1886
19/31 August - born in Fergana, Uzbekistan. Father, Volkov Nikolai Ivanovitch – a physician in the 14th Turkestan lineal battalion. Mother – Theodosia Philipovna (born Davydova).

1888–1899
The family moves to Kerki on the Afghan border. Finished primary school.

1897–1900
Attends secondary school in Tashkent.

1900–1905
Studies at the Orenburg cadet corps.

1906–1908
Studies at the St. Petersburg University’s Physics and Mathematics Faculty.

1907–1908
Attends the private art school of watercolorist David Bortniker.

1908–1910
Studies at the Academy of Arts, under professor Vladimir Makovsky.

1910–1912
Studies under Mikhail Bernstein who had recently returned from Paris to open a studio. His teachers included Nikolai Rerikh, Ivan Bilibin, Leonid Shervud.

1912–1916
Moves to Kiev. Studies at Kiev art school under Fyodor Krichevsky and Vladimir Menk. A chance meeting in Kiev with Alexander Tyshler evolved into a life-long friendship. A series of concerts given by Alexander Scriabin made an indelible impression on the young artist’s sensibility.

1914
Showed his work for the first time at a students’ exhibition at Kiev’s art school. (The catalogue is in the state archive of Uzbekistan).

1915
Married Maria Iliynichna Taratutina.

1916
Graduates from the Kiev art school and moves to Tashkent where he is to live until the end of his life.