Igor
Kuzmich Balakin

Born in the city of Barnaul, Altai Krai. Finished 7 classes, he came to the aunt, who lived in the Vladimir region,in the village. Borodino vyaznikovskogo district. Passion for drawing led him into the Mstera, which was known as the school of Bogomazov. In the years of Soviet power the art workshop continued to carry out work in the art of lacquer miniatures. But it was the paintings on themes of Russian fairy tales, legends, historical events. After graduating from art school Balakin I. K. began working as an artist - miniaturist. His talent, the creative impulse manifested in each work. During the great Patriotic war, Igor Kuzmich volunteer goes to the front. From October 1941 until the end of the war he was in the ranks of the existing army and the 6th order of Suvorov Starokonstantinovsky engineering brigade under the leadership of General A. Grechko was Involved in the liberation of Prague. In spare moments he continued to paint. On his own initiative, he often designed the monuments to fallen soldiers. In the foothills of the Carpathian mountains stands a monument to member of the Military Council, General I. V. Vasilyev, designed by Balakina And, at the same time he wrote a song about the liberation of the mountains. Starokonstantinov, in which are these words:

We are not afraid of either the river or the morass,

No piles of rocks the white Carpathian mountains.

Let them remember of the city of Starokostiantyniv

The valiant courage of Russian minesweeper.

Sergeant Balakin I. K. designed the monument - obelisk to commemorate the contributions of engineers in the battles for the Carpathians, which set a Russian pass. The government noted his services five government awards and 16 commendations.After the war Igor Kurganov is back in Mstera, his art factory. He has created more than 200 highly proizvedenii. His work has been exhibited at various exhibitions, as well as in 34 countries around the world. Undermined the war on health is increasingly deteriorating, especially the falling vision, and August 7, 1968года in the height of his creative powers, he died of a heart attack. Buried in g. Lyudinovo Kaluga region, where the last years he lived with his family.

Igor Kuzmich created illustrations for various literary works.