerchino, Vasari and many other Masters of the Renaissance, and I was humbled to be the only living artist there. The 2000-year impact of the Vatican in art history is unquestionably immense and impressive, with the majority of its artists being Italians, and I’m proud to be among such a distinguished group and company of Masters in the history of art. The Vatican Splendors exhibition moved to the John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, and then the Fine Arts Museum in Ft. Lauderdale until May 2011, when it returned back to the Vatican. Igor Babailov at work on the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI On another note, some of my famous Italian American portrait subjects included: Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York, actor James Gandolfini and the most recent portrait of Iraq veteran of war and American Hero, Brendan Marrocco. They all are on my website www.Babailov.com Editor’s Note: PRIMO had the honor of featuring the work of Igor V. Babailov on the cover of our September/October 2001 edition on Christopher Columbus. The painting, oil on canvas, was titled “For Gold, God and Glory.” Artist Babailov is praised by many for his sensitive and detailed portraits of contemporary luminaries in politics and entertainment, as well as a number of spectacular landscape paintings. Please review his latest works at www.Babailov.com Igor Babailov and Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Palace, Vatican

Official oil portrait of Justice Joseph P. Sullivan, by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Courthouse, First Appelate Division, New York City. Judicial portraits by portrait master Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits The Hon. Joseph P. Sullivan Presiding Justice 2000-2001; Associate Justice 1978-2000, 2002-2007 The State of New York Portrait of Justice Joseph P. Sullivan (44"x 34", oil on canvas), by Igor Babailov. The longest serving Justice, 30 years, in the State of New York, First Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York "HANDS in the portrait painting are as important, as the head is. They must 'speak' and be portrayed with the specific meaning, characterizing the person." ~ Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA The portrait was officially unveiled in Manhattan in front of numerous distinguished guests. They included Former Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch , and Chief Justice of the State of New York, Judith Kaye . From left to right: Artist Igor Babailov, Justice Joseph P. Sullivan and Mr. R. Reardon Collection: Historic Courthouse, Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Appellate Division, New York City. OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by portrait artist Igor Babaillov, selected by the Pope for the Vatican Splendors international museum tour and exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Masters of the Renaissance. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Selected by the Pope for the Vatican Splendors international museum tour, exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto and other Masters of the Renaissance. "The Truth, The Way and The Life" Portrait of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Oil on Canvas, 72" x 48" ( 183 cm x 122 cm ) Collection: Vatican Museum, Vatican, Rome With His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican At the Vatican Splendors with the organizers of the exhibition and Vatican Curator At work on the portrait of Pope Benedict XVI "This portrait is much more than an image, it is a painting of a presence. It catches the Pope’s shyness, physical presence and strength ... one of the best portraits of the Pope, I've ever seen! ~ Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States Collection: Vatican Museum, Vatican, Rome Related LINKS to Igor Babailov's Vatican works The Vatican Splendors exhibitions Official Portrait of Pope Francis Official Portrait of Pope St. John Paul II Official Portrait of the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard The Sacred Art Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will save the world - article OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Vatican Splendors - portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by portrait artist Igor Babailov exhibited alongside the works of Michelangelo, Giotto, Bernini, and other Great Masters of the Renaissance. Vatican museum tour. The only Living Master artist, Vatican exhibition. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA VATICAN SPLENDORS Exhibition of Masterpieces from the Vatican In 2010, Igor Babailov's Vatican portrait of Pope Benedict XVI was selected by the Pope to represent his Papacy in the Vatican Splendors international museum tours. The Vatican Curator acknowledged Babailov as Maestro, as his portrait hung alongside the works of Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto , and other Masters of the Renaissance. Artist Igor Babailov and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI by Igor Babailov Collection: Vatican Museum " he power of the precious objects in this exhibition brings us all into direct contact with the history and splendor of the Vatican. Our collective appreciation of the beauty we experience encourages and promotes a sense of unity between us. The history we share as we reflect on these objects and the stories they tell is the history of our common humanity." T ~ Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli, Vatican Curator The Vatican Splendors Exhibition From left to right: Exhibit organizer Mark Greenberg, artist Igor Babailov, Vatican Curator Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli Excerpts from the Exhibition Catalogue "The Vatican Splendors exhibition includes almost 200 works of art. It brings together some of the Vatican's most precious artistic masterpieces, historical documents, and sacred objects from the world's cultural and religious heritage." (from the Exhibition Catalogue) Michelangelo Giotto Guerchino Michelangelo Babailov Ribera Camuccini Vasari Tempesta Bernini Sassoferrato Fontana Guidi Zoboli Manfrini Vatican Splendors - A Journey Through Faith and Art ~ International Exhibitions ~ Related LINKS to Igor Babailov's Vatican works Official Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI Official Portrait of Pope Francis Official Portrait of Pope St. John Paul II Official Portrait of the Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard The Sacred Art Resurrection of Realism - Beauty will save the world - article www.Babailov.com

Portrait Master, Igor Babailov, reveals What You Need To Know When Commissioning a Portrait Painting - SEVEN Essentials to Commissioning a Portrait Painting. What You Need To Know When Commissioning a Portrait Painting by Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, MFA( PhD), KStA, D.Litt.(Hon.Causa) A NOTE for Portrait Clients and their Interior Designers Traditionally and historically, a great portrait painting stands on its own - it is not a decorative item that fits a particular interior style, or caters to a color trend / fashion of a moment in time, because the great portrait painting is timeless and it passes onto children and their children and onto future generations in the family. The great portrait painting also stands far beyond photography, because it is NOT a copy of a split second photographic moment of a physical appearance, but it captures the inner world of the person. Unlike photographs which visibly fade and deteriorate in just a couple of decades, it takes 450 years for oil paint to dry completely, making a portrait painting truly a Legacy portrait that lasts forever. here are two key questions everyone would ask when searching for a portrait artist: Who that artist would be? and How much would it cost? T Naturally, commissioning a portrait painting would be something we wouldn't consider to do often, and perhaps once in a lifetime. Therefore, making the right decision today will be what we and our future generations will treasure and live with tomorrow. Please allow me to share with you my professional knowledge and expertise based on the philosophy and professional approach of the Masters of Portraiture, such as Ilya Repin , John Singer Sargent and Valentin Serov , as well as my own highest Academic art education and life-time experience in portraiture; particularly in painting portraits for commission. by Ilya Repin About Portraiture and Higher Standards Artists have painted portraits for centuries, often for commission, and often not. Regardless of how they were done, the artist’s skill would have been looked at first. As the most perfect creation, the Human Form was the main focus of studies at the old Academies. It has been known throughout generations of artists that, “if you knew how to draw the human form, particularly the human portrait, you could draw anything.” All academic studies were based on working with life-models, and the artists drew and painted only from life or from their imagination. Even when photography was already invented, the Artists still learned the Anatomy and the laws of Perspective. They exercised their Visual memory and applied their skills of working from life to create life-like convincing multi-figurative compositions and group portraits. In the past several decades, with the boom of commercialism and drastic changes in Art education, when Drawing and Human Anatomy were completely erased from the curriculum of Fine Art programs, portraiture became something of a commercial venture, and quite often today it is nothing more, but a copy of a photograph, which does not require the Master knowledge, Creativity, Imagination or any in-depth Academic training. Although in the history of art, portraiture has always been recognized by Master painters as the MOST challenging genre in visual arts, today there are more artists call themselves 'portrait painters', than ever before... That is, because many of them simply copy photos without having to test their skills to the challenge of working from life. It would be interesting to imagine just how many of these artists would continue to paint portraits if the camera and photography would not be available to them. Consider this. When we were school children in kindergarten, we copied images from books, comics strips, etc. It really did not require much skill at all to copy a ready made image or a photograph. But in the context of painting portraits professionally in the tradition of the Masters, high artistic skills and ability to realistically create (not just to copy pictures)must be the uncompromising criteria for every "professional" portrait painter! Fortunately, the values of traditional art education are eternal. Currently, the art world experiences an important transition and the notable art academies have already started the reconstruction of their academic curriculum to teach those traditional values to their students