Leonid Viktorovich Vladimirsky: interview. Leonid Vladimirsky Vladimirsky Leonid Viktorovich illustrations

Vladimirsky Leonid Viktorovich (September 21, 1920, Moscow - April 18, 2015). He grew up on Arbat, his mother was a doctor, and his father was an economist. After graduating from school, he entered the Civil Engineering Institute (MISI), where he managed to complete three courses before the war. In August 1941, he volunteered to join the army and was sent to courses at the Military Engineering Academy. Kuibyshev, then to the engineering units.
He built bridges and fortifications. He graduated from the war with the rank of senior lieutenant.
In 1945, after demobilization, he entered the first year of the art department of the Institute of Cinematographers (VGIK) in the animation department, from which he graduated with honors in 1951.

As the main artist, he was sent to the “Filmstrip” studio, where he painted 10 children’s filmstrips, including “The Adventures of Pinocchio” (1953) based on the fairy tale by A. Tolstoy. In it, the artist created his own image of a wooden hero in a striped cap, which is now well-known. By the way, contrary to the text of A. Tolstoy, where it is stated twice that Pinocchio’s cap was white, Vladimirsky painted it striped. It was the striped cap that became classic and integral in any image of Pinocchio.

And he drew Papa Carlo from his grandfather.

Having won the love of children and having passed the test of time, the image of Buratino by L. Vladimirsky has become classic. It is used in cinema and theater, dolls are made from it, it is painted on the labels of various products, etc.

In the process of searching for “his own style,” the artist illustrated books that were later uncharacteristic for him: O. Obruchev’s “Sannikov’s Land” and B. Lyapunov’s “The Struggle for Speed.”
At this stage, the artist works closely with periodicals. The magazines in which you can see magnificent examples of his graphics are difficult to count completely - “Ogonyok”, “Worker”, “Knowledge and Power”, “Entertainer”, “Around the World”, “Health”, “Science and Life”, “Peasant Woman” ", "Pioneer", "Murzilka" and a huge number of others.

The artist illustrated: the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by A.S. Pushkin, the fairy tales “The Journey of the Blue Arrow” by J. Rodari, “The Three Fat Men” by Y. Olesha, “The Adventures of Parsley” by M. Fadeeva and A. Smirnov, “The Adventures of Kyodin the Cog” ” G. Park and M. Argilly.

The artist’s second famous work, which brought him national recognition, is illustrations for six fairy tales by Alexander Volkov.

The first book, “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” with drawings by Leonid Vladimirsky, was published in 1959. And then letters from children came in batches asking them to write a sequel. The popularity of the book was enormous! All circulations were simply “swept away” from the shelves. It was even retyped and redrawn by hand. According to the Book Chamber, since then it has been reprinted more than 100 times with drawings by L. Vladimirsky.
Sometimes it even happened that the artist asked Volkov to remake the text to suit his drawings. For example, when the manuscript “The Twelve Underground Kings” was already ready, Vladimirsky proposed making not twelve kings, but seven, according to the colors of the rainbow. Removing five kings means redoing the whole book!.. Volkov “groaned and grumbled, but sat down and rewrote everything.”

In 1979, for his services in the field of fine arts, he was awarded the title of “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.” And in 1996 he became a laureate of the All-Russian Children's Reading Contest. The artist has a large number of personal exhibitions, both in Russia and abroad. The artist's exhibitions were held at the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Exhibitions of his works are still held in the Central House of Artists (CHA), the Moscow House of Nationalities, the Russian State Children's Library (RGDL) and other exhibition centers.

PS. Otherwise it’s all politics, robots... Jomini and Jomini, and not a word about vodka...

