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Steve Bogdanoff Biography | Portfolio
I am influenced by ancient Greek art among others, replicating in the fresco form scenes depicted in scores of wall murals, friezes, reliefs, vase paintings, and statues ranging from the Greek Bronze Age through the end of the Renaissance. I strive to capture the essence of not only a time in civilizations lost but also of past cultures which continue to fascinate archaeologists and art enthusiasts alike. I envision what colors and styles would be applied for a displayed wall painting of a specific subject at that time in history and assimilate my interpretation into the fresco piece. I also incorporate my neo-expressionist and realist works with the fresco secco technique through a marriage of classic, contemporary and modern styles. My concept of color and composition, together with a comprehensive knowledge of archeological discoveries and art history, enables me to create historic and personal moments forgotten in time. My intent is to achieve the creation and reinvention of images which have the powerful ability to evoke myriad emotions through the awe-inspiring richness and variety of select subject matter and the technique of paint application to plaster. Painting is my form of meditation. Every session is very gratifying, both emotionally and spiritually, and ultimately brings serenity and healing. My hope is that by passing my works on, they will affect others as they have affected me. Part of my process: Once I prepare my plaster/lime “canvas,” I rub in numerous thin acrylic pigment washes with towels, brushes, and my palms and fingers, building up layers of the washes until I have a completed painting. I then proceed to “vandalize” my work by distressing the paint and plaster through numerous steps to achieve an appearance of antiquity, which include cracking, breaking, sanding, sawing, chiseling, sculpting, pitting, and staining. After the breaking process, I am left with re-assembling numerous pieces of my canvas, fitting them all back together much like a jigsaw puzzle. There are no faux breaks or cracks in my work. The fresco is then mounted onto a customized precision-sized Masonite backing for reinforcement." - Steve Bogdanoff |
