Regina Lukk-Toompere

Displayed since 1988 in over 80 exhibitions in Estonia, Belarus, India, Italy, Japan, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the USA.

2024
Exhibition of Estonian and Spanish illustrators “Reflections”,  Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Capturing Wonder with Pictures", Kärdla Culture Centre

2023
VII Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT 2023), Estonian Museum of Architecture
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB 2023), Slovakia
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury, Poland
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Fresh Book Pictures", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa Library, Kärdla Library
Solo exhibitions in Kehtna, Põlva and Suure-Jaani

2022
International exhibition of illustration "Fox Spirit. Fox Charm", Estonian Children's Literature Centre, Estonian National Museum, Latvian National Library
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators "Running with Wolves. Werewolf", Italy and Latvia
Tallinn Illustration Triennial TIT 2020, Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki , Poland
„Secret Lives“ IV,Chișinău, Moldova
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, The Estonian National Museum
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "It's Christmas time", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "From the Mountains to the Sea", Kiili Library
Solo exhibitions in Pärnu, Võõpsu and Lääne-Virumaa

2021
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves. Werewolf”, Ischia, Rome, Italy
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Secret Lives III", Szczecin, Gdańsk, Poland; Kondas Centre, Viljandi; Estonian National Museum, Tartu
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial TIT 2020, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Russia
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Moscow
TIT 2020 & "Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books IV", Mytishchi, Russia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists “Fox Spirit. Fox Charm”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Group exhibition “Fables for Robots” Tallinn, Estonia; Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu; Gdansk, Poland
"Children's Books' Illustrations from Estonian artists", Kehra, Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu, Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists "Christmas Tale", Syktyvkar, Komi Republic
"Leafing Through Estonian Children's Books V", Pskov, Russia
"Little Grimm", Kostivere, Estonia
Solo exhibitions: "Everything is There" Viimsi, Kohila, Estonia; small solo exhibitions at book fairs BERRYWATERFEST, Moscow & Book Culture Fair, Krasnoyarsk; solo exhibition "Ludwig the Snowman" Syktyvkar, Komi Republic

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives III”, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books III”, Moscow, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Tapa Public Library, Estonia; Gallery Deák17, Budapest, Hungary
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Vyborg, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kondas Centre, Viljandi
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Group exhibition of Edgar Valter Illustration Award nominees, Estonian Children's Literature Centre; Central Library of Saare County, Kuressaare
Midsummer spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children's Literature Centre
"Picture World of Tales and Fairy Tales", Central Library of Lääne County, Haapsalu
"Fairy Tales from Near and Far", Viljandi City Gallery
Solo exhibitions in Kuressaare, Kehra, Tammsaare museum at Vargamäe

2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “From the Mountains to the Sea”, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Leafing Through Estonian Children’s Books II”, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia
International illustrations exhibition "It's Always Tea-Time", Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators "Once Upon a Time..." (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Tapa Public Library, Estonia; Gdansk, Opole, Poola
Solo exhibitions in Kuressaare, Haapsalu, Tammsaare museum at Vargamäe

2018–2020
Jubilee exhibition "Everyone Was There", Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tapa, Kuressaare, Haapsalu, Kehra

2018
Solo exhibition "Winter and Snow, Twilight and Light", Haapsalu Children's Library
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives II”, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators „Tra ghiaccio e fuoco“, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy

2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators “Running with Wolves. Werewolf”, London, the United Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (“Wolf Run”), Tallinn; Gdańsk, Wrocław, Białystok, Warsaw, Płock, Szczecin, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania; selected works, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Russia

2017–2019
Solo exhibition on tour, Japan

2017–2018
International exhibition "Migrations", Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea

2017
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT)
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre

2016
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre

2016
7th Lessedra International Painting & Mixed Media Competition, exhibition, Sofia, Bulgaria

2016–2018
Group exhibition of Estonian artists „Secret Lives I”, hotel Sofitel in Strasbourg, Embassy of Estonia in Paris, France

2016
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators “Fairy Tales Come to Visit”, New York Estonian House, USA

2016
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, “A Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale Together with Charles Perrault”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators “Neighbours Who Love Reading”, Pskov City Library, Russia

2015
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2015–2020
International illustration exhibition, “It’s Always Tea-Time”, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Riga, Latvia; Uusikaupunki, Finland; Gdansk, Wrocław, Toruń, Elbląg, Poland; Berlin, Germany; Szczecin, Płock, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Oxford, the United Kingdom; Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Vyborg, St. Petesburg, Russia

2015–2019
Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, “Once Upon a Time...” (Grimm’s Fairy Tales), Aosta, Anagni, Lagonegro, Bernalda-Metaponto, Corato, Matera, Roma, Lacco Ameno, Irsina, Siracusa, Sassari, Roma, Bologna, Italy; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Łomża, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Opole, Poland

2015–2016
Travelling exhibition, “Made with the Heart. Estonian Children’s Book Illustration”, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Cheboksary, Russia

2014
European Professional Doll Art Festival, Riga, Latvia

2014–2017
“Tallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustrators”, Estonia, Poland

2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, “Crisscross Stories”, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom

2013
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustration, “Etelästä tuulee – Lõunatuul puhub” (The South Wind Blows), Finland

2012–2013
“A Handful of Book Illustrations by Estonian Artists”, Poland
Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, “Old Fairy Tales” (Brothers Grimm), Estonia, Russia

2011
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, “Sea Fairy Tales”, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia

2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland

2009
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2008
Solo exhibition, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn, Estonia

2007
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Exhibition of Estonia’s leading book illustrators “Suur valmiraamat” (Big Book of Fables), Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia

2006
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2005
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2003
Solo exhibition, Haus Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