again. However, the consequences of promoting art, which doesn’t require a skill of drawing or anatomical knowledge, are still present, and sadly even in portraiture. Therefore, when selecting an artist, consider every aspect including the portrait process. You will be quite surprised to learn how many artists today can not draw with a free hand and trained eye, but simply copy/ grid a photograph (do not confuse it with the Masters' method of transferring their own preliminary drawings onto large canvases and murals). Some of today's artists even use projectors, projecting photos on canvas and tracing them. How about painting over the photographs? Believe it or not, that happens too…. by John Singer Sargent The Seven Essentials #1. Realism vs Photo-Realism ( know the difference ) These days even artists are often confused about Realism versus Photo-Realism, what is what? It’s really not that complicated. Photo-Realism is the copying of a photograph. And what is a photograph? A photographic image is only a second of a life time: “Say cheese.. and you’ll freeze.” So, it may capture the moment, but it may not capture the person. Very often we hear: “I don’t like to be photographed!” or “I’m not very photogenic!”... Of course, YOU ARE. That is what the camera, the heartless tool, does – it takes everything, what is necessary and what is not. This is where the difference between the camera and the artist comes in to play, because the ARTIST CAN SELECT. Realism goes f ar beyond photography. Through the harmony of tonal and color values it portrays the subject in the appropriate setting, where everything contributes to the individuality and character of the person, and nothing competes with it or detracts from it. The details on the Realistic portrait are not photographically copied, but portrayed selectively, providing the life-like and convincing image of the person. Of course, to be able to do so, the artist must possess a certain skill, which can only be acquired by the knowledge and the expertise of working from life. Because of the popularity of photography and having no other comparison, the innocent viewer can comment about the strong realistic painting: “It is as good as a photograph!" It has been noticed that such a comment never occurs, if the person actually sits for the portrait, participates and experiences the whole portrait process, and realizes that there was no photography involved and the outstanding realistic likeness can be achieved directly from life with a free hand. That is exactly, what in the old days made people appreciate artists. The artist was recognized as somebody who could do something what nobody else could do! Of course today, the vision and meaning of art have changed, but the necessity of the skill required to create portraits in the best traditions of Classical Realism, remains constant and obvious. Leah (oil) by Igor Babailov #2. The Ability to Draw from Life This is where the true artistic skill is revealed! Again, these days you may hear from some artists: “I paint, but I would rather not draw.” .. Why?.. Because any weakness the artist may have in portraying proportions or tonal values or in the anatomy details, can easily be exposed in black & white drawing. In painting however, they may get away with those mistakes, as the color or "painterly" brush strokes can distract the viewer's eye from those mistakes. As an excuse not to draw in front of a client, such artists may even try to undermine the importance of drawing, saying that to draw would be a low thing to do for their "professional level". This is total nonsense! The curriculum of any true Academic school in all times was always based on perfecting the skill of drawing, as a fundamental for strong painting. That would remain to be the goal of any Master painter throughout their professional career. The famous 17th Century Nicolas Poussin said: “Drawing is the skeleton of painting, the color is its flesh.” The most contemporary American artist Norman Rockwell stated: "You build the house before you paint it." If you can draw, you will always be able to paint. It has been recognized by generations of artists, that Drawing is the core of the artists' strength, especially in portraiture. As part of the teachings of the Masters, the ability to draw and paint from LIFE is and will always be a sign of the true fundamental skill of an artist. However, the popularity of photography has created, if you will, “photocopy artists”, who would only copy photographs which is a very basic level of artistry to begin with. These artists present such copies of photographs as if they were Fine Art portraits, when in fact, they are only representative of a split second in a person's lifetime. PLEASE NOTE: Portrait study with Gen. David Petraeus, US Military Commander and CIA Director If photographs are used in painting a portrait, it would certainly be to your advantage to find out whether or not the artist has a greater skill than just copying photos. The skill in question is the ability to work from life, which enables the artist to portray the likeness with the most natural and life-like appearance, truly immortalizing the person and creating the portrait, which goes far beyond its photographic references. To ascertain the presence of this vital skill for a successful portrait painting, you might wish to consider the following: a simple DRAWING TEST. DRAWING TEST: Ask the artist to draw a black & white sketch of you, your child or whomever the portrait subject is - on