Demonstration Saturday with Igor Koutsendo

It’s All in the Juxtaposotion
Saturday, May 2, 2026

Igor Koutsenko creates his substrates, slapping paint on two medium-sized canvases - small enough to complete during his demonstration, large enough so we can see what he’s doing - using what he calls a “chunky” brush. One canvas is a medium blue; the other is yellow. These form the basis of his demonstration, painting in two color keys. For the uninitiated, this doesn’t seem too exciting. Yes, one of the panels is warm, the other cool. Obviously.

Then he begins to paint in earnest, In a few quick strokes, he has a blue sky, blue water, blue boats on one, and a similar image in yellow on the other. In no time flat. Yeah, we wish we could do that, make it look that easy.

He finishes laying down the basics. And then the magic begins. “A certain color can be cool,” he asserts, “but when used in juxtaposition to others, it seems hot.” Understanding that is important, he notes. Experimenting is essential. “A little voice in my head says, ‘Why don’t you try to make it warmer?’” he says, speaking as he works. “And I say, ‘okay.’ This is how we get choices.”

He works back and forth between the two paintings, creating 3D images out of nothing, driving home his point again and again. The juxtaposition of color is key.

He uses complementary or contrasting colors sparingly, painting in the sunrise, for example, moving through layers of clouds. Even then he often tones down the colors with other paints before applying them, reminding his audience that the key feature, the subject, is the pair of boats, not the sky.

As he paints, he talks, urging everyone to practice painting in a particular color key, throwing out tidbits of advice: try to limit your color choices; don’t put on your palette what you can do without; the fewer the pigments, the cleaner the image; don’t over-think it - using big brushes will help; sometimes less is more. His dabs and strokes are loose but sure. Ninety minutes later, he is done. “Not masterpieces,” he grins, “but good enough to demonstrate my point.”

Born in Crimea, Igor studied painting and drawing in Russia, emigrating to Oklahoma City in 1992. In 1998, he moved to Caifornia. These days he teaches drawing, painting, and printmaking at the Idyllwild Arts Academy.