Alexey
Afanasevich Kazantsev

Born in 1928 in the village. Boldyrevo of Abatsky district of the Tyumen region. In 1948 he graduated from the Sverdlovsk art College, in 1954 - the Kharkov state art Institute. C1960 year participant of city, regional, zonal , Republican, all-Union and international exhibitions. Member of the Union of artists of Russia since 1963. Works in easel graphics and painting. Works are in state museums, private collections in Russia and abroad.

Experimental schedule is one of the brightest pages in the work of Alexei Kazantsev. Not cease to be amazed by his ability to transform shapes, spaces, textures hypnotization. Experience and skills in this regard are enormous.

There is no such graphic techniques, which he would not be mastered, and mastered, not realized all the possibilities and "failing" at the same time. 0t classic etching to give not one step, but an artist driven by the search, he can say obsessed with it, so boldly and constantly experimenting. Today, he seriously played with enamels. No wonder his new series 1997 so called "Game with the enamel." Well, without play and creativity-not the creativity is, after all, it is essential and almost required.

And now, splattered rhythms and colors, scattered on rather large formats of cardboard, or woven into intricate tangles, like a mischievous kitten mixed up all of grandma's yarn, arranging in house cascading commotion besides, all of this is fun, loud and not without color of delights.

It should be noted that in their allegiances and even thinking Kazantsev forever torn between abstract and realistic, even purely natural. Life writing watercolor landscapes, both urban and rural.

And the last three years Kazantsev seriously filled painting. Began to appear not only sketches, but also large portraits. One of them, a female, gave him as an artist, which is now almost there. How it has all woven the richness of the clothes in this portrait, the finest and most diverse nuances of textures and finishes, colour and light; all is from the petals of a rose to the tip of your fingers, materialized here so precisely and effectively what happens is that only the canvases of the old masters, and with the same careful and precious refinement.

And here we have a portrait do what is called "ceremonial" is a luxurious, imposing, and at the same time made in a very dull rigor of brown and gray tones.

In the foreground two proud, stylish beauty. One name is Gabrielle. Behind her mother - all in the brilliant smooth brown. Collar gleams silver as hard currency. Two beauties, two Doheny with impeccable article with Regal plastics.

It remains to admit that the white "lady" in the foreground - not only the obvious mistress of the Palace, but also the degree of sophistication of taste of the picturesque talent of the master.