"I asked Him once: - Why is there such a thing as painting? - Because it cleanses you and brings you close to Me."
Anastas
Oh ... childhood So far, yet so close to the heart of the artist ... Unrecallable dream Food for the spirit and art The maternity ward My brother We have become more A small turtle with a soft shell crawls out from under the bush Meadows, sun, blackberry jam An old woman dressed in black, a bugaboo to make children behave and eat their meats Tricycle Big tree Huge Snails creaping on a cheep overcoat after the rain New place, lawn, strange flowers Oh these strange flowers reminiscent of pastel paint What happiness?! You could make a painting with them Winter, white, ice Warmth from the stove Dreaming of a sledge Radio Funny People talking though not present here Grandpa's shop Curiosity There are still a lot of drawers full of interesting things Happiness! Pastels, this time real Painting in the yard Real With real pastels The rooster attacks pecking at the children Alive crayfish in the fridge Strange extraterrestrial creatures Mulberry tree in the yard Lilies smelling languorously Big barrels, empty though Boxes Lemonade locked up Old furniture, enormous mirror with golden birds Grandpa is smoking half a cigarette High ceiling Long cable of the lamp Strange shapes of smoke Drawing rabbits and mice The rivulet Fish in hands Has to live Men Big fish with teeth Blood on the hands Another lawn The mushrooms Dew (We run to find them) Lots of mushrooms We eat them A small young owl Strange world Its mother flies in daytime looking for it Burial of a sparrow Real It is different with people China bowl full of red wine Crumbled bread Tasty Very tasty I want more They would not give children more Zlatitrap Thracian mound Genetic legend What might be inside? Hearsay about some treasure Sleep Illness sharpening the senses There is no red paper but there is an astronaut Watermelon seeds are collected For the new crop Women's bath Scandal I have grown up, it seems A dream Dreams in my sleep Plovdiv Dull weather Slap on the bottom Poverty Fish again There are a lot of fish in the river White butterflies on the poplars Hook and line Oh, those fish Marbles, worth two pennies Mosquitoes, airplanes, DDT chemical Every day Nickname - the Jew Children have been forbidden to play with me
Childhood Picture by Anastas, 1961
A new feeling Sensation of sex I have something sticking out for no obvious reasons More paintings An old woman from the neighbourhood It is a good likeness She is going to give me a trashing I am hiding Bliss! I can run faster than her School Boredom I am the best at PE because of this girl in my class Sport Delight Success Medals Illness again Thinking of death Safety found in painting Bible Icon This time I am praised No need to run Drawing and painting classes Grandpa Death bed Blessing Last farewell. The art school Terrible The meanness of adults, their insensitivity, doom An attempt to stay at a distance Tears First thorns of hardship on the way
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job, 38:7)
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it. (Job, 38:12,13)
I asked Him once where the truth was and He told me: - In painting. Remove all impicious creatures from your life and I will reward you.
- How will I know them ?
- Through the Spirit!
- I make those devoid of spirit feel comfortable.
- Your mistake.
I am the God of the righteous and strong, and the power of love will reign.
I have told you to be devout, never to insult, the rest you will see for yourself.
- When ?
- It is no concern of yours. Blessed are those who will touch My Spirit.
- Do you choose them ?
- I do!
- Where is my art ?
- It is not yours.
- Whose is it then ?
- There exists no possession in My kingdom, it is an earthly concept. There is no order introduced by Me in space and the universe. It is harmony. Compared to people, it has different dimensions.
One day they will see My face because I want it that way.
- I insist again, why is there such a thing as painting ?
- To cleanse you and bring you close to Me.
- Is that necessary ?
- Yes.
- Why ?
- Because I am the Lord and it is no concern of yours.
- Thank you for everything.
- I am happy.
- What have I done to deserve it, God ?
- Don't ask!
- Is there any difference between being mad and deviant ?
- I decide! Can you hear the noise by the window ?
- Yes. It's the cat.
- That's what you think. Stop writing!