In 2006, one of Estonia’s most renowned illustrators – Regina Lukk-Toompere – wrote the following:

"When doing my illustrations, I think about:
1) what I liked as a child when looking at pictures in books;
2) what I learned about designing books when STUDYING AT SCHOOL;
3) what I have SEEN IN THE WORLD.
I regard a pretty children’s book to be one, which has pretty pictures.
NOTE! Pretty doesn’t mean a sweet princess, a furry kitty, or little pink flowers. A pretty picture is tasteful, has good composition, is unique, and is certainly INTERESTING and INFORMATIVE for the child.
I regard a pretty children’s book to be one, in which the pretty pictures convey the writer’s written text, its mood, and its style well.
I regard a pretty children’s book to be one, in which pretty pictures and a pleasant text are nicely positioned on the page. This means having a good, interesting design, the right font selection, the right font size, and a comfortable book format.
I have one more point of departure: a child must be able to ADMIRE the pictures. He or she must feel that there are people in the world, who draw well. I am disappointed when a child looks at a picture and says: I could have drawn that picture myself, too."

This text has the ring of a manifest, the following of which might benefit most illustrators of children's books.

Regina Lukk-Toompere, who was born in 1953 to a family of deported Estonians in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, began drawing already early in her childhood, just like many good artists. She got the idea of becoming an illustrator during her school years, when a teacher of art history at the Tartu Children’s Art School recommended that she study book design. In 1981, Lukk-Toompere graduated from the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR in the field of graphic design, specialising in book design and illustration. This is also the origin of her fantastic grasp of traditional drawing-, graphic-, and painting techniques.
Lukk-Toompere’s works are always recognisable. Over the years, she has remained loyal to her robust and vivid style. The very attributes that later made Lukk-Toompere who she is can already be seen in the first book that she illustrated: Ernst Enno’s "Üks rohutirts läks kõndima" (A Grasshopper Went Walking; published 1983). The use of watercolours (which is already so characteristic of the artist) manifested in this picture book, which she did as a final project – vivid layers of watercolour glowing alongside one another, clear outlines, a strong graphic element, and, of course, an abundance of detail. Details are important to the artist; or, as she herself says – they are her passion.
Regina Lukk-Toompere says that every one of her works is preceded by a period of meticulous preparation. For example: when illustrating Andersen’s "Vankumatu tinasõdur" (The Steadfast Tin Soldier), the artist went and purchased a fish, cut it open, found herself a tin soldier, and started planning out her illustration. Towards artistic ends, Lukk-Toompere has also kept a grasshopper in a jar, studied ethnographic objects and patterns, and done everything possible for the illustration to be informative and true to life. However, the artist does not get bogged down in details, but rather crafts complete solutions. The manner in which the text and the picture are situated on the pages can vary greatly from book to book. In some places, the illustration covers a large portion of any possible and impossible free space, but still does not have a tiring or over-the-top effect on the reader. Sometimes, on the other hand, there is only one small detail on a large, white surface; but this similarly leaves no feeling of emptiness. A new story in turn may arise out of every detail, or a new whole might be formed.
Lukk-Toompere has acknowledged that she constantly makes improvements to her outlines while making them, and the idea that is usually ultimately realised in the watercolour indeed ripens over the course of "doodling". When she reaches the colour stage, however, everything is readied in nearly a single go. Each colour finds its sole proper place, and every detail is placed harmoniously within the overall whole.
Colours are very important to Regina Lukk-Toompere. She has matched the most variegated, intensive tones side-by-side with one another. In the case of her latest books, such as "Sada saarelehte, tuhat toomelehte" (A Hundred Ash Leaves, A Bird Cherry Leaves; published 2010), the design comprises a quite effective black-and-white coupling. In "Üle õue õunapuu" (The Prettiest Apple Tree; published 2012), the artist uses only black, grey, and greenish tones. These two books give a strongly graphical and elegant effect. In both cases, the artist has also skilfully incorporated several ethnographic details.
Regina Lukk-Toompere’s immense variety cannot be left unmentioned. The best proof of this is the fact that the artist has also participated in the making of a number of animated films. Her greatest fame in this has come from her work as a background artist for the Janno Põldma and Heiki Ernits film "Lotte reis lõunamaale" (Lotte’s Journey South; released in 2000). Lukk-Toompere’s illustrations were also published in a book, based on the film. A sharp eye can find in her pictures a whole series of characters not actually encountered in the film, each of which could almost tell its very own tale in turn. At times, the options offered in Lukk-Toompere’s pictures have been so convincing that the authors have indeed adjusted their texts and scripts accordingly.
Regina Lukk-Toompere has remained loyal to her style throughout the years. She has perhaps become only more talented, bold, and confident. In addition to her primary techniques – watercolours and pencil drawings – the artist has begun to implement collage over the last few years. Similar to her earlier styles, however, the artist still does not use a computer for her work, which is exceptionally rare in our day. Collage has mostly brought realism into her works, but has also given them a kind of unique, dreamy feel. Another interesting aspect is that a reader can still encounter in her works leaf- and grass textures, which already appeared in Ernst Enno’s poetry collection. In recent years, however, the artist has started to use these motifs in collage the very most – for example, in "Suur valmiraamat" (Big Book of Fables; published 2006), in which the leaf motifs give the effect of a powerful generalisation, but a love for detail still remains. Lukk-Toompere’s works over the last few years make it ever more apparent that she does not create a new fairy tale with her illustrations; rather, her fantasy derives from the text, and everything that she depicts is more genuine than genuine can be – whether or not that is possible.
Regina Lukk-Toompere’s works are admirable, and there are no doubt very few children who might say that they could have drawn that picture themselves, too. And if such a child truly can be found, then he or she may regard themselves as a true artist...

Text by Eva Laantee Reintamm

31.03.2014