Anton Pavlenko began painting as a child, shortly after immigrating to the United States from Ukraine. “As a self-taught artist, my work has afforded me a powerful tool for self-inquiry, guiding me through a personal journey and a continuous search for home,” says Pavlenko.
Afternoon Heat, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"
The artist splits his time between painting outdoors and in the studio. Smaller outdoor pieces will often become studies for larger studio works. Though he occasionally paints portraits and abstracts, he’s drawn primarily to landscapes for “the freedom they provide for dynamic observation, both of the scene and of my own emotions.”
Pavlenko doesn’t set up his easel each day with a clear image of how a painting will turn out. Rather, he allows his instinct to guide the process, only analyzing the work afterward. As a result, a scene he paints frequently may look and feel radically different from one painting to the next.
Shadows on the Bank, oil on canvas, 20 x 24"
“I’ve learned to allow my work this freedom to evolve in tandem with my own journey as a person and an artist,” says Pavlenko. “In certain seasons of life, I’ll find myself drawn to bold color and texture, even using my hands to apply paint directly to the canvas. In other periods, I’m much more meticulous about brushwork and compelled by soft palettes. This constant evolution makes the experience that much more fascinating to me. There’s something primeval about the whole painting process: to physically show up at some place in time, engage with my own observations and feelings, and transmute that nuance onto a canvas. And in that way, my paintings feel quite personal and intimate to me, offering an opportunity to make a vulnerable connection with the world.”
Fire and Water, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"
Pavlenko has an exhibition that opens November 3 at Dragonfire Gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon; and another show in April of 2024 at Peterson Contemporary Art in Bend, Oregon. —
Want to See More?
(503) 866-4647 | www.antonpavlenko.com
Represented by Paul Scott Gallery
7103 E. Main Street | Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 596-9533 | www.paulscottgallery.com
Facebook: /antonpavlenko
Instagram: @antonpavlenko
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