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Official Portrait of Nelson Mandela (official graphite drawing from Life sitting), by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Drawn from life in Ottawa, Canada. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Nelson Mandela President of South Africa (1994-1999) Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela Official Portrait Sketch from Life (Graphite) Presidential Collection: South Africa Drawn fast from Life sitting by Igor Babailov at an official ceremony honoring Nelson Mandela with the Honorary Canadian citizenship in Ottawa, Canada. As a historic commemoration of the occasion, a copy of this life portrait was presented by Canadian Prime Minister to Nelson Mandela on behalf of the People of Canada. Ottawa, Canada, November 19, 2001 OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Links to pages about the portrait artist Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA WELCOME to the World of Igor V. Babailov Awards & Honors Artist's BIO SPEAKER RU Hon. Academician ARTWORKS Knighthood Famous Teachers STUDIOS

Portrait of the Emmy Award actor Tony Lo Bianco, "French Connection" and other films, by portrait artist Igor Babailov, unveiled in New York City. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Celebrity Portraits Tony Lo Bianco Awards winning actor, "French Connection" and many other films Tony Lo Bianco (oil on canvas, 24" x 20") by Igor V. Babailov Igor Babailov and Tony Lo Bianco Tony Lo Bianco portrait Tony Lo Bianco unveiling, portrait by Igor Babailov Tony Lo Bianco portrait, New York City unveiling OTHER CELEBRITY 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 Blessed Stanley Rother Blessed Stanley Rother (oil on canvas, 30" x 24") Collection: The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine Oklahoma City, OK Official Unveiling of the Blessed Stanley Rother portrait with the Most Reverend Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, Oklahoma City With His Excellency the Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding, Bishop of Nashville, at the Artist's studio The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, Oklahoma City Photo credit: Pablo Angel Gonzales / Oklahoma City Free Press

Igor Babailov, world renowned master artist, in his unique artistic genius skillfully depicts 3D sculpture images on a 2 dimensional canvas, giving new life to sculptures in the timeless Old Masters' tradition of painting sculptures. Exhibited at the World Celebrities' Art Fair in Tokyo, Japan. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Sculpture-Grisaille 3D Experience Igor V. Babailov, world renowned portrait and figurative artist, in his unique artistic genius skillfully depicts 3D sculpture images on a 2 dimensional canvas, giving new life to sculptures in the timeless Old Masters' tradition of painting sculptures in the Grisaille technique. Grisaille is the Monochrome painting, generally employing shades of gray (the term derives from gris, the French word for "gray". Painting technique by which an image is executed entirely in shades of gray and usually modeled to produce the illusion of sculpture or relief. It was used especially by 15th-century Flemish painters (e.g., Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece, 1432) and in the late 18th century to imitate Classical sculpture in wall and ceiling decoration. Jizo Bosatsu Oil on Canvas, 35 in X 20 in Exhibited at the World Celebrities' Art Fair in Tokyo, Japan Other Sculpture-Grisaille paintings by Igor Babailov

