Today we’d like to introduce you to Ekaterina Ermilkina.
Ekaterina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Crimea in the beautiful city of Yalta on the North Coast of the Black Sea and started my first art classes at age of four. I fell in love with art at a very young age and in 1985, pursued my passion at F. Vasiliev’s School of Art, graduating in 1991. After high school I moved to study art in Saint Petersburg, Russia and received my MFA from State Art and Industry Academy in 1998. I was inspired by the architecture of the big city. I worked as a designer in multiple advertising companies and magazines before moving to the US with my husband. My art is deeply defined by the architecture of skyscrapers, the various structural styles of modern buildings has enveloped my artistic approach and I often find myself portraying beautiful cityscapes in numerous artistic pieces. I strive to encapsulate the intricate details seen in a variety of buildings and incorporate them into a flowing scenery within my work.
At the age of 30 years old, I embarked with merely nothing in a new country, I worked a lot before several galleries reached out to me and my new art journey began. My first paintings in the US were sold only on eBay. The selling platform has introduced me to several collectors that still follow my art career to this day. Today I am selling art worldwide and my artworks have been featured in various solo and group exhibitions in international galleries and museum including The New York Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hunter Museum of American Art, Artspace Warehouse Los Angeles, Bluestone Fine Art Gallery Philadelphia, Art Leaders Michigan, Kunstwarenhaus Zurich, Art & Lef Netherlands, RFA Decor Florida, Neiman Marcus etc. Notable collectors include Kelly Clarkson, Los Angeles, CA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was raised with the ideology that success comes with great education and hard work, therefore I would say that my persistent and heartfelt efforts were rewarded. I am sure I had struggles, however, I strive to have a positive mindset and therefore have not dwelled long on any misfortunes I have encountered throughout my journey. I prefer to engage in the wonderful moments and fond memories I have created along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My oil paintings are centered around the theme of romantic-esque cityscapes. Many of my favorite details I incorporate in such urban and abstract artwork include umbrellas and rain. The style of my paintings has evolved over the years and I finally created something new that I call “contemporary pointillism”. Using a palette knife, I apply distinct dots of color and build a pattern, which ultimately becomes blended in the eye and mind of the viewer, from a distance. Such a technique creates great depth and dimension. I particularly adore how this technique can be so expressive. The way I paint is a little different from what we know as a pointillism of the artists like Georges Seurat or Paul Signac. I strived not to mimic the great artists but tried to devise a new type of pointillism technique that looks different and of which I have become quite known for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
As I mentioned before, my good luck has been achieved from constant hard work and being open to trying new things. In that context, hard work rather than good luck has played a main role in my art career. It’s not that I don’t believe in luck, I just believe that many good fortunes are attributed to one’s own actions and do not merely fall from the sky.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ermilkina.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekaterinaermilkina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekaterina.ermilkina
- Twitter: @Ermilkina
- Other: https://www.artsy.net/artist/ekaterina-ermilkina
Image Credits
Peter Ermilkin
