Ignat Ignatov - (b. 1978) is a contemporary artist with exemplary talent. His interpretation of the spirit of fine art saturates his paintings with a unique expressive richness. Although each new subject seems to dictate the style and approach, his paintings are always alive with color, light, texture, atmosphere, energy and emotion. Ignatov was born in Veliko Tarnovo and grew up in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. At age thirteen, his promising talent in drawing, painting and sculpting gained him one of only thirty positions to the renowned School of Arts in Tryavna, Bulgaria. In the 5 years there, he established the foundation of his academic Art training. Following graduation in 1996, Ignatov was accepted into the University of Arts in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria where he studied under the demanding atelier approach to fine art. In 1997, using proceeds from the sale of his art, Ignatov financed his move to the United States and is now a U.S. citizen living in southern California. He then studied at the prestigious California Art Institute in Westlake Village, Associates in Art in Sherman Oaks and the American Animation Institute in North Hollywood. In 2005 Ignatov began teaching painting classes at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art where he taught till 2012. In the course of establishing for his own "artistic roots", Ignatov was influenced by Nicolai Fechin, John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorolla. Ignatov's work includes figures, portraits, still lifes, and landscapes. His goal is to continue to express the form and anatomy as well as color and composition through a representational painting approach. Ignat Ignatov is a Signature Member of the California Art Club. Awards: "Finalist in Figurative Category", International ARC Salon 2010-2011 "Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2011 "Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2010 "Award of Excellence", 98th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, 2009, California Art Club "Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2008 "Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence", Salon International 2007 "Award of Excellence", 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition, 2006, Oil Painters of America "Award of Excellence", 95th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, 2006, California Art Club "Award of Excellence", 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition, 2005, Oil Painters of America Publications: Southwest Art, January 2012, Article "The Art of the Figure" CAC Newsletter, Fall 2011, Article "The Artist as Critic: Art that Inspires" American Art Collector, February 2011, Group Article Artist Daily online, May 2010, Article American Art Collector, February 2010, Group Article Fine Art Connoisseur, September/October 2009, Article American Art Collector, September 2009, Feature Article Oranges & Sardines, Fall 2008, Article American Artist, April 2008, Feature Article (reprint from 2006) Southwest Art, September 2007, Feature Article Latitude, Fall 2007, Group Article Southwest Art, September 2006, Article "21 under 30" American Artist, April 2006, Feature Article Southwest Art, December 2005, Article "Artists to Watch"