You land on his Instagram and feel it right away: discipline, patience, and a love for faces that tells stories without a single word. Sergei Artemev, a portrait artist from Saint Petersburg, built a devoted audience by sharing work rooted in realism, fine craft, and a lifelong commitment to painting—even though he trained as an economist. His feed shows portraits, hyperrealistic objects, swift oil sketches, and large-format works that reveal both control and play.
Sergei Artemev Art Journey: Discipline, Craft, and a Lifelong Calling
Sergei tells his story simply: “My name is Sergey Artemyev and I am an artist. I was born in 1960 in St. Petersburg, I have been painting all my life, although I am an economist by education.” That line carries the core of his practice—art as vocation, not job title. He chose paint as his daily language, refining realism across decades while absorbing the structure of another field. That duality sharpened his process: clear thinking and careful seeing.
On Instagram, you see how he practices and performs at the same time. One-hour sketches in oil reveal fast judgment, strong value control, and a confident hand. Then he shifts gears to polished hyperrealism—glossy pizza slices, glassy surfaces, and illusions that trick your eye and keep you looking. He pairs mediums—oil on canvas, acrylic, pastels on cardboard—and uses studies to feed finished works, so nothing stands still.
Scale matters, too. He tackles intimate head studies and then announces a 100×80-inch painting—the largest of his career—treating size as a craft challenge, not a gimmick. His approach stays consistent: build realism through patient layers, let light do the storytelling, and keep the technique honest. Viewers come for the skill and stay for the feeling—portraits that respect character, sketches that respect time, objects that respect perception.
You also glimpse his public footprint: he notes making portraits “for 4 Presidents and 1 Queen,” a signal of demand for his formal, dignified portraiture. Yet his feed stays grounded—studio benches, in-progress strokes, studies that show the work behind the work. That transparency builds trust and teaches you how to look, not just what to like.
Key Information About Sergei Artemev
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Name: Sergei (Sergey) Artemev, portrait and realism artist from Saint Petersburg.
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Born: 1960, St. Petersburg (Leningrad).
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Education: Economist by training; lifelong self-driven artist.
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Style: Realism and hyperrealism; portraits, still life, optical illusions; fast oil studies and finished canvases.
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Mediums: Oil on canvas, acrylic, pastel on cardboard; also works on polyester for large formats.
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Notable notes: Created portraits for “4 Presidents and 1 Queen” (as stated on Instagram bio).
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Practice highlights: One-hour oil sketches; large-scale works up to 100×80 inches; frequent process sharing via reels and posts.
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Audience: 200K+ Instagram followers engaging with studies, portraits, and hyperrealistic pieces.
Why Sergei Artemev Paints ?
Sergei paints because it’s his way to tell the truth about people and light. His own words—painting all his life despite another degree—show a steady devotion that doesn’t chase trends. He builds portraits with care, then invites you closer with illusions and textures that reward attention. The result is simple and rare: clarity without coldness, realism without stiffness, mastery without noise.
A Note to Artists: Keep Going
If you love the work, honor it with time. Sketch fast to train judgment. Paint slow to honor form. Show your process so others can learn from it. The path is long, but the hours add up. Keep your eye honest and your hand busy.
Share Your Story
If you’re an artist and want to share your journey on Art Tellers, email your story and portfolio to info@arttellers.com. We want to hear where you started, what you’re building, and why it matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What style does Sergei Artemev work in?
Realism and hyperrealism, with portraits, still lifes, and optical illusions. -
What mediums does he use?
Oil on canvas, acrylic, and pastel on cardboard; also oil on polyester for large-scale works. -
Where is he based?
Saint Petersburg, Russia. -
How did he start?
He states he’s painted all his life, even though he’s an economist by education. -
Does he do quick studies?
Yes—he posts one-hour oil sketches and head studies as part of his practice. -
Any notable recognition?
He notes making portraits for “4 Presidents and 1 Queen,” indicating high-profile commissions.
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Want to share yours? Send it to info@arttellers.com. We’re listening.