Portrait of Governor Yves Fortier, The Hudson's Bay Company (founded in 1670), by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Saks Fifth Avenue. Corporate business portraits in oil. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Gov. Yves Fortier Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest company in the world (founded in 1670) and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations Collection : The Hudson's Bay Company Gover nor Yves Fortier (48"x 36", oil on canvas), by Igor Babailov. Portrait sitting at the Artist's studio by Sir Peter Lely by Sir Anthony Van Dyck Other portraits in the Collection include the portraits of the First Governor, Prince Rupert (1619-1682), painted by famed artists Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) and Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641) Official collection: The Hudson's Bay Company OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait of Frank Military (oil on canvas), the legendary music publisher and life-time collegue and friend of Frank Sinatra. Legacy portraits by Igor Babailov. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Celebrity Portraits Frank Military Legendary Music Publisher Frank Military was behind the careers of such stellar personalities, as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, Louis Armstrong, Neil Diamond , and many others. Frank Military Songwriters Hall of Fame, past VP of Warner Chappell Music, Inc. and life-time colleague and friend of Frank Sinatra. Oil on canvas (30" x 24"), by Igor V. Babailov Frank Military and Frank Sinatra "The best painter I've come across in my lifetime...The Michelangelo of today!" ~ Frank Military Igor Babailov and Frank Military at the Warner Chappell Music, Inc. in New York City Collection: Frank Military Jr. , Hollywood, California OTHER CELEBRITY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Portrait artist Igor Babailov is featured in the article "Reviving the Renaissance; A President With Leadership," by Elizabeth Lev, American art historian in Rome. ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome Reviving the Renaissance; A President With Leadership Russian Portrait Painter Spearheads Artistic Revolution by Elizabeth Lev ROME, SEPT. 11, 2008 ( ZENIT.org ) - Contemporary art often presents a dismal picture. Either excessively subjective or simply an exercise in bad taste, modern efforts have offered many reasons for critics to be concerned about the state of art today. But amid galleries cluttered with embalmed sheep and/or glazed garbage, art still gives signs of life. Several artists today still try to combine craftsmanship, vision and respect for the viewer in their works. Painter Igor Babailov spearheads the recent revolution to a return to an art that values centuries of meaning and tradition. Born in 1965 in the town of Glazov, Russia, Babailov began his formal training at the age of nine, the same age as Raphael. Precociously accomplished like his Renaissance forerunner, Babailov entered the elite Surikov College of Fine Arts at the age of 13 after winning a nationwide competition. He ultimately received his master's of fine arts from this world-famous school. Babailov came to North America almost 20 years ago where his talents did not go unnoticed. Today he is renowned as one of America's foremost portrait painters, in demand among world leaders, entertainment celebrities and CEOs. Some of Babailov's finest works, however, draw their inspiration from Rome. In 2004, Babailov produced a portrait of Pope John Paul II, titled "BELIEVE ," and this year he unveiled his portrait of Benedict XVI during the papal visit to Washington. In return, the appreciative Pope received Babailov and his wife at Castel Gandolfo last month. Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to Igor Babailov about his work, his inspiration and his portrayal of world leaders. Babailov began by discussing his image of John Paul II, today in the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. The portrait shows the young, strong Pope of 1978 instead of the ailing John Paul II of 2004. Babailov explained that "a portrait immortalizes a person for future generations. In Rome, around the Vatican, most of the gift shops showed postcards of the first years of his pontificate, because that's how people want to remember him." So in the years to come, when John Paul II is declared a saint, Babailov's image will project the energy and vibrancy of John Paul II from his first day in the papal throne. Babailov commemorates one of the pontiff's greatest achievements, World Youth Day, which the Holy Father founded in 1986. "He was a people's Pope, so I wanted to make a composition where the Pope would not be alone but surrounded by youth," the artist explained. Babailov's John Paul II is certainly placed in a universal setting. Over the Pope's left shoulder, a young couple represents future generations of Catholics. "Under the couple" explained the painter, "there is an African girl praying for a better future, while on the bottom left, I put a Philippine child -- since the Pope drew the largest crowd in history when he went to the Philippines." The artist chose to paint her in red, "as the symbol of heart and love and holding a candle for light and joy of faith." Rounding out the composition, Babailov added a young priest to represent the generation of new vocations, and a Pakistani girl hugging an image of the Blessed Mother, the Pope's lifelong devotion. On the lower right, he painted a Missionary of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, tending to a disabled person. Babailov, gave the wheelchair-bound figure particular prominence noting that "they are an inspiring example of strength through suffering, like John Paul II himself at the end of his life." Babailov says he painted the Pope as "really a Holy Father, a father to all these people from all over the world, who guides with love." The source of the Pope's strength is visible in the background with the youth day cross, the 12-foot cross that John Paul II entrusted to the world's youth in 1984 with the words "I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: the cross of Christ! Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption." The Russian artist painted the sky above the cross a deep and menacing red, to represent Christ's suffering and crucifixion, but above the Pope, he opened up to bright light. Babailov packs his painting with symbols, explaining that "painting should not just be a representation of a likeness, it should also have a message, more than what you see, it should be readable." He sees his work as "a kind of evangelizing." * * * The portrait of Pope Benedict with Christ seems to have been engineered by Divine Providence. Igor Babailov met Benedict XVI for the first time in 2006, and had started to work on a portrait of the newly elected Pope. The Russian artist says he was immediately drawn to Benedict, referring to him as "one of my heroes. He is very truthful and faithful to his mission as Christ's Vicar on earth and never allows his concern for public opinion to cloud his dedication to the truth." After painting many world leaders, Babailov has several ideas of what makes a great leader. "Leaders are very straight and true in a world where many people live in a kind of gray zone where they are always compromised in their attempts to retain popularity," he observed. Babailov was delighted when he discovered he would unveil his portrait during the Pope's trip to Washington on the day of Benedict's birthday. The artist recounted his pleasure at being part of the visit, as "there is a huge population of Catholics in the United States and the visit turned out to be such a success. Everybody loved him." Unlike the populous image of John Paul II, the portrait of Benedict focuses on the Pope's scholarly qualities, recognizing his Christocentric focus by putting a luminous statue of the Risen Christ before him. "The theme that came to me was the Way of Truth and Life," explained Babailov, "and the composition follows that theme. The Pope's hands folded in prayer lead to the figure of Christ, which then redirects the gaze toward the dome of St. Peter's and to candles and an open Bible. It is a continuous circle that invites the eye to move comfortably around it." Babailov describes the portrait as "a psychological study, a work that tries to capture the inner man as well as the outer appearance." After having studied the Pope through photographs, Babailov was able to compare his likeness with the living image of the Pontiff when he met the Holy Father last August. He relates that "it was a real blessing to meet with the Pope, an honor, but also a responsibility to represent what one has experienced." "Comparing the work with the subject" Babailov said, "it is a satisfaction to see that you have captured the truth." The painter explained that in good art, however, "You don't just do it for yourself but to transmit information to the next generations." Discussing contemporary art, Babailov noted, "Most modernists talk a lot. They have complicated explanations of their philosophy and ideas; they paint their thoughts for themselves." "Painting should educate and enrich," continued the Russian artist. "Modern painting merely offers a split-second emotion: You see it, you have an instant reaction and move on. Instead, real painting can be looked at over and over again and each time it has something new." When Babailov discusses art, he uses terms like composition, tonal contrasts and chiaroscuro, the language of Raphael, Giotto and Fra Angelico, which sadly for many artists today, has gone the way of ancient Greek. Babailov anchors his artistic vision in technical skills he has been honing since the age of four. When he packs his murals with figures, he is as attentive to their arrangement as any 15th-century Florentine. His craftsmanship was so admired as to earn him a stint teaching at the Florence Academy of Art in 1999. "Painting requires skill," Babailov emphasizes. "Photography is created by the camera, and one cannot fully control what the camera sees. So people take many photographs because several must always be discarded." Echoing the "Treatise on Painting" by Leonardo da Vinci, Babailov firmly states that "his first principle is painting from life, to look beyond the photographic image to what the subject can convey on a deeper level." * * * A new project has fired the imagination of Igor Babailov. He is preparing a portrait of the first president of the United States, George Washington . "I live in this beautiful country and I have learned its history," the painter explained. "It is a part of me. I wanted to portray this great leader." The artist says he was inspired by Michael and Jana Novak's recent book, "Washington's God: Religion, Liberty, and the Father of Our Country." "A lot of scientific studies using modern equipment have tried to figure out what George Washington actually looked like," noted Babailov, "but Michael Novak inspired me to look at the deeper aspects of the first president. In this work I am not only trying to capture the likeness, but a new Washington as a spiritual leader, as well as military general" "Many contemporary authors try to claim that George Washington didn't believe in God, saying that he had little more than a vague spirituality," explained Babailov. "But Washington himself wrote that morality and religion were necessary for the country." The painter is working on a life size portrait stating that "George cannot be squeezed into commercial gallery size. He was more than a military and political figure but also a spiritual leader, and gifted with the extraordinary humility common to the greatest of leaders." To model his likeness, Babailov went to Mt. Vernon to see Washington's oldest portrait, the clay bust by Jean Antoine Houdon made in 1786 as a sketch for his grand marble statue of 1791. This clay study is kept at Mt. Vernon and it is the first thing to greet visitors when they cross the threshold. "Meet the General himself," reads the sign. It is spaced at Washington's exact height so one can see how tall he was. Babailov pointed out, "It seems like he is standing right in front of you." "Most agree that Houdon's is the closest resemblance," said the painter, "Even George himself said he was only second in likeness to the Houdon portrait, and General Lafayette, who had served under Washington in the continental army, declared, 'That is the man himself.'" It is interesting that during this, the year of a historic election, we have one artist asking questions and presenting models of leadership, humility and spiritual authority. Babailov noted that "even though these are different times, right now we are particularly thinking about what is leadership, and Washington's qualities are as needed today as they were at the founding of this great nation." * * * Elizabeth Lev is an American art historian, living in Rome. She can be reached at www.elizabeth-lev.com

