W-Women Globally

Her paintings remind a lot about the works of Édouard Manet or Paul Cezanne. But Russian painter Ekaterina Reutova lives and creates her art quite contemporarily – and in Moscow.

by Irina Stroeva

W-WomenGlobally: What is your activity about? Is it business or hobby?

Ekaterina Reutova, painter: I’m a painter and my activity is painting. It’s my hobby and business at the same time and I enjoy it most of all in life.

W-WG: When did you get the idea of drawing, when it all started? why?

Ekaterina Reutova: I was born in Moscow. My dad (beautiful by nature) was the first person who introduced me to a teacher of painting who was teaching me nearly 7 years. It was an exciting experiencet.
After his recommendation to my parents as talented pupil, I continued my education in Moscow Fine Art School attached to Fine Art Institute.

W-WG: What is your educational and professional experience?

Ekaterina Reutova:I studied for 6 years and graduated from Moscow Fine Art Institute named by V.I.Surikov in Moscow. To say the truth I love to study and have been continuing it for such a long time because I’m so much fond of my profession and couldn’t stop developing and improving my skills and technique.

W-WG: Where do you publish your drawings/works? Locally or internationally?

Ekaterina Reutova: I have a lot of Exhibition in Russia and abroad. In 1994 I participated Exhibition of Auction House Dobeashevskogo in Bern (Swiss) and Exhibition in Stern Gallery “A9” (Zurich, Swiss). It was very interesting for me to take part in Exhibition “Furniture as Art object” in Gallery “Dom Nashekina”(Moscow) in 2006-2007. During this event painters had task to draw lockers in different styles.
During last year I draw pictures for unique project –“Views and landscapes of old Moscow (18th- 19th century)”. This project was initiated by Irina Stroeva (Art director, Gallery “Art-in -View”, Moscow) under sponsorship of Vadim Vassiliev -Company “NXP” (Representative office of “Philips”). I had pleasant moments working with people who are fond of Moscow City and decided to reproduce views of old Moscow by pen and ink. During one year I created 14th pictures and was very satisfied with my work. At the moment paintings are exhibited in office of “NXP” company and in future I plan to include them in Exhibition “Moscow: road from the past to the future”.
At the moment together with other artists from Gallery “Art-in-view” I take part permanent exhibition of my work in the “ART Hotel”, Moscow. In September- October I plan together with my husband Denis Reutov – who are a painter like me – to take part in Exhibition “Russian culture” in Germany (town Schloss-schoenberg).

How are your drawings alike? your vision/message to the people who see them?

Ekaterina Reutova:I would name my style as impressionism. Some of art historians say the same but they also pointed out features of modernism in my paintings by its symbolic and picture prospect. Most of all I like graphic and etching but it doesn’t influence to my other paintings which are very colorful and fresh. Message I sent to people via my art is simple – fill your life with sun and light and let your life follow your dreams.

W-WG: Do you have some leading topics in your art? What is your source of inspiration? What takes your breath away?

Ekaterina Reutova:  My main specialization in art is graphic and I to draw sketches for further engravings. But most of all I’m fond of nature and like to travel to Crimia (South part of Russia). We (me and my husband) live there for month and enjoy surrounding and of cause I paint with love beautiful views.

W-WG: How is to be an artist in Moscow/Russia? How is to be a women and mother artist?

Ekaterina Reutova: It’s very interesting to be painter in Russia. I travel a lot abroad and even had practice in Stuttgart Fine Art Academy. I think there is no big difference between Russian and foreign painter as it’s internationally freelance job. And we all have the same task: express ourselves with art and create peaceful world . As about my skill – my first priority is always family. I would suggest to all mothers to go out to museums and exhibitions with children, give them premiere introduction to the world of art because only in the early age children feel deep impression of life – and fine art is perfect to stimulate their growing knowledge of life.

W-WG: What is your challenge?

Ekaterina Reutova: At the moment I’m studying painting of icons and I have painter who explains to me the main scheme of such paintings. Iconic art has its special rules, techniques and materials which should be applied only to this art. I’m eager to go through some difficulties in studying as today it seems to me to be new opportunity in recognizing new style of art and later on I would have chance to apply some tips of iconic drawing in my usual paintings.

W-WG: Where do you think you will be in 5 years from now?
Ekaterina Reutova: I suppose I would do the same I’m doing now. I mean painting is my keyword for all my life and the only thing I would wish to myself is to improve my skill and find new ways of expression of my talent and I wish to achieve new levels and recognitions among my fans.