Leo Tolstoy Print

My name is Val Filippov (Филиппов, Валерий Викторович). As a kid, I loved to draw and paint faces. The emotions and the characters written on them , fascinated me greatly. When time came to pick the vocation, I was put before the choice to study for an artist or a photographer. The crafty cameras and more defined job description led me to Photography. I formally studied photography at Leningrad (Soviet Union) photography school in early 80s. In my photo studio back in my country, I was doing portrait photography and I loved it. That was my business. Since then I did many other things and worked at many other jobs. But the passion for portraits was still there. I loved to draw and paint portraits for fun. I attended a local art school (Gene Prokop Pro’s Art School in Edmonton, Alberta) to learn and practice the oil painting technics. Participated in all sorts of exhibitions and sold some of my paintings. Still it was only a hobby. Now I came to a point in my life where I want to use this talent in more professional way. The inspiration for that move, were the verses from the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30) about the talent that is given by God and has to be used and multiplied. The Idea to paint the portraits of classical writers came to me as I liked to share the goodness of the timeless stories that inspire and teach us to live our lives well. I portray character, experience or emotion that moved me while reading the stories written by the writers or about them. If these inspired me, for sure there are other people in the world, who are inspired by the same characters. My goal is not to get rich or a famous, but rather develop my talent and share the goodness of the Great with others, if not introduce, than remind of this worlds treasure. If while doing that I earn my living, it would be sign to me that I’m walking the right path.