Ivan Rizov
He started drawing and painting as a child, before he started school and learned to read and write. In grammar chool he was soon asigned to an art workshop for exceptionaly talented children. Already at an early age his work was selected for various painting exhibitions on a national and international level. In high school he continued his interest and passion towards painting.
Fascinated by legends of ancient Greece, Rome, Byzantine Empire and the Golden Ages of Italy and other European nations. Sitting on anancient block in the largest monastery on the Balkan peninsula Rylsky Monastery, young Ivan was patiently observing and analyzing the old architecture, golden sculptures and painting on the walls and ceilings (frescoes) from different angles and studied them for hours. At the time he did not posess the skills of special effects in order to achieve the effect of perspective which he later mastered better than his contemporaries and which can be noticed in his work.
At the end of the 1970's, as a young man, he decided to advance his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. His interest leaned in the direction of Sketching and Painting, Oil Painting (Dutch, French and Italian masters), Mural Painting Technologies (Italian fresco techniques) and History of Fine Art. He graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts in 1988.
After graduation he worked in a church, Porzesze Mariackie, known for its baroque and timpera on wood base, restoring and preserving numerous large scale mural paintings and other works of fine art owned by private collectors. He also participated in complex conservation projects in the National Museum in Warsaw. Ivan painted in Dutch and Italian styles of 18th century techniques for private collectors in Germany, Belgium, France, Canada and the United States.
At one point in his career he put on hold the realistic approach to painting and ventured into abstract art. At the time a newly opened art gallery in West Berlin had seventeen of his paintings admitted in a modern art exhibit at which all of them were sold.
Later he continued his education in the Kunst Akademie in West Berlin. While in Germany he exhibited in numerous art galleries from West Berlin to Heidelberg and in Warsaw. His observation and knowledge of the different styles and techniques of the 18th and 19th century baroque, rococo and victorian masters gave great impetus to his unique composition and painting style. With his newly acquired skills and experiences came work in private residences as an interior designer and artist utilizing Trompe l’oeil technique on ceilings and wall paintings with a theme of figures and of landscapes. Ivan has completed numerous art projects throughout the eastern United States.
The American Red Cross held a Show House competition in which Ivan designed a room, pro bono, and had his work published in local and national periodicals as the best of the Annual Dream House Contest.
Ivan's magnificent painting and murals are a skilled extract of the renaissance, baroque, rococo and victorian styles. You can say that art, be it traditional or modern, is close to my heart, but the most cherished are the 19th century Polish painters and european masters like Tiepolo, Canaletto, Rubens, Fragonard and Boucher. Within his studio, filled with the aroma of oil tubes and other scents, I think of myself as.... Renoir or Picasso and other great artists. If one is to endure beyond our existence I would certainly try other methods of painting” he said in jest. To be recognized one must develop a style that make one stand out and be unique.
Today, as in his boyhood days, but with less naivete and much more experience, his canvas’ eminate grace, dynamic motion, beauty of animals and the human body, the whole spectrum of expression of pleasure, pain, pride, anger, love and even sex appeal. In his most recent canvas’, the power of water reflection and the interaction of land, sky, buildings, boats, sails and people play a major role on the senses of the eyes and the mind.
Ivan’s art may be seen in art galleries of South Florida, exclusive Mansions of Palm beachand in private collections on Europe and the united States.
Professor Jerzy Nowosielski, Chief of Europaean Painting Technologies – Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw, Poland said: "As a student, Mr. Ivan Rizov is excepionally taalented, reliable and responsible. He posseses an extrordinary artistic sensitivity and an excellent feel of nature and its reflections from an artisitc parspective. As an artist, he has a sense of "awareness" if all the charecteristics of nature the surround him and has a great ability to interpret it with uncommon skill and precision. He has an excellent sense of color, with great facility, he can communicate his interpretation to render his art captivatingly and convincingly to the recepient. Ivan made an impression of being extraordinarily sensitive to the elements of the environment, which in art, is called beauty".
EDUCATION
1988 Academy of fine Arts
Warsaw, Poland
Master of Fine Arts
Specialized in conservation of mural paintings, easel paintings and polychrome sculpture in the Department of Conservation Works of Art. Trained through course work and apprenticeship in microscopic analysis, gilding, molding and photography.
1988-89 Kunst Academy
West Berlin, Germany
Department of Fine Arts
RESEARCH & RELATED PROJECTS
1987 National Museum of Warsaw
Warsaw, Poland
Academic Internship
Participated in a professional intern program sponsored by the Department of Easel Paintings and Poychrome Sculpture under the supervision of Conservator M. Wodzinska.
