While I agree wholeheartedly with previous criticisms, in this artist's defense, I feel it is fair to point out that he is quite forthright about describing his work, in which case I believe the criticisms are inapplicable to this artist's work. Without belaboring the extensively discussed definition of a "quality scale ship model," I'll only restate it:
"A high-quality scale ship model provides a compelling impression of an actual vessel within the constraints of historical accuracy."
"Historical accuracy" encompasses all the objective, or measurable, standards of technical exactness that might apply to a ship model. These embrace the obvious hull shape and fairness; precision in fittings, rigging, and colors; lack of anachronisms; and so forth. But it also encompasses all aspects of craftsmanship because the lack of craftsmanship creates unrealistic and, therefore, historically inaccurate blemishes on a model.
Dimitrov is careful throughout his website to accurately describe his work as "maritime sculptures," (save for the commissioned Japanese training ship which he correctly terms a "model.) His CV confirms what is apparent from his work: his is a classically trained fine artist who has many years of experience with his subject matter. His work also confirms that he has an excellent command of his subject matter. That said, he is a "production" artist who in some measure apparently creates "for the decorator market" which, as all serious ship modelers should know, is in many respects woefully ignorant of the subject matter. His academic training is evident in his prodigious command of weathering techniques, notwithstanding that by any measure of "realism," they are extremely overdone and, from the perspective of accurately modeled realistic detail, conceal a multitude of other errors. However, the whole point is that he is not building "high-quality scale ship models," but rather he is building impressionistic fantasy sculptures (or by another name are called "decorator pieces") intended to be appreciated for what they are and nothing more. To that extent, they are works of fine art, if that genre is your cup of tea and, as the saying goes, "art is in the eye of the beholder." Do I think they are "neat?" Of course I do, but they aren't "high-quality scale ship models" because, although it may be argued that they "provide a compelling impression" of what his consumer base expects a vessel to be, they are decidedly, and to his credit, not represented to be, "actual vessels within the constraints of historical accuracy." They are not, nor are they intended to be, scale ship models. They are, however, very nice decorative maritime sculptures evoking a sense of ships and the sea for those who appreciate them.
There is much a scale ship modeler can still learn from studying his work, though. His weathering is very good, albeit overdone, and his use of color is an excellent example of application of the principle of scale viewing distance, no doubt learned from his academic training. It should also be noted that generally he wisely abides by the sound maxim that ship models (or in this instance, ship sculptures) should never be photographed at a distance closer than their intended actual viewing distance. There is a video of his "building methods" which provide "close ups" of his construction practices, and it is apparent that were they to be closely examined, their crude fabrication would betray their "toy-like" appearance when examined "in the flesh." Again, I must say that his "artistry" conceals the deficits which prevent his work from being judged against the standard of a "high-quality scale ship model," while being quite sufficiently entertaining to be called "excellent" for the purposes he intended. Lacking sufficient information, I cannot comment on the archival qualities of his works, which, given the prices he places upon them, would be a most important consideration in the validity of their valuation.
I certainly wouldn't scorn any artist who wished to work in the same genre he does, but any who do must realize that what they are producing is not a "high-quality scale ship model." It is, at the level of Dimetrov's skill, a "high-quality fantasy ship sculpture." I have seen many kit models built to a level of fit and finish quality similar to his work, or at least which appear to attempt to be, and they also fail to qualify as a "high-quality scale ship model" for the same reasons as his work does, although many such builders fail to recognize that fact. Unfortunately, many kit manufacturers aren't as honest as Mr. Dimetrov when they claim their kit produces a "museum quality scale ship model!" If we were talking classic cars instead of ship models and sculptures, were Mr. Dimetrov's works to be entered in a competition, they might stand a good chance of winning the "People's Choice" award, but they would never make "Best of Show" on the lawn at Pebble Beach.
1nauticalart.com
