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Oleg Ponomarenko

'' I was born in Leninogorsk in 1948. My father was an Art College student when the Second World War began. He recognized early my gift and helped to nurse it. What my father did for me was even more important than my schools later.
In 1963 I was admitted to Benkov Art College in Tashkent. There were many gifted students and talented teachers in the College after the war. The first teachers who influenced me were N.S. Shin and especially V.I. Martakov. With every their lesson I learned something new and inspiring.
Great attention was devoted to composition. We trained sharp eye for the world around. Our teachers advised to make sketches in crowded areas, watch closely for people's characters, their poses and manners. This way we learned Russian realism and adopted master's experience. It was my college time that taught me to think about composition, gave me a taste for chasing a right way to express art word. There was a time for brotherhood in the school too. I found my best friend there.
In 1968 I moved to Leningrad (St.Petersburg) - the city I had always dreamed and read about. I was admitted to the Art Academy. Th Academy influenced the students through bright individual personalities of teachers. One of the brightest was E.E. Moiseenko (Professor and Honored Russian artist). Many students wished to join his studio after their 2nd year. And I was lucky to be selected. I graduated in 1974. From that moment I started my own carrier.
In 1977 I became a member of Artists Union. I was regularly participating in exhibitions and was specializing in battle subjects in my paintings. At the same time I was making dioramas in different museums in former Soviet Union. Dioramas attract people by their size, unusual connection between painting and mock-up and panoramic views.
Presently I work in Russian historical realism with traditions of Russian impressionism of the beginning of XXth Century. I still prefer historical battles and everyday life as my subjects. My paintings are in museums and private collections in many different countries. ''

The works of the artist are in several museums in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belorussia, Moldova, China, Japan and in private collections in Germany, Netherlands, France, Finland, China, Japan and USA.