[4] At the recommendation of and with material support from Jaan Tõnisson, Mootse traveled to Saint Petersburg to acquire an art education.
Under the pseudonym Foma Urvanov (Фома Урванов),[citation needed] he contributed to illustrated and cartoon magazines and newspapers in Saint Petersburg.
In the jubilee article for his 50th birthday, Gustav Mootse was called the one of the most significant or best drawing teachers in Estonia of his time.
[4] His illustrations appeared in the publications Нива, Весь Мир, Tuuslar, Lasteleht [et]}, Linda, and Sädemed.
The motifs were idyllic landscapes with farmhouses and beach views, and there are many heartfelt scenes from the life of children.
Sometimes name symbols and professional emblems are combined; for example, Tõnis Vint's bookplate features a small songbird (cf.