This is one of my collections The Ways No. 1 drawings-paintings the sketches named Tarass Ways (1906-2004). It contains the works made for almost forty years of my way in fine arts (drawings, paintings). They differ in proficiency level and techniques. Among them you can see both studies and more or less finished works, but in any event all of them are a part of my soul and heart, and, in my opinion, they are connected with the life and creative works of Ukraines Great Son our Kobza Player, poet, artist, and public figure. This name is generally recognized not only in Ukraine but also in the whole world. It is our sacred object of national worship and pride that is in every Ukrainians heart wherever he or she lives.
There were a lot of drawings, and at the evening of the life, looking through numerous drawings on various subjects I came to the conclusion that I should make this subject collection from a part of them. Because it could be interesting to know about Taras Shevchenkos life and creative works, and besides that, it could somehow demonstrate what an amateur loving and respecting his Homeland is capable to create.
I kept them in a state of nature, with no addition and completion, because that is the only way to maintain that times spontaneity of authors perception of an image and environment in space and time. These are travelling drafts-sketches and that is their specificity and certain value. But systemizing this material I added several modern drawings-sketches (1996-1998) to it. They are made in the same style and techniques as the travelling drafts in order to keep the unity of the style for all collection. There is no doubt that everyone who is interested in them will see in addition to authors vision something his or hers, and in his or her manner, that is a characteristic of human being.
And my purpose is that these works evoke response in every heart. If it comes true that will be the best reward for my many years work.
The pages with the sketches reflected what my heart felt at that moment. I walked the ways myself. It was trips happened in different years, meetings with human destinies, the close unity with nature and being in love with it, wish to feel and depict the history of Ukraine. Painter's case, a map board and a pencil, brush or box of paints were my permanent partners at the time free from service.
The Ukrainian Peoples Genius and never-dying ballad-song of Ukraine inspired me. All that gave me strength and inspiration to bear sometimes many and unforeseen troubles in my lifeGod be thanked for giving me endurance, wit and strength to stand up to it all
I opened my eyes to see, and show that all in the drawings to people
Oh, it is so sad that my years went forever!
and my youth will never return,
It will never return
/Leonid Glebov/
I have not got proper time, conditions and resources to continue, and maybe technically finish these sketches. For my years passand everything goes by and elapses!
And the years run by among them,
Run by quietly.
Taking away with them
Both good and evil
/Taras Shevchenko/
In my sketches I would like to give the essence, the image and the spirit of Tarass age, what inspired him, what formed his world-view, and how his memory is respected by future generations and posterity. And his memory is esteemed not only by artists, and everywhere, his image is available almost in every house of Ukraine. And more
All of them are characterized by great and sacred love and respect to Kobza Player, so be it for all eternity. It is our Glory, the Glory of Ukraine.
I walked and saw much on Tarass ways, both within Mother-Ukraine and on other boundless ways of Russia and Kazakhstan that were bitter for him (according to Taras, poor Kirghizs lands).
It is beyond doubt that the drawings also imply the modern vision (because I am a man of my time), and some of them are close to or even similar to that far reality in geographical aspect. But making the collection I still included them here, and did it not deliberately, because it would be impossible to reflect certain periods of Kobza Players life (exile, military service as a soldier etc.). During this period of time his world-view was largely crystallized, and the highest level works were made.
Some drawings contain what is no more: the villages of Andrushy, Vjushine, Kozintsy (Cherkassy region), they are flooded by the Kaniv reservoir. Other places, historically connected with Shevchenko, vanished because of human unconcern, spiritual impoverishment and indifference, deliberately or not, caused by the planned great-power politics for the purposes of genocide of the people of Ukrainian, its culture, on the part of the rulers, both our own spongers and neighbouring well-wishers.
Time is inexorable, but I was given the opportunity to make my humble contribution to the universal and national treasury of respect to Kobza Player and the culture of the People of Ukraine. By the way, the sheets with drawings are just a part of my works, because there are a lot of water-colours on the foresaid subject, but, unfortunately, they are not included in the collection, everything is good in its season, I hope so. The collection of sketches contains the deliberate sequence of the considered material. In my opinion, that will help reader to understand the material, the essence of the way, which basis is an idea of trio Destiny Muse Glory.
The book begins with imagery drawings of modern bandura players as a symbol of our never-dying Ballad-Song. Because it accords to the great essence of our being most, as Taras says:
Our thought, our song
Will never die, never be lost
Here our glory is, peoples,
Glory to Thee, Ukraine!
And further, with the pages, through imagery drawings of Saint gold-domed Kyiv, sacred Tarass house, and the commemorative Stone is where his parents house was, and where he was born, further, further, further with the pages of Tarass life and his ways to eternityEvery chapter of the collection has its title sheet with drawing generalization.
Dear ladies and gentlemen! Presenting to you this work I think that it will strengthen your high feeling of Ukrainian national consciousness. Without this sacred feeling a man stays though satisfied but facelessjust a part of the very population and a spiritually aged man which goes on sleeping at freedom.
Only high Ukrainian national identity will built the Great Ukraine.
Let the drawings be my humble gratitude to Taras our Kobza Player, our Great Son of Ukraine
This is my bunch of rue-mint in his memory, to his immortality.
Glory to Ukraine!
Respectfully,
Philip Shpylyovy, the author
(artist-architect)
Lenin St.,8, Apt. 8,
the urban settlement of Schebetovka,
Feodosiya, the Crimea, 98187
Ukraine
