Today, it’s my great pleasure to introduce you to Finnish artistAnnaMaya Sarjula, creator of SoulCrafted Art & Flow and artist at Atelier AnnaMaya. AnnaMayawas born in Helsinkiand has lived in Lohja for about 15 years, moving from Espoo, where she lived most of her life. AnnaMaya is a self-taught artist and discovered painting about a couple of years ago during a long journey of self-discovery as part of a healing journey of rebirth and growth.
Since this year, painting has become a fundamental element in her life, through which she can fully express her feelings and emotions.
In February, she painted “Portal to Yourself” and hasn’t stopped since.
Art has become the most important thing to her, through which she can express her creativity, her aesthetic sense, and be who she truly is.
Now that she’s understood how art can be healing, and how creation speaks volumes, it wasn’t difficult for her to realize that art is her life.
Having found this definitive connection with art, AnnaMayanow feels 100% herself and fully present with her soul, which fills her with passion and inspiration to the point that ideas flow continuously.
All her works are different and unique, born from emotions and the depths of her heart at that precise moment, and with a precise meaning that leads her to paint what she loves, creating simply from the heart, intuitively.
Her artistic expression is born from a long inner journey, and her creative work is based on heartfelt inspiration, sensuality, aesthetics, and the ability to observe surrounding energies, nature, and moods.
Her core values as an artist are authenticity, emotion, and light, complemented by creative freedom, truth, and inner wisdom.
The profound meaning and therapeutic nature of her work, complemented by a subtle and authentic mysticism, make her works not only visually evocative but also emotionally intense. AnnaMaya primarily paints abstract and semi-abstract paintings with acrylics on canvas and loves texture, depth, and layering.
For her, it’s important that the work be authentic and meaningful; painting is born, not created.
Inner wisdom, nature, and creative freedom are the central elements of her art, always imbued with a touch of authentic magic.
She paints from what truly comes from within, and in her commissioned works, she immerses herself in the client’s inner landscape. It’s deeply inspiring to transform the desires and story behind the commissioner’s wishes into a painting. AnnaMayais also a holistic wellness professional with over ten years of experience, but at this stage in her life, she also wants to focus on creating something new: Art. SoulCrafted Artis a process guided by intuition: the end result is something sacred, healing, and evocative. In the heart of her century-old home, the AnnaMaya Atelier, she creates original works of art that invite us to remember and perceive.
For AnnaMaya, painting is a “birth,” where each brushstroke brings with it its own light and strength, and the paintings are a journey into the inner self, a story and a memory that spring from the depths of the soul.
Thanks to years of experience as a coach, yoga teacher, and accompanying her clients through their life changes, AnnaMaya created SoulCrafted Flow Yoga, which will soon be available online as an effective and versatile method. AnnaMaya also has a deep connection to Italy, where as a young woman she worked as a model in Rome, where she posed as a photomodel and actress ( playing the role of Monica ) in photo novels published by Grand Hotel magazine, which at the time sold a million copies a week. AnnaMaya understand Italian language very well and has wonderful memories of her trips to Rome, Tuscany, the Ligurian Riviera (Portofino and Alassioare unforgettable for her), Sardinia, and the island of Elba.
You can find out more about AnnaMaya by following her social media pages and her website. AnnaMaya Sarjula Atelier AnnaMaya | SoulCrafted Art Finland atelierannamaya@soulcraftedart.com
April 4 – April 29, 2026 Art Exhibition “Light” LovelyGoodness Group Exhibition at the Hyvänolo Gallery. Ullanlinna – Helsinki
May 2 – May 16, 2026 Art Exhibition “Floating Landscapes” Group Exhibition at the A+Gallery Kalasatama, Helsinki
July 2 – July 5, 2026 Natural Healing Festival Uusikaupunki, Finland
Spain June 2 – June 10, 2026 Art Exhibition “In the Footsteps of Dalí and Picasso” Picasso Museum A joint exhibition organized by the Eva International Art Gallery at the Picasso Museum – Opening June 2, 2026. For this exhibition, AnnaMaya is painting two works that will be exhibited in a gallery that also features works by Picasso and Dalí.
AnnaMaya Sarjula quando la pittura diventa un riflesso dell’anima
Con immenso piacere oggi vi presento l’artista finlandeseAnnaMayaSarjulacreatrice di SoulCrafted Art & Flow e artista presso l’Atelier AnnaMaya. AnnaMaya è nata a Helsinkie vive a Lohjada circa 15 anni quando si è trasferita da Espoodove ha vissuto per la maggior parte della sua vita. AnnaMaya è un’artista autodidatta e ha incontrato la pittura circa un paio di anni fa durante un lungo viaggio alla scoperta di se stessa come parte di un percorso di guarigione di rinascita e crescita.
Da quest’anno poi la pittura è diventata un elemento fondamentale all’interno della sua vita attraverso il quale riesce ad esprimere appieno i suoi sentimenti e le sue emozioni.
A febbraio ha dipinto “ Portale verso te stessa” e da allora non ha più smesso.
L’arte è diventata la cosa più importante per lei, con cui riesce a dare sfogo alla sua creatività, al suo senso estetico e per essere chi è veramente.
Adesso che ha capito come l’arte può essere guarigione, e la creazione che dice tutto non le è stato difficile capire che l’arte è la sua vita.
Avendo trovato questo punto d’incontro definitivo con l’arte AnnaMayaoggi si sente al 100% se stessa e pienamente presente con la sua anima che la rende piena di passione e ispirazione a tal punto che le idee fluiscono in modo continuo.
Tutte le sue opere sono diverse e uniche, nascono dalle emozioni e dal profondo del suo cuore in quel preciso istante e con un significato preciso che la porta a dipingere quello che le piace, creando semplicemente con il cuore, in modo intuitivo.
La sua espressione artistica è nata da un lungo viaggio interiore e il suo lavoro creativo si basa su un’ispirazione che proviene dal cuore, sulla sensualità, sull’estetica e sulla capacità di osservare le energie circostanti, la natura e gli stati d’animo.
I suoi valori fondamentali come artista sono autenticità, emozione, luce, a cui si aggiungono libertà creativa, verità e saggezza interiore.
Il significato profondo e la natura terapeutica dell’opera, completati da un misticismo sottile e autentico, rendono le sue opere non sono solo visivamente suggestive, ma anche emotivamente intense. AnnaMaya dipinge principalmente quadri astratti e semi-astratti con colori acrilici su tela e ama la texture, la profondità e la stratificazione.
Per lei è importante che l’opera sia autentica e abbia un significato; la pittura nasce, non si crea.
La saggezza interiore, la natura e la libertà creativa sono gli elementi centrali della sua arte, sempre intrisa di un tocco di autentica magia
Dipinge seguendo ciò che proviene veramente dal suo intimo, e nelle opere su commissione, si immerge nel paesaggio interiore del cliente ed è molto stimolante trasformare in un dipinto i desideri e la storia che si celano dietro i desiderata di chi commissiona l’opera. AnnaMaya è anche una professionista del benessere olistico con oltre dieci anni di esperienza, ma in questa fase della sua vita, desidera concentrarsi anche sulla creazione di qualcosa di nuovo, ovvero l’arte. SoulCrafted Artè un processo in cui si lascia guidare dall’intuizione: il risultato finale è qualcosa di sacro, curativo e suggestivo. Nel cuore della sua casa centenaria, l’Atelier AnnaMaya, crea opere d’arte originali che ci invitano a ricordare e a percepire.
Per AnnaMayadipingere è una “nascita”, dove ogni pennellata porta con sé la propria luce e la propria forza e i dipinti sono un viaggio nell’intimo, una storia e un ricordo che sgorgano dalle profondità dell’anima.
Grazie ad anni di esperienza come coach, insegnante di yoga e all’accompagnamento dei suoi clienti nei loro cambiamenti di vita, AnnaMaya ha creato SoulCrafted Flow Yoga, che sarà presto disponibile online come un metodo efficace e versatile. AnnaMaya ha anche un profondo legame con l’Italia dove da giovane ha lavorato come modella a Roma dove ha posato come fotomodella e attrice ( interpretando il ruolo di Monica )nei fotoromanzi pubblicati dalla rivistaGrand Hotelche in quegli anni arriva a vendere un milione di copie a settimana AnnaMaya comprende molto bene l’italiano e ha bellissimi ricordi dei suoi viaggi a Roma,in Toscana, nella riviera ligure( Portofinoe Alassio per lei sono indimenticabili ),in Sardegna e all’isola d’Elba.
Potete avere maggiori informazioni su AnnaMaya seguendo le sue pagine social e il suo sito web
Relic of the Golden Bloom – AnnaMaya SarjulaBouquet of Love – AnnaMaya SarjulaAncient Goddess – AnnaMaya SarjulaI AM – AnnaMaya SarjulaPortal to Yourself Alchemy 1 – AnnaMaya Sarjula
Infinite Water Flowers – AnnaMaya Sarjula
Lemons & Dreams in a Cup – AnnaMaya Sarjula
Mirror to Your Soul Alchemy 2 – AnnaMaya Sarjula
Old Apple Tree’s Spirit in a Violet Meadow – AnnaMaya Sarjula
Winteris the longest season in Finland, lasting about 200 days in Laplandand 3-4 months in the southern part of the country.
Temperatures in the north of the country are usually below freezing for most of the winter, providing a sense of absolute peaceand crystal-clear air.
A fairytale landscape will unfold before your eyes, with abundant snow, frozen lakes, and the chance to admire the Northern Lights, the icing on the cake.
In Lapland, everything seems muffled, with the snow reflecting an almost unreal light, even illuminating the polar night.
The first snow of the season, “ Ensilumi” in Finnish, is always a very exciting moment, eagerly awaited by Finns, and its arrival, given the large size of Finland, which extends for over 1000 kilometers from north to south, can vary depending on where you are.
In Lapland, which lies mostly above the Arctic Circle, the first snow arrives as early as September, although I happened to encounter it many years ago in late June during the car transfer from IvaloAirport to Inari. Finlandis a wonderful country that I recommend visiting in any season, but if you want to see it at its most elegant and fascinating, choose winter!
Thinking about Finnish winter I had the idea to ask twelve incredibly talented Finnish artists to show us “ Suomen talvi “ through their eyes, and I must say, the result of this experiment is truly astonishing, as you’ll see
In the article, along with a brief introduction to the artist, you’ll find two paintings: the first is her “ Suomen talvi “ and the second is one of her favorites I invite you to visit their social media pages and websites to better understand their talent.
If you are interested in some of their works, the artists could reserve a small discountfor the readers of my Blog
To Satu Kekäläinen, Mari Knuuttila, Meria Q, Paula Mikkilä, Milla Piirainen, Taru Rouhiainen, Minna Scheinin, Saila Seppo, Kaisa Sirén, Maj Sjö, Martina Uthardt, Liisa Viima, I extend my heartfelt thanks for making my idea possible
Satu Kekäläinen
Satu Kekäläinen, she was born inHelsinki, but after living in various places acrossFinland, she currently lives in Lieto.
Ice is a sort of common threadthat has accompanied Satu throughout her life, but artistically it all began in 2015 when, needing to find strength and breathe fresh air, she immersed herself in the nature of nearby Lake Littoistenjärvi, and since it was winter, she began photographing with her camera the figures she saw in the lake ice.
You can see her works on her Instagramand Facebookpages and website
For Suomen talvi , she presents: Winter Fairy – aluminium print 30 × 40 cm edition 1/10 – photographed under a blue sky in the sunshine with a macro mirroring function from ice collected from Finnish winter nature
As a second works, she presents: The Soul of the Water – aluminium print 30 × 40 cm edition 1/10 – macro photography of ice collected from nature in winter in the colors and energies of blue anemones in spring
Sagastina – Winter Fairy
Sagastina – The Soul of the Water
Mari Knuuttila
Mari Knuuttila born in Lapua, a town located in Southern Ostrobothnia and where she currently lives and creates her works in her studio. Marihas been painting for about seven years, although her main profession is that of Chief Inspector at the State Administrative Agency, a role that requires strict compliance with laws and regulations.
Through painting, Mari has found a way to give free rein to her visual art, free from rules or pre-established patterns.
You can find more information about Marion her Instagramand Facebookpages andwebsite ForSuomen talvi she presents:Winter Silence – acrylic / mixed media on canvas 89 x 115 cm – this work captures the quiet strength of the Nordic winter – a frozen horizon where light and shadow meet in stillness. Layers of texture reflect frost, earth and the silent breath of the northern landscape. As a second paintingshe presents: With You – mixed media on canvas 80.5 x 65 cm – a layered field of ochre and shadow speaks of intimacy, memory and silent strength. The surface carries traces of time, emotion and the quiet power of being together. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Mari Knuuttila – Winter Silence
Mari Knuuttila – With You
Meria Q aka Merja Sipiläinen-Kuhlberg
Merja Sipiläinen-Kuhlberg was born inArtjärvi (Lake of Artin english) but lives in Turku, a beautiful city on the west coast of Finland. Meria Q became interested in art as a young girl, sketching evening dresses in her notebooks, and she cultivated this interest as a teenager by designing fabric prints.
As often happens, life sometimes takes strange turns, andMeria Q, abandoning her passion for art, took a different direction that led her into the world of marketing and business.
However, in early 2010, her artistic creativity reawakened and has been unstoppable ever since.
She held her first solo exhibition in 2018, followed by numerous others.
You can find more information about Meria Q on her Instagram page and website For Suomen talvi she presents: First snow on the mountains –watercolour 19×14 cm, 2020 – this wonderful painting, which is a hymn to the joy of the first snow falling on the mountains, is part of the series that Merja Q has dedicated to Lapland. As a second paintingshe presents: Poppies – watercolour 28×38 cm, 2023 – these wonderful poppies are fragile red spots, which in the middle of a field can give the hearts of sensitive people incredible emotions. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Meria Q – First snow on the mountains
Meria Q – Poppies
Paula Mikkilä
Paula Mikkilä born in Karvia, a hidden pearl of Finland surrounded by the wonderful rural landscapes of the Karvianjoki river, but resident in Tampere for over twenty years.
She graduated from the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Jyväskylä as a teacher specializing in fine arts and has dedicated a good part of her life to teaching as an elementary school teacher sharing much of her creative moments with children and teenagers.
In the 80s she created a considerable quantity of oil paintings, then after her move to Tampereshe devoted herself to bronze sculpture and for almost twenty years in the evenings after her school work she went to the foundry.
Working with bronze is not easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding, like the material itself, which, once transformed into a work of art, can convey incredible emotions. Pauladraws inspiration for her works from her surroundings: home, nature, animals, and people, who, once part of her creative process, tell stories and fairy tales that take on an imaginative life of their own.
You can find more information about Paula on her Instagram page and website For Suomen talvi she presents: Two white spruces –acrylic, 40×40 cm, 2020 – this very beautiful painting is part of the series “Sheltered by the Forest” As a second workshe presents: Two spruces– bronze, 29/26/13 cm, 2018 – a beautiful bronze statue depicting two spruces Both works are available for purchase on her website.
Paula Mikkilä – Two white spruces
Paula Mikkilä – Two spruces, bronze
Milla Piirainen
Milla Piirainenis a Helsinki-based visual artist.
Her work is characterized by a versatile use of colors, materials, and techniques, through which she portrays human experiences and natural phenomena.
She works with acrylic, oil, and mixed mediaand primarily uses a palette knife, with which she has created her distinctive, layered, and vividly textured painting style.
Her works do not settle for a merely aesthetic impression but invite the viewer to explore deeper meanings and emotions that art can evoke.
She is primarily a marine painter, and the seais a subject she returns to again and again. Flowers are also part of her artistic expression. The interplay of the characteristic colors and forms of the sea and flowers offers her endless possibilities for creativity
You can find more information about Milla on her Instagram page and website For Suomen talvi she presents: Purpura – oil on canvas 82 x 92 cm (with frame) – in this stream flowing between snow-covered trees, Milla used shades of violet and purple to paint the shadows on the snow and the reflections in the icy water. At first glance, we are greeted by a magical atmosphere where light plays a fundamental role. A very beautiful painting! As a second paintingshe presents: Light– acrylic on canvas 70 x 60 diptych – This work is a treatise on light and shadow. While painting, she tell the viewer stories about the beauty that surrounds me. Light and shadow go hand in hand like lovers. This story is about love. Light, light. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Milla Piirainen – Purpura
Milla Piirainen – Light
Taru Rouhiainen
Taru Rouhiainen born inHyvinkää but currently lives in Vantaa. Taru’s is one of those stories that shows us how not only painting, but art in general, can be the best medicine for overcoming difficult times.
In 2020, after the crisis,Taru found herself needing something that would allow her not only to stay busy but also to process and express her feelings.And so, making a life-changing choice, she enrolled in a painting course and fell in love with art!
Before discovering painting, she had always appreciated colors and, above all, their effect on our emotions, bringing joy into our homes.
You can find more information about Taru on her Instagram and Facebook pages and website For Suomen talvi she presents: White noise – mixed medium in canvas90×70 cm – in this abstract work Taru makes us understand how she loves to play with colors, layers and textures that make her work full of emotions, stories and energy. As a second painting she presents:Waterlilly –mixed medium on canvas 73×60 cm – this painting is part of the “Lummelampi” series and is inspired by the famous Water Lilies series by Monet, reinterpreting the theme with a material and contemporary style, depicting pink and white water lilies floating on a pond in blue and green tones, with bold brushstrokes that create a sense of movement of the water. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Taru Rouhiainen- White noise
Taru Rouhiainen – Waterlilly
Minna Scheinin
Minna Scheinin was born in Turku, a beautiful city on the west coast of Finland, where she lived for a long time before moving toKaarina, where she currently lives. Minna often visitsItaly, where she has a home onLake Iseo, and she says this Italian experience has greatly influenced her artistic development.
She worked for many years as aforeign language teacher ( Swedish and English ) and was responsible for pedagogical development and online teaching at her University of applied sciences.
In 2011, she successfully completed a professional photography course at the New York Institute of Photography( online ) and in 2013, she earned a degree in editorial graphics.
Since then, her photographic work has transformed into an artistic journey where her creativity has finally found a way to express itself through her art. Minnaexpresses her art through photography, which plays a primary role, but also through painting and mosaics.
In photography, she began studying theICM( Intentional Camera Movement ) technique, which began a journey that led her to essentially paint with the camera, intentionally moving it during the exposure. Nature is her greatest source of inspiration, and the deepest essence of her images is the beauty that surrounds us and often goes unnoticed.
You can find more information about Minna’s artistic work on her Instagram page and these are her email addresses : scheinin.minna@gmail.comminna@scheinin.fi For Suomen talvi she presents: Winter night – acrylic painting, 42 x 29,7 cm – with this painting, Minna managed to recreate the magical atmosphere of a Finnish winter night and embellished the painting with small fragments of glass capable of giving it a natural brilliance typical of the wonderful polar night. As a second work she presents: Snowballs – photograph– with this very suggestive image Minna has captured a winter phenomenon in which small accumulations of snow or frost settle on the tips of common reeds (Phragmites australis) that emerge from partially frozen bodies of water with bright reflections created by the sun Both works are available for purchase on her website.
Minna Scheinin – Winter night
Minna Scheinin – Snowballs
Saila Seppo
Saila Seppowas born in Kouvola but moved to Sastamala at the age of 1 or 2.
She studied in Espoo and currently live in Helsinkifrom a long time.
She worked at theKemira factory in Pori and has worked and continues to work for the Research Council of Finland.
She is a member of the Helsinki Art Association, Espoo Art, and the Finnish Artists’ Association. Sailais undoubtedly a multifaceted artist, and for her, the most important thing in art is the ability to create a new, diverse, and colorful work of art. Sailaholds a PhD in chemistry and a degree in technology, and thanks to these studies, she has a deep understanding of materials and pigments. This offers her a wide range of artistic possibilities, which she translates into herworks, which closely resemble naive art, but in this case, I would saytechnological.
Thanks to her research, Sailacreated Sisusavi®, a material developed from natural ingredients that works well with all types of dyes, giving paintings a vivid surface and vibrant colors. Sisusavi®is a soft, water-based, moldable mass that can be colored with pigments or vegetable dyes and hardens at room temperature through water evaporation. Sisusavi®is a natural microcellulose material that contains no clay or plastic dyes, and the mass reproduces even the smallest details.
This product, entirely developed bySaila, is available for sale on Greenbutton.fi. More information about Sailacan be found on her social media pages, InstagramandFacebook, and on her website, sailaseppoart.fi, For Suomen talvi she presents: Snow – Sisusavi® and pigments on canvas, 47×55 cm – this large snow-covered tree, surrounded by a blanket of snow and kissed by the sun, has a naive, almost artisanal feel and the cracking effect due to the use of Sisusavi® makes it almost look like a material mosaic. As a second painting she presents:Flowers on Display – Sisusavi® and pigments on canvas, 40×59 cm – this work is part of the Sisusavi® project which stands out for its naive and material artistic style, characterised by a vibrant use of colour and three-dimensional textures that convey a sense of joy. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Saila Seppo – Snow
Saila Seppo – Flowers on Display
Kaisa Sirén
Kaisa Sirén lives in Rovaniemi, within the Arctic Circle of Finnish Lapland, where she works as a freelance photographer and artist.
She is a photographic artist who makes the landscape of her soul visible with Intentional Camera Movement, using the northern landscapes of Finlandas a backdrop.
She focuses on themes related to the seasons of Laplandand the delicacy of nature.
She selects subjects from nature and transforms them into elements that were initially absent, thus visualizing the invisible.
She is the co-founder of the ICM Photo Academy, where she teaches ICM photography courses both in person and online.
She has held several solo and group exhibitions in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, the United States, and Germany, and since 2017, she has run an art gallery called Villa Vinkkeliin her hometown.
Her artistic focus is entirely on ICM photography and artistic creation. ICM offers a way to make invisible feelings and repressed emotions visible.
When taking a photo in ICM, camera movement can create elements that were initially absent in the scene, making invisible elements visible.
This technique possesses the same randomness and element of surprise that have always accompanied Kaisa throughout her life.
More information about Kaisacan be found on her social media pages, InstagramandFacebook, and on her website For Suomen talvi she presents: First Snow – acrylic painting, 2025, unframed 60x80cm – in this Arctic landscape, Kaisa captures the magical moment of the first snowfall covering the autumn vegetation. The contrast between the warm tones (red and pink) of the earth and the cold tones (blue and grey) of the sky is her stylistic signature, with which she seeks to make visible the “invisible” emotions and sensations of nature. Also noteworthy is the vegetation (the red and purple marks in the foreground) which are transformed into abstract shapes. As a second work she presents:Solitude – photograph, 2025, unframed 30x40cm – this beautiful photograph by Kaisa, where the minimalist aspect of the scene prevails, leads us to a reflection on solitude which is not necessarily a negative feeling but in this case a condition of deep connection with the wild nature of Lapland. Both works are available for purchase on her website.
Kaisa Siren – First snow, Ensilumi
Kaisa Siren – Solitude
MAJ SJÖ
Maj SJÖ, born in Helsinki, where she has a studio space in Kaapelitehdas, Finland’s largest cultural centre, but currently lives in Espoo where she also creates in her home studio.
When I first saw MaJ’sworks, I immediately understood how she managed to capture and convey in her art all those small and large miracles that life can give us day after day.
Her collection of works on the Archipelago and in general on everything that is sea or water (after all, her surname SJÖ in Swedish means lake/sea) can convey incredible emotions and for those like me who have experienced the magic that Hankocan convey, looking at her paintings that portray her means reliving moments of indescribable joy and serenity.
You can find more information about Maj on her Instagram and Facebook pages and website For Suomen talvi she presents: Winter Magic – oil on canvas, 2022, 100 x 80 cm – this painting features an ethereal, almost magical style, typical of Nordic illustrations, where snow and soft light create a suspended, enchanted atmosphere. The almost monochromatic choice, with a strong emphasis on white and elongated shadows (like that of the fox in the center), is a distinctive element that evokes the silence and solitude of Nordic winter landscapes. As a second painting she presents:What a Lady! – oil on canvas, 2023, 50 x 50 cm – in the background of this painting you can see a famous Helsinki landmark (Havis Amanda), which makes it very Finnish. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Maj Sjo – What a Lady
Maj Sjo – Winter magic
Martina Uthardt
Martina Uthardt, born in Malax, where she currently lives in this big village and welcoming of about 5000 inhabitants in Southern Ostrobothnia, whereSwedishis spoken rather than Finnish (about 6% of Finns speak Swedish)
After a 10-year stint running a photography agency specializing in portraits, Martina has dedicated herself fully to painting professionally since 2021.
