Tereshko was born in Kolpino, Russia, just outside of St. Petersburg. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 to, among other reasons, escape the violence and instability that plagued Russia at that time. “I wanted to challenge myself,” he says, “to try new things, and to have a better life.” After working at menial jobs, Tereshko immersed himself in art, building upon rudimentary drawing and painting instruction that he had received in St. Petersburg years before. The detailed and photographic properties of his work are occasionally blended with iconography and symbolism, no surprise considering his origins. A few pieces look Byzantine, while other more symbolic ones illustrate precise, hard-edged graphic qualities. Are there spiritual connotations, as in a piece that skillfully combines the façade of a Russian Orthodox Church and a human heart? Is it a political statement, represented by a picture whose surface is equally divided between images of George Bush and Vladimir Putin?

Or is it just an engaging landscape, like his depiction of Harrisburg’s Market Street Bridge as it extends across the Susquehanna River? Tereshko incorporates a specific style or styles based on the message that he intends to convey.

His work is framed but, like oil or acrylic paintings, few are put under glass. The finely crafted pieces are conducive to a small format. Most are in 11 x 14 inch to 16 x 20 inch range, although he would not be averse to working larger with the right kind of wood. “I use a special birch wood that is imported from Russia,” he explains. “It is used primarily for engraving, so it suits me well. When I first started, I used dental tools that I annealed to add strength. Then I bought some inexpensive wood carving tools. Now, I have better quality equipment.” Tereshko and his wife, Jo, reside in a cozy apartment that features an oversized window. The abundant natural light source is convenient, and he is content to work in that beneficial environment. At a right angle to the window is a high wall covered with samples of his talent.

Tereshko’s work has not gone unnoticed, despite only three years in this particular process. The publication, Best of Pennsylvania ; Artists and Artisans, included in its 2005 edition Life Energy, his image of a majestic Utah waterfall. In 2006, Best of America; Pottery and Woodcarving (Vol. 1) published Tereshko’s oblique, one-point perspective of the Rockville Bridge façade, titled Pride of Harrisburg. A freight train proceeds across the historic structure, while the familiar mountain profile beyond the western shore of the river looms in the background.