Isya Shlosberg:  Shell

Of the many pieces that Isya Shlosberg has showing at ArtoMatic, this piece, Shell, and a larger piece, Sleepy Trip were my very favorites until I went to his catalog page and saw his painting, Chelolana, posted there, which immediately became my favorite.  In other words, I think that I could happily live with any of the work he is showing, and I am delighted that he was kind enough to do an interview with me  (and, even though he says:  "I am from Russia with broken English, so probably you have to translate my language to normal," I didn't have any problem with his responses.  I can't even begin to imagine trying to communicate in Russian!

What I love about Shell is, okay – everything.  The colors are wispy and they encourage for me a mysticism, as does the large moutain looming in the background.  I love the interior of the shell with its small red bubble – shells, especially the interiors, make me think:  female, hidden, goddess, caverns.  He captures all that.  The balance of the white bubble on the outside makes the whole picture very sensual for me.  In front of the shell could be the edge of a chasm, or the abyss.  There are so many stories of my own making that present themselves to me when I look at this painting that it was my natural jumping off place for our interview.

Izya, your work has a lovely dreamy quality to it, especially Shell.  Can you tell us a little about the impetus for your painting?

Some people ask:  What did you drink before it?    Actually, there is behind it a long story, but let me try to tell the short version.  I've read a lot in my life and I found that many resources are just wrong.  Authors wrote what they felt rather than what they found.  So I created someting like a possible version of the world where it's hard to find a board between cliffs and animals, earth and life forms.

Sleepy Trip has wonerful texture and energy – is there a story behind it?

We don't really know what's on the other side of life.  What death is.  Sometimes gloomy things have some melody inside. [okay, folks – that thought is one of the loveliest I've read in a long time – and the painting that I was fascinated with before this interview, moved up a notch because of this thought behind it.  It's another piece that I could get lost in for a long time.]

What artists do you feel are inspriations to you?

A little bit Daly.  I respect Magritte,  Ernst, color by Chagal, Andrew White, Sargent, Friedrich Gaspar, some Russian artists, Rembrandt, Hals, Goya an 10,000 other great artists around the world.

Do you have any favorites here at ArtOMatic?

Yes, I don't remember names, but I found many interesting ideas on each floor.

Is this your first ArtOMatic?  What do you think about ArtOMatic and the unjuried format?

Yes, it is my first time.  I like this idea of ArtOMatic.  I guess it is great for young artists and people who have the time to stay here and sell.  I am not sure about jury.  I'd like to have a jury to keep some level of exposition, but the jury is always a test of some people:  some of them like classic, some of them just like contemporary.  (Fall to the left)

Is there anywhere else we can see your work?

Artfact.net

Website

Montage Gallery in Baltimore

ArtsBarn Gallery in DC

Zimmerly Museum, NJ

City Museum, Pinsk, Belaruss

Here is another reason why I love ArtOMatic personally.  There is so much here in one place that one would need to travel all over to get a chance to see.  We have 800 artists.  Okay – I am not drawn to them all – so you get to see the ones I am drawn to and enjoy them with me.  But that's as large as some of the wholesale gift shows out there that you have to pay serious money (i.e., thousands of dollars) to participate in.  I do agree with Izya that it would be great if we could stay with our work at least on weekends – I personally haven't taken the time.  Maybe next show, because I think it makes a difference (although I have to say that the pieces I love, I love anyways whether or not I get a chance to talk with the artist.  Talking with the artist is just an extra plus.  And there are those who don't respond to requests for interview or for purchase (that's another story).)

I'm still having trouble with getting the photos to do what I want on this new improved typepad, but I have figured out the links (thank goodness! – the button doesn't work well, but the function keys do).  Hopefully sooner than later I'll have all the technical stuff figured out!  Well, I thought I had the links down but they are again erasing instead of linking.  So I'm going to go ahead and post this and then come back and try.  Later.  When it doesn't make me feel like I want to tear my hair out. (Izya's full Artomatic wall, 12' long by 8' high so you can get a perspective).

thought for the day:  Patience is a virtue.