Leon Okun interview By Realism Without Borders
RWB: Tell us a little bit about you? Where you are from? Where you studied? Leon Okun: Well my life is the story of an immigrant. I was born in Russia, Siberia to be exact. At two years old my family and I moved to Minsk, capital of Belarus. In 1993 my family and I immigrated to San Diego, USA. I got interested in art fairly late. Early in my twenties I took my first art class, life drawing, at Messa College (San Diego) and fell in love with it instantly! From that moment I knew that I would be a better artist than anything else. So I decided to look for the best art school possible. I went to San Francisco Academy, Boston Art Schools , New York Art Schools, but the schools there, were too expensive, or they were graduate schools which required a degree to enter. About that time by coincidence I met Akhmed Salakhly. Some friends of mine told me that I should check out Art School in Russia. So I decided to fly to St. Petersburg for the first time after my 15 year immigration. This is where I met Akhmed, at that time he was actually working for the Repin Academy, and with his help I discovered St. Petersburg Academy of Arts! I went back to US knowing that someday I will study at the Academy. At that time I was studying at Watts Atelier, with Jeff Watts and Ron Lemen. I got my portfolio together and took it to Academy, and I was excepted without exams! Just based on my portfolio and luck or charm. ..
RWB: What was your experience in St Petersburg and the Academy? Okun: My fist years at the Academy there electrified with excitement! I could not believe it was happening to me! I was willing to work day and night, which I did! Best time of my life! I was so inspired by my fellow students! Their talent and ability to work day and night! I was surprised by my teachers too! In The US all art school are private so if you slack off no one cares because you have payed for it anyway. In academy teachers made everybody work! They really cared and wanted you to succeed! Earning bare minimum they put in so much work because they felt pride teaching at the Academy. Knowing that Repin, Fechin , Serov walked through the same hallways ... I still get goose bumps thinking about it‌
RWB: It might really push you so much! Okun: It did! They say that the best teachers at the academy are the walls, and the hallways! I finished Sokolov Studio. Each studio has it's own heritage, our studio's heritage goes back to Konstantin Korovin. He was Russia's most prominent Impressionist painter. Korovin credo was that he loved Woman, Wine and Nature! And I guess I fall in the same category of painters. I love the outdoors! I love painting portraits, and living in California you got to love the wine !
RWB: How did you develop your style? Okun: Observing nature, listening to my inner voice.
RWB: How do you decide what to paint? Okun: I think art should be romantic in a way, easy to understand. I don't like paintings that are overworked; it's hard to look at them. You can smell the sweet of the artist that created them. Look at Valentin Serovs portraits they feel like they were done in one day, although some of them took him over 100 sittings to finish. But he did not lose freshness of this artwork. Like Mozart's music, it's like watching a child play. Full of life, and love of life.
RWB: What is what you would like to paint that you haven't yet? Okun: I'm getting tired of painting only studies. I want to paint paintings! I want to paint people and life around me. But do it in the way that it would relate to everybody. I love Sorolla. I love the way he painted simple fisherman and rich people at the same time. I think my diploma painting was my fist attempt, now I want to do more!
RWB: So more multi figures paintings? In the old tradition but with our modern life? Okun: yes!
RWB: Any advice to young artists? Okun: Think more about composition! Compose every sketch, study, painting or drawing. In fact, I would take the same advice. It's so good!
RWB: Anything you would like to add? Okun: some parmesan ... you can never go wrong with parmesan.
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