the spot, and of course from life. That could be done simply on white paper with a graphite pencil right in front of you. Do not worry, it won't take forever. The experienced and skilled Artist should be able to complete a life-like and a full of character sketch within 30 minutes. Remember, just like all the Masters of the past, the pro will always be proud to demonstrate their skill in drawing from life without any hesitation. The 20th century master portrait artist Pietro Annigon i once said: "If one can draw, one can always paint". #3. Experience Another way to be assured of the artist’s qualifications and the artistic credentials is to see more samples of their work, than only those shown in the artist’s portfolio. That could also prevent you from any surprises and an Oops! situation later on. As a preliminary portrait stage and part of the artist's portrait procedure, there maybe a life-study involved. Whether it is drawing or painting, skilled artists usually deliver a faster result without jeopardizing quality, simply because they do not waste their time on fixing mistakes. Below is an approximate time which experienced and skilled Fine Artists will require to complete portrait studies entirely from life in different mediums, relatively fast, yet full of likeness and fine details. DETAILED portrait studies from life by an experienced artist Medium Time required Graphite Pencil Sketch (14"x11") - up to 30 min. Pastel Portrait Study (20"x16") - approx. 1.5 - 2 hrs. Oil Portrait Study (20"x16") - approx. 2.5 hrs. OIL GRAPHITE PASTEL: #4. Academic Education It is as important and fundamental in Realistic art as the alphabet is to learn a language! Figure Drawings from Life Life models As I mentioned earlier, in the past several decades (since about 1960-s) classical art education was basically ignored in many art schools. As a result, after completing art programs, graduates could not really draw, because the in-depth Renaissance teaching methods were not taught. This is why, university art degrees, along with their titles, presented in the artists's portfolios since that time, were often not considered by others to be an important criteria of the artists' credentials. Expertise in Human Anatomy Fortunately a handful of accredited schools remained, providing high quality art education and focusing not only on teaching how to "express emotions", but on giving students the vital Drawing skills. Because of this and due to the Realist Movement and the current return to traditional values in visual art, historical appreciation for Fine Art Degrees is finally coming back.. A standard university art degree, offered by fine art education in 'studio arts', is BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts). The HIGHEST DEGREE one can earn in visual art education is the MFA degree, Master of Fine Arts, equivalent to the Ph.D. and E.D. in other fields, please read here . ALL the greatest Masters of all times regarded the Traditional Academic training as indispensable in the development of highest artistic and professional skills - the higher the TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC education, the higher the competence, credentials and credibility of the artist. A few examples of the academic works by Igor Babailov Master Copies in museums Throughout the centuries, the artists' main goal was to study in the highly acclaimed accredited Academies of Art, or under the Master(s), who graduated from such Academies.That was to obtain the highest possible knowledge of Human Anatomy, Perspective, Master Methods of Drawing and Painting. Only after successfully completing these studies, could they pursue a professional career in figurative art including, of course, Portraiture. Portrait Drawings from Life #5. Budget and Investment Price comparison is naturally a priority consideration, but make sure that you compare 'apples to apples' ! Since having a portrait painted is usually a once in a lifetime experience, every credential should be considered, including the artist's ability to work from life. If you're thinking to hire an artist to copy a ready-made image of a photograph, you may as well just enlarge that photo and save yourself a lot of money... However, remember: photographs don't last, as they start fading immediately after they are taken..... If you are thinking of a true luxurious Fine Art Portrait in the tradition of the Masters, to pass it on to your descendants and future generations, look beyond the price tag, as in the long run our descendants are going to inherit what we purchased for them. So why not go for the best! Please keep in mind though, because of today's common unawareness of what the portrait painting should be, a 'photocopy artist' may ask almost as high price for a portrait as the skilled Artists would. Once again, the way to be assured in the true qualifications of 'your' artist would be by offering the DRAWING TEST (please see Essential #2). It is known that with time, the works of Fine Ar t * (please see below) increase in value, and this is naturally applied to portrait painting ** (please see below). For your information, ninety percent (90%) of the Metropolitan Museum collection are life-painted commissioned portraits. If the artists' officially commissioned portraits include those of business and political leaders and celebrities, whose names stay in history, the artists' names who officially painted them go into history with their subjects. The value of such artists’ works are guaranteed