Tag: Russia

Designer Desire: Dmitry Kustanovich

Montage of Dmitry Kustanovich paintings
Dmitry Kustanovich (b. 1970) is a Russian fine artist/painter. He was born in Minsk and currently lives & works in St. Petersburg. He attended the Belarusian State Pedagogical University, where he graduated in 1996. He has exhibited regularly and widely in Russia as well as internationally – including France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands and Portugal.

It was his paintings of bumblebees that I saw first (Four pictured in the montage above) and admired. I love the way he captures the movement and energy in his subjects. He has a very personal style; sometimes impressionist, sometimes quite cubist, other times a bit Fauvist.

He layers his paint on to the canvas with palette knife rather than brush. His colour palette can be both bright or subdued and his subject matter can range from insects to flora & fauna to cityscapes and portraits.

His work – both prints and originals – can be purchased from Absolute Arts, Saachi Art and Pixels.

Portrait of Dmitry Kustanovichcredit

All images Dmitry Kustanovich ©

World Dolls Series: Russia

'World Dolls Series' blog post banner

World Dolls Series - Russia book cover

So, here we are in Russia for our next stop in the World Dolls Series.

World Dolls Series - Russia front inside book cover

Illustrations are by D.White from the Birmingham School of Design. We’re not sure that they listened to the brief properly as our guides are all supposed to be dolls – the clue’s in the title – World DOLLS Series. We seem to have been given a couple of rustic farmers. Ironically, Russia probably has the most famous dolls in the world.

Boris and Anna, dolls from World Dolls Series - Russia

Anyway, we’re sure Boris & Anna are a lovely couple.

Boris and Anna, dolls from World Dolls Series - Russia

There you go – Boris is throwing us a wave – and is that a glimmer of a smile?

working in fields from the World Dolls Series - Russia

Perhaps there’s not much to smile about on the collective farm! Hard graft and huddling round the stove for the long winter apparently.

winter in Russia from the World Dolls Series - Russia

There’s no doubting that the other books in the series have been a tad lighter, more carefree & fun.

wrapping feet in cloth against frostbite from the World Dolls Series - Russia

Life certainly seems quite tough in 1960s Russia.

illustration of the Kremlin and Red Square from the World Dolls Series - Russia

Perhaps a few days sightseeing in Moscow will be fun. Look at the party atmosphere.

illustration of boys playing with a train set from the World Dolls Series - Russia

There are a games at ‘the club’ – and a bit of sunbathing at the Black Sea. Is that President Khrushchev sitting on the right monitoring the deck chair situation?

illustration of people relaxing in deckchairs on the beach at the Black Sea from the World Dolls Series - Russia

We’re off to Norway next – we’ve invested a lot of money in warm clothing which might come in useful. We’ve always wanted to tour around Scandinavia, so we can’t wait to get there.