Elena Vladimir Baranoff Fine Art Gallery and Studio Diary For Fine Art Collectors and Connoisseurs

This German gingerbread cookie reminds me so much  of a Russian “pryanik” cookie from my childhood. A cup of hot chocolate with a melted marshmallow and dark chocolate sprinkles. It’s the season for hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies, toasted marshmallows, festive tea parties and being merry! The holiday season is in full swing in my fine art studio, where guests are treated to a cup of hot chocolate or sit-down tea with delicious candy, pastries, sandwiches and other scrumptious desserts.  Joy to all!  A table set for a tea celebration

The Splendid Christmas Tree In The Fine Art Studio For the past three days the wonderful “cold winter” California rain has been pouring outside the window, blessing us all with such a rare sight in this spectacular corner of the globe. What a real treat it is to stay in the fine art studio, where it is warm and cozy, especially surrounded by a splendid Christmas tree and ornamental holiday decorations, while listening to the music of the jolly season.   Christmas and New Year are very near!    Precious Thumbelina As a family tradition, every year my daughter and I make a new addition to our holiday ornament collection. This year, the guest of honor on our tree is the delicate and precious Thumbelina.   Starry Night Magical Santa Clause In one of our local specialty shops we discovered a magical Santa Clause with the most kind face, gorgeous beard of silky curls, wearing a fancy brocade coat, hat,...

Autumn Landscape In Southern California -  Day Before Thanksgiving 2012 After a hot, lengthy summer of this year, beautiful autumn has finally taken the lead,   transforming the bountiful land of Southern California.  The sprawling landscapes, beaming in gold, with leaves painted in the light of apricot and pink sunsets, decorate the rolling hills.  Warm, gentle days transform into chilly, deliciously fresh evenings and nights.  The heart is full of joy as the upcoming winter holiday season approaches near. Decorative Pumpkins & Gourds In My Fine Art Studio Decorative pumpkins and gourds, most varied in form and color, embellish my fine art studio, lifting up the spirits with their bright hues of lemon yellows, sunny oranges, extraordinary white-green stripes and bumps.  The autumn celebration of harvest and gratitude, Thanksgiving Day, had officially launched the holiday season yesterday.  On this special day it was...

This wonderful season I am thrilled to be shining the spotlight on one of my limited edition fine art reproductions, entitled “Christmas Eve Is Here At Last”.  Delightful fine art postcards had been especially created, and together with cheerful invitations sent to fine art collectors and connoisseurs. You are all welcome to view beautiful fragments of my painting at http://www.elenabaranoff.com/christmasevelimitededition.html

View of the Los Angeles skyline from The Getty Center Gustav Klimt - An Exhibition At The Getty Center A few months ago, one of my favorite Los Angeles museums, The Getty Center, hosted a wonderful retrospective exhibition devoted to the drawings of Gustav Klimt, a 19th century Austrian artist and key figure of international Modernism. For me, visiting and viewing such exhibitions is a very special event. Being a fine artist, I observe the artworks of my fellow artists through a different prism, studying, evaluating and understanding them in a special way. In our creations, we as fine artists feel, understand and speak in a language of lines, strokes, and this special dialect is understood and spoken between us, in the entirety of all its depth and meaning.  Looking at Klimt's drawings, before me appeared his feelings and thoughts, inserted and told through the expressive dynamic of his graphite lines.  The breath of the art...

Pacific Ocean View Recently, taking a trip up the winding coastline, where the Pacific Ocean washes the California shore, I paid a visit to the charming town of Santa Barbara.  Splendid houses climb up the steep hills overlooking a blue oceanscape decorated with drifting sailboats. Santa Barbara Sailboats The warm Spanish flavor of the architecture adds a marvelous contrast to the pastel tones of the water and sky meeting in the far horizon.  Following an interesting day of fine art and gallery conversations, I strolled down to the pier.  The refreshing, cool wind blew, escalating in its chilliness the further I walked down the antique wood planks suspended high above the ocean waters. Santa Barbara Pier Ocean View The leisurely rhythm of life therapeutically relaxed, and even the soaring seagulls enjoyed the laid back atmosphere.  Somehow each and every visitor, leaving his or her cares behind, looked transformed, strolling down the sand...

Christmas Eve Is Here At Last (A Small Fragment From The Painting) By Fine Artist Elena V. Baranoff Copyright  2005  Registered In The Library of Congress Copyright Office USA Copying and Downloading Of This Fine Art Image Is Strictly Prohibited Christmas Eve Is Here At Last – Premiere of Four Fine Art Short Film “Miniaturettes” View the brand new fine art "miniaturette" Christmas Eve Is Here At Last  Part 4 - Christmas Family Celebration http://www.youtube.com/elenabaranoff My original fine art painting "Christmas Eve Is Here At Last" is truly a sparkling vision embodying happiness and joy. The brilliant shine and brightness of colors so wonderfully highlight the festive feeling of the Christmas holiday season and love of family. All the splendid characters are so individual and unique; the cheerful children, the caring and loving parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The viewers...

Christmas Eve Is Here At Last (A Small Fragment From The Painting) By Fine Artist Elena V. Baranoff Copyright  2005  Registered In The Library of Congress Copyright Office USA Copying and Downloading Of This Fine Art Image Is Strictly Prohibited Christmas Eve Is Here At Last – Premiere of Four Fine Art Short Film “Miniaturettes” View the brand new fine art "miniaturette" Christmas Eve Is Here At Last  Part 3 - Christmas Dance  http://www.youtube.com/elenabaranoff    One of the main inspirations for creating my painting "Christmas Eve Is Here At Last", was the enchanting tale of E.T.A. Hoffmann The Nutcracker, a wonderful story so adored by many, dearly reminding us all of childhood and dreams. During the creation of the painting, I was happily revisited by the most vivid childhood recollections, settled in my memory from long ago; they carried me away to the past full of wonderful adventures.  T...