Artist statement

I was born in 1974 in Estonia and at present live in England. I am married. My love of art began as early as I can remember.
I held my first solo exhibition in 1988 when just 13 years old. My first works were abstract and rather intuitive, using mainly primary colours. I continued in the same style for years until I went to Tartu University Art College, where I had to “copy” rather than “translate”. I am driven by a challenge and over the years I have tried many different mediums and styles to express myself.
To this day the style of my artwork is developing. I intend to produce paintings in a variety of styles and approaches. Media of choice is watercolours, oil painting, pencil drawing, photography, but equally computer graphics, web design and much more! For several years I have also been commissioned to do portraits and paintings from personal photographs. I enjoy the challenge of mixing together exactly the right colours. I have spent the last 20 years creating and being inspired by different things around me: mysterious autumnal misty landscapes, old sepia photographs, abandoned houses/buildings, ruins, empty landscapes with ruins, Scottish landscapes with fascinating lighting effects with threathening black clouds and sun beams peaking through etc. etc. etc.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and my own business Kerto Design Limited. I create something every day, whether it is seen by the eye or not, my mind is always full of ideas and ambitions for the future...
   
 

Search goes on...

A while ago I came across artist Mark Ryden's web site, after reading his artist statement, it made me think, hard...It was only then I realised how I had experienced similar inner inspiration where the subconcious was holding the brush and painting insted of brain. 1991, while living in a small room of a youth hostel, I painted "Tear of Light" which I refer as painted from the subconcious, from inside...'Til this day I am looking back at that day wondering where the painting came from. I was in awe after finishing it, I knew it was not from my abilities but from my spirit, from inner concious that brought it to life. I have experinced similar "painting from your inside" several times after that, but the outcome has not been as outstanding as that of "Tear of Light". I am still in search of experience of painting from inside, in place where the mind is silent making room for the subconcious to come through and display itself undeniably...

I hope you enjoy my work and visit this site again soon :o)

 
   
 
 
On 25 of september 2005 I had a great honour to be invited to take part in the BBC'S Rolf Harris TV show: Rolf on Art "THE BIG EVENT" in Trafalgar square in London. Out of more than three thousand artists were chosen 108 people, who were all painting the whole day long parts of one big painting of H.Holbein's Henry VIII. Fully assembled the painting measures massive 40 X 20 feet(10 X 5 meters). I had a most fantastic day and great pleasure to meet Rolf himself as I am sure you can see from the photos!

Subsequently, my canvas NR 23 is now available for sale,
if anybody is interested, please contact me through contact page

 
   
 
 
   
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Award winner...

In 2005 Kerto's oil painting "Tranquillity" was voted as the best of the show
and earned the main award in means of publication in 12/2005 magazine "Leisure painter".


   
   
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How long have you been creating?

Well apart from the time of childhood when we all learn to 'draw', it must be over 20 years, as I had my first exhibition when I was 13 years old. I loved photography and had my own dark-room, painting from my photographs. All this inevitably led to my attending Art College, and onto the University Art College, where I learned all aspects of artistic creativity, qualifying in interior and technical design, woodworking, furniture design and restoration and obtained my B.A. Degree, but painting was and always will be my favourite subject.

What is your media of choice?

Painting is always my passion and at the moment my two favourite mediums are watercolours and oil. However, Pencil, inks, pastels and etchings are regularly in my work schedule.

What are you motivations for creating?

What motivates me to create is sometimes simply an emotional response to a subject. Particularly when I see the way mists hover over fields; how the sunlight plays on the landscape, fields and woodland, or just the simple beauty of a flower. I love the challenge of interpreting each new vision and want to capture the myriad of colours that face me, in paint.

What other artists or movements inform your work?

I think one of the greatest influences in my creation has definitely been Surrealism, S. Dali. Impressionism has also held a very special place in my studies, I absolutely adore Claude Monet style!

What do you find visually stimulating right now?

The seasons always stimulate me particularly Spring at the moment. Everything is fresh and new, the flowers and general landscape bring a strong compulsion to me to capture the colours, stimulating new ideas matching the arrival of new growth and being aware of the awakening of nature. Even the shaft of light falling briefly on a leaf or its interaction with water or woodland, bring that fleeting magic of complex contrasts, the colours that inspire unbelievable pictures.

What's the last book you read?

I have never been a great reader, I believe I did finish a book once, but with all the studying I had to do, I think it put me off non essential reading!! About the only book I have ever read completely is The Bible. I do read a great deal of educational literature, constructive magazines and documentary articles too, anything short…but I don't have time or patience for novels.

What are some of your artistic goals for 2006?

My goals for 2006 include to keep painting everyday, to try new ideas and anything that will help me to keep learning and growing to be more creative. My main goal for 2006, is one I have just commenced, a commercial venture to successfully print some of my designs onto canvas.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and our collectors to know about you and/or your work?

Being an artist to me is a constant journey of challenge, exploration and learning. Never satisfied for long with a certain style or technique, I move on to try another approach. I sometimes worry that I don't have 'my style' but I love the freedom of being versatile and enjoy experimenting with new styles and methods. I create anything and everything in any medium, particularly paying attention to composition and like many of the artists from history; I try to be original and open minded in both colour and style, striving to give to others the vision of beauty as seen through my eyes. I have several collectors from all around the world who are purchasing my work and it's my hope that one day their faith in me will prove to be a good investment.

   
   
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