Surprisingly enough, I started seriously studying the works of an amazing painter Andrey Shugarov only recently. I’ve seen some of his works in exhibitions, my collector friends owned a couple and I always wanted to take a close look to his paintings, especially when my artist brother, Varuzhan Vardanyan, who was always reluctant to praise anyone, started to talk about Andrey more often both as his friend and as him, “a gifted artist.” I was convinced that my brother was right when I visited Shugarov’s studio and saw the diversity of his art. Andrey’s works include a signifcant amount of compositions depicting horses. We mostly see horses that are fghting in complicated, sometimes even incomprehensible perspectives, unusual shapes and positions, where the author unleashes his bold imagination and freedom, and with his brush sharpens the scenes and applies deep dramatism to them. The accuracy that the artist creates with drastic and sharp lines for horses that are rearing or collapsed, with eyes wide open or seeking for help, speaks about his high professionalism. In contrast to paintings with horses, Shugarov’s landscapes are very restrained and sensitive. These are not just copies of nature; realism is rather deeply presented here. By implementing various shapes and other means, Andrey creates canvases that are distinctly different in their manner of execution, painting surfaces and layers. At frst glance, these works give an impression of lightness and transparency typical of watercolor as if painted in once session. Sometimes, Andrey uses the impasto technique - that requires more time to work on - applying thick layers of paint in bold brush strokes, creating his unique colorful and vibrant surfaces. It seems like nature is awakened and shines, giving the work a distinctive attraction. Be it a rural scene or sights of Sevan and forests, the artist approaches the nature of the motherland with special affection and thanks to his “instincts” fnds amazing artistic images. Though still lifes are less in the artist’s body of work, they are executed in bright colors and simple shapes, sharp transition light and shade, which make them memorable. Among Shugarov’s works, portraits are on the central role. Here the artist accurately depicts his sitters at the same time trying to reveal their personalities. Despite Andrey’s artistic versatility, compositions with horses are his most recognizable works that brought him acclaim and may be considered the artist’s signature line.