ElliMaanpaaTale

Winter Sky

2012-01-26T02:47:00.000+02:00

Shadow Theatre Croquis

2012-01-25T11:51:00.004+02:00

The first art - drawing painting - class for this Spring semester started with a new experimental technique. Our teacher Paavo Paunu wanted to start this semester with drawing since we mostly painted during the whole Autumn.

He had arranged a shadow-theatre-stage-like thing to our art studio. Two students at the time were given words/themes to "act" and express together with some props behind the see-trough fabric.
The words were everything from Shiva to worker's lunch sandwich.

The students on the other side kept drawing very fast croquis - from 1min to 2min (the postures behind the curtain were not easiest to hold on very much longer).

In the end of the session we spread out all the works to the floor. The idea was that all the drawings were shared/joint (nobody would mark their own works).

From all these works Paavo selected the ones he found most intriguing.

We look carefully trough them analyzing the expression and the use of line. It was sort of an inkblot test.

Very interesting indeed. Thanks for reading!

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T18:18:00.009+02:00

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

(...I hope I'm spelling that right...)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today on the 23rd of January 2012 the year of the Dragon has started. So I drew a dragon for you. He looks a bit sleepy. The reason for that might be that I drew him in the morning before going to school.

According to this site the year of the Dragon will be a grand one:

"The Dragon is in fact the major symbol of good fortune in Chinese Astrology. The Dragon constellation, for example, is accorded the honor of being the guardian of the Eastern sky. According to tradition the Dragon brings in the Four Blessings of the East: wealth, virtue, harmony and longevity.

Indeed, of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac the Dragon is the most special, as it is a mystical being rather than an earthly animal. It is sometimes called a karmic sign. In this context that means we can expect grand things this year. Bigger than life is very much a Dragon thing. There will be spectacular successes as well as crash and burn failures."

Sounds good. So let's get the party started! :)

Lecture Theft

2012-01-19T14:49:00.001+02:00

How would you feel about going to a series of Lectures with the theme From Lemon to an Apple? - The acts of love in the style of sky metaphors. The lectures contain specific topics from angels to little birds from North-Israel and raw food for dogs.

Yesterday at school (as part of the Situationist course) we had four hours to make a "lecture theft". Browse trough the announcements of lectures held in Pori area and create our own collection of them: a lecture series of our own. The only rule was that all the lectures were real so that people could actually attend. Then decide what is the theme of the lecture series and create an advertising poster for it. The results were quite fantastic.

I grouped up with the talented Vesa Kuula (the apple illustration is made by him (and in about 30min or so) and we created this happy collection of lectures together. Feel free to try it out! You can also email us to uusisuuntapori@gmail.com.

Drifting In Manhattan

2012-01-13T11:41:00.002+02:00

Yesterday I did a little sightseeing in Manhattan... but in PORI.

Scribble Situation

2012-01-10T22:30:00.006+02:00

The school semester started on Monday. We've had interesting lectures about Situationists.

Very interesting indeed!

...But still I cannot help but falling a sleep since my rhythm of the day went upside down during the holidays (usually went to bed after 5am and sleeping until 2pm).

So the best I can do is to sketch and scribble. Keeping my hands busy makes it easier to stay awake and focused. Today I filled 12 pages of my sketchbook. Some of the drawings might turn into postcards later.

For the rest of the week we have time to realize our own situation or "situationist act" if I may say so. I'll do post about that later! Now it's good time to go asleep... Zzzzzzzzzz...

Year 2011

2012-01-08T23:26:00.012+02:00

A year just ended and brand new one started. This post is dedicated to the year 2011 and things about it I'm more than grateful.

Lots of ACTING in theatre gigs, training improvisation, speaking role in professional television production and interesting independent short film projects like Keiju (photographs from the set of Keiju with Heini Haapaniemi).

I wrote a PLAY! Or we did together with Linnea and Sini. The play was called SimpanssiSpektaakkeli and it was performed by the theatre of Zoo last Eastern in the Helsinki Zoo Korkeasaari. I played the part of the dull professor (photograph below).

Actually going trough with the KALEVAN KIERROS half which is a sport challenge of six endurance sports (speed skating, country cross skiing, running, rowing a boat, bicycling, orienteering) during one year. Just to accomplish that (even though my ranking is not something I could brag about) made me feel that I can do just about anything I set my mind to.

Being accepted to the MASTER PROGRAM in VISUAL CULTURE in the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. I hadn't heard about the study program Visual Culture before my dad gave me a piece of paper he had cut from the newspaper advertising the program and said "This sounds like your thing". I was skeptical at first but when found out more I was really excited so I applied. I am super happy I did that and was accepted since I've truly loved my studies here. This is a place where working with multiple materials is encouraged and there is active conversation about art theory and the philosophy about one's own art making.

P.S. If you feel like this might be your school too check out the application progress that has just started for the next semester.

Moving to the beautiful city of PORI, taking over its streets, meeting its people and getting new FRIENDS for a life time.

Starting the studies and moving to Pori also brought SOMEONE very SPECIAL into my life. Among my student colleagues I found a handsome, talented and simply unique companion. Funny thing is that after living few hundred meters apart from each other in Helsinki for almost a decade we had to come all the way to Pori to meet. But I'm a strong believer that things happen as they do for a reason and I feel lucky I've found him now.

THANK YOU marvelous year 2011!

WELCOME new adventures of the year 2012!

When You Cannot Be a Marmot You Draw One

2012-01-05T01:35:00.003+02:00

Couldn't get sleep yet so instead I drew marmots.

Holiday Polaroids

2012-01-02T20:28:00.008+02:00

This is a little collection of snapshot from my whereabouts this Christmas holiday and New Year. The first pictures are taken in Turku on Christmas Eve and the last ones in Pori on the first day of January 2012.

Red overall.

City birds.

Pikke <3

We filmed also a figure skating video.

Inside the Handicrafts Museum.

Ice adventure in Linnanmäki.

Underneath the roller coaster.

Back in snowing Pori.

My aristocrat <3

And now 2012 is here. Let's make it a good one! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-31T13:56:00.000+02:00

Merry Christmas One More Time

2011-12-23T22:04:00.000+02:00

Christmas Lightning

2011-12-22T15:24:00.008+02:00

My dear blog readers, I am sorry for my long absence but you know how Christmas time can be. Suddenly everyone is organizing all kind of fun celebrations plus there is the school works that have to be done before the semester ends.

But now. Now I am all free to spend the holiday anyway I please and before I escape to spend the Christmas with my family I will treat you with a new post. I want to share another Christmas card illustration I did this year. This one is done to my friends and amazing Finnish band called Ukkosmaine (which means in English The Thunder Fame).

First sketching the christmas elfs and composition of the card. Then drawing it again in the actual scale. I used the red pencil in the sketching since it is easier to edit away in Photoshop after scanning.

Coloring I did in the computer using all kind of textures (like wood, glitter and fabrics) and one spruce pattern I did with fun online program called BgPatterns.

Wilhem Meister sent me a package with the printed cards and they looked pretty fantastic. Salamoivaa Joulua! would approximately mean in English Lightning Christmas! Bonus surprise was the Ukkosmaine button and magnet he sent with the cards. Thanks Wilhelm!

In an hour I'll hop in to the bus to Turku and if I don't have a chance to see you again before Christmas I'll wish you all now magical, merry and lovely Christmas! Love and hugs.

Clay Head

2011-12-12T22:09:00.004+02:00

Even though our course is called Painting & Drawing today - at the last session before Christmas - I molded clay instead.

Paavo Paunu - the teacher - showed a new way to use clay: if you mix it with plastic clue it's not necessary to bake it in oven.

So say hello to my laughing little evil-angel.

My classmate found the sculpture frightening but I think he looks just content and almost holy.

Anyways molding clay might be one of the most therapeutic activity there is in the world to do. I recommend it dearly to everyone!

Emperor Tamarin

2011-12-12T11:56:00.002+02:00

Emperor Tamarin - Keisaritamariini

This drawing has little to do with anything but we do have an interesting project going on in the Helsinki Zoo.

Näky Christmas Market

2011-12-08T01:05:00.005+02:00

Next Saturday on the 10th of December we have the Näky Christmas Market here in Pori Puuvilla. Näky is the student association of Aalto University's Art and Media Pori department.

I was asked to create the poster for the event. As a reward I got a free market table for myself.

Here is few stages from the designing process. First I drew raw sketch where I wanted to see what would be the elements that the poster should contain.

Then I concentrated on my favorite part: creating the illustration for the poster. I drew out happy Christmas shopper -character girl.

The christmas tree I drew separately. I added the pictures later on to the ready-made poster layout playing with the sizes of the images thinking about their relation to the text.

With the background texture, the illustration and the text, the joined composition should be somewhat harmonic. All the important information, like what, where and when, should be easily spotted.

If you're around Pori area be sure to visit our fantastic Christmas Market! I'll be there selling postcards, magnets and some dyed clothes. But even more importantly I'll be there singing christmas carols and spending a lovely christmasy day! So see you next Saturday! ;)

Printed Postcards

2011-12-05T15:50:00.001+02:00

Jey! My printed postcards for the Näky Christmas Market arrived today. I'm happy.

Loving Red

2011-12-04T10:48:00.005+02:00

If I would have to choose my favorite color it would be red no questions asked. I'm drawn to red and own many red things: like clothes and items. Christmas is good time for me since having red color around becomes a norm.

This Red Book is dedicated to Aamu Song's Red Dress and it's visit to the London design week this Autumn. The Red Dress is and concert venue where the artist wears the red dress in the middle and the audience sits in the pockets of the hem. It's design installation, art and a wonderful red utopia.

Aamu Song asked Liisa Jokinen (who is the creator of Hel Looks) to gather Red Looks - people who wear red - for the book. Since we have red history together (Liisa made once before an article of people who wear some color a lot and I was the one who represented red) she called me if I'd like to wear and talk about my redness with her again. And of course I did.

And so that's my relationship with red. Do you have a strong relationship with some color?

Christmas Ladies

2011-11-29T10:06:00.004+02:00

It is less than a month to Christmas. And it is less than two weeks to Näky's Christmas Sale!!

Gingerbread for All

The time for ordering the printed versions of my Christmas cards was running out. Luckily it was a grey and rainy day this Sunday so I stayed indoors, keeping myself focused on finalizing the Christmas card illustrations. And now, these Christmas Ladies wish Joyful Holidays to All!

Christmas Girl and Cat

Postcard from Maintenon

2011-11-28T11:10:00.002+02:00

It's wonderful to receive snail mail. My friend Rinna - a lace author - is at the moment enjoying the beautiful scenery and delicatessens of the French countryside with her family. They sent me this joyful taste of their whereabouts with a classic postcard. Bon appétit!

Näkökulma - Point of View

2011-11-19T10:27:00.004+02:00

We had the presentation of the work from our Video art course last Friday. I did two very different kind of short movies of which this Näkökulma - Point of View is the first. The photographs are still photos from the movie.

Here I wanted to study what is the relation of the viewer to the point of view. And how the same space can have endless amount of ways to perceive it.

Here is the full video in Vimeo. Enjoy!

Sleepdrawing

2011-11-17T11:32:00.000+02:00

On last Mondays painting-drawing class we drew with our eyes closed. Paavo Paunu, our teacher, said it was to free our control of lines. To let the pencil / chalk to do the thinking. We drew self portraits without mirrors and forgetting the know-how of the outlines of our characteristics but instead letting the pencil dance freely on the big paper. We drew out the contours of our faces.

So this is my eyes-closed work. Isn't it exactly me: the round head, round cheeks and round nose. Well perhaps not but as our eyes are trained to spot the human face you can see a person and even a facial expression there in the middle of the millions of lines

The next task was to create the same but with eyes open: self-portrait with contours. Not taking your pen out of the paper once (or at least avoiding it as much as possible). I think I did pretty good job on getting the facial expression of gentleness into the thickening lines even though the face it self is quite cartoon like (but my face is quite cartoon like - with a mustache I look exactly like Mario Bro).

Then - with new free lines - we went back to drawing croquis with live male model.

These works are 7 minute croquis.

That was all for now. But if you like drawing but don't feel like you know how: do try the eyes closed thing! It feels quite awful at first but after a while very liberating. There is now rules in the world of creating. Thank you all and have a wonderful day!

Today's View

2011-11-15T22:35:00.003+02:00

Went To Jail

2011-11-13T22:41:00.011+02:00

In the city of Turku is a old prison named Kakola. It has ended its purpose as a jail in 2007. A while ago I had a unique chance to visit the area while taking part in a tour organized by my friends. In truth the Kakola area does not contain only one prison but four different prison buildings build in different eras and styles. The place still echoed memories of the late jailbirds.

In many prison cells there were posters, messages and pictures taped to the walls.

Here it says: "Long hot summer. Next summer too. "

The kitchen.

The dining room.

"Enjoy"

Translation: "Milk - The last day to sell is not the last day to consume."

"Diets"

The church.

All the paintings in the church (windows and walls) were made by the prisoners.

The club room.

Taide tupa = Art Room

"Sexiest in Finland"
"This place instantly felt like home."

Sumu

2011-11-10T17:41:00.006+02:00

sumu - fog

Photographed in Pori Finland on the 8th of November 2011 by me.

P.S. Inspired (besides the mist) by the beautiful works of Finnish photography artist Titta Valla.

Naive View

2011-11-08T15:33:00.005+02:00

We had little more time to create our last piece on the last days of our Intervention Art course (I've blogged about in two previous posts). On this one the task was to make something private public. To make our inner world seen to an wider audience.

My inner world is quite optimistic, laid back and even naive, some could say. So I made rosy glasses full with flowers and comic characters and asked common people from the streets of Pori to look the world trough my glasses for a while. These awesome people of Pori allowed me to show them my view and take their portrait photograph.

I must again say how wonderful the people of Pori are. Most of the people I asked to participate in my Art piece were willing to do that, no matter in how hurry they were. Thank you!

You all are beautiful! Thank you so much for participating!

Eyes in Pipelines & etc

2011-11-07T16:32:00.005+02:00

Here is couple more of my works from last weeks intense Intervention Art course. We had usually about 3 hours to design and carry out our works.

On Monday

The task in this one was to create some kind of gesture to the space Värjäämö where we held the course. I saw the pipelines and felt like the empty connections of pipes look like megaphones. So what would the walls and pipes whisper to us if they would have eyes and mouths. My gesture was Listening. And so as a group we listened for the silent humming of the Värjäämö studio while looking at the eyes in the pipelines.

If I would create this piece again, instead of the drawings I'd like to use little monitors and stereos to actually show and tell us what have they seen in this place before.

