Global Trot

Welcome to RE:BELLE’s first issue of Spotlight. Here we feature interesting people and stories from around the globe. This week, we trot across to Estonia to get acquainted with young Estonian artist/artisan Silja Erg (pictured above).

We first met Silja when she was a 22-year-old third year biology student who spent her free time doing what she called “arty stuff”. Back then, she noted how strange it was that this part of her life which occupied her free time was really the most important. She also shared that her favourite thing was to paint oil color portraits of people. Today, Silja is 23 years old, still in biology and still doing “arty stuff”.   But that’s enough from us really- you came here to hear from and see the talent….

Who is Silja?

“The coolest thing would be if I could call myself a painter and back it up, but no one asks. I walk around and stare in the sun, never wonder about the meaning of life, but, I do try to figure out what is up with swimming polar bears looking so cute.”

(Oil portrait by Silja)

How long have you been at this?

“I’m the type who always did arts and crafts at school, but not a lot – just doodling and took some classes time to time. The last year in high school some four years ago was when I started doing bigger portraits and paintings and more often. It’s when people started asking me to do pictures for them. They were awesome that way.”

What motivates you?

“When I start with something I see little things that need to be fixed about a project, so I fix them and that often takes a lot of time because there is always something that can be better. This process has taken even a year. I’m in the learning stage so motivation comes from trying to better myself step by step. I could never do anything if I thought too far ahead. If I keep thinking about finishing a painting, it won’t work out. But if you make the process count, then there can actually come something out of it.”

Challenges you face as an artist?

“Trying to do other things and artwork at the same time is hard for me. If you have limited time for both then both suffer and then the artwork becomes more technical than thought trough. And that is not good because you lose the meaning for both. The more you do the less you’ll have time to think and when that happens…you become a robot and you don’t even want to slow down and take it all in and process it. On the other hand, if you do too little then you’ll have nothing to think about and you go useless.”

(Silja's "Estonian Landscape")

What has Art done for you lately?

“It has given me confidence that I’m not lost even when no one approves. I can just do my thing and be happy.”

Nice, but could you live by Art alone?

“At the moment…some months I could I guess, but not really a lot. It depends too much on luck and kindness of random people. I would need time and a manager. In fact I know how important having a manager is so if I start making some serious plans then a manager will be the first thing I’ll be spending on. And then food, that would also be in the list.”

Have you anything to brag to us about?

“I’ve lead a pretty insignificant life.”

Be that as it may, who will Silja be in the next few years?

{pullquote}“I am definitely going to be on my private yacht sipping Martinis and avoiding phone calls of people who love me too much and want to give me too much money.{/pullquote} It’s how it is for all the artists right? In other words, I just try to go day by day and see what comes out of it.”

(Silja's "Needled Felted Kitty")

What would you say makes Silja particularly RE:BELLIOUS?

“This is the hardest question I’ve ever had someone ask me. If I threw a bucket full of glitter at you will you be distracted for long enough for me to take a run for the door? Hmnnn. I’m sorry (grins). I’m just very normal. In a way I am weird, but, that is called personal preferences, not being special. Ohhhh I know! I jaywalked the other day! FU bureaucracy!  Well no one saw that and it was a closed road so there were no cars, but if they had seen it would have been pretty out of control. So it’s pretty obvious why people call me a punk, I just live on the edge all the time.

Gallery of a few of Silja's pieces:

If you are interested in learning more about Silja or viewing/purchasing her work, then you can head straight to any of the pages below:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SiljaErgArt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/5erg
Etsy shop  http://5erg.etsy.com
Artwork gallery: http://doodlewithgluegun.deviantart.com/
Blog: http://www.5erg.com

PLEASE NOTE: RE:BELLE will be taking a break until June 1 2012.  Want to be featured when we return or know someone you think should be? Then drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !