The Ballet Serie #1
Ballet entered Igor Shulman’s life later than most, opening a window into a world of grace and emotion. This is the first chapter of his artistic exploration of ballet’s beauty and discipline.
Ballet came into my life quite unexpectedly, at a mature stage in my career. Through my profession, I connected with compatriots who were prima-dancers at the folk ballet in Prague. Immersed in their world, I found myself drawn to the elegance and discipline of ballet.
It felt like discovering a parallel universe — a completely different world existing alongside everyday life. Fascinated, I began to paint ballet scenes, not focusing on individuals but on the essence and movement of the art form.
My painting style during this period leaned toward impressionism, emphasizing expressive brushwork and emotional depth over fine detail. This series became a way to translate the fleeting beauty of dance into still images.
This is just the beginning. In the next part, I will share how my journey with ballet painting developed and where it eventually led.
What are your thoughts? I invite you to share your impressions in the comments below.
The background is a warm beige with soft textures, suggesting an aged studio wall. The colors are muted and soft, mostly beige, taupe, and gentle purples. The brushstrokes are visible and painterly, adding texture and a sense of movement to the scene.
The mood is quiet and reflective, capturing a private moment of focus and dedication. The ballet barre stands as a symbol of discipline and practice, while the dancers represent grace and the effort behind artistic growth. The painting’s soft edges and muted tones suggest the fleeting and delicate nature of youth and art.
The background features a studio wall split into warm reddish-pink and pale pinkish-white sections, creating a subtle contrast. The floor is suggested by a dark shadow at the bottom. The brushwork is loose and painterly, blending colors softly to capture the mood and movement rather than fine detail.
The overall feeling is calm and reflective, highlighting the discipline and dedication behind the art of ballet. The barre symbolizes the structure needed for mastery, while the contrasting colors hint at the internal challenges faced by the dancer.
The background is a warm blend of peach and apricot tones, softly textured with loose brushstrokes that create a dreamy, peaceful atmosphere. The light is soft and diffused, with no harsh shadows, enhancing the contemplative mood.
The artist uses an impressionistic style, focusing on color and texture rather than sharp details. The painting captures the dedication and quiet strength behind ballet, with the ballerina’s back view hinting at the private and introspective side of artistic practice.
The background is a deep crimson red, contrasting with the pale tutus and adding a sense of weight and seriousness. The light is soft and muted, casting subtle shadows that highlight the dancers’ forms without bright illumination.
The artist uses a painterly, impressionistic style with visible brushstrokes and textured surfaces. The focus is on mood and emotion rather than precise detail. The painting captures the quiet intensity and solitude behind the scenes, reflecting the emotional demands and isolation often experienced in the life of a ballerina.
The background is abstract, composed of muted yellows, greys, and purples with varied textures and soft, dappled lighting. The artist uses expressive brushstrokes to convey movement and emotion rather than fine detail.
The work explores themes of self-reflection, movement, and the inner experience of dance. The mirror reflection adds a layer of introspection and duality, emphasizing the dancer’s connection with themselves and the art.
The background is simple, with an off-white wall featuring soft pink and green tones, and a floor painted in deep reds and muted burgundy. The brushstrokes are bold and visible, creating texture and a sense of immediacy.
The artist uses expressive brushwork and a rich color contrast to capture a quiet moment of reflection and the inner strength of the dancer. The painting suggests the balance between the physical demands of dance and the peaceful moments of rest and contemplation.
The background is a warm, buttery yellow with soft variations in tone, creating a glowing aura around the dancer. The loose, impressionistic brushwork emphasizes movement and light rather than fine detail, giving the scene a dreamlike quality.
The painting expresses themes of dedication, elegance, and the fleeting beauty of motion. The soft colors and blurred edges highlight the ethereal nature of ballet and the quiet intensity behind the art.
Three other ballerinas appear around her, less defined and blurred, suggesting a stage performance. The background is a deep burgundy red, creating a dramatic contrast with the light tutus. The lighting highlights the central dancer, emphasizing her movement and presence.
The artist uses impressionistic brushwork and broad strokes to capture the energy and emotion of ballet. The painting celebrates grace, dedication, and the intensity of a peak performance.
The background is dark and indistinct, suggesting a backstage or dressing room area. Warm, rich colors highlight the ballerina’s form and create a quiet, intimate atmosphere. Visible brushstrokes and textured paint capture the moment’s intensity and concentration.
