When I first wrote about Russian-American painter Sergei Bongart back in January of this year, I was disappointed with the small number of his works that could be seen online.
Happily, Patricia Le Grand Bongart, Sergei Bongart’s wife and an accomplished artist herself, wrote at the time to tell us that there was both a web site and new book devoted to Sergei Bongart in progress.
She has just written again to tell us that the new web site is up, and the book on his painting method, Sergei Bongart …touched by the gods, is now available.
The interesting title of the book comes from a quote from Bongart: “There are two kinds of artists, the emotional painter and academician. The academician can paint into old age sitting on his stool licking his canvas until 98 years of age. The emotional artist burns himself up; he does not live long. The academician always creates something acceptable, boring, but acceptable. The emotional artist often misses, but when he hits it is breathtakingly beautiful,… touched by the gods!”
In addition to the new book, there is a video of Patricia Bongart demonstrating the Bongart Method and an audio CD of Sergei’s classroom lectures (apparently in a fairly heavy accent).
The new web site features a gallery with about 60 works, including some by Patricia Le Grand Bongart. Of the works by Sergei, there is a wonderful variety, including life drawings and travel sketches in addition to his brilliantly colored landscapes and still life paintings.
This is great!!!!
Finally!
=s=
I admire Sergei’s free spirited art and bold colors. Especially when he was trained to be so realistic when he studied in Kiav,Russia. I too wanted him to be remembered so I did a demo on him at my art league. I had many slides and photos of his work which I obtained from my friend who studied with Van Waldron in California. Hopefully his work will tour the U.S.A. someday so we can see it personally. I wish I could have studied with him too, but I see his teaching in his former student’s work. People working today, like Sharon B. Kaiser, Don Shali, etc.
The new book written about him will help keep his memory alive for those of us who don’t want to forget him.
All the best,
JoAnn Vincent
Wonderful article about a wonderful artist. Thank you so much for bringing it to us along with the web links.
There is something of the spirit of Rembrandt especially in his drawings, full of energy and abandon at the same time.
The world is full of hidden tresures, and Segei Bongart is a juwel in the art of paintings! I am just full of questions why I never heard of him before…. I like his paintings, not relistic as the photolike paintings that looks more like a camera shoot, but his own way of showing us what he see with his own eays…thats what makes it more interesting…its creativ, full of colours and sparkling towards us. A magnetic painting one dosent get bored of.
Just recently I got hold of the book Seigei Bongart by Mary N. Balcomb…, The only bio/art book I read from the beginning to the end basically in one breath without missing one word… I found it the most inspiring and fun to read, not to mention it left us with so many wonderful and valuble quotations or words from the master. I love this book, it made me laugh and cry at the same time…
Now, I just learned that there are more materials about his methods or his demos available… I will certainly make an inquiry about them. It is really wonderful to know that his legacy has kept him so much alive within us. Thank you!
Ying