TEACHER

My first painting teacher, Leonid Pavlovich Ostapenko. He gave me the taste of oil paints; he taught how kind of the strictness I must have as regards to pencil drawing and watercolors. Landscapes of our native nature -- are his elements, his flesh and blood. Side by side with him I feel peace and confidence as painter. But I can see him one time in 20 years, not more often.
I’ll be thinking about him…