to be on the higher level at any time and in the future. #6. Painting Hands Another way to asses the quality of work you're possibly interested in, is to observe the artist’s ability to paint hands. It has been recognized by generations of artists to be even more challenging than painting the portrait itself. The Masters referred to hands as "the second portrait." Given their impeccable knowledge of Human Anatomy and not to mention that they painted only from life, the hands in their portrait paintings look life-like just as the heads do. Strikingly, many of today's artists experience difficulty with painting hands even when they are copying photographs. So once again, simply look at the larger number of the portrait samples where the hands are included and then listen to your heart. #7. Listening to your heart Regardless of your art education, or what your occupation is, and whether or not your neighbor had a portrait painted by the same artist, you will feel intuitively, if there is anything wrong with the portrait samples you are looking at. That should be the signal for you to just look more thoroughly at things, so you would avoid making a costly and irreversible mistake. Artists with the lack of proper education and experience of working from life, totally depend on the camera and copy whatever is visible on the photograph, without knowing what’s underneath. As a result, instead of creating the in-depth and full of character portrait, they draw a mask with no soul. Unlike the amateurs, the Pros, by bringing their experience of working from Life, improve on the reality of the camera, filling in the one element missing: the Soul. Photography was a great invention and today it often assists in creating commissioned portraits, both on the client side and for the artist. However, because of its general popularity, photographic image became more than a reference point and quite often even used as a subject for copying and tracing, which sadly simplifies the true essence of fine art portraiture and in reality, shallows its meaning. Just like The Masters of the past, I don't believe in "short cuts", especially in portraiture, as it is a form of art, which represents the highest form of The Creation, us. I also have a great admiration for those contemporary artists realists, who chose not a path of least resistance, but to explore and study the expertise of the traditional school, the most challenging and the only school, which teaches you to draw and empowers the artist with the skills of the Masters. If you have read up to this point, you are one of the many people interested in knowing more about the fine art of portraiture and its timeless values which will always exist, regardless of new movements in art. To Summarize, commissioning a Portrait is a huge responsibility you undertake for the generations to come. Therefore, I believe you deserve to have this necessary fundamental knowledge about: the differences between photographic images and realistic portrait paintings the skill of drawing freehand when photographs are used, developing a portrait from a number of references, vs just copying a single photo the artist's ability to work from life and the value of that experience in painting successful portraits All of these factors and information above may assist you greatly in your selection process and efforts in finding your artist, for you and the future generations to benefit. Igor V. Babailov, Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts (est.1757) painted his first portrait at the age of four and began his formal classical art education at nine (1974-1990). Having studied with leading Masters of painting and drawing at the Surikov Academy of the Russian Academy of Arts (est. 1757), he received the Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA) and In the direct ‘teacher-student’ lineage of the Russian Academy, Babailov is a third generation student of the world-famous artists Ilya Repin and Valentin Serov. * Traditionally, "Fine Art" term is referred to the form of art, created by the artist's Talent and the human Skill. This obviously doesn't include photography, which is produced by a camera. ( I.V.B.) According to scientific research, it takes 450 years for Oil paint (Oil paintings) to dry completely, this is why today the beautiful Renaissance paintings look as 'fresh' as if they were painted yesterday. A photograph, on the other hand, starts to deteriorate IMMEDIATELY upon it is taken, and fades visibly in 30 - 50 years. ** © The essay herein is the intellectual property of Igor V. Babailov and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from Igor V. Babailov. Any attempt to plagiarize the written material of this page will violate the international community's laws and ethics. CONTACT US

Portrait of Reggie Jackson,"Mr. October," American baseball star, Baseball Hall of Fame, by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Unveiled in New York City. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Celebrity Portraits Reggie Jackson,"Mr. October" American Baseball star, National Baseball Hall of Fame Reggie Jackson (oil on canvas, 28" x 22") by Igor V. Babailov Reggie Jackson with Igor Babailov Reggie Jackson with his portrait by Igor Babailov, in New York City Igor Babailov and Reggie Jackson Reggie Jackson portrait unveiling, New York City Igor Babailov and Reggie Jackson Reggie Jackson with Igor Babailov, New York OTHER CELEBRITY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov