Eagle - Hovik Israelian

Hovik Israelian was born in Yerevan Armenia in 1968. His talents as an artist were recognised early by his schoolteacher parents and they began to nurture his ability. Hovik’s father, Victor, also enjoyed painting and drawing but his main talent was poetry with many of his works published in Armenia. Hovik’s younger brother Hrach is a song writer and painter and often makes appearances in local folk concerts and his music has been featured on Armenian radio.

Hovik was a student at the Kogoyan Art Academy for four years. This is where he obtained most of his technical education. But after he completed his studies, he had private tuition from an artist famous in Armenia, Der Mardirosian. From this artist, Hovik learned how to master his technique in oil painting as well as in drawing and sculpture.

His artistic influences included Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt as their use of colour and depth fascinated him. Famous Armenian artist, Ivan Aivasovsky, who was a master of seascapes, has also made an impact on him. Auguste Rodin is his favorite sculpture artist.

Although his natural instinct is to shy away from the limelight, he reluctantly began to participate in local Art Shows and exhibitions. Among his many achievements, he has received awards from:-

Tesselaar Sculpture Prize - $10,000 Acquisitive Prize Winner – The Lion Sculpture 2014

Mornington Rotary Art Show – Commendation - 2014

Mornington Rotary Art Show - 1st Prize – Best Exhibit 2013

Monash Gallery of Art - 2nd Prize 2006, Encouragement Award in 2007

Rotary Club of Sandringham - two Judges’ Awards 2008, High Commendation 2009, High Commendation 2010

Mentone-Mordialloc Art Club - Best in Show 2009

Rotary Club of Mordialloc - High Commendation 2009

He has also participated in the Chelsea Rotary Art Show, Camberwell Rotary Art Show and Brighton Rotary Art Show, Sandringham Rotary Art Show, Sorrento Rotary Art Show just to name a few.

His most recent solo exhibition was at Kingston Art Gallery called Beauty of Nature which ran from 20th April 2013 until 14th of May 2013 was very successful and received a wide range of media attention.

Hovik enjoys painting in the outdoors with oils and the Australian Landscape is his favorite subject. He loves to capture the moment, be it painting the sea or the trees in his local park. He also has a passion for painting portraits, and he does this on a weekly basis at the Mentone Mordialloc Art Club, where he is a member. He often gets commissioned to do paintings and welcomes any enquiry for artwork of any kind.

Hovik is a qualified welder and decided to make sculptures from pipes and metal off cuts. These turned out to be quite successful pieces of art and his many creations have been exhibited at Without Pier Art Gallery in Cheltenham.

He has begun focusing on this type of art and is creating more and more Sculptures as he enjoys the process of creating unique pieces of art with his acquired skill of welding.