Vladimirsky Leonid Viktorovich born in Moscow on September 21, 1920 - Russian graphic artist and illustrator, the oldest children's book artist, Honored Artist of the RSFSR. His childhood was spent on Arbat. My parents had nothing to do with art. Mother is a doctor. Father is an office worker. In his youth, he became interested in poetry and drawing.
Despite his artistic talent, he decided to enter the Institute of Civil Engineering. Before the war I managed to complete 3 courses. During the war he served in engineering units, built roads and bridges. He graduated from the war with the rank of senior lieutenant, has a medal “For Victory over Germany,” and after demobilization, in 1945, he decided to become an artist. He chose the art department of VGIK, the animation department, and graduated with honors in 1951.
In 1953, he was invited to work as the chief artist at the Filmstrip studio, where he created 10 children's filmstrips, including “The Adventures of Pinocchio” (1953) based on the fairy tale by A.K. Tolstoy. The artist created his own image of a wooden hero in a striped cap - an image that has become well known and is considered classic. He copied his favorite hero, Pinocchio, from his daughter. She was just five years old then. I cut out a long nose from cardboard and attached it with an elastic band, and put a striped cap on my head. After the publication of the book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by the publishing house “Iskusstvo” in 1956, Vladimirsky devoted himself entirely to illustrating books for children.

Leonid Viktorovich Vladimirsky has been painting with watercolors all his life. - Most of all he drew fairy tales. And they contain all kinds of fiction: mermaids, witches, fairies, sorcerers, dragons, devils, gnomes and other amazing creatures. All children of modern Russia, their parents, as well as grandparents know his pictures.

The artist’s next widely known work was illustrations for six fairy tales by A. Volkov, the first of which, “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” was published in 1959. It was first published as a separate book, even before the war, with black and white illustrations by the artist N. E. Radlova A new wave of interest among Soviet children in Ellie’s adventures was caused by the publication of “The Wizard of the Emerald City” with new, original illustrations by Vladimirsky, colorful and beautiful.

The artist's list includes: A. Pushkin "Ruslan and Lyudmila"; Y. Olesha “Three Fat Men”; M. Fadeeva, A. Smirnov “The Adventures of Parsley”; J. Rodari “The Journey of the Blue Arrow”; Tolstoy A. N. “The Adventures of Pinocchio, or the Golden Key”; collection “Russian Fairy Tales” and many other books.

With his drawings for various editions of books about Buratino by A. N. Tolstoy and about the Emerald City by A. M. Volkov, he became widely known in the USSR and socialist countries.

Currently, Leonid Viktorovich lives in one of the capital’s suburbs, in Dolgoprudny. His wife Svetlana Kovalskaya is also an artist. Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Union of Artists of Russia, a legend of Soviet book publishing in his late 90s, he is easy to talk to, cheerful, and holds himself upright. He is very friendly, greets guests cordially, and talks about his creative destiny.

This artist has many fans whom he met at numerous events in children's libraries, schools, clubs, and family centers. Wherever his exhibitions take place, Vladimirsky communicates a lot with children.

Vladimirsky has a lot of interesting things at home: rare books, paintings, a Pinocchio doll from his play, a huge apple tree - “The Tree of Life” is painted right on the wall, on the wallpaper. There are as many apples on its branches as the owner of the house is old. And every year, on September 20, a new one appears. L. Vladimirsky continues his active social activities.

/ A. M. Volkov; artist L. V. Vladimirsky. - M.: Soviet Russia, 1989. - 180, p.: ill.

/ A. M. Volkov; artist L. V. Vladimirsky. - M.: Soviet Russia, 1987. - 198, p.: ill.: 1.00

Volkov A. M. The Wizard of the Emerald City: fairy tales/ A. M. Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: AST, 2007. - 991 p. ill.
In the region book also: Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers; Seven Underground Kings; Yellow fog; Fire god of the Marrans; The mystery of the abandoned castle.

Volkov A. M. Wizard of the Emerald City/ A. Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: AST, 2006. - 175 p.: ill.
Tit on the back. l. also: "The Wizard of Oz" - a reworking of the tale of the American writer Frank Baum "The Wise Man of Oz"

: [fairy tale]/ A. Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: AST, 2004. - 207 p.: ill.

Volkov A. M. The Fire God of the Marrans: a fairy tale/ A. Volkov; [art. L.V. Vladimirsky]. - M.: AST, 2003. - 235, p.: ill. - (Favorite reading)

Volkov A. M. Yellow fog: a fairy tale/ A. Volkov. - M.: AST, 2004. - 238, p.: ill. - (Favorite reading / designed by A. A. Kudryavtsev)

Volkov A. M. Seven underground kings: [fairy tale] / A. Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: AST, 2006. - 205, p.: ill.