On Wednesday

We were sent to ponder what is a political work of art? After some conversations with my classmates we came to conclusion that everything is politic regardless if you want it or not.

For me the first visual images that came to mind is the very graphical posters. I also wanted to think about an issue that is meaningful to me and of which I wanted to do an art piece about. That issue became the social exclusion.

Still the sorrow can be collective even if you feel like standing alone among the others.

Fur Hat Friend

2011-11-01T21:15:00.006+02:00

How to make an intervention both to the cityscape and to the way we perceive art?

That is the question we are pondering this week at school on our one week intense art course.

Every morning we get a new task to realize within the day.

Today we had four hours to plan and create an piece of art of our own that would transform or alter one/some of the public works of art that are in the city of Pori.

I made a Fur Hat Friend - Karvahattukaverin (in Finnish).

His name is Armas (which means the loved one in old Finnish).

He keeps the statues both company and warmth.

Statues seemed pleased by my intervention.

"Now we are ready for the winter." - they say.

Creating Christmas Cards

2011-10-30T13:55:00.006+02:00

It all starts with sketching.

After drawing all sorts of ideas you choose what you like and re-draw it more neatly. I'm in love with the clean lines of vector graphics so usually after scanning the marker drawing I first tidy it up in Photoshop and after that work with it in Illustrator. Sometimes I spend hours adjusting the lines.

When I'm happy with the outlined character I create a PDF file out of it and take it back to Photoshop. That is when the fun part starts: coloring. And when I say coloring I don't mean only colors but textures and patterns too.

This is what I came up today. But even though I was happy with my christmas elf I felt like something - a story - is missing. So I came up with the last detail. Can you spot what it is?

I'm gonna do couple more Christmas card illustrations and sell them at our University's Christmas sale that is coming in the 10th of December. I do also have the design available online in Zazzle. Merry it's-less-than-two-months-to Christmas!

By The Beach

2011-10-25T22:34:00.005+03:00

These images are probably not the first that come to your mind when you think of Finland. But Finland it is! More precisely 20km from my current whereabouts: beaches of Yyteri. Since we did not have school this Monday I decided to do a biking trip there with my camera.

You can even surf at these waves.

There is millions of stories captured into the sand.

Some of them look like modern art.

Greetings from the windy beaches of Pori. With love, Elli.

One Movie Artist Coming Up

2011-10-23T21:55:00.009+03:00

Hey, that's me in the picture editing my short "artsy" movie called Dialog. I'm editing footage that I both filmed on my own and performed in. So called one-woman-show you could say. This project was for our art film class with Kari Yli-Annala. P.S. It looks like I'm having my eyes closed while editing but at least I'm laughing.

Here the two of me are having a serious conversation.

I had fantastic time going around the forests near our summer cottage (not really a cottage but my mothers childhood home) with camera and tripod. I had a loose script in my mind that kept the structure intact but left also room to improvise.

Being both your own director and actor has it's down points. What sounded great in paper "the girl dives in to the river in serene atmosphere" was not as serene in real life. I filmed this two weeks ago and it's already quite late Autumn here in Finland so the temperature of the river was less than 5 Celsius (41 Fahrenheit).

I have quite funny footage of myself breathing heavily, flapping my hands like crazy and swearing to the camera (there was no one else present) "I can't do this, I can't do this. I CAN do this." Then in the end I had to dive twice because the first time I only went half way under the water so that the bottom of my body was swinging in the surface of the water like jollyboat.

But I got the scene in the end. Now I'm in the last stages of editing. Even though the editing is so addictive it is hard to say "now it is ready" because there is always room for improvement.

On the 18th of November we will have a small art movie festival here in Pori where the films we did will be presented for the public. I'll probably post my own films (I'm doing another one as well) to internet later on as well. I'll keep you posted!

3 Minute Croquis

2011-10-22T02:57:00.008+03:00

In this weeks painting class we had male model posing for us and we did three minute croquis with acrylics.

Again our wonderful teacher Paavo Paunu was more interested that we would be inspired by the light and form of the human being rather than try to achieve anatomic excellence.

In that kind of atmosphere it is effortless to keep creating. No pressure. Just experimenting. Playing.

The last picture is a ink plot test for you: what do you see? ;)

The Friend - This Hour

2011-10-19T11:15:00.006+03:00

More music videos. This band The Friend is from the same city that I am originally: Turku/Åbo. Here is their brand new music video for the song This Hour.

You might ask what is it to me (other than great song with a fun video) and I reply that of course I was again part of the production team. This time I was just an extra: funeral guest sitting behind the weeping willow and her mother.

There, you see:

We shooted the film in one day in Tampere and it was a fun day with the laid back cast and crew. One of my favorite characters was four weeks old puppy but he isn't shown in the video in the end (I guess because he had troubles hitting his mark). Video was directed by Outi Hartikainen.

dance, dance, otherwise we are lost

2011-10-17T21:39:00.007+03:00

After my dance class tonight I want to share an amazing dance experience I had yesterday from the cozy sofa of movie theater. There I saw the movie PINA by Wim Wenders. It is a master piece about human emotions expressed trough beautiful choreography and cinematography. I warmly recommend it to everyone who loves dance or/and movies that are artistically ambitious. Here is the trailer, enjoy:

Autumn Nature

2011-10-13T10:42:00.000+03:00

Autumn is second spring when every leaf is a flower.

- Albert Camus

Sex On The Dancefloor - Music Video

2011-10-12T21:27:00.008+03:00

Last January I posted pictures from behind the scenes from the music video set of the Delicious We's Sex On The Dancefloor. Now the time has come and the video is here.

I was in charge of the male leads. Well not the one with sunglasses and white tuxedo but the two dimensional ones: David Hasselhoff and MacGyver. Also the title stylist was attached to me even though I must say that Laura and Niina did most of the work creating the costumes. I just added my critical eye and advices to the equation.

Now please: Enjoy the fresh and sexy video!

Tattoo Design Volume 2

2011-10-11T21:15:00.005+03:00

Do you remember my first design in the world of tattoos: the boxing cat? Another dear friend saw the design and was inspired to ask if I would design her tattoo too. She wanted small and delicate tattoo to her back that would illustrate her power animal: hummingbird (=kolibri in Finnish). Here is some sketches from almost ready design.

Below is the final design tattooed to the back of sweet Linnea (and the credit of the photograph belongs to her). The tattoo artist added some shadowing to my outlined hummingbird illustration witch I think works well in the final result.

Most important is that the owner of the tattoo is happy with her engagement gift! Congratulations once again! :)

By Experimenting

2011-10-04T22:05:00.005+03:00

Have I told you enough how much I love my new school.

On Mondays we have painting class with the fine artist Paavo Paunu.

These pictures are from the first day of class.

I simultaneously worked on several paintings with bright acrylic colors and lot of water.

This working method is very different from the structured and well planned world of illustration (which I love too but it is refreshing to do something with the gut feeling, only by experimenting).

The paintings (like me) are just in the beginning of their existence and will find their final destination with time.

This is why I love my new school: Art (and life) can only be lived by experimenting. With the gut feeling!

Keiju Poster

2011-10-02T10:28:00.002+03:00

You must excuse my self-satisfaction but I just feel so lucky to see my own name in this beautiful poster. The short movie Keiju will be released 2012. Still photos and more from the movie here.

Kokeellinen Tapahtuma

2011-09-28T21:46:00.009+03:00

Tomorrow starts Kokeellinen tapahtuma (=Experimental happening) in our University. It's a two day festival of experimental art, lectures, installations and exhibitions. I decided with my class mates to help in the organizing the event.

