Postcards from Helsinki

I have been painting in my studio for a couple of days, so the urge to get out of there was huge!

So I did some plein air painting in Helsinki and in Vantaa today. Panels that I used were a bit too small, but it was still super fun to be out there.

Girl on the pier

"Girl on the pier"

80 x 65 cm

Oil on linen canvas

Naumann

"Naumann"

Oil on canvas

 

My wife has this super cool sewing machine maybe from the 50´s or so.  

I am a big fan of all the retro stuff. These machines are build to last and its made out of cast iron so I quess it will last forever. Wonderful design :)

Technically, I started this with sight-size method to get the proportions and drawing correct. After that it was all about alla prima approach. 

Funny thing about painting glass jars and stuff is to paint the thing without actually painting it. Its all about value harmony and they must be carefully judged to get the effect of the transparency in there.

Painting this was a lot of fun!

 Here is a work in progress shot of the sight-size block in.

New paintings

 "Hovering"

"Super clean"

Latest plein airs in super high resolution

This is officially my first pastel painting, ever :)

I finally got my camera working.. so here is some of the latest plein air paintings. 

These are all in super high resolution so that you can see the all the details and brush work. If you want to print them on your wall, go right ahead :)

Hannu Tampio - Rest in peace

Mentor of mine just past away recently.

In a lack of words, my condolences to the family.

You´ll be missed my friend.

Here are some the works of Hannu:

More Hannu´s works

Summer evening

"Summer evening"

Oil on panel

2013

I primed couple of these canvas panels with  transparent oxide red light, 

and the paint was mixed&spread evenly with dammar varnish matt.

This gives a panel nice warm under color and also (slightly above) middle value starting point to a painting. 

Matt varnish gives a nice smooth feel to it and it also diminishes the glare.

I highly recommend trying this out on landscape painting. 

In winter scenes I would prefer yellow ochre, but still, I love to start on a white canvas most of the times. 

Old friends

"Old friends"

34 x 37 cm

Oil on panel

Sipoonkorpi

"Sipoonkorpi"

Oil on panel

Work in progress picture

Here you can see how I first established the complex drawing before applying any color.

It was easier for me to focus on the value and color - after the drawing and the design was complete.

In the finished painting you can also recognize how I painted all the brightest colors and value changes and the sharpest edges in one spot - thats my focal point. :)

 

Last snow

"Last snow"

Oil on panel

27 x 35 cm

All of the snow is pretty much melted away, at least from the southern parts of the Finland.

I was super lucky to find this spot in the nearby natural reserve and also to have the time to paint this wonderful location.

Hibernation

Oli on panel, size about A4.

It is a great winter day to paint. Here is a sketch of a hibernating boat.

Young composer

"Young composer"
60 x 65cm

Oil on linen canvas

2013

It was such a joy to paint this!
I have always admired people who can sing or play any instrument.

Pekka Halonen´s studio

"Sauna at Halosenniemi"

Oil on canvas 2013

Here is a work in progress shot.

As you can see I had some help from my new friend!

Oona add some of the finishing brushwork to this one.

Today we went to paint with the group of plein air painters in Pekka Halonen´s studio.

Pekka Halonen was one of the great "Golden era" painters in Finnish art.

more info:

http://web.tuusula.fi/halosenniemimuseum/

Last light

"Last light"

It was a great evening to paint! Timing could not have been better.

Gladly, my friend Mauri joined me and he did couple of pencil sketches.

Blue shadows

"Blue shadows"

Oil on panel, 2013

Its was a beautiful day today. 

We went out with the whole family to enjoy the nearby nature.

Here is a work in progress shot. As you can see the contrast was very high because of that pure white snow and it was difficult to see the colors laid on the palette while painting.

Body Worlds

I went to see this new exhibition in the science museum Heureka.

My kids loved it and they learned a lot about human anatomy. 

I had my sketchbook with me to use this as an learning opportunity.

I encourage everybody to use the possibility to go see this if you are near Tikkurila.

Photography was not allowed in there, so please seek out more info from:

http://www.heureka.fi/fi/bodyworlds 

One man show in Oulainen

Total 63 paintings in the show :)

I am huge fan of classical music and to have live music in the beginning of the exhibition was an honor. 

Thanks to the wonderful artist´s for making this an reality. Absolutely wonderful!

Photographer: Ari Vilminko
Photographer in the photo is my friend Mirko Grönroos.

I had an amazing opportunity to have an one man show in the city where I am from, Oulainen.

 I was too busy to take pictures, but the Taidetalo Väinölä was fully packed of wonderfull people!

Thank´s for everyone who made this event possible!

Press: Seutumajakka

Press: Pyhäjokiseutu

Korkeasaari swimming beach

"Swimming beach of Korkeasaari"

2012

 "New song"

 "Avanto"

"Brothers"

Plein air painting in Berlin.


I just came back from Berlin. What an wonderful city it is.
Food was great (Paris Bar, highly recommended) and the people had a good sense of humor.

My one man show is coming soon and I am super busy
 just to wrap things up.

Here is a couple of paintings that I painted last year.

Studio - Plein air

"1st of december"

Oil on linen canvas

This is the studio version that you can see evolve,
in the youtube link below.

Here is the original pleinair sketch that I painted with my daughter. 

Yes, she painted like 50% of this and we had super fun!



This is the way I usually paint winter landscapes.