Artist Kerstin Rao sits at her easel with a floral bouquet drawing in progress, holding a few illustrated greeting cards

ABOUT KERSTIN RAO

ARTIST & OWNER OF VIVID COTTAGE

Hi, I’m Kerstin, the artist and entrepreneur behind Vivid Cottage.

At Vassar College I majored in Fine Art, then did graduate work in Florence, Italy. I've studied at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League in New York, and taken undergraduate courses at Eastern Kentucky University.

My fascination with drawing from life uncovers odd and marvelous details that lead to vibrant, memorable work.

My pieces offer you calm, beauty, and exquisite nature.

FUN FACTS!

I live in a 1949 Cape Cod home not far from the chilly Long Island Sound here in Connecticut. Starting with bouquets of local flowers, I pour my heart into every drawing.

I work with a mom-and-pop business in town to digitally scan my drawings, then I drive to the next town over to print my cards.

Everything I produce is manufactured in the USA. I'm inspired by the memory of my grandparents who immigrated from Poland. They were factory workers in Detroit, Michigan and I saw the pride they felt in their work. As we walked the neighborhood, they pointed out cars and told me which parts they worked on.

My artwork is created to brighten spirits and remind us to enjoy the wonders of nature. To nourish our tiny corner of the world, my husband and I converted our yard to a meadow filled with native plants and became part of the Pollinator Pathway.

We do our best to be good stewards of the land, using solar panels on our home and reducing waste we create by re-purposing, composting and recycling.

I'm constantly improving the sustainability of my products. We choose FSC-certified paper and OEKO-TEX-approved fabric. We offer plastic-free packaging alternatives on request, and we pack and ship orders with the goal to minimize waste.

Visit the Sustainability page of our website to learn more about our practices.

Our values shine through in everything we offer.

We are proud to be featured in over 80 stores in 19 US states and in Canada.

Thank you for being part of the Vivid Cottage community!