1985 Troyanski Monastery
Troyana, Bulgaria
Summer Internship
Restoration and conservation of XIIth through XVIIth century frescoes under the supervision of Prof. G. Grigorov and Prof. L. Stanova.
1985 Polish National Trust Workshop
Marianskie Porzesze, Poland
Internship
Conservation and restoration project at the baroque church at Marianskie Porzesze.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2008-11 Eastover – 1930
Manalapan, Florida
Maurice Fatio – Architect
2007-08 The Jungle 1928
Palm Beach, Florida
Addison Mizner – Architect
2005-07 Casa Della Porta 1928
Palm Beach, Florida
Maurice Fatio – Architect
1999-01 Cielito Lindo 1928
Palm Beach, Florida
Marion Sims Wyeth – Architect
1991-91 Nimbus, Inc. Fine Art
West Palm Beach, Florida
1990 Rut & Wecker, Inc.
West Palm Beach, Florida
Resident Artist & Paintings Conservator
Projects of conservation, restoration and art decoration conducted in Palm beach and cities in Florida.
1989 P. Rudolf Kunst Studio
West Berlin, Germany
Work with oil paintings on canvas.
1989 Conservation & Restoration
West Palm Beach, Florida
H. Lehrman Studio. Conservation and restoration of oil paintings on canvas in private studio of Dr. Lehrman.
1986 Miller Art Studio
West Berlin, Germany
Oil paintings on canvas.
1985 Pozescoe Catholic Church
Marianskie Porzesze, Poland
Conservation of XVIIth century wall Paintings at historical wooden church.
1980 Boyanska Orthodox Church
Sofia, Bulgaria
Conservation and restoration of XIIth century tempera wall paintings.
1978 National Museum
Sofia, Bulgaria
Conservation projects including restoration of Balkan icons and temper paintings.
EXHIBITIONS
1997 Caesarea Galley
Boca Raton, Florida
Oil paintings on canvas.
1993 American Red Cross Showhouse
West Palm Beach, Florida
1991 American Red Cross Showhouse
West Palm Beach, Florida
1989 Rutkowskiego art Gallery
Warsaw, Poland
One man exhibition of drawings, graphics & acrylic paintings.
1989 P. Rudolf Art Gallery
West Berlin, Germany
One man exhibition of acrylic & oil paintings.
1989 Kunstgalerie
Heidelberg, Germany
Exhibition of technological copies of old masters and own compositions in old techniques.
1987 Kunstgalerie
Heidelberg, Germany
Exhibition of technological copies of old masters and own compositions in old techniques.
1982-86 Academy of Fine Arts
Warsaw, Poland
Yearly exhibitions of drawings, graphics and oil Paintings.
1972 International Assemble
Sofia, Bulgaria
Water gouache and acrylic techniques on paper.
1967 Exhibition for Children
Sofia, Bulgaria
Water gouache and acrylic techniques on paper.
PRIVATE CLIENTS
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Turley Mr. & Mrs. Gary Burkhead
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Dreyfuss Mr. & Mrs. Cyrus Freidheim
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Aranyos Mr. & Mrs. Gary Burkhead
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Suttin Mr. & Mrs. Doug Von Allmen
Mr. Sylvester Stalonne Mr. & Mrs Franklin Haney
Mrs. Martha Fitzgerald Mr. Steven Mayans
Mr. Robert Fesler Mr. Jerald Vento
Mr. Lwrence Moens Mrs. Audrey Gruss
Mr. Rush Limbaugh
DESIGNERS
Ivette Gervey Interior Design New York, NY
Marc-Michael’s Interior Design Winter Park, FL
Scott Snyder Inc. Palm Beach, FL
Design Works Boca Raton, FL
John Flower & Sibyl Colefax London, England
Pierre Serrrulier London, England
Peter Werner LTD West Palm Beach, FL
William Wood Design Inc. West Palm Beach, FL
Lechanee Boca Raton, FL
Leta Austin Foster Palm Beach, FL
Kelly Wearstfler Beverly Hills, CA
PUPLICATIONS
Palm Beach Post Palm Beach Society
Palm Beach Daily News Palm Beach Illustrated
Palm Beach Life Southern Accents
Luxury Houses Florida Design Magazine
ART BOOKS
Casa Florida – Susan Sully. Published 2005.
"Cielito Lindo" 1928 Mediterranean Revival Mansion – Palm Beach, FL.
Photos on pages: 118,119, 120-121 and 122.
Farrow & Ball – The Art Of Color – Brian D. Coleman - Published 2007.
Delray Beach, Florida – Thirties Revival
Photo on page: 217 – Art work on wall.
The Mediterranean House in America – Lauren Weiss Bricker - Published 2008.
"Casa Della Porta" – Palm Beach FL.
Photo on page: 166 – Gilding work.