Like other professional artists, Yefim Chestnyakov did not draw or paint his large works of art on an impulse. The painter prepared diligently: he worked on studies and small portraits before finally creating the entire art work. One such example is ‘Guests’, painted in watercolors, A study to the painting ‘Koliada’. The artist essentially reproduced the same imagery depicted in the painting ‘Koliada’.
Yefim Chestnyakov used warm and light watercolors to create the desired impression on the viewer. He drew and painted welcomed guests who have come to enjoy large-scale village celebrations. All the figures depicted on the painting can be divided into a number of categories: the largest central group with musical instruments and sun flowers; the smaller one comprising viewers in the foreground and two more, which include people looking out of windows out of curiosity.
Yefim Chestnyakov draws our attention to the group of musicians, showing how interested and amused everyone is by what they are seeing. Even the guests appear to be pulling themselves out of the crowd in order to have a better look at the musicians and to listen to music. We can see that the figures depicted include men and women of various ages who have all come together to celebrate this festive occasion. Yefim Chestnyakov uses the large log house as the background, in fact, many of its inhabitants are looking out into the street in order to greet the noisy guests. Among the guests, there is a girl with a huge sunflower; a young man with a pipe, and a man with an accordion. Just by looking at them, it is easy to imagine that you can hear the noisy festivities taking place in that street. Next to them, there is an elderly man with a basket of gifts. Where are these welcomed guests going? In what direction is this motely crew heading as the crowd around them parts to let them pass so as not to get in their way?
The work of art was drawn and painted in yellowish and light shades in a customary to Yefim Chestnyakov style using colored pencils and watercolors. To a viewer, it looks as if every nook and corner of the street in the painting is illuminated by a warm soft light owing to the color scheme chosen by the artist. The glowing sky is used as the backdrop. It appears as if the guests, the log house and even the ground itself are all emitting this warm glow. Everyone in the paining is enjoying the festive procession.
Yefim Chestnyakov draws our attention to the group of musicians, showing how interested and amused everyone is by what they are seeing. Even the guests appear to be pulling themselves out of the crowd in order to have a better look at the musicians and to listen to music. We can see that the figures depicted include men and women of various ages who have all come together to celebrate this festive occasion. Yefim Chestnyakov uses the large log house as the background, in fact, many of its inhabitants are looking out into the street in order to greet the noisy guests. Among the guests, there is a girl with a huge sunflower; a young man with a pipe, and a man with an accordion. Just by looking at them, it is easy to imagine that you can hear the noisy festivities taking place in that street. Next to them, there is an elderly man with a basket of gifts. Where are these welcomed guests going? In what direction is this motely crew heading as the crowd around them parts to let them pass so as not to get in their way?
The work of art was drawn and painted in yellowish and light shades in a customary to Yefim Chestnyakov style using colored pencils and watercolors. To a viewer, it looks as if every nook and corner of the street in the painting is illuminated by a warm soft light owing to the color scheme chosen by the artist. The glowing sky is used as the backdrop. It appears as if the guests, the log house and even the ground itself are all emitting this warm glow. Everyone in the paining is enjoying the festive procession.
