Richard Uutmaa’s views of Saaremaa resemble souvenir-like visual stories: he gathers all the essential elements of the island (a post mill, stone fences, junipers, farm roads, old buildings) onto a single canvas and then floods the scene with warm tones. Clouds rolling across the sky add drama, but not menace. Their epic form also enhances the importance of the view—Uutmaa uses the clouds as a kind of amplifier to heighten the significance of the landscape below.

“Juniper-covered pastures, rugged coastal waters, unique stone fences, and the heavy, low farmhouses of the past century are depicted with energy and vividness. The paintings are filled with a strict and austere poetry. The beauty of nature is captured through strong color contrasts and dynamic brushstrokes,” it was written about Uutmaa’s depictions of Saaremaa.