Snow and sunshine

This weekend Helsinki got the first snow (well, 1-2 cm, but still white and gorgeous) and the sun came out after weeks of rain and darkness. The world looks very different now! It's also nice to get some natural light to the studio. Temperature dropped to -15 C, which means I'm' wearing multiple layers of clothing again, both indoors and outdoors. Spring is on its way, I can feel it!

Happy New Year!

Today is the first day back at the studio this year. I'm looking forward to working on two children's picture books this spring. It means hundreds of hours of painting, and working with some really nice people. And luckily the graphic designer is just next door, in case I panic (which I most certainly will do!).
The next book coming out soon is the Nordic Children's Bible (Pohjolan lasten Raamattu in Finnish) with 15 illustrators and 15 writers from Scandinavian countries. Here is my interpretation of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Moving back home

Next week our family will finally move back home after three months of plumbing renovation that has finally come to an end. Lots of preparations, packing and unpacking, wiping the dust and decorating for Christmas awaits next week. As you can see above, I'll be busy as a bird!

Waiting for the snow

Something wet, soft and cold is falling from the dark grey clouds above. It's Independence Day in Finland and I'm spending it in my studio painting and listening to the radio. Hopefully it'll snow soon, to eat away some of the darkness. But I'm wrapped up warm indoors and thinking of summer, sunshine and fresh grass, painting it thick and colourful.

Sketching new characters

Last couple of weeks I've been drawing pages after pages of children for a project that I'll let you know about later. Designing characters, adding them on double spreads of a book and then reworking it all. I like to work fast and not think too much. So my hand has to work quickly to keep up with the brain. I love smudging my hand in grey graphite of an H pencil when it sweeps across the paper.
It's November again, dark and grey and wet. So the only way to keep me active instead of crawling inside a wool blanket with 10 kilos of chocolate and 50 books is to keep my brain busy and shake my legs. Alternating drawing and dancing with regular chocolate breaks is the best way to survive this darkness. On top of that, plenty of sleep and vitamin D while waiting for the first snow.

Birds, I simply love them!

Here are all of my new card designs, finally! I have three new 'Still Life with Birds' -cards and six different designs for Christmas and wintertime, published by Putinki Oy. 

So, what is happening next? I'm busy working on two lovely projects that I will tell you more about in good time. For now, it's a secret.

Cards coming soon...

My "Still Life with Birds" -series get three new cards published by Putinki Oy. They should be in print soon, I'm looking forward to it. My birds are also appearing in christmas cards, which I'll be revealing later in this blog!
Another busy and fun workshop for children last weekend at Vuotalo festival. The theme was...you'd never guess.....BIRDS!

Cover illustration for Helsinki-info

I was commissioned to illustrate the cover of Helsinki-info, an information bulletin published by the City of Helsinki, printed six times a year. I have to say I was a bit intimidated by the print run of 365 000...
Here are the original artwork (A2) and the final cover. I was very happy with this brief, great work with reproduction and layout by Heikki Sallinen (Logopolis Graphic Design). 

Book delivery!

This book was published in June and I got my copies yesterday. Reissutunti (published by Otava) is a songbook with music CD included. This is the fourth book in the series by music educators Satu Sopanen and Markku Kaikkonen, but the first one that I have illustrated. It was fun, enjoyable and busy project. Hopefully more commissions like this are on the way!

The Night of the Arts in Helsinki

Here are some photos from the event we arranged at Gudrun Sjödén Store on the Night of the Arts in August. Every year, for one special evening, the city fills up with arts, music, performances, exhibition and activities in shops and galleries, parks and streets.
This year we arranged a spontaneous happening at one of my favourite designer Gudrun Sjödén's store, where I work from time to time with some wonderful, talented people. The night included Fado songs, live models in the window and improvised watercolour painting.

Detail from the randomly painted patterns

Me and Lumimarja, the live models

Siiri and Elsa enjoyed painting...

...and wanted a new white sheet to paint on!

Artwork by Siiri and Elsa