Happy feet

Happy Feet

Piece description from the artist

We all need to take off our shoes and let our feet feel run wild.

I am often asked how I go about painting on metal. It always starts the same way. I purchase stainless steel panels from my local metal supply company, and then have the sheets cut down to my desired size. I then distress the metal by using a grinder and a sanding pad. Not only does that technique create a surface for the paint to stick onto, but also allows the light to play off the metal once the painting is complete.

Considering that the metal is as much an integral part of my paintings, as is the oil paint – I make sure to leave as much of the metal showing through as I can. When light strikes the metal it creates the illusion of a 3D effect. As the viewer moves around the original piece it appears as if the reflecting light is dancing across the painting.

Other works by Sasha Toporovsky

About Sasha Toporovsky

Santee, CA

I am an international artist that sells paintings and prints around the world. My work and themes are constantly developing. Water in one form or another always comes into play in many of his paintings. Growing up in Southern California, Sasha has always been influenced by the culture of Hollywood and the vivid colors of movies and magazines – not to mention the natural beauty of California.
Sasha recently took a break from painting on traditional surfaces, such as canvas, linen and board and started painting on metal – stainless steel to be specific. This came about, because one of Sasha’s clients wanted to commission a koi fish painting with one stipulation. The painting had to feel ultra-modern to match all the metal work in their house. I decided to create the painting on distressed stainless steel with majority of the metal showing through in the painting. This technique would prove to be a turning point in the artists’ carrier. Since then, I paint exclusively on metal.

One of the most dramatic effects of my work is the dancing of light upon the metal canvas. This effect changes and moves as the viewer moves around the artwork. The effect is caused because Sasha burnishes the stainless steel before painting over it. The burnishing leaves grooves that capture then deflects the light back to the viewer. This causes a 3D illusion of moving light. This strategy used in congruence with Sasha’s usage of vibrant thick brush strokes helps the eye dance across my paintings.

See Sasha's portfolio here
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