Bogdan Shiptenko is a contemporary Ukrainian painter, known for his expertise in watercolor. His artistic journey has been marked by a focus on urban landscapes and figurative plots, contributing to the richness of the art world.
Presently, Shiptenko channels his creativity and talent as an artist and graphic designer with The O Wallpapers, showcasing his skills in both traditional and digital mediums. His artistic influence extends beyond the canvas, as he has actively collaborated with notable companies such as Volkswagen, Renault, Epicenter, and, of course, The O Wallpapers.
Shiptenko's artistic prowess is acknowledged through the inclusion of his works in private collections belonging to individuals and entities such as Anton Ptushkin, Volkswagen, Renault, Grape Agency, Marco Cervetti, Alex Cooper, and others. His participation in prestigious events like the International and All-Ukrainian Biennale, "The sea watercolors," and the Luxembourg International Luxemburg Art Prize has further elevated his standing in the global art community.
The essence of Shiptenko's creations lies in their ability to convey powerful emotions and offer viewers a connection to their own lives. Through his artwork, he endeavors to reveal the world as it truly is, invoking profound reactions and recognition from those who engage with his pieces.
Shiptenko's portfolio is characterized by a recognizable style and the uniqueness of his chosen themes. Notably, his latest long-term series of paintings, "people on white," explores various facets of public life, encompassing themes such as "Urban society," "Excessive consumption in the modern world," and "Human activities." This ongoing series showcases the artist's commitment to exploring diverse aspects of the human experience and contributing meaningfully to the discourse on contemporary societal issues.
Interview with me on Ukrainian Television
This is a recent interview on Ukrainian television, in which I talked about my work during the war, my new paintings, and my style of painting.
Paper Stretched CanvasSince I mostly paint with watercolors, I try to choose good watercolor paper. Most often it is 100% cotton and a paper weight of 300 grams per m2. Favorite paper manufacturers are: Fabriano, Canson, Arches, Buckinford.
It is also important for me that the paper is fixed with masking tape or is best stretched over a stretcher. To stretch watercolor paper on a stretcher, you need to completely wet the paper, wait until it dries, approximately 4-5 minutes, immediately after this period of time, carefully stretch it onto the stretcher. I fix the paper with a construction stapler or lead buttons, but a stapler is better. After, I let the canvas dry for about an hour or two. And you can get to work.
The surface of a paper canvas such as a drum can be identified by sound, tap lightly on the paper,and it will have a ringing sound.
backside
Shade combinations come to mind as I write, as I work. In watercolor works I use different colors, I like to experiment with mixing colors during painting, it happens that I think over the color palette in advance, but still I often improvise color relationships already in the work itself.
In advance, I can think over whether the painting will be color or black and white. When I write in B&W, it is important for me to observe the proportionality of shades: white, gray and black.
Of course, I also have favorite shades and colors. There are a lot of them and it is difficult to divide them into any specific ones, but in watercolor I like to use ceruleum blue, emerald green, payne gray and light cadmium red.
This video shows my process of working in a sketchbook on sketches & illustrations of future paintings. This video was filmed by my friend and part-time founder of the Ukrainian wallpaper company with illustrations by artists: "The O Walpapers"
interview with the contemporary artist - Bogdan Shiptenko
Interview with me.
Ukrainian artist Shiptenko Bogdan
