Dancing with Inspiration: 10 Questions with Anatoly Metlan

For artist Anatoly Metlan, capturing beauty is what drives him to create.

Metlan was born in Yalta, a city in the Ukraine near the Black Sea. He gained notoriety for his artwork while still in college, often painting landscapes inspired by his native country. He and his family eventually immigrated to Israel in 1991, and as a result of his travels, shifted the focus of his art to dancers and musicians.

We love having our collectors get to know the artists better, so we’re happy to present our exclusive Q&A with Metlan to give art lovers a deeper understanding of his background, inspirations, and creative process. Enjoy!

1. When did you first realize you wanted to become an artist?

I remember drawing and painting from a very early age. I can’t say that I consciously knew I wanted to be an artist, but my love to art definitely led me to being one.

 

2. What inspires your art?

My art is inspired by an admiration of the female form, and the movement and passion of dance.

3. Which artists have played a role in influencing your style?

I am a huge admirer of Art Nouveau and Post-Impressionist painters from the beginning of the 19th century. Among them are Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

 

4. Could you walk us through the process of bringing one of your paintings to life?

The very initial bases of my work are photographs that I take of a model, some of which are pre-composed and structured while others are taken in the moment. In my paintings I try and enhance the reality and actuality, to inject real-life with vitality and movement.

 

5. What is the origin behind your paintings of elegantly-dressed women holding instruments?

The focal point in my work is to enhance and intensify female beauty. Musical instruments serve as additions to create to a romantic atmosphere.

6. What do you want collectors to take away from your art?

My main ambition is for my art collectors to have a lasting aesthetic pleasure from my work.

 

7. Music plays a big role in your artwork. Do you listen to music while painting? If so, what do you like listening to?

I love music, and my music taste is very eclectic. From the music of ‘60s and ‘70s, down to classical music and jazz. The type of music I listen to while painting very much depends on my personal mood and the mood of the artwork I am working on.

8. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not painting?

I love being with my family. I enjoy any activity including family, hiking, and fishing.

 

9. Do you have a favorite color?

I enjoy using most of the color palette, but primarily I love using red—the color of passion.

10. Your travels have taken you many places in the world. Is there a destination you haven’t visited yet that you would like to visit?

There are still many places I would like to discover. Among these are definitely Brazil, Argentina, and other Latin American countries. I think I would love to feel these places, especially through their dance culture, such as Samba and Tango.

 

To collect the art of Anatoly Metlan, contact our gallery consultants at (800) 521-9654 ext. 4 or sales@parkwestgallery.com.