Artists You Should Know: Mais Mkhitaryan

Mais intrigues me. After trying many times to identify his influences (Cranach the Elder? Arcimboldo? High Renaissance? Mannerism? Baroque?), I simply gave up and began enjoying his paintings for what they are. This was unintentionally brilliant, as Mais feels every painter who has ever painted is an influence. Mais believes in beauty, and, in my opinion, the color red, music, fantastic hats and leopards. Mais' formative years were spent in an environment (Soviet Georgia) not exactly conducive to artistic pursuits. Thankfully, he had a wonderfully supportive mother who, at times, worked four different jobs to keep him in oils and brushes.

His work soothes my eye, and he sounds a good human. Far from coming across as an ego-maniacal artiste, Mais would like it known (to all who read this) that he wants to thank God that he has eyes, and to thank his encouraging parents and also his wife and three kids. (P.S. Please don't fail to view his rendition of The Last Supper, by following the link in his profile. If we were allowed larger image sizes here, I'd have featured it!)

I wish to thank Tamar Gasparian for suggesting Mais, and for patiently translating email communications. I have a smattering of Aramaic, but absolutely no Armenian - and Mais, no English. As much as it was important to show his work to you all, there'd have been nary a personal touch without her help. Thanks, Tamar!