Our first task was to distribute the flyers all over galleries and other venues in Pori. We got somewhat carried away with the task and made the flyer tour into a performance in the spirit of the event. I'm the Taiteilija Elmeri - Artist Elmeri (I wore mustache and spoke in a funny accent) and Sara recorded the whole event with her camera. It was wonderful to see how genuinely glad people seem to be in Pori about Elmeri's and his camera crew's intervention to their everyday routines. Most of the people were happy to take the information and distribute the flyers even further.

So see you tomorrow in Porin Puuvillan Värjäämö from 5pm onwards! If you're not able to make it, no worries, cause we will be there photographing and filming the event so you'll have a chance to see a glimpse of it anyhow later on. Be well. Be happy. Hugs!

Snapshots From Paris

2011-09-27T18:21:00.010+03:00

PARIS

by occasional textile agent while attending Premiere Vision

I arrived.

Breakfast

How is my hairdo looking from behind?

Flower arrangement in season 2012 color.

Peace.

For the last day.

Reasons For Silence

2011-09-27T09:16:00.005+03:00

I haven't forgotten you. I've just been in Paris... and Jyväskylä, and Helsinki, and Tampere and Turku. Now back in Pori and it is a beautiful morning and we are starting Ajallinen Tilanne (=situation in time) movie-course. Jippeyjee!

Concept Design Course Caused PAIN

2011-09-18T12:18:00.006+03:00

The studying has started full steam. Actually it started two weeks ago with heavy lectures of Focault philosophies. This week it's been about Concept Design though. Our lovely professor Marjo Mäenpää kept a blog about the course here.

The main task of the course was to learn what a consept is and how to use it in any field of work: like in fine arts. The class was divided to groups to make their own concepts and a concept plan during the week. On friday we kept our presentations.

We decided to team up with my talented classmate Sara Kärpänen since we already knew how well our collaboration works. Marjo gave us a list of issues the city of Pori would like to have innovative solutions. There was one dealing about teenagers and matters that are topical to them.

We came up with PAIN - short for the Finnish words Peli(=Game)/Animaatio(=Animation)/Interaktiivinen(=Interactive)/Nuori(=Youngster) - interactive animationgame for youngsters. In a safe and fun enviroment young people could test where choices they make might take them.
The topics would be drinking, smoking, drugs, sexuality, career choices and eating. The challenge is to keep the game appealing to young for real. Not being lecturing but conversational. Adding hard facts and always having also numbers of people to contact in case of need. Here you can see rough demo of the game.

We'll see in the future if this thing goes further but for now I'm quite pleased how one week of hard work can lead us.

Forest of Amur - Stage Backdrop Illustration

2011-09-14T08:14:00.000+03:00

This whole post is dedicated to illustrate how the stage backdrop for the Night of Cats was created. First sketching the ideas and composition about the landscape of Amur.

After witch I drew the picture with markers. I used thicker marker to mark the most important parts.

But the image started to look a bit too detailed and confusing. I simplified the design a lot when making it to vector graphic with Illustrator.

Then was the fun part of coloring. I moved the file to Photoshop and scanned different materials, like velvet, cardboard and old aquarelle paintings to give additional texture to the different surfaces. Water and animals fur must look like they would feel different when touched.

But the measurements of the final work were counted wrong at first so I made the image again in a lot wider range. I also had to take under consideration that the stage would be placed in front of the backdrop (it's 60cm high) so the Tiger had to be placed higher than originally for it to be visible for the audience.

Here below you can see the backdrop in its natural habitant during the Night of Cats. The stage crew of Korkeasaari did a great job creating additional physical elements to the stage: like the cave for the tigers and tree where Swift Squirrel was able safely climb to. Well done everybody!

Kaupunkityöpaja - City Workshop

2011-09-13T19:39:00.012+03:00

Kaupunkityöpaja Pori is an interesting exhibition in Antinkatu 7 gallery in Pori. The project is organized by Niilo Rinne - artist and second year student in the Visual Culture Master program in the University of Art and Media Pori.

Niilo has been in charge of the idea, teaching and the final photo manipulation but the artists are local teenagers. Together with Niilo they made intervention to the city space and created alternative reality of city scenery of Pori. The exhibition will be open until 18th of Septembereveryday from 2pm-6pm.

P.S. As a deed to Niilo I spent last friday afternoon guarding the exhibition. While passing time there I decided to film a little video walking around the gallery. But I wont publish the video just yet. I'll wait until the exhibition is over cause I rather would see you all go there in person. But if you cannot you'll still will have change to see a glimpse of what it is about later on.

Tonight's Night of Cats

2011-09-09T14:48:00.013+03:00

Here is few photographs from the Amurin piilevä uhka- show from the Korkeasaari Zoo's Night of Cats from last weekend. This Friday (tonight!) is the last chance to see the show in Helsinki Finland. So welcome to experience the magical feeling of Zoo at night time! Playtime is 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm.

Night of Cats is organized to collect funds to save the endangered Amur Tigers - Siberian Tiger from poaching. Our play is about two Tiger youngsters: Taito and Taisto, who explore the forest of Amur and are exposed to many wonders and hidden threats.

Our fantastic actors include: Sini Parikka, Outi-Maria Oinas, Kati Hyvärinen, Kati Korjula-Keskiväli, Ville Virkkunen, Linnea Töyrylä, Aleksi Nenonen, Pekka Jokela, Pinja Kuusenaho and me ;)

When Amur Tiger (Sini Parikka) come this close to the camera, the photographer (me) might loose her focus. But isn't she just adorable!

In the picture below it's me in the tree: playing the part of Kurre Ketterä - Swift Squirrel. And beautiful Linnea is playing the part the poacher we rather would not have in the forests of Amur. The two photographs below has been taken by Tuomas Peurakoski.

Below you can see almost the whole crew: Our talented director Katri Häti is in the middle wearing a pink scarf and our wonderful producer Susanna Silvonen has the orange scarf. And even though the resemblance is quite obvious it is not me in the back row but Aleksi who has the role of Swift Squirrel tonight.

More photos you can find here and video from the previous night at the Zoo. Thank you guys for the wonderful evening!

P.S. The stage backdrop is designed by me but I'll make additional post about that.

Night of Cats and Squirrels

2011-09-01T10:19:00.004+03:00

The Night of Cats is here once again. This time my role in a Korkesaaren Teatteri's production is a lot smaller than last year when I played the main role: Tiger, designed the costumes and painted the Tigers In Art illustration for the stage. This year I'm again in charge of the backdrop illustration and I have fun role as the Swift Squirrel (as you can see below).

So welcome to the Korkeasaari Zoo on the 2nd and 9th of September to see our play Amurin piilevä uhka 6:30pm/7:30pm/9:30pm written and directed by Katri Häti.

Here is a tiny clip from the rehearsals last Tuesday.

Portfolio 2011

2011-08-25T14:51:00.007+03:00

As I stated in the previous post my new studies (about Visual Culture) started this week. As a part of the orientation week all the new students were asked to present their artistic portfolios. I decided to do mine as a video (again). It is so nice to go to front of the class room and just press play. Let the pictures do the talking. And now I want to share the portfolio also with you. Enjoy!

First Day At School

2011-08-22T23:36:00.003+03:00

My Master of Art studies in Visual Culture in Aalto University started today. I'm feeling so excited! Jey! :)

Puffin's Lunch

2011-08-17T00:18:00.000+03:00

While passing time in the Rikhardinkatu Library.