Volkov A. M. Wizard of the Emerald City: [fairy tale]:[a guide to extracurricular reading] / A. Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: AST, 2006. - 159, p.
The artist of this book is a laureate of the All-Russian children's reading competition "Golden Key"

Volkov A. M. Urfin Dzhus and his wooden soldiers: [fairy tale] / Alexander Volkov; artist L. V. Vladimirsky. - M.: NF "Pushkin Library", 2005. - 350, pp., color: ill. - (Series "Extracurricular Reading") Cont. book

Volkov A. M. The mystery of the abandoned castle:[fairy tale] / A. Volkov; [ill. L.V. Vladimirsky]. - M.: AST, 2004. - 204, p.: ill. - (Favorite reading / design by A. A. Kudryavtsev) Fairy tale story “The Secret of the Abandoned Castle” continued. books: "The Wizard of the Emerald City"; "Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers"; "Seven Underground Kings"; "Fiery God of the Marrans"; "Yellow Fog"

Volkov A. M. Seven underground kings: a fairy tale/ A. Volkov; [art. L. Vladimirsky]. - M.: AST, 2003. - 220, p.: ill. - (Favorite reading)
Volkov A. M. Urfin Dzhus and his wooden soldiers: fairy tale / A. Volkov; artist L.V. Vladimirsky. - M.: House, 1992. - 206, p.: color. ill. Cont. book "The Wizard of Oz"

Volkov A. M. The mystery of the abandoned castle: a fairy tale/ Alexander Volkov; artist L. Vladimirsky. - Vladivostok: Dalnevost. book publishing house, 1984. - 190 pp.: color. ill.

Danko E. Ya. Defeated Karabas/ E. Ya. Danko.; artist L.V. Vladimirsky.- M.: Soviet Russia, 1989.- 124, p.: ill.
The Golden Key, or the Adventures of Pinocchio / Tolstoy A. N. Pinocchio is looking for a treasure. Pinocchio in the Emerald City / Vladimirsky L. Defeated Karabas /

Danko E. The second secret of the golden key/Runge S., Kumma A. artist. Leonid Vladimirsky. - M: EKSMO-Press, 2000. - 596, p.: ill.

Lisina E. N. Lop-Eared Ilyuk: a fairy tale story/ E. N. Lisina; artist L. V. Vladimirsky; lane from Chuvash I. Karimov. - M.: Children's literature, 1986. - 142, p.: ill.

Pushkin A. S. Ruslan and Lyudmila: poem/ A. S. Pushkin; [ill. L. Vladimirsky]. - M.: Sov. Russia, 1980. - 102 pp.: color. ill.

Tolstoy A.N.. The Golden Key, or The Adventures of Pinocchio/ Alexey Tolsto; artist L. Vladimirsky. - Omsk: IPK "OMICH", 1992. - 100, p.: ill.

Clever Marcela: Philippine Folk Tales/ [auth. preface.. I. Podberezsky;] comp. and retelling from English. and Tagalog R.L. Rybkin; [ill. L. Vladimirsky]. - M.: Children's literature, 1981. - 190, p.: ill.

Fadeeva M. A. The Adventures of Parsley and Tuzik: a fairy tale/ M. A. Fadeeva; artist L. Vladimirsky. - M.: Children's Book Studio of the Soviet Peace Committee, 1992. - 44, p.: color. ill.

There are few graphic artists whose works are familiar to literally everyone who was born and raised in Soviet times and was brought up on good children's books: Russian folk tales, the works of A. S. Pushkin, Yu. K. Olesha, A. N. Tolstoy, A. M. Volkova, D. Rodari. To one of the most famous and popular book illustrators - Leonid Viktorovich Vladimirsky Today would have been my 95th birthday. He died this spring, a little short of his own anniversary, but the characters in his drawings have long become universally recognized classics, both in our country and abroad. Leonid Vladimirsky was born on September 21, 1920 in Moscow, completed three courses at the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute, but with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War he was drafted into the engineering troops and went to the front. Having been demobilized in 1945 with the rank of senior lieutenant, Vladimirsky unexpectedly entered the art department of VGIK, and graduated from it in the animation department. His diploma work was the first filmstrip in the history of the institute, after which the graduate was invited to work as the chief artist at the Filmstrip studio, where he created a series of illustrations for ten children's films.