She has experimented with various techniques but currently prefers acrylic painting with its possibilities for layering and variations that make each painting alive and unique in different lights.
When I first saw Martina’s paintings, I was struck by how this artist was able to perfectly represent theFinlandI love so much.
You can find more information about Martina on herInstagramand Facebookpages and website For Suomen talvi she presents: Just Breathe – acrylic on canvas, 2021, 65 x 81 cm – this painting is intended to evoke a moment of pause and awareness, an invitation to slow down and take a breath of fresh air through the delicate pink and white tones contrasted by bold graphic lines. It is part of her abstract art collection, characterized by a style she herself defines as “mindful” allowing colors and shapes to play freely on the canvas. As a second painting she presents:Togetherness – acrylic on canvas, 2025, 100 x 81 cm – the painting depicts two swans swimming side by side under a large full moon in a Nordic landscape at night. The artist has described it as a “must-see” subject, conveying feelings of calm and beauty. The work explores the theme of connection and harmony, using swans as symbols of loyalty and enduring love. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Martina Uthardt – Just breathe
Martina Uthardt – Togetherness
Liisa Viima
Liisa Viima, born in Ouluand currently based in Espoo.
Although she began painting as a teenager and dreamed of becoming a professional artist, she chose a more conventional path, earning a master’s degree in economics and dedicating herself to her family, including raising two daughters and caring for horse – her lifelong passion.
After facing significant life challenges, Liisa experienced a personal transformation that led her back to her original calling: painting.
Her mission became clear – to bring joy and beauty into the world through her art. Liisa’s style is contemporary and abstract, often infused with elements of realism, surrealism, and even whimsy.
Recurring themes in her work include humanity, love, and forgiveness, expressed through symbolic imagery such as faces, hearts, stars, hands, the moon, pigeons and also horses.
For Liisa, horses represent courage and nobility values that have guided her life and artistic journey.
You can find more information about Liisa on herInstagramandFacebookpages and website For Suomen talvi she presents: Mattitja– mixed media. Acrylic, oil, plaster reliefs, brick, mica pigment and epoxy, 2025, 90c90x4cm – from her Modern Icons collection – This painting explores the identity and deep awareness of being and includes some recurring symbols in the works of this artist, such as the dove (symbol of peace), the burning heart and floral motifs that evoke themes of spiritual awakening and love. As a second painting she presents:Ani Or – mixed media. Acrylic, oil, plaster reliefs, brick, mica pigment and epoxy, 2026, 90c90x4cm – from her Modern Icons collection – this painting features a central figure with a golden halo, surrounded by purple roses, a dove in her hand, and a pulsating red heart on her chest. Liisa’s style, characterized by an expressive use of color, bold textures, and the integration of symbolic and spiritual elements, truly emerges. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Today I have the pleasure of introducing Finnish artistMinna Scheinin. She was born in Turku, a beautiful city on the west coast of Finland, where she lived for a long time before moving to Kaarina, where she currently lives. Minna often visits Italy, where she has a home on Lake Iseo, and she says this Italian experiencehas greatly influenced her artistic development.
She worked for many years as a foreign language teacher( Swedish and English ) and was responsible for pedagogical development and online teaching at her University of applied sciences.
She became interested in photography at an early age, thanks to her mother’s passion for photography; Mom took a lot of photographs and in doing so she passed on the same passion to her.
Her career and the growth of her family left little room for creativity and art, although the camera has always been a faithful friend to Minna.
The turning point came in the 2000s when she was able to take a gap yearfrom school to devote herself to studying photography.
In 2011, she successfully completed a professional photography courseat the New York Institute of Photography( online ) and in 2013, she earned a degree in editorial graphics. Since then, her photographic work has transformed into an artistic journey where her creativity has finally found a way to express itself through her art. Minna expresses her art through photography, which plays a primary role, but also through painting and mosaics.
She came to painting thanks to the evolution of her artistic mindset, which also led her to try her hand at painting after long thinking she couldn’t draw. From what can be seen in her works, abstract painting is for her a moment of experimentation in which to study contrasts and chromatic values, as well as shapes and compositions.
In photography, she began studying the ICM( Intentional Camera Movement ) technique, which began a journey that led her to essentially paint with the camera, intentionally moving it during the exposure.
While photojournalism requires an authentic and therefore sharp image, in the ICM technique, blurring is the element that allows the viewers to distance themselves from the real subject, leaving room for their own reflection and, consequently, a personal interpretation of the work they are observing. Minnaconsiders herself not only an omnivorous but, above all, passionate experimenter, and in her works she loves to create unique atmospheres, often very tranquil and permeated by a persistent and reflective atmosphere where colors, light, shadows, and contrasts play a primary role. Nature is her greatest source of inspiration, and the deepest essence of her images is the beauty that surrounds us and often goes unnoticed. However, she also embraces urban environments, where, with the ICM, she manages to capture moments and moods that allow the viewers to form their own personal interpretation.
For Minna, the starting point of her photographic art is to create an understanding of the simplicity and complexity of life.
On this fascinating topic, Minnasought inspiration in Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary, which revealed that many of life’s great questions have remained the same and unchanged for centuries: what are equality, vanity, morality? Minna then wondered if photography could be used to obtain answers to these questions, demonstrating that happiness does not come from matter, but from a good life, where things are in balance, both for better and for worse. But a good life doesn’t mean an easy or always happy life. All life also includes pain, worry, anxiety, sadness, anger, disappointment, and despair. They are the opposite of positive things, whose value is difficult to see or understand without this framework.
With her current photographic project created using ICM technology, Minna is trying to interpret all emotions from one extreme to the other, when the different extremes find a balance in everyday life, or not. Minna has held a number of private and group exhibitions, mainly in the Turku region, but also in Rovaniemi.