From The Movie Set (K-13)

2011-08-16T16:40:00.007+03:00

Keiju (translation: Fairy) is a upcoming short movie by Joonas Einola. It is a dramatic and visual story of two girls (and small fairy statue) captured to a small cellar room by a bad man.

I was casted as Emmi - a young girl who has been captured for so long she is loosing her mind, or is she? - and I was proud to be part of the film. Here is couple of pictures from behind the scenes from our filming day last weekend.

This is how pretty I looked. Below our fantastic make-up artist Natalie Koskinen (who made us look terrible but believable) is working in the mask of the main villain of the movie.

Our leading lady Heini Haapaniemi was ready for any challenge so here she is being our director Joonas Einola's hands free phone while driving to the set.

Doesn't the "Badding" man look chilling!!? Wouldn't want to mess with him. The actor Simo Salo in the other hand is a nice guy and a good driver.

Joonas Ranta in the picture below is our Producer and here he is lost. We all were. But after a while we found the right forest where the filming took place that day.

The heavy topics of the film were lightened with the wonderful cast and crew. It was a joy to work with them!

P.S. I can't wait to see the film (if I'm not too scared to watch it)! It should come out in December 2011 the latest. I'll keep you posted.

Doodle Fellows

2011-08-11T10:38:00.002+03:00

There always has to be piece of paper next to my computer. The paper is for all sort of important notes but time after time it becomes filled with all sorts of doodles. Usually these big-round-headed fellows with rosy cheeks take over most of the space.

The paper in the photograph is about half done: there is still room for many notes and sketches. When it is completely full we say goodbye and new paper (with the promise of new doodle fellows) will take over.

Suzu's PR Photographs

2011-08-09T14:04:00.008+03:00

My friend Suzanne "Suzu" Ylönen (of who's stage production I talked about in the previous post) is an Finnish actress and theatre director. She was recently invited to the casting list of a actor agency Clamos. Cause of that she needed PR photographs fast and so she called me.

I was flattered but hesitated at first since I'm not a professional photographer. I hadn't done "studio-like" portrait photos before. She convinced me take the job since it would be her first still-photo shoot (she has been in quite many film and TV sets) and so she would feel more at ease with modeling when the photographer is someone she knows and trusts.

So I agreed and we booked a date for a photo shoot at my work studio Heya. We took photos with different moods and outfit: commercial, theatrical and lady-like.

P.S. In the end of this post you can also watch the Making Of -film and see what happened behind the photographs.

Commercial

More dramatic and artistic

Lady from the 50's

And here is the Making Of -video. Enjoy!

Quote Of The Day

2011-08-08T10:18:00.005+03:00

"The woman who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been."

Albert Einstein

In Therapy

2011-08-05T23:19:00.007+03:00

This short movie is a result of following things:

My friend Suzanne Ylönen studies Performing Arts in Metropolia. She is finishing her studies soon and so next Spring she is going to do her Diploma Work in Theatre.

She asked me to take the role of a therapist of the main character (played by talented Anna Saurama) on a video clip that would be presented as a music video in the final stage production.

We filmed today morning. Improvising scenes from not-so-fulfilling relationship of a patient and therapist. Is the therapist listening? Is the patient getting any better as the weeks and sessions go by?

Suzanne edited the clips to a "making of" short movie: Terapiassa - In Therapy.

The video is in Finnish. Learn the language and take a look at the film! ;)

Koodi - Songs About Trees, Death and The Son of The North Star

2011-08-03T23:21:00.004+03:00

We continued collaboration with the beautiful arising artist Koodi. I was privileged to design graphics for her new release: Laulu Puista, Kuolemasta ja Pohjantähden Pojasta (meaning Songs About Trees, Death and The Son of The North Star) which contains three new songs. Perhaps you still remember her first album of which I blogged before.

Koodi is a Finnish singer-songwriter. Her songs are often melancholic by their lyrics though the sadness is surrounded by a mist of beauty. Her singing voice is most mesmerizing with the "whisper-like" quality. The picture above is from their gig at the Lepakkomies in Helsinki on the 27th of July.

I created the art for the covers first by painting trees with ink. Trees that melt into each others so that from the treetops grow a mirror image of another tree. After scanning the trees I added the fiberglass texture to give me another echo of layer. I wanted to keep the feeling of the visuals in the same stage of existence as the music: melancholic yet airy. Miia, the artist, helped me finding the right contrast and pointed out that the covers are like surface of water. Now, if you're willing to dive deep enough inside the covers you'll find the core: the music.

You can buy the album at Koodi's gigs or trough the contact box at this page.

Birthday Party

2011-07-21T21:30:00.003+03:00

There is lot of fun birthday parties coming up. I'm turning twenty six on the 30th of July and my goddaughter Siiri is gonna be 1-year-old this Sunday. But this Invitation card (Kutsu means invitation in Finnish) is done for my lovely mother who is turning sixty this August. We are gonna have big summer celebration in her honor (she is the best mom in the world and I love her very much) where all family and friends are invited.

I wanted to make custom invitation card for the event. It still needs some fulfilling in the information department but other than that it's good to go.

Fairies and Good Nites

2011-07-20T11:19:00.005+03:00

I've been spending summer days again at our summer cottage in Ähtäri. Only 15km bike ride from our place is this red little Keijumökki - Fairy Cottage in Killinkoski. It's home for the fairy paintings of the artist Linda Peltola. (Photographs copyright of Linda Peltola)

It was a shame that there were non of the original works on display. The artist said she keeps them safe at home. Instead the picturesque cabin is full of prints. Smaller and bigger ones plus postcards and fairy-tarot-cards (that is a cool idea!).

The work below is called Hyvää yötä (= Good Night). My sister purchased it as a framed print for her new apartment. It was one of my favorite paintings too cause it has captured the lightness of the fairy's dream. And the color theme is like made for my sister.

I was enchanted by the fact that such fairy cottage exists. But as an illustrator myself I couldn't keep my critical eye completely caged. I loved Peltola's skills in composition and her way of creating the magical atmosphere with beautifully painted backgrounds. But sometimes the fairies lacked of the same airy feeling that she had captured well in the backgrounds. The bodies and faces were over done. Like when a beautiful woman puts on too much makeup her beauty becomes stuffy.

Still I do pay my respect to her as an entrepreneur and artist. She has her own house, studio and gallery in a beautiful but very small town in middle of Finland where she has been born. Her unique way of doing and living with her art is a brave way of life. I have a feeling she lives her dream and that I love. Congratulations!

Even though it is 1pm in Helsinki Finland it is night somewhere in the world and I wish you Good Night with my own very different kind of Good Nite illustration.

Good Nite postcard

Color Me Bright

2011-07-08T15:59:00.002+03:00

Today I'm feeling little like the summer cold would be trying to catch me. To fight back I drew a self-portrait of myself as bright and colorful as it gets. This girl won't be sick! Just some tea with honey and a good nap and I'm good to go (to friend's birthday gig tonight). Happy summer day to everyone!

Coat Of Arms For Ukkosmaine

2011-07-06T12:18:00.005+03:00

My collaboration with the rock-pop-stars Wilhelm and Klaus continued this summer when we decided to create a new t-shirt print for Ukkosmaine. Idea was to make a coat of arms for the band. One that would clearly state that the one carrying the shirt is a proud thunder boy/girl (= a true Ukkosmaine fan).

