Malibu 5

Malibu

Piece description from the artist

A throw back to longboard surfing in Malibu California. Painted in oil on Stainless Steel panel. This is my signature style. The painting is framed on the back for easy modern style hanging and does not require any additional framing.

I am often asked how I go about painting on metal. It always start 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 art it appears as if the reflecting light is dancing across the painting.

I primarily paint in my studio which is located in the historical Gaslamp Quarter in Down Town San Diego. My paintings are mostly a collage of ideas and images that I bring together to form a work of art. I use a thick oil medium that allows my brush strokes and colors to weave together seamlessly – much like water. My images are like a snapshot of time and place. The combination of all these factors give my paintings a dreamlike quality.

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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