The painting explores themes of dedication, discipline, and the quiet moments of preparation before a performance. The ballerina’s careful attention to her shoe symbolizes the balance of elegance and effort required in ballet.
The background is a soft, blurry lavender with hints of a ballet barre and a reflective floor showing faint reflections of the dancers. Loose brushstrokes and a limited purple palette create a dreamy, introspective atmosphere.
The painting captures themes of dedication, fatigue, and reflection, portraying the quiet strength and contemplation that follow intense artistic effort.
The background is an abstract mix of warm earth tones—yellows, ochres, browns, and burgundy—with visible brushstrokes that add texture and depth. Soft, diffused light highlights the woman’s features and the fabric of her dress.
The artist blends realism with impressionistic brushwork, focusing on mood and emotion. The painting conveys quiet introspection and subtle elegance, exploring themes of feminine strength, vulnerability, and contemplation.
The background is abstract and richly textured, with deep reds, purples, and greens creating a shadowy, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Broad, expressive brushstrokes and visible paint drips add energy and raw emotion to the scene.
The artist blends impressionistic and expressionistic styles to capture the emotional depth of the ballerina’s experience. The work explores themes of artistic dedication, vulnerability, and the emotional intensity behind ballet.
The background is abstract, blending warm earthy tones with darker blues, creating a soft, dreamy atmosphere. Visible brushstrokes add texture and emotion, contrasting the smoothness of the ballerina’s clothing with the rougher background.
The artist uses expressive, painterly techniques to capture the mood of quiet reflection and vulnerability. The painting explores the balance between the public grace of the dancer and the private emotional intensity behind the art.
The background suggests a softly lit dance studio with warm earthy tones—muted oranges, browns, and yellows—blended to create a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. Visible brushstrokes add texture and movement to the scene.
The artist combines impressionistic and realistic styles to capture the delicate balance between tension and release, reflecting the fragility and beauty of a dancer’s performance. The painting evokes quiet contemplation, vulnerability, and the fleeting nature of artistic expression.
Set against a deep, richly textured blue background reminiscent of a night sky or swirling ocean, the contrast between the luminous yellow dress and the dark backdrop creates a captivating chiaroscuro effect. The artist’s bold, impasto brushstrokes add texture and vitality, emphasizing the raw emotion and exhilaration of the moment.
This work celebrates the joy and liberation found in dance, symbolizing the human spirit’s capacity to transcend limits through artistic expression. The radiant yellow suggests warmth and vitality, while the expansive blue evokes mystery and depth, together crafting a powerful visual story of passion and movement.
Set against a rich, deep indigo background, the minimalist scene highlights the contrast between the delicate white tutu and the dark surroundings, emphasizing the ballerina’s grace and solitude. The artist’s expressive brushwork and impressionistic style bring warmth and emotion to the piece, creating a mood of calm intensity and quiet reflection.
This painting speaks to the dedication, discipline, and solitary moments behind the scenes of ballet, inviting viewers to appreciate the quiet strength and beauty of an artist preparing to perform.
The dark background contrasts with the dancers’ glowing costumes and skin, emphasizing their graceful forms. The stage floor reflects their images subtly, adding depth and a sense of movement. The artist uses impressionistic brushstrokes to render the soft textures of the tutus and the fluidity of the dancers’ poses.
The mood is serene and elegant, evoking the quiet intensity and dedication of ballet. The painting captures the beauty and discipline of the art form within a dramatic theatrical setting.
All Art Collections
Here you’ll find a variety of Igor Shulman’s art collections, each one showing a different side of his work. From chandeliers and dresses to still lifes and portraits, every collection has its own mood and story. Take a look and see which one catches your eye — these pieces capture moments and feelings in a way that’s both honest and personal.
- The Accursed Kings Series
- Chandeliers Collection. Vol. 1
- Dresses collection. Vol1
- Still Life Collection. Part #1
- Gravity. Vol1
- After Party Collection #1
- Station collection
- Erotica. Vol1
- Musician Collection
- Jews Collection. Serie #2
- Men Collection
- My Animals Collection
- Jews Collection
- Ambiance Collection. Serie #2
- Ambiance Collection. Serie #1
- My Fishes
- Birds’ Collection. Part #2
- Bird’s Collection. Part #1
- New Icon Collection
- The Ballet Serie #2
- Antiglamour