Thus, in 1953, the famous image of a wooden man in a striped cap was born, created by the artist based on the fairy tale by A. N. Tolstoy “The Golden Key, or the Adventures of Pinocchio.” In 1956, the publishing house “Iskusstvo” published a book with the same title, illustrated by Leonid Vladimirsky. From that moment on, the artist began to deal only with book graphics for children. In an interview recorded in 2006, the artist admitted: “...I really illustrated only three books - “The Adventures of Buratino”, “The Wizard of the Emerald City” and “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. I drew the Scarecrow alone more than 400 times. More than 150 drawings of Pinocchio... I have been drawing Pinocchio since my daughter (she was 5 years old at the time). I tied a cardboard nose to her with a string, and she posed for me. When she turned 9 years old, she turned into Ellie. Now I draw Pinocchio from a childhood photograph of my granddaughter and even from my great-grandson, who is now 5 years old. Then, when I was already working at the Filmstrip studio, I learned that even before the war the Golden Key filmstrip was being prepared. Alexei Tolstoy wrote a frame plan for it (that is, frame-by-frame text), and the artist Radlov already drew Pinocchio. But then the war began and work was stopped. There were three copies of the text in total, and one burned down at the Filmstrip when a bomb hit it, the second burned down along with the House of Artists. Only the third has been preserved in the archives of the Literary Institute. I found it and made a two-part filmstrip, and then a book - with a short text, for kids who are learning to read.

By the way, because of the popularity of Pinocchio, funny situations often happened to me. So, one day I decided to take part in the exhibition “Artists for Children” and drew a big Pinocchio. I show it to the chairman of the jury. He looked and said: “It’s a disgrace! You took a well-known image! And we only accept unique works. Don’t you know?” I didn’t answer and left.”

In 1959, A. M. Volkov’s book “The Wizard of the Emerald City” was published, all the images for which were drawn by Vladimirsky. According to the Book Chamber, this work was republished in the Soviet Union and abroad more than one hundred and ten times, and always with illustrations by Leonid Viktorovich, which are already perceived by readers of different generations as canonical. This was followed by continuations: drawings for the books “Oorfene Deuce and His Wooden Soldiers” (1963), “Seven Underground Kings” (1964), “Fiery God of the Marrans” (1968), “Yellow Fog” (1970), “The Mystery of the Abandoned Castle” (1976-1982). Among the artist’s other works are illustrations for the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by A. S. Pushkin, for the story “Three Fat Men” by Yu. K. Olesha, for “The Adventures of Parsley” by M. A. Fadeeva and A. I. Smirnov, “The Journey Blue Arrow" by Gianni Rodari, collections "Russian Fairy Tales" and "Clever Marcela". Leonid Viktorovich said: “There are no simple characters and there cannot be. I consider the most successful, of course, to be the images of Pinocchio and the Scarecrow. But the most difficult image for me turned out to be the image of Lyudmila from Pushkin’s poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila." This was my diploma work. Everyone liked Lyudmila from the fairy tale, so I decided that everyone should like my Lyudmila too. At first I drew girls on the street, after which I showed the drawings to my friends. If even one of them didn’t like it, he rejected it. This is how Lyudmil drew nineteen. Then I decided that I’d stop adjusting to other people’s tastes, I’d draw a Lyudmila that I would like myself. And I drew it. My friends looked and said that I had bad taste, that it was a waitress from a restaurant. And then I realized - I need to draw an image that Alexander Sergeevich would like. I thought - I did it. I placed a portrait of Natalya Nikolaevna in front of me and began to draw. This is how the sad Russian princess arose. By the way, all my friends approved of this option.”

By the way, Leonid Vladimirsky himself is the author of two fairy tales about the adventures of his favorite hero: “Pinocchio is looking for treasure” (1995) and “Pinocchio in the Emerald City” (1996). Back in 1974, for his services in the field of fine arts, the artist was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, and in 1996 he became a laureate of the All-Russian Children's Reader's Choice Competition. The artist has always been true to himself, his viewers and his creative calling, repeatedly repeating: “I never paint what I don’t like, even if there is no money left. My friend tells me: “I drew 200 books.” So what? And in my fifty creative years I have drawn only twenty books, but if we take a serious look at them, only three. But their circulation is more than twenty million.”

