Vlad Duchev was born in 1965 in a small town in Ukraine. Growing up he was impressed by the art of Russian-Ukrainian impressionists. At the age of 8, he entered an art school in the small town of Bila-Tserkov and started his journey as an artist with the goal to enter the Art Academy of Ukraine. At the age of 14, being under the pressure from his musical family, he decided to take a musical path. He studied at the Music College of Zhytomyr, the Music Academy of Kharkiv, and the National Conservatory of Ukraine in Kyiv with major in classical performance - double bass. But at the same time, he continued studying painting. In 1994 due to the unstable situation in Ukraine, he decided to move his family to the United States. In 2015 after the sudden death of his beloved brother and after almost 20 years of not holding the brushes he decided to return to his passion for painting. He dived into the studies and set the rule of painting daily.

Meet the Artist

What has plein air painting taught you about yourself? That I can see and understand the creation 

What is the furthest you have traveled for your art/plein air? All over the United States - the most beautiful country in the world! Everything I need is here!

Can you share a fond, or unusual, memory of plein air painting? One of my favorite times is when I paint somewhere remote with no people around… usually nocturne, just you and creation around you. I’m finding myself… most precious time for me.

What is a recent thing that you painted or drew a picture of? Boats in Oxford, MD

What is your favorite plein air subject, location or time of the year to plein air paint?  Everything around the water. I love painting boats at sunset or at night.

What is something that looks fun that you want to try? All my life is fun, so I’m trying to live