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Gennady Spirin
Gennady
Spirin was born in the small town of Orekhove-Zuyevo, near Moscow, on December
25, 1948. His artistic talent was identified at an early age. He graduated
from Surikov School of Fine Art at the Academy of Arts in Moscow
and Moscow Stroganov Institute of Art. Over the years he developed
his own unique style, combining traditional Russian contemporary art technique
with the great traditions of the Renaissance.
In all of Spirin’s work, his sense
of design and artistic skill elevate his illustration to the level of fine
art, which showcase his fantasy characters in a lovely and lush environment.
Writing in The New York Times
Book Review of November 10, 1991, Andrew Solomon said Mr. Spirin’s
works "recall the Northern Renaissance in clarity of light, abundance of
detail and enamel-like precision of color."
Kathy Viksjo writes in The Times
on June 7, 1998: "He incorporates Raphael’s rich color—deep gold, blue
and crimson reds—together with the Italian master’s classical compositions,
into many of his illustrations. The microscopic precision of his super—realism
recalls Flemish great Jan Van Eyck, while Spirin’s unbelievable graphic
facility is like that of German Renaissance artist, Albert Durer…Even at
first glance, viewers intuitively know that this is one of the masters
of our time…Spirin is like a magician, using his paint brush as a wand."
In 1997 and 1998, Saks Fifth Avenue,
the exclusive department store, has chosen Spirin’s depiction of the "Nutcracker"
character from the classic tale by E.T.A. Hoffman recently republished
by Stewart, Tabori and Chang, as the centerpiece of their famous holiday
promotions in New York and Chicago, respectively.
His watercolor illustrations for
children’s books have won critical praise and numerous awards for their
vision of fairy-tale worlds extensively researched and exquisitely painted.
The illustrator of 30 story books, Spirin was awarded the Golden Apple
Award at the Biennale of Illustrations in Bratislava 1983 for "Marissa
and Gnomes".
Since 1992 he has won four gold medals
from the Society of Illustrators in New York for "Boots
and the Glass Mountain" (1992), "The
Children of Lir" (1993), "The
Frog Princess" (1994) and "The
Tale of Tsar Saltan" (1996). Four of his other books—"The
Fool and the Fish" (1990), "Gulliver’s
Travels in Lilliput" (1993), "Kashtanka"
(1995) and "The
Sea King’s Daughter" (1997) were named the best illustrated book
of the year by the New York Times. In 1991 Spirin received the first prize
"Fierra di Bologna" for his work in the book "Sorotchintzy Fair".
His illustrations for "Kashtanka" were also bestowed with first
prize in the 1994 "Premi International Catalonia D’illustracio"
in Barcelona, Spain and a "Parent’s Choice Honor.
Mr. Spirin’s art is in public, private,
and corporate collections including those of the Museum of Art, Milan,
Italy, Cotsen Collection of Children’s Art at the Firestone Library of
Princeton University, the Museum of the Franklin Mint and others.
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