“I was a quiet boy and not at all like Pinocchio. Dreamy, read books, drew wizards, sorceresses and dragons...” Leonid Vladimirsky

Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1974), laureate of the children's reading competition (1996), holder of the Order of Pinocchio (2006).

One of the luminaries of Russian book graphics. Graduated from the art department of the Institute of Cinematographers (VGIK), animation department. His diploma work was the filmstrip "Ruslan and Lyudmila". After graduating from the institute, L. Vladimirsky was invited to work at the Filmstrip studio, and immediately became the chief artist.

The book “The Adventures of Buratino”, published with his illustrations in 1956, gave the artist a start in book graphics. Since then, Vladimirsky has devoted himself entirely to children's books.

The list of books he illustrated is small, but almost all of his works are iconic: “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by A. Tolstoy (it was the image of Pinocchio in a striped cap invented by L. Vladimirsky that became a classic!), six fairy tale stories by A. Volkov: “The Wizard of the Emerald City”, etc. ., “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by A. Pushkin, “Three Fat Men” by Y. Olesha, “The Journey of the Blue Arrow” by J. Rodari, “Vovka Vesnushkin in the Land of Wind-Up Men” by V. Medvedev, “The Adventures of Parsley” by M. Fadeeva.

Leonid Vladimirsky is also known as a lyricist. In the 1990s, he wrote his own continuation of the fairy tale about Pinocchio, at the same time making drawings for them: “Pinocchio is looking for treasure”, “Pinocchio in the Emerald City”. As the title suggests, the second book also continued A. Volkov’s fairy-tale series about the Magic Land.

Books with illustrations by the artist

Birthday September 21, 1920

Russian graphic artist and illustrator

With his drawings for various editions of books about Buratino by A. N. Tolstoy and about the Emerald City by A. M. Volkov, he became widely known in the USSR and socialist countries.

Biography

With the outbreak of war in 1941, he was drafted into the army, into the engineering troops, having completed three courses at the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute (MISI) named after. Kuibysheva.

After the war, he graduated with honors from the art department of the Institute of Cinematographers (VGIK) in the animation department. His diploma work was the first filmstrip in the history of VGIK, the creation of which gave Vladimirsky a “start in life”: he was invited to work as the chief artist at the Filmstrip studio, where he created 10 films.

Works

In 1953, for the film strip “The Adventures of Pinocchio” based on the fairy tale by A. N. Tolstoy, the artist created his own image of a wooden hero in a striped cap - an image that became well known and is considered a classic. After the publication of the book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by the publishing house “Iskusstvo” in 1956, Vladimirsky devoted himself entirely to illustrating books for children. The artist’s next well-known work was illustrations for six fairy tales by A. Volkov, the first of which, “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” was published in 1959.

Among the artist’s works are illustrations for the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by A. S. Pushkin, for the story “Three Fat Men” by Yuri Olesha, for “The Adventures of Parsley” by M. Fadeeva and A. Smirnov, “The Journey of the Blue Arrow” by G. Rodari and the collection Russian tales.

The total circulation of books published with illustrations by Leonid Vladimirsky exceeds 20 million.

Literary activity

In 1994-1995, he wrote and published (with his own drawings) his own continuation of the fairy tale about Pinocchio, dedicated to his wife Svetlana:

• Leonid Vladimirsky Pinocchio is looking for treasure. - Education, 1995. - P. 120. - 20,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7574-0009-9

• Leonid Vladimirsky Pinocchio is looking for treasure. - Astrel, 1996. - P. 120. - 25,000 copies. - ISBN 5-900986-21-7

Then L. V. Vladimirsky wrote a new continuation to this fairy tale, at the same time continuing the fairy-tale series of A. M. Volkov about the Magic Land:

• Leonid Vladimirsky Pinocchio in the Emerald City. - Astrel, 1996. - P. 120. - 25,000 copies. - ISBN 5-900986-24-1

Awards

• In 1974, Vladimirsky was awarded the title Honored Artist of the RSFSR.
• In 1996 he became a laureate of the All-Russian Children's Reading Competition.
• In 2006 he was awarded the Order of Pinocchio.