Nickolai Gurgeiff - Mikhail Veselov

Veselov Mikhail Mikhailovich was born on November 21, 1959 in the village of Andreevka situated in the Primorye Territory. Now he resides in the village of Kholuy.

In 1981 the artist finished the Kholuy Art School where he studied under Belov V.A., Baburin N.I., Denisov N.N., Kiselev B.I, Morozov A.A., Fomin V.I. and Mityashin P.A. His diploma work was a composition entitled "For Russia" (1981; size: 4,7 x 20,5 x 14).

M.M. Veselov is a Member of the Kholuy branch of the RSFSR Artists' Union since 1988 and a Member of the RSFSR Artists' Union since 1989. He is a NTTM prizewinner. The artist was rewarded with a bronze medal received in the Exhibition of National Economy's Achievements. He also has a honorary diploma of the Ministry of Local Industry which he received in 1984.

Veselov is working

Began exhibiting in 1985.

Major works: "Vasilisa Mikulichna and Stavr Godinovich" (1985), "Bread" (1987), "Alexander Nevsky" (1988), "The Village" (1990), "The Sleeping Princess" (1990).

M.M. Veselov's works are exhibited in these museums: the Folk Art Museum of the Crafts Research Institute, the Museum of Kholuy Creative Workshops, the Russian Museum (St.-Petersburg), the Plyos State History, Architecture and Art Museum-Preserve, the Ivanovo Region Art Museum and also in private collections.

At present Mikhail Mikhailovich works at the Kholuy Craft Workshops.

The artist paints in the style of Kholuy lacquered miniature, using tempera paints. His favorite themes to depict are fairy-tales, bylinas, folklore, landscape and history.

Mikhail Mikhailovich thinks such elements as picturesqueness, rich ornamental patterns, a box's appearance, expressiveness of images, lyricism, and beauty of landscape are very important in the process of work on a box's painting. Beginning to work, he intends to express entirely a chosen theme. Finishes working, when all images are painted very expressively; and when a landscape and a box's ornamental design are completely ready.

Mikhail Mikhailovich applies in work his personal painting methods and uses a wide spectrum of colors. On the average it takes him from 2 to 4 months to finish a box's painting, but if a theme is difficult it may take him a year.

The artist supposes his works are notable owing to original drawing, coloring, painting technique and a rich ornamental design. He also tries to give the viewer an opportunity to dream.

Painting of such prominent painters as V.I. Fomin, Nesterov, V.M. Vasnetsov and A. Mukha had a great influence on M.M. Veselov's creative work.

In his free time the artist likes to fish, go mushroom-picking, cook, build a new house for his family and associate with his children.

The artist wishes to all people who acquire goods of Kholuy lacquered miniature the following: "Love lacquered miniature! Acquire artworks of true masters! I wish you success!".

Mikhail Veselov's works are sited in these books: Kamorin A. A., 1995, LACQUER MINIATURE. KHOLUY. MASTERPIECES OF RUSSIAN FOLK ART, INTERBOOK, Moscow, ISBN 5-7664-1057-3; Coffer "Finist the Falcon" (1985, Folk Art Museum of the Crafts Research Institute), # 101-103; Box "Little Hunchbacked Horse" (1990, Kholuy Creative Workshops), # 104; Box "The Holiday of the Young" (1992, Kholuy Creative Workshops), # 105.

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