Since Ukkosmaine is all about lightnings and love I decided to go with the lock theme: Ukkosmaine is both the lock and key to love. Proof of it is that Ukkosmaine is performing in five weddings this summer. The theme songs for the couples getting married are Ukkosmaine's songs. Usually it's the song: Nöpönenä.

You can buy the shirt directly from the gigs (look the schedule here) or from the online shop. Enjoy!

Parks In The Style Of Barcelona

2011-07-05T10:21:00.008+03:00

This is the last post about Barcelona (for now). The last destinations I want to give tour of is two beautiful parks in Barcelona. The first pictures and sketches are from the beautiful park of Parc Güell that the artist-architect Antoni Gaudi designed and was build in the beginning of 20th century.

The main view points were serious tourist attractions as I was companied by about 10 000 other tourist posing in front of the unique view and taking tons of photographs.

Here is the view from the top↓

Another park with a very different kind of feeling is the Parc de La ciutadella located near the Sea.

With the grand golden horse statues and fountains.

So what did I think of Barcelona? Perhaps the amount of pictures and sketches I've done gives it away that I really loved the place. Barcelona is versatile city with the laid-back attitude and playful art scene. It is for sure a place to return to and even to live someday. Thank you Barcelona for inviting us to your heartfelt streets! I love you. I miss you. Entonces, hasta luego guapa!

Fine Arts In Barcelona

2011-07-04T12:11:00.007+03:00

While in Barcelona I visited some Art Museums. Like:

MACBA -Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona

The TotalZeros series made me smile↑ European Pop Art↓

The Fundació Antoni Tàpies

Which was dedicated to the career of the Catalan painter Antoni Tapies.

But also presented interesting exhibition in the cellar floor about Histories De Archivo where were installations made of photographs taken in the Franco era in Spain.

La Fundació Joan Miró

Declaration Of Love

2011-07-02T08:55:00.000+03:00

In the old days when what you felt in the heart was too big to keep inside you shouted it from the roof tops. These days the best place to make an public announcement is the social medias: facebook, twitter, blogs etc. To let everyone in your friend/follower list to know how much you love someone in its fragile stage is a brave but beautiful thing to do. Spread the love I say! And even if it is love for your boyfriend, girlfriend, pet or favorite pair of jeans, spread it anyways. Cause love creates more love and we all love to be in love and loved. (Did I say the word love enough in one sentence!?)

So in my thankful and loving state-of-mind I want to declare my love to you my dear friends and readers whit this new Froggy In Love Postcard I made for my postcard shop Elli's Post. Frog or a prince: love is always as much valuable!

Barcelona Street Art

2011-06-30T21:28:00.006+03:00

Every empty corner of the city of Barcelona, from wall to a van, is an open canvas for Spanish artists. I loved the colors, images and statues taking over imaginative places. Here is some samples of the street art in Barcelona.

P.S. I love Clara Bow (the silent movie starlet) that you can see brush painted to the wall in the last polaroid.

La Sagrada Família

2011-06-29T18:54:00.007+03:00

Everyone who has ever been or going to Barcelona will have to visit Antoni Gaudi's famous temple the la Sagrada Família.

You also feel the "must see" factor in long queue in front of the entrance. If you arrive too late you might have wait for hours to get in. We arrived 20 min before the gates are opened (9am) and already then the line was 300 meters long.

They have been building the church for 200 years and it's still not ready. This is how the front (above) and back (below) looks.

Underneath the building, in the "cellar", there is a museum dedicated to the temple and Gaudi's life. There you find lot of photographs and paintings about the building progress.

The angular statues in the facade (below) are made by sculptor Joseph Maria Subirachs. In the picture above is a head statue of a portrait of Gaudi made by Joseph (now sketched by me).

The insides of the temple are very calming in spite of the crowds of tourists. There you have the feeling of being in a huge white forest. The columns are made to resemble tree trunks.

I loved the fact that the iconic illustrations of angels were not humans as usual but animals. I fell in love with this lion angel. If I have a guardian angel I would like him to be in the shape of a lion.

The most beautiful factor in the temple is how the light enters the building: trough colorful glass mosaic windows and in the shape of flowers.

I do recommend visiting La Sagrada Família when your in Barcelona! It is unique in its dreamlike reality. It is worth little waiting in the line.

Vista Del Mar

2011-06-28T23:14:00.007+03:00

Barcelona is city by the Mediterranean Sea. Many view points offer breathtaking sights over to the turquoise Sea.

After a long hike to the hills in the burning sun we took a little beverage break in this view point. World looked pretty perfect from up there. And I opened the first pages of my Miró sketchbook.

Many tourist come to the Barcelona for its beaches. They were pretty...

...but I still prefer the vista from further away. From where it is possible to see the magnitude of the Sea and the sky little better.

Breathing the sea breeze and letting your heart smile.

Saludos Desde Barcelona

2011-06-28T13:39:00.004+03:00

I've been in a total computer silence for the last week and a half. I missed you but it can be refreshing as well. Even more so if you spent the meanwhile in the beautiful city of Barcelona. Which I did. A new city to fall in love with.

I have lot to share with you guys. This is a little sketch book I bought from the museum shop of the Fundació Joan Miró. Which I later on filled with little sketches from my whereabouts. But more about them later.

LGF Art Vote

2011-06-12T23:53:00.007+03:00

Last week one sunny day when I was working on my computer and listening to radio I heard about Lookin' good, Finland! exhibition and its open application. Since the deadline was on that day and I wouldn't have time to work on anything new, I decided to participate if I would find some older works that would fit the theme. I stumbled on to my self-portraits that I made originally for web publication Satyyri but which I still liked and thought why not to give try. And there they are now: open for publics vote to be exhibited in an art exhibition next September in Helsinki. So:

Be the one to choose the first 20 pieces to get exhibited in Lookin' good, Finland! Press "Like" on all of those pieces you find interesting. LGF Art Vote is on until 30.6. Let us know what you think, and get your friends to vote too! Welcome to check the artwork and good looking Finland out 14.-20.9.2011!http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128480433897665

The theme is "looking good, Finland!" What do I find most beautiful in my world?

1. Self-portrait - Burning Money

Illustrator. Doing something you love for your living is beautiful. The fact you would do it despite the money you spend or get. Doing itself makes you feel fulfilled.

2. Self-portrait - Unconditional Love of a Cat

My cat. My Prince. And the mesmerizing purr.

3. Self-portrait - Roots

My mother is the most beautiful thing in the universe. She gave me the gift of life and the means to live it. I'm most grateful to her!

P.S. To vote you must first like Kreative Generation´s facebook page and then the works in question in the LGF album. Thank you!

Tying Knots

2011-06-10T10:43:00.004+03:00

I clipped out this picture from a Finnish magazine around Christmas time last year. It was an advertisement for dog food. The idea and composition of the picture was so adorable that I wanted to do something with it. Meaning that I wanted steal the idea for an art work.

I knew the picture's time had come when I heard my friends were getting engaged (this is the third couple that has announced engagement this year. I'm surrounded by love). The couple in question have six cats and three dogs. And their height difference is quite apparent. They're one of those couples that you wouldn't necessarily see matching up before they do and when they do it makes perfect sense. They are inspiring power duo. I'm glad they're tying the knot.

Congratulations Mika and Suzu!

I used markers and ink mixed with water.

Summer Getaway

2011-06-08T09:20:00.004+03:00

In the middle of the dark forests of this far-away-land is a magical place. It is a small wooden house surrounded by tons-of-nothing (lakes, rivers and fields).

My mother grew up here. These days the place is our summer cottage.

The house and yard are crumbling but that is part of enchantment.

By the small river is a tiny red sauna.

Of all the places I've visited in my life this is the one where I feel most touch of the nature, the life and myself.

My place of retreat.

Every morning I go skinny dipping in the river. Cold or warm.

The house is filled with random items.
Like the tail of wood grouse.

The tea package says in the yellow star that it's new (uusi means new in Finnish) but I doubt it. It looks like a forgotten memory from the 70's.

The place is not picturesque but something beyond. Even with the million mosquitos and outdoor bathroom this is a place to feel at ease. My beloved summer home.

(All the photographs taken by me 2009-2011)

Summer Moon

2011-06-01T18:57:00.005+03:00

Today is the first day of June. June in Finnish is kesäkuu and the word-to-word translation would be summer moon. The day has also been the first real summery day in Helsinki with hot weather and sunshine from a clear blue sky.

It was so pretty outside that I took a long walking cruise around the city. The summer heat got me a bit exhausted and that inspired me to go shopping for a summer hat. That is when I found this useful flat cap by Finnish hat label Fredrikson.

I would love to own more hats - being a caucasian blonde I burn easily in summer sun - but I have such a huge head that is a real challenge to find one that fits. Even my bike helmet is size XXL. But you know what they say: "Big head. Big brain". Well. At least I have big head... and big sunglasses!

Conversations

2011-05-30T19:34:00.007+03:00

In the Claire Aho exhibition - of which I blogged before - there was also this elegant photograph of a woman posing with gloves and feather headpiece. The picture is beautiful...

... but as I was admiring it I saw rather amusing idea in it. This is what my imagination came up with:

Conversations (postcard)

See the resemblance? ;)

Heading Towards Visual Culture

2011-05-24T12:17:00.003+03:00

Now it is official: I will start my Master of Art studies next fall in the Aalto University's Art and Media Pori department in the Visual Culture program.

This is a videopresentation I made for the second stage of the application progress. It's about my EVS period in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur where I worked as a graphic designer in PT Foundation that does HIV/AIDS prevention work. The video is in Finnish but if you wan't me to explain the synopsis of what I'm saying just send me a message or post a comment.

Sunny Saturday Art

2011-05-22T18:53:00.006+03:00

A day when girl wears yellow tights must be a good day. And it was. While I wore the bright tights this Saturday it was sunny and filled with excellent art.

I teamed up with Trio Saramäki to do some serious art searching. First we headed up to Claire Aho's - Age of Elegance - photograph exhibition in Taidehalli.

I felt overwhelmed by the colors and compositions of her pictures. She was ahead of her time. Most of the pictures (taken in Finland in the 60's) could appear in Japanese fashion magazines today.

After the joyful fashion photographs we continued to a gallery that had just been opened in Helsinki: Galerie Forsblom. I made a video out of its intriguing art works (below). I specially enjoyed Kaarina Kaikkonen's and Jacob Hashimoto's installations.

Thank you friends, sun and Helsinki!

Photographs From SimpanssiSpektaakkeli

2011-05-19T23:59:00.003+03:00

One more time about SimpanssiSpektaakkeli cause I found these great photographs that Maarit Hohteri had taken. Pictures owned by Korkeasaari. See the whole bunch here.

Julmiina demanding her space.

Julmiina and her assistant Peppi.

Roope is taking chimpanzees to the heart.

"This is how chimp mother teaches how to eat a banana"

David Hasselhoff (humans) and chimpanzees have only 3%DNA difference.

Chimps in love.

Here we sing that we all have hands.

The FabFive of SimpanssiSpektaakkeli.

Portraits From the 80's

2011-05-17T09:50:00.003+03:00

If you're around Helsinki area I recommend Sari Poijärvi's The Eighties! photograph exhibition at the VirkaGalleria in Helsinki City Hall. It contains some soulful portraits of fragile youngsters in the 80's who became the most influential people in Finland today. Being born on that decade myself I feel the pictures taking me to the foundation of the country I was born in. The exhibition is free of charge and the last day is 22nd of May so you better hurry!

These drawings are my interpretations of some of the photographs. Drawn 15th of May 2011.

World Champions

2011-05-16T23:44:00.005+03:00

Yesterday night - in the dramatic final Ice hockey world championships match - Finland beat Sweden 6-1 and became the new world champion. Tonight around 100 000 people arrived to Kauppatori in centrum of Helsinki to celebrate the victory and congratulate the team. I was there too with my camera. Here is a glimpse of what it felt like in the middle of the joyous action.

High School English

2011-05-14T19:00:00.002+03:00

Open Road 7 - English book for finnish high school students - came out this April. Sami Saramäki and I made the illustrations together for the book. Here you can see some samples from our collaboration.

P.S. If you get the book in your hands: Find out from which page all the pictures posted here are and I will make you a custom made drawing from the subject of your choice! ;)

Summer Reporter For Mondo

2011-05-11T20:42:00.006+03:00

Mondo is a Finnish travel magazine. This year they organized an open casting for their summer reporter occupation. First the applicants was challenged to show their video-making skills by presenting some attraction in Finland and posting it in YouTube. I made mine - with some filming help from my lovely mother - last Sunday on Mothers Day in Ruissalo. Ruissalo is a picturesque island right by my hometown Turku.

The video is only in Finnish... but to clarify why I am jumping in middle of an empty field in 1:47 is because every summer they organize a big rock concert Ruisrock in Ruissalo. During the event about 20 000 people are dancing (with me) on that exact field.

You can help my quest on becoming the Mondo's new summer reporter by liking my video link on Mondo's facebook page. Thanks! :)

Heart Couple

2011-05-07T10:11:00.000+03:00

This illustration is dedicated to my dear friend who got engaged last Autumn. Congratulations! When we met in the first days of high school she was wearing a flower pin in her hair.

Heart Couple

Cafe By The Sea

2011-05-06T11:19:00.006+03:00

The other day I drifted around my home town and found a new cafe by the sea. The place was beautiful but I must wait until warmer weathers to really enjoy sitting outdoors in the terrace while working.

There was a friendly bird I wanted to catch to my camera, but my mac choose not to film that far. Oh well. More reasons to go back ;)

Ode To Spring

2011-05-05T12:22:00.002+03:00

Flower Lady Postcard

Apples In My Mind

2011-05-05T11:13:00.006+03:00

Apples are my magic potion. I eat at least three of them a day. Often they find their way into my drawings too.

In the image below a girl is growing an apple tree on her head. In this case the apples might also symbolize wisdom: self-contained source of knowledge. The hidden type that can be found within ourselves. Or temptations. We lust for things our own mind is making attractive.

Or perhaps the girl is just posing in front of a apple tree during the apple season and is dreaming about all the treats that can be made from them: apple sauce, apple pie, apple juice, candy apple etc.

Apple Tree Girl - Postcard

Pori In April

2011-05-02T10:31:00.006+03:00

It looks like I'm moving to Pori next fall. These pictures are from my trip to there few weeks back.

I'll tell you why when I get the official notification. It looks like I'm heading back to being a student. Excellent! I'm very happy about that.

Bye Bye Chimps

2011-04-26T13:14:00.005+03:00

Seven shows in four days and now the Easter and SimpanssiSpektaakkeli - SpectacularChimpanzeeShow - is over. We were blessed with gorgeous weather and full crowds. Now I must say my goodbyes to Roope - my bold and moustached alter ego (in the picture below) - and to the other memorable characters like Julmiina - the Lady in red, Peppi - the sweet innocent intern and our spectacular Show Chimps - Laura and Timo. Also our director Lasse Turunen and producer Susanna Silvonen. You all made this Easter unforgettable. Thank you *bows* !

Photograph by Laura Madekivi

SimpanssiSpektaakkeli Rehearsals

2011-04-22T10:51:00.003+03:00

More material from the rehearsals of SimpanssiSpektaakkeli. Today is the opening night! Jey!

Copyright of the video Korkeasaari

Easter Chimpanzees

2011-04-21T12:20:00.005+03:00

I must admit it feels pretty damn good to see an advertisement of the play you're in (and been part of writing and designing) in the tram. There SimpanssiSpektaakkeli was in the top 5 list -of hints what to do this Easter in Helsinki.

Welcome to the Pääsiäissaari in Helsinki Zoo!

Photograph from our rehearsals by Pinja Kuusenaho.

Treasure Box Is About To Be Open

2011-04-20T09:33:00.005+03:00

Today is the releasing day of Ukkosmaine's new album JNS BEAT - Levyttämättömiä lauluja 2004-2010.

The album is a collection of new-old songs that were left out from previous albums cause they didn't fit their carefully planned theme. But the songs are so great that they deserve to see a daylight of their own.

With Wilhelm and Klaus we (I in the role of the graphic designer) pondered what would be the design idea for the album. Then we got a killer idea: the previously hidden treasures need to be stored in a treasure box...

...with all the goods inside. Besides the fresh&tasty music on the cd the booklet of the album is filled with visual stories about Ukkosmaine: photographs from their early career all the way to the recent day. Accompanied with Wilhelm's writing.

If you hang around in Finland I strongly recommend to attend the album publishing gigs: Today at LevykauppaX (Helsinki) 5pm/ Tomorrow Semifinal (Helsinki) 22pm/ Friday Telakka (Tampere). See you there!

JukiTeatteri Does Speakeasy

2011-04-20T00:28:00.007+03:00

From 1919 to 1932 there was a a Prohibition in Finland. No alcohol was allowed legally to be enjoyed in any way. Era of Speakeasy:s- place where illegal alcohol trade blossomed - was created. There you met the Rum-runners: coolest dudes around who liked their liquor and resisted the law by making, transporting and selling alcohol to others.

Last weekend we took a time machine back to 1920's. JukiTeatteri was hired to host a birthday party of a great man turning eighty. Sini and me took the challenge and turned into real "macho men" with leather jackets and big mustaches. It was a wonderful evening with dozens of jokes about drinking.

(Don't I look a little like Super Mario!?)

But remember to be extra careful at Speakeasy cause you never know how close the police just might be.

Happy Monday Surprise

2011-04-18T12:48:00.005+03:00

How fun it is to return home on Monday when there is such a colorful envelope waiting for you at the doorstep. My dear friend Heini sent Easter greetings from Austria. Thank you Heini! :)

Easter Traditions

2011-04-16T11:17:00.005+03:00

Easter is almost here. I don't know how international this tradition is but in Finland one of the Easter customs is to decorate catkins with colourful ribbons and feathers. Then on Palm Sunday the kids dress up as witches and go around from door to door waving their pretty catkins and wishing people good luck and happiness. Exhange from their catkins they get mostly candy but also money and apples.

P.S. I told you about my postcard shop earlier and now I did an Easter postcard as I said I might. So here you go:

Easter Bunny's Baske t

Happy Easter to everyone! :)

Cannes Experience with Electrolux

2011-04-13T23:50:00.020+03:00

Electrolux is one of the main sponsors of the Cannes Film Festival this year. They are organizing a contest where one happy blogger will have a chance to join the buzz in person and travel to the the red carpet of Cannes on the 18th-20th of May. How cool is that!? Check out the details here.

The festival is turning 64-years-old. You can see the 60's feel on their dramatic poster (above). Accidentally one picture from my photo shoot turned into something sort-of similar with its black-and-whiteness. Though it looks almost like from not just another decade but another century.

With the grand Robert De Niro as the President of the Jury, they've chosen the opening film to be Woody Allen's next flick: Midnight in Paris.

Besides featuring Paris - the city I sincerely adore as you remember from my previous Paris posts and which is the set for some of my all time favorite movies like Amélie, Before Sunset and Moulin Rouge! - ...

...the cast of the film is superbly interesting: Owen Wilson - this role might just be a jackpot for him as being Woody's nervous but charismatic alter ego, Rachel McAdams - the sweetheart from The Notebook (probably the most romantic movie ever made), Marion Cotillard - gorgeous French talent , Adrien Brody, Kathy Bates, Alison Pill etc.

But if I should choose one from the cast I'd like to meet I would have to say Michael Sheen. He was excellent in Frost/Nixon as the Britis tv-host - and hilarious in Tron: Legacy where he looked like David Bowie in the early 90's - but most importantly because he just seems sympathetic as a person.

So what to wear in Cannes?! I would probably pack along the two outfits from the picture above. In left I'm wearing second hand treasures: butterfly top made from sequins and a black velvet pencil skirt. In right I'm wearing one of my all time favorite cloth: a red Manoush dress I bought from Paris summer 2006.

But if for real I would get an invitation to attend the Cannes I could not go without making myself a new dress. Prober for the occasion. I started sketching something with the 20's vintage feel.

I've never been as fascinated about lace as I am today. Big thanks to that belongs to my dear friend Rinna - the author of the beautiful Lace book. The cocktail dress above is girly and light but also a bit messy (meaning not "pretty-pretty" but more rough). The color is different shades of blue.

Blue looks good next to the redness of the red carpet so my evening gown is blue too but darker shade: navy blue. This dress is an ode for the old Hollywood glamour.

But as you can see I should go to do some serious shoe shopping. Unless I want to be the famous-crazy-barefoot from Finland. That might work as a publicity stunt...but I think I rather try the funky dress and dazzling smile approach.

Mmmm....Cannes. The heart of the film industry that is made with passion. How I dream to be middle of it all *sinks deeper into daydreaming of the red carpet of Cannes...sigh*

(Photographs: besides Cannes poster all the photographs taken and edited by me)

P.S. I just got informed that Finnish movie maker Aki Kaurismäki has his movie in the main competition. Wow! Gongratulations Aki! More reasons to be there on the spot to cheer our countryman.

Loving In Silence

2011-04-10T00:04:00.012+03:00

Drawing that had been in my sketchbook for months turned into a declaration of love. Love is in the (spring) air.

P.S. My friend told me that new trend is lunch-weddings. I wonder do the couple meet each other over the lunch they're getting married.

Introducing Elli's Post

2011-04-08T20:35:00.008+03:00

Postcards are lovely thing to have in the world. I love to receive them. And send them too. They need more effort than an email or text message and so it's a token of importance of the person you're sending it to. You're thinking of him/her while you choose the card - an unique piece of art - and carefully write the little note on the back.

I've dreamt of having my illustrations on a postcard. So on one loose moment a week ago I decided to make it happen. I used zazzle and just like that founded my own postcard shop:

Elli's Post

There is only 4 designs so far (some of them familiar from previous blog pages) but if I keep on feeling inspired I will definitely create more.

This card is called: Girl With a Bear.

Now Easter is coming up so I might draw something with bunnies and chicks(the yellow ones) next.