78. In the Style of...

Victor has never studied art, although he knows it and surely has his favorite artists. He never actually draws "in someone's style." But recently he had to. I've been trying to promote his work through Fine Art America (http://fineartamerica.com), and also using it to raise money for his cancer treatment. One artist who was impressed with Victor's art and sent a donation, asked if he can make custom drawings. I bragged "sure, he can," although I know how Victor dislikes, to put it mildly, to draw because "he has to." Since I have been offering to send Victor's work as a token of appreciation for people's donations, I asked this guy what he would like. But being an artist himself, he didn't ask anything obvious; he requested "something like Van Gogh's "Olive Trees."

I e-mailed his request to Victor and said he has to do it. I was very curious what he would come up with. He tried to find excuses like he doesn't paint, etc., but nevertheless took the challenge, and the next day he sent this:

Then I recalled that this has not been his first time that he drew in the style of some artist. In my bedroom there used to hang a painting by Russian artist, Yelena Flerova: 

 

But then for a certain reason I had to remove it, and I complained to Victor about the hole in the wall that remained after the painting. He responded in his unique way:

Recently Victor was diagnosed with sarcoma of the soft tissue of his knee. Until this shocking diagnosis he had thought for several years that it was arthritis. Now his cancer is in stage 3...

So far his treatment included several chemotherapy sessions and the surgery, for which he had borrowed $19,000. And now, thanks to many people - my friends, relatives, former students, and people who I don't know - we raised $12,500 so he could start radiotherapy. 

Victor still needs money for the follow-up treatment, analyses. There is no such thing as medical insurance in Ukraine. For majority of people there these amounts of money are simply incomprehensible.

Either you are a faithful reader of my blog, or you ended up here just once, by mistake - please contribute whatever you can. As a sign of gratitude, Victor and I would like to offer you a
unique opportunity (that I have been enjoying for free for many years!): tell the artist what's on your mind - any word, theme, even abstract concept, - and he most definitely has a drawing on this topic which he will send to you. More information on the Facebook page


https://www.facebook.com/GetMasterpieceSaveLife

Please, go to the link below and donate!!! And please share this information with anyone who can also help.

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/an-artist-in-ukraine-fights-cancer-/102009