Portrait of Billy G. Hudson, world-renowned scientist from Vanderbilt University and co-founder of the Aspirnaut program, by Igor Babailov Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Billy G. Hudson, Ph.D Internationally known scientist, Elliott V. Newman Professor of Medicine, Director of the Center for Matrix Biology at Vanderbilt University, Co-Founder of the Aspirnaut™ Program. The Aspirnaut Story Portrait of Billy G. Hudson (oil on canvas, 43" x 47") Life Portrait Study (oil on canvas, 24" x 20") OTHER PORTRAITS of MEN by Igor Babailov

Official U.S. Supreme Court portrait of Justice Clarence Thomas (oil on canvas), by portrait artist Igor Babailov. Official collection: Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits Justice Clarence Thomas Official Portrait Supreme Court of the United States Washington, DC TO BE UNVEILED ”When I see this portrait, I see me — not someone else’s conception of me. What a remarkable gift to have had Igor capture me as I see myself.” Clarence Thomas Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court A SNEAK PEEK At work on the official portrait in Oil Life Portrait Study in preparation for the official U.S. Supreme Court portrait in Oil In preparation for the official portrait in oil Graphite Portrait Study from Life OTHER OFFICIAL, CORPORATE & FAMILY PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

Official portrait of a Nashville Judge Seth W. Norman, Drug Court pioneer in the U.S. Portrait by Igor Babailov. Judge (1990-2018), 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Division IV), Collection: Justice A.A. Birch Building,  Nashville, TN. Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA Recent Official Portraits The Hon. Seth W. Norman Judge (1990-2018), Drug Court 'pioneer' in the U.S. Portrait of Judge Seth W. Norman (50"x 40", oil on canvas), by Igor Babailov. Collection: 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Division IV), Justice A.A. Birch Building, Nashville, TN. Photo credit: Michael Gomez and Kenzie Wood OTHER OFFICIAL PORTRAITS by Igor Babailov

The Igor Babailov Palette and recommended Art Supplies Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA The Babailov Palette & Art Supplies ver the past 35 years, I have shared the limitless possibilities of my limited-color palette and its "rainbow arrangement" of colors with my students and fellow professional artists in the U.S. and around the world. And I am delighted to see just how many artists have adapted it in the creation of their own works! ~ I.B. O Valery Babailov About The Babailov Palette This limited 8- color rainbow arrangement of complementing colors on my palette, was first introduced to me in my childhood, by my father, Valery Babailov , professional artist and teacher. Throughout his formal university art education, he was taught and inspired by his professor of painting A.Kholmogorov , who graduated from the Surikov academy under V.Tsiplakov , the student of I.Grabar and S.Gerasimov, both received formal art education in the studios of Ilya Repin and Valentin Serov . "This 8-color rainbow arrangement of paints on my palette, was first introduced to me in my childhood, by my father, Valery Babailov , professional artist and teacher ART SUPPLY LIST 3- day Master Workshop (day-by-day) Day 1: (Charcoal / Graphite Pencil) Medium weight (white/off-white, toned) paper. Size (approx.) 20” x 16” Graphite HB – 4B pencils, black charcoal (“Italian”) pencils (2B – 6B), sepia, white pencil. Eraser. Day 2: (Pastel) Pastel (toned) paper. Size ( approx.) 20” X 16” or 24" X 19" "Nupastel" sticks (various colors). One pastel pencil (preferably sepia color). Day 3: (Oils) 1 Stretched canvas / linen. Size (approx.) 20” X 16”. Oil Painting medium: 1/3 Odorless Thinner/Turpentine + 1/3 Linseed Oil + 1/3 Dammar Varnish. Oil Paints: Flake White Raw Sienna Lemon Yellow Hue Cadmium Red Hue Alizarin Crimson Viridian Green Hue Ultramarine Blue Raw Umber Yellow Ochre (optional) English Red (optional) Cadmium Orange (optional) Oil Painting Brushes: various sizes Filbert brushes ( from N2 - N12), round Sable brushes (N6 - N8). Wooden Palette Palette Knife Intensive Portrait Master Workshops F requently A sked Q uestions Letter to Artists The Drawing Skills in Painting The Masters' Lineage Formal Academic Art Education