Art Analysis: Before the Celebration Begins

Before the Celebration Begins

    I have seen this oil painting many times and in many different places throughout my life. My mom has always loved this painting and so I always saw it growing up. My favorite aspects of this painting are the colors, textures and the feelings it gives me. I've always loved the three dimensional nature of oil pastels and paints because they add so much texture and life to the piece. The elements from this piece all play a part in pulling together the overall composition of the piece, and some of the biggest elements that stand out to me are the color, texture, unity and emphasis of the piece.

    The color is so vibrant and beautiful, some spots are distinct and others blend together creating distance and depth. The warmth from the yellow is used to create an illusion of light, drawn down to the ground to give the road a sort of wet look. The texture of the oil paint and the absence of harsh lines adds a softness to the piece that, when paired with the aspect of bold color, creates unity and harmony. The emphasis is on the woman and the long journey she has ahead of her, drawing your eyes to the distance in-front of her.

About the Painter

Leonid Afremov was born on July 12th, 1955 in Vitebsk, Belarus, and passed on August 19, 2019 at 64 years old. He was a Mexican-Israeli modern impressionistic artist who was known for his palette knife technique that he used in his oil paintings. He was known for his use of vibrant colors and his focus on landscapes and portraits in his work, if you take a look at his other pieces, you will see a similar use of bold color, rhythm and beautiful focal points. In his later years in life he was a teacher to aspiring artists who attended his Afremov Studio. He was a self-representing artist and had minimal involvement with art galleries or dealers, he just liked to create beautiful, positive art and share it with the world.

I would definitely own a copy of this painting and many other paintings by Afremov, color is my most favorite element and the vibrancy of this piece is something that I would definitely love to see in my house. I could also see this piece in coffee shops or beautiful french restaurants, maybe even in a dimly-lit speakeasy. I really enjoy Afremov's art style and can't wait to discover more art styles through out this course!

~References~

“Leonid Afremov Online Art Gallery.” Leonid Afremov online art gallery. Leonid Afremov S de RL de CV, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2025.