Studio Space: Vladislav Yeliseyev

When it comes to art, Vladislav Yeliseyev is a constant student of his craft. Hailing from Moscow, Yeliseyev has been drawing and creating art since he was in the first grade, and for more than 40 years he has re-created the urban and rural landscapes of the world.

Yeliseyev, 54, entered the world of art through architecture. He earned his master’s degree at the Moscow Institute of Architecture, where he specialized in producing concept drawings and paintings of different buildings. Yeliseyev moved to Stamford, Conn., and then to his current location in Sarasota five years ago.

Though he still works as a consultant for architectural firms, Yeliseyev has focused more on creating and sharing his art. He runs the Renaissance School of Art out of his spacious home tucked in a cozy cul-de-sac off South Tamiami Trail. Although his main concentration is watercolor, Yeliseyev teaches the basics of art such as perspective, lighting, shading and color.

“I like to teach,” says Yeliseyev. “I’m classically trained, and I feel I bring something traditional into Sarasota’s multilayered arts scene.”

Yeliseyev keeps a university student’s schedule and spends at least six hours a day in his studio. And it’s the things big and small in his naturally lit studio that inspire and help the watercolorist create and find new perspectives and expressions.