You can find more information about Minna’s artistic work on her Instagram page and these are her email addresses : scheinin.minna@gmail.comminna@scheinin.fi
Dalla Finlandia le emozioni visive dell’obiettivo di Minna Scheinin
Oggi ho il piacere di presentarvi l’artista finlandeseMinna Scheinin che è nata a Turku una splendida città sulla costa occidentale della Finlandia, qui ha vissuto a lungo prima di trasferirsi a Kaarinadove attualmente vive. Minnaviene spesso in Italiadove ha casa sul lago d’Iseo e questa sua frequentazione italianaa suo dire hamolto influenzato il suo percorso artistico.
Ha lavorato per molti anni come insegnante di lingue straniere ( svedese e inglese ), ed è stata responsabile dello sviluppo pedagogico nella sua Università di scienze applicate.
Ha iniziato ad interessarsi alla fotografia molto presto, grazie alla passione per la macchina fotografica della mamma che scattava molte fotografie e le ha fatto da apripista in quella che nel tempo diventerà una vera e propria attività artistica.
La sua carriera lavorativa e la crescita della sua famiglia non hanno lasciato molto spazio alla creatività e all’arte anche se la macchina fotografica per Minna è sempre stata un’amica fedele.
La svolta è avvenuta negli anni 2000 quando ha avuto la possibilità di prendersi un anno sabbatico dalla scuola per dedicarsi allo studio della fotografia.
Nel 2011 ha completato con successo un corso di fotografia professionale al New York Institute of Photography (online) e nel 2013 ha conseguito una laurea in grafica editoriale e da allora il suo lavoro fotografico si è trasformato in un percorso artistico dove la sua creatività ha finalmente trovato il modo di esprimersi attraverso la sua arte. Minna esprime la sua arte attraverso la fotografia che ha un ruolo primario ma anche con la pittura e i mosaici.
Alla pittura è arrivata grazie all’evoluzione della sua mentalità artistica che l’ha portata anche a cimentarsi con la pittura dopo aver pensato per lungo tempo di non saper disegnare e da quello che si può vedere attraverso le sue opere la pittura astratta è per lei un momento di sperimentazione in cui studiare i contrasti ed i valori cromatici così come per le forme e le composizioni.
Nella fotografia ha iniziato a studiare la tecnica ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)con la quale ha iniziato un percorso che l’ha portata in pratica a dipingere con la macchina fotografica muovendo intenzionalmente la fotocamera durante l’esposizione.
Se nel fotogiornalismo c’è la necessità di avere un’immagine autentica e quindi nitida nella tecnica ICMla sfocatura è l’elemento che consente al pubblico di allontanarsi dal soggetto reale per lasciare spazio alla propria riflessione e di conseguenza ad una interpretazione personale dell’opera che si sta osservando. Minnasi considera una sperimentatrice non solo onnivora ma soprattutto appassionata e nelle sue opere ama provare a creare atmosfere particolari, spesso molto tranquille e permeate da un’atmosfera persistente e riflessiva dove colori,luci,ombre e contrasti giocano un ruolo primario
La natura è la sua più grande fonte di ispirazione e l’essenza più profonda delle sue immagini è quella bellezza che ci circonda e che spesso passa inosservata, ma non disdegna però anche gli ambienti urbani dove con l’ICM riesce a rubare con il suo obiettivo momenti e stati d’animo in cui l’osservatore può arrivare ad una sua interpretazione personale.
Per Minna il punto di partenza della sua arte fotografica è creare una comprensione della semplicità e della complessità della vita.
Su questo tema appassionante Minna ha cercato la fonte nel Dizionario Filosofico di Voltaire, dal quale traspare che molti dei grandi interrogativi della vita sono rimasti gli stessi e immutati per secoli: cosa sono l’uguaglianza, la vanità, la moralità? Minnasi è quindi chiesta se la fotografia possa essere usata per ottenere risposte a queste domande, mostrando che la felicità non deriva dalla materia, ma da una buona vita, dove le cose sono in equilibrio, sia nel bene che nel male?
Ma una buona vita non significa una vita facile o sempre felice. Tutta la vita include anche dolori, preoccupazioni, ansia, tristezza, rabbia, delusioni, disperazione. Sono l’opposto delle cose positive, il cui valore è difficile da vedere o comprendere senza questa cornice.
Con il suo attuale progetto fotografico realizzato con la tecnica ICM, Minna sta provando a interpretare tutte le emozioni da un estremo all’altro, quando i diversi estremi trovano un equilibrio nella vita di tutti i giorni, oppure no. Minna ha realizzato un buon numero di mostre tra private e collettive, principalmente nella regione di Turku, ma anche a Rovaniemi.
