The dream of becoming an artist stems from childhood. I was practically drawing all the time and the wallpaper in my childhood home was also replaced when works appeared on the walls. In middle school, the art teacher made a great impression on me and I became interested in surrealism at that time. In elementary school and high school, I was very successful in art competitions for children and young people. As a teenager, I also earned pocket money by selling my drawings.
After finishing high school, after finishing competitive sports, it was time to study for a real profession. I knew it could be found somehow in art. I applied to study at Lahti Folk College's visual arts program in order to deepen my art studies. After trying different techniques at Taidelinja, painting with oil colors became my thing. In addition to the art major, I also studied art history studies at the Open University. At the end of the college year, I also participated in a few group exhibitions and sold some of my works.
I was of the belief that you can't support yourself as a visual artist, so I didn't seriously apply to the Academy of Fine Arts, but invested more in the entrance exams for interior architecture. The first time I got in to study at the AMK Institute of Design and Art in Lahti. After my studies, I worked as an interior designer for several years, and painting remained a hobby. My dear music hobby and DJ work also took up a lot of my time. However, the secret dream of working as a visual artist remained in the subconscious.
In the spring of 2018, I took out my painting and drawing tools after a long time and wondered why on earth I had let art remain so little. I decided to get active again and catch up on the lost years of painting by self-study. I also got better acquainted with painting with acrylics, because using oil colors seemed awkward due to two cats and the lack of a study room. The first paintings I made after the break were sold immediately and I received a lot of encouragement from my loved ones to invest more in making art.
I set new goals for myself and got a studio. I tried different techniques and styles to find my own painting style. The plans were to organize the first solo exhibition in the next few years.
In the spring of 2020, the coronavirus and the layoff from day jobs brought a surprising turn, when I had time to invest full time in painting and my works unexpectedly started to sell well. After the layoff in July, I decided to take a risk and quit my full-time job. Thanks to this, I can currently work full-time as an entrepreneur and visual artist and realize my dream.
Of my works
My acrylic paintings are dreamlike semi-abstract landscapes, where thick layers of abstract paint painted with a palette knife are combined with precisely painted descriptive details, which sometimes you only notice when looking at the work closer. My works are also characterized by the abundant use of metallic paints and hammered metal. In my works, I sometimes reflect on e.g. endangered animal species, the effects of climate change and the interaction between urbanism and nature. For my paintings, I have also sought tonal worlds, subjects and influences from history, the painting art of the 18th and 19th centuries, but combined them with the present day and my own painting style.
In my paintings, I use only high-quality and professional-level acrylic and oil paints and painting materials. I do not use low-quality ready-made bases at all, but make the bases myself from high-quality wedges and cotton or linen fabrics. In my work, I strive to be environmentally friendly and not to waste materials. I also prefer recycling if possible.