Images in paintings by Christo Popoff stay in the mind long after they are seen. A narrow passage down an ancient street in Bulgaria, a serene vista  of snowcapped peaks in the Rockies, or a hidden garden in the New Mexican sun - once rendered on canvas by this exceptional landscape painter, they claim a quiet place in one's memory.

Born in Bulgaria, Christo Popoff has always possessed a keen interest in the fine arts. Encouraged by both his parents and teachers, he began at an early age to sketch and paint the beautiful, romantic towns of his native country. Educated at the Universities of Sofia and Heidelberg, he also received extensive art training in Bulgaria, Germany, Brazil and the United States.  

Following the Second World War, he lived in Europe, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Popoff's paintings reflect the numerous impressions he accumulated in those cities and villages where he stayed. A unique beauty is depicted in his sunny landscapes. His palette knife technik, with strong stokes, only suggest details. The essentials of every land or cityscape he captured with the mastery of an artist who knows and loves the places he presents.  

In the series of paintings "Sunny Bulgaria" he confirms the mastery and the strong sense for the architectural structure of the rustic,  locales with their narrow streets and old brown roofed houses.  

Christo Popoff's artwork, among them the series of landscapes "Europe", "Romantic Brazil", "The Island of Madeira", "Americas Southwest", have been exhibited in Germany, Portugal, Brazil, United States and Canada, where they received critical acclaim and are represented in numerous public and private collections.

Prof. Jack G. Shaheen, SIUE

The main elements  of my work  are nature,  architecture,  light and color, all suffused  with  tranquility and a feeling  of balance. There is always a  consciousness of  the  seasons - I try to make dramatic use  of spring foliage,  autumn color and  heavy  snow-falls. And, while figures only occasionally inhabit the landscapes in my paintings,  there is an awareness  of  human  presence,  as though  I just climbed a hill  or turned a corner  and came upon a compelling scene.  There is a difference between my landscapes and cityscapes. When I am painting examples of Bulgarian architecture, I aplly  more details so that tey are faithfully reptesented. With  pure  landscapes  there is more  freedom  to respond to light and atmosphere.

The Artist