Potete trovare maggiori informazioni sull’attività artistica di Minna sulla sua pagina Instagram e questi sono i suoi indirizzi email: scheinin.minna@gmail.com, minna@scheinin.fi
Photographs taken using ICM technique
Asunheinikossa – Minna Scheinin
Auringonlasku – Minna Scheinin
Morning – Minna Scheinin
Tikkumetsä – Minna Scheinin
Magic moment – Minna Scheinin
Myrskyn – Minna Scheinin
Aallot – Minna Scheinin
Blue Venice – Minna Scheinin
Venice – Minna Scheinin
Venice – Minna Scheinin
Venice – Minna Scheinin
Venice – Minna Scheinin
Burano – Minna Scheinin
Burano – Minna Scheinin
Butterflies – Minna Scheinin
Colours – Minna Scheinin
Happamia – Minna Scheinin
San Antonio – Minna Scheinin
Olive tree – Minna Scheinin
Mysteeripuu – Minna Scheinin
Olive tree – Minna Scheinin
In the evening – Minna Scheinin
Lights – Minna Scheinin
Lights – Minna Scheinin
Watercolors
Hauskuutus – Minna Scheinin
Tivoli – Minna Scheinin
Vuorilla – Minna Scheinin
Iloinenaamu – Minna Scheinin
Kuutamo – Minna Scheinin
Tulppaanit – Minna Scheinin
Kuutamo 2 – Minna Scheinin
Riippuva_puutarha – Minna Scheinin
Vihreähetki – Minna Scheinin
Kaikki_kukat – Minna Scheinin
Vihreät_perus – Minna Scheinin
Kukkapelto – Minna Scheinin
Mosaics
Geisha_suojaruukku – Minna Scheinin
Tivoli_suojaruukku – Minna Scheinin
Rannalla_suojaruukku – Minna Scheinin
Tivoli_tarjotin – Minna Scheinin
Planeetat_tarjotin – Minna Scheinin
Puutarhassa_tarjotin – Minna Scheinin
Puutarhassa 2_tarjotin- Minna Scheinin
Hedelmätarha_vati – Minna Scheinin
Greece – Minna Scheinin
Palmut – Minna Scheinin
Kalatarjotin – Minna Scheinin
Japan_suojaruukku – Minna Scheinin
Mosaic Mural – Minna Scheinin
Minna and the ice
Minna Scheinin at work 2025
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Ice – Minna Scheinin
Minna Scheinin – Exhibitions
Minna Scheinin – Exhibitions
Minna Scheinin – Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2024 Colours Matter – Colours Matter, Brinkhall Manor, Turku 2023 With Glass and Lenses, Waudevilla, Parainen 2018 Nature Pictures, Joutsen Medical Clinic, Loimaa 2017 Unreachable Stories – Encounters in Ecuador, Café Art, Turku 2012 Natura II: Galapagos – Fearless Islands, Pulssi Window Gallery, Humalistonkatu 9-11, Turku 2011 Natura I: Poetic Images of Nature, Turku University of Applied Sciences ICT Building
ENVIRONMENTAL ART 2025 Happiness, mosaic mural, 9m x 1.5m, Kaarina
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2026 Imaginary Worlds, Mökkigalleria, Kaarina 2021 A House Full of Artists. In conjunction with the Konstrunda and Rovaniemi Week events. Rovaniemi 2017 Time – Nature as a mirror of time, Kuusisto Art Manor, Kaarina 2012 Periscope, Workshop series and exhibition organized in connection with the 20th anniversary of Turku photography education, Photo Centre Peri, Turku 2011 2000 & 11 self-portraits, Turku Capital of Culture project, Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki 2011 2000 & 11 self-portraits, Turku Capital of Culture project, Turku Art Academy Cable Car Gallery 2011 2000 & 11 self-portraits, Turku Capital of Culture project, Turku University of Applied Sciences language teachers’ self-portrait exhibition, Turku University of Applied Sciences ICT building premises
While Denmark is saying goodbye to traditional mail and will definitively cease the delivery of paper letters from 31 December 2025, in Santa Claus’s country, Christmas greeting cardswill continue to be a real must.
I know that Finns use Christmas greeting cards with great pleasure and many are handmade by themselves.
Sending and receiving these greetings by post is an integral part of Finnish Christmas tradition, a symbol of love, peace and friendship, and strengthens the bond with the legendary figure of Santa Claus
Thinking about Christmas atmosphere I had the idea to ask eight incredibly talented Finnish artists to show us Christmas atmosphere through their eyes, and I must say, the result of this experiment is truly astonishing, as you’ll see.
In the article along with a brief introduction to the artist, you’ll find two paintings: the first is her Christmas atmosphere and the second is one of her favoritesand both are available for sale
I invite you to visit their social media pages and websites to better understand their talent.
To Satu Kekäläinen, Mari Knuttila, Ella Petman, Meria Q, MaJ Sjö, Martina Uthardt, Ulla Väisänen and Liisa Viima a heartfelt thank you for making my idea of presenting Christmas atmosphere in a slightly different way possible.
Santa Claus Post Office has been operating since 1985 and receives over 2 million letters a year – for more information see website
Satu Kekäläinen a fairy tale born from ice
Satu Kekäläinen, she was born inHelsinki, but after living in various places acrossFinland, she currently lives in Lieto.
Ice is a sort of common threadthat has accompanied Satu throughout her life, but artistically it all began in 2015 when, needing to find strength and breathe fresh air, she immersed herself in the nature of nearby Lake Littoistenjärvi, and since it was winter, she began photographing with her camera the figures she saw in the lake ice.
You can see her works on her Instagramand Facebookpages and website
For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Christmas tree light
As a second photos, she presents: Fairy Cow This ” Fairy Cow “ will be included in Kaarina’s upcoming group exhibition from January 10 to 26, 2026, at Mökkigalleria(Cottage Gallery).
It is photographed in nature, with ice. The colors in the image come from the flowers and the light from the sun. Both photos are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Satu Kekäläinen – Christmas tree light – Valokuusi
Satu Kekäläinen – Fairy Cow – Keijulehmä
Mari Knuuttila when painting becomes poetry
Mari Knuuttila born in Lapua, a town located in Southern Ostrobothnia and where she currently lives and creates her works in her studio. Marihas been painting for about seven years, although her main profession is that of Chief Inspector at the State Administrative Agency, a role that requires strict compliance with laws and regulations.
Through painting, Mari has found a way to give free rein to her visual art, free from rules or pre-established patterns.
You can find more information about Marion her Instagramand Facebookpages andwebsite For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Ornament Glow As a second paintings, she presents: Shadows in Flame Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Mari Knuuttila – Ornament Glow – Joulupallojen hehku
Mari Knuuttila – Shadows in Flame 81cm x 100cm
Ella Petman after a long journey she found her paradise
Ella Petman, born in Jyväskylä, central Finland, where she has lived most of her life, except for the period when she moved to Tampere while studying to join the police.
Since May 2023,Ella has begun to devote herself entirely to painting and has begun producing her works, which are mostly semi-abstract, leaving the observer complete freedom to interpret the painting according to their own vision.
You can find more information aboutElla on her Instagram page and website For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Lights of the North As a second painting , she presents: The Tale of the Nebula Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Ella Petman – Lights of the North
Ella Petman – The Tale of the Nebula
Meria Q aka Merja Sipiläinen-Kuhlberg, a mysterious artist who believes in miracles created by the free flow of the mind
Merja Sipiläinen-Kuhlberg was born inArtjärvi (Lake of Artin english) but lives in Turku, a beautiful city on the west coast of Finland. Meria Q became interested in art as a young girl, sketching evening dresses in her notebooks, and she cultivated this interest as a teenager by designing fabric prints.
As often happens, life sometimes takes strange turns, andMeria Q, abandoning her passion for art, took a different direction that led her into the world of marketing and business.
However, in early 2010, her artistic creativity reawakened and has been unstoppable ever since.
