GREENEVILLE – A renowned artist from Bulgaria, who has traveled the globe to participate in a variety of events in his profession, will showcase and sell some of his work and conduct a workshop on drawing Thursday, March 21, at Tusculum University.
Rouja Green, left, and Doncho Donchev take time for a photo in Bulgaria in the fall during an exhibit of his work. He is holding the book “Persona Satyricona,” which he will discuss at Tusculum.
Doncho Donchev
Doncho Donchev has produced a diverse portfolio during his prolific and extensive career. He has conducted live painting performances on stage and created illustrations, paintings, sculptures and playing cards using a variety of materials and techniques. He most recently participated in the Tadweer Art Exhibition 2024 in Qatar. Now, he will share his talent with East Tennessee residents as well as Tusculum students, faculty and staff.
“This event at Tusculum will provide a tremendous opportunity for our art and design students to develop their skills and knowledge further and be inspired through their interaction with a world-class multidimensional artist,” said Rouja Green, director of Tusculum’s Center for the Arts. “In addition, community members at all artistic talent levels will benefit from hearing him talk about his work and then teaching them about drawing. This can’t-miss event highlights our commitment to civic engagement and preparing our students to be career-ready professionals.”
Donchev will kick off the evening’s activities by exhibiting and then selling some of his paintings, prints and drawings during a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Clem Allison Art Gallery. The gallery is located inside Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center.
Then, he will conduct a presentation in an adjacent room consisting of videos and photos that highlight his book “Persona Satyricona.” This book contains his caricature drawings of prominent political leaders in the world – past and present – such as Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Gorbachev. Artists and musicians, including Elvis Presley and Madonna, are also in the book. People will have an opportunity to purchase the book and have Donchev sign it during the event.
Admission to the exhibit, auction and presentation is free.
Donchev will conclude the evening with the drawing workshop in the Annie Hogan Byrd lobby. He will perform a live demonstration and then provide attendees with tips to enhance their own drawing skills. The workshop costs $20 and is payable by cash. The Center for the Arts will provide all of the drawing materials.
Doncho Donchev stands in front of one of his paintings from his “Timeline of the Universe” series.
“I have a seeker’s heart,” Donchev says on his website. “I don’t like monotony and the tedious repetition of the so-called ‘personal style.’ Courage and artistic change are very important to me. This is what gives me a sense of freshness. I don’t want to be a whole-life slave to just one successful style. That would have a disastrous effect on me. I am trying to keep in touch with the dynamic nature of our times. That’s why there is such diversification in my work.”
The Bulgarian native graduated from the National High School of Applied Arts in Tryavna and then studied painting at the “St. Cyril and Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo. He later specialized in animation at the Nu Boyana Film Studios.
Among his achievements are illustrating a book of poetry, “Reincarnation of the Satir,” published in Istanbul with a text by Kerim Sakizli in 2007. He has worked with the same author on a series of short stories for the “Heavy Metal” magazine in 2011. Donchev painted on stage in the musical performance of “Nocturne in Blue” and performed on various stages and in cathedrals in Germany.
Green invited Donchev to come to Tusculum. She is also from Bulgaria and attended an exhibit of his in that country when she returned home for a visit in the fall. The two of them attended the same high school and university for a total of 10 years.
Doncho Donchev, right, holds an award he received during the exhibition in Qatar.
”We are fortunate to have Doncho as our visiting artist,” Green said. “He has published numerous art books, is multifaceted and is extremely accomplished in diverse media – painting, printmaking, drawing and sculpture. He also conducts a variety of art lectures, workshops and on-stage art demonstrations. He has been featured on national TV and radio in Bulgaria and other countries. We all knew very early on that he was talented and took art quite seriously. He is also a very good person – kind, polite, sensitive and insightful.”
This event is part of “Painting with the Masters” series the Center for the Arts established in 2023 to increase public access to art activities. The series has so far featured four painting events – two on Valentine’s Day, one in advance of Mother’s Day and one at the 2023 Old Oak Festival. The Center for the Arts will hold an en plein air painting event on Sunday, April 21, at this year’s Old Oak Festival.
While painting has been the primary focus, Green said the Center for the Arts wants to incorporate other media forms in the “Painting with the Masters” series.
The Center for the Arts will provide hors d’oeuvres and refreshments for the Donchev event. Donations are welcome to support the gathering.
Anyone with questions about this event can email Green at rgreen@tusculum.edu. People can learn more about Donchev at https://www.donchev.art/home. Further information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.