Oil painting Walking by the river Ivan Kovalenko

№Koval 232

The oil painting on canvas titled "Walking by the River" evokes a tranquil and poetic atmosphere, immersing the viewer in the peaceful beauty of nature untouched by time. Through soft, harmonious tones and layered brushwork, the artist captures a moment of serenity, where the river winds gently through a lush landscape of trees and meadows, inviting one to walk along its banks and become lost in thought. The scene is both grounded in realism and imbued with romantic impression, allowing light and emotion to shape the viewer’s experience. The foreground of the composition features the still surface of the river, its quiet waters reflecting the surrounding foliage in soft ripples. The artist uses muted greens, golds, and earthy browns to depict patches of water plants and reeds, which float like gentle islands along the surface. The reflections are slightly blurred, giving the water a fluid, almost dreamlike quality, as if the river itself is breathing softly in the morning calm. The handling of paint here is delicate and intuitive, with thin layers and carefully modulated transitions of tone that mirror the natural flow of water and air. To the left, a dense cluster of trees rises from the riverbank. Their foliage is rendered in a tapestry of green, yellow, and violet hues, with dappled light suggesting the movement of leaves in a soft breeze. The brushstrokes are loose but purposeful, with a painterly texture that conveys the volume and complexity of the vegetation without becoming overly detailed. The colors chosen for the trees are both vibrant and calming, reflecting not only the physical appearance of the scene but the emotional resonance of a quiet walk along a wooded riverside. The middle ground opens into a soft expanse of meadow, bathed in a pale, diffuse light. The grasses here are painted in bright but naturalistic yellows and greens, suggesting that this could be late summer or early autumn, a time when the sun lingers gently on the landscape. The open space leads the eye deeper into the canvas, inviting the viewer to imagine themselves walking there, where the air is fresh, and the only sound is the gentle rustle of leaves and the murmur of water. It is a moment of solitude, but not loneliness — the landscape offers silent companionship and peace.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "Walking by the river"
* ARTISTS: Ivan Kovalenko
* SIZE: 23.5x29.5 cm/'9.25x11.61 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, canvas
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection
* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product

About the artist: Born on March 20, 1953, in the city of Pidgorodn, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk State Art College (1972), Kharkov Art and Industrial Institute (1981). Teachers in the specialty: V. Zagubibatko, E. Zherdzitsky, A. Kapshuk, M. Shaposhnikov, A. of Constantinople. He worked in the field of painting, graphics. In a realistic style, he created mainly landscapes and still lifes of the Dnieper. Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (2005). He worked in Dnepropetrovsk: at an art production plant (since 1981); teacher of art school (1989), senior teacher of special disciplines of art department of the theater and art college (1997). He participated in exhibitions since 1978. Personal exhibitions - in Dnepropetrovsk (2003, 2010), Kiev (2009). The main works: “The Last Chrysanthemums” (1990), “On the Berdyansk Spit” (2002), “On the Cute Ukraine” (2004), “Native Color” (2004), “Sunny” (2005). The works are stored in the Dnepropetrovsk Art Museum and the Berdyansk Art Museum (Zaporizhzhya Region). He lived and worked in the city of Dnepropetrovsk.