She learned acrylic painting during an astronomical painting course, and thanks to the guidance of excellent professional teachers, she acquired skills in mixed media and watercolor painting.
Once her artistic streak was rekindled, she began painting and drawing as much as possible.
She held her first solo exhibition in 2018, followed by numerous others.
You can find more information about Meria Q on her Instagram page and website For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Peace on Earth As a second painting , she presents: Can you hear the water flowing? Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Meria Q – Peace on Earth, watercolour size A5water
Meria Q – Can you hear the water flowing? – 27cmx35cm, mixed media
MAJ SJÖ from Finland comes with a breeze of positivity
Maj SJÖ, born in Helsinki, where she has a studio space in Kaapelitehdas, Finland’s largest cultural centre, but currently lives in Espoo where she also creates in her home studio.
When I first saw MaJ’sworks, I immediately understood how she managed to capture and convey in her art all those small and large miracles that life can give us day after day.
Her collection of works on the Archipelago and in general on everything that is sea or water (after all, her surname SJÖ in Swedish means lake/sea) can convey incredible emotions and for those like me who have experienced the magic that Hankocan convey, looking at her paintings that portray her means reliving moments of indescribable joy and serenity.
You can find more information about Maj on her Instagram and Facebook pages and website For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Many reasons to smile – Acrylic on canvas, 70cmx70cm As a second painting , she presents: Room of Vision – Oil on canvas, 40cmx40cm Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
MaJ Sjö – Many reasons to smile – Acrylic on canvas, 70cm x70cm
MaJ Sjö – Room of Vision – Oil on canvas, 40cmx40 cm
Martina Uthardt from Finland send a hymn to the joy of living
Martina Uthardt, born in Malax, where she currently lives in this big village and welcoming of about 5000 inhabitants in Southern Ostrobothnia, whereSwedishis spoken rather than Finnish (about 6% of Finns speak Swedish)
After a 10-year stint running a photography agency specializing in portraits, Martina has dedicated herself fully to painting professionally since 2021.
She has experimented with various techniques but currently prefers acrylic painting with its possibilities for layering and variations that make each painting alive and unique in different lights.
When I first saw Martina’s paintings, I was struck by how this artist was able to perfectly represent theFinlandI love so much.
You can find more information about Martina on herInstagramand Facebookpages and website For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: Joyful Christmas – 61cmx50cm As a second painting , she presents: held by Light Collection, ” Breeze-kissed waves “, 120cmx100cm Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Martina Uthardt – Joyful Christmas – 61cmx50cm
Martina Uthardt – “Breeze-kissed waves”- 120cmx100 cm
Ulla Väisänen from Finland between dream and reality!
Ulla Väisänen, born in Nerkoo, Lapinlahti, a small village in central Finland. Ulla currently lives in Jyväskylä, a beautiful city that offers the opportunity to live what I call “a Finnish life” where quality of life is definitely at the top of the scale of values for living a good life.
Studied atKuopio Academy of Design (Textile art, designer) and pedagogy atTampere Open University
You won’t believe it but when she was young, after watchingFellini’s film “La Strada”, she fell in love with Italy and even started studying Italian.
I don’t know if the vision of this masterpiece by Fellini, where fantasy and reality often alternate, has somehow influenced the artistic vein of Ulla who began drawing and painting as a teenager, certainly her art is a well-calibrated mix of symbolism, surrealism and a bit of realism.
Her works can be viewed and requested through her social channels, Instagram ( ullamirjam ) andFacebook( Ulla Väisänen )
For Christmas atmosphere, she presents the card : ” A Christmas elf girl sends greetings in the form of stars“ As a second painting , she presents: ” Angry birds ” – 90cm x70cm, she painted it in 2003 and finished it by adding more birds in 2025 The painting is available for purchase on her social media pages.
Ulla Väisänen – A Christmas elf girl sends greetings in the form of stars
Ulla Väisänen – Angry birds – 90cmx70cm
Liisa Viima – It’s never too late to bring joy and beauty into the world
Liisa Viima, born in Ouluand currently based in Espoo.
Although she began painting as a teenager and dreamed of becoming a professional artist, she chose a more conventional path, earning a master’s degree in economics and dedicating herself to her family, including raising two daughters and caring for horse – her lifelong passion.
After facing significant life challenges, Liisa experienced a personal transformation that led her back to her original calling: painting.
Her mission became clear – to bring joy and beauty into the world through her art. Liisa’s style is contemporary and abstract, often infused with elements of realism, surrealism, and even whimsy.
Recurring themes in her work include humanity, love, and forgiveness, expressed through symbolic imagery such as faces, hearts, stars, hands, the moon, pigeons and also horses.
For Liisa, horses represent courage and nobility values that have guided her life and artistic journey.
You can find more information about Liisa on herInstagramandFacebookpages and website
For Christmas atmosphere, she presents: ” Liisa ” 2022 – 60cm x90cm x2cm, it’s a Finnish horse that pulls logs with twice its weight in the cold and the painting is based on “Liisa“, the family mare from Mikko Niskanen blockbuster film As a second painting , she presents: ” Coeur des Coeurs ” 2023 – 90cm x90cmx4cm, represents Christ after suffering, when everything has been done and forgiven. Both paintings are available for purchase on her website.
Liisa Viima – Coeur des Coeurs – 90cmx90cmx4cm
Click on the photos to enlarge them
Satu Kekäläinen – Christmas tree light – Valokuusi
Mari Knuuttila – Ornament Glow – Joulupallojen hehku
Ella Petman – Lights of the North
Meria Q – Peace on Earth, watercolour size A5water
MaJ Sjö – Many reasons to smile – Acrylic on canvas, 70cm x70cm
Martina Uthardt – Joyful Christmas – 61cmx50cm
Ulla Väisänen – A Christmas elf girl sends greetings in the form of stars
In Finland, there’s a special word to describe the magic of autumn: Ruska, a natural spectacle that is experienced as a true tradition in Northern Europe. Ruska is considered the Nordic equivalent of Japanese hanami, a moment of celebration of nature to be seized when it is present for only a brief moment.
The northern region of Laplandis the starting point of Ruska, with its landscape of taiga and forest-covered hills, before continuing south.
The protagonists of Ruska are warm colors like red, orange, and yