Hugo Kalinin

Even smaller paintings like this one are not just a chaotic and mindless flow. There is always some structure behind the work and here are a few of its steps:

1️⃣ I always begin with the sky and the most distant background.
2️⃣ Then I start shaping the middle ground. In this painting, the main subject lies here.
3️⃣ The part of the next mountains ties the middleground with the future foreground, so it’s not just one big unnatural jump.
4️⃣ I add the foreground last. Here the trees add more depth to the composition and contrast against the light part of the mountain.
5️⃣ Finally, the finishing touches — a little glazing, detail here and there, my signature, and a protective varnish.

Started the background of this painting at the beginning of the year, but then left it untouched for months because I had no idea what to put in the foreground. The painting just lay in a corner of my room, waiting. Then, out of nowhere, inspiration struck and in just a short burst of energy I knew exactly what I needed and finally finished it. Interesting how art sometimes reveals itself only when it’s ready.

I’m currently working on a large and complex painting, but I find that smaller projects like this one provide a great break when the larger piece becomes overwhelming. Oil on canvas - 24x18 cm (9.45x7 inch)

What do you think would be a fitting name for this small seascape painting? Oil on canvas board – 22×16,5 cm (8.66 × 6.5 inches)

I just realized that I never posted this one in full size (though it is still a bit larger in real life than on a tiny phone screen). Anyway, here it is:

On the Way to the Mountains, is quite large artwork with 1 meter in height (100x80cm - 39x32inch). Now also available as a print.

Fresh off the easel - Guided by the Light, 50x80 cm
Just trying to make it glow ✨

For this one, I experimented with a darker composition for the first time (the last light just before sunset) and also with blurring the outlines of the shapes. Why blur? Well, people don’t see everything super sharp, and since the mountain in the painting is far away, it would be unnatural to see it sharp like some very close object. So what do you think? How did my experiment turn out?

Last Light Hitting Matterhorn 22,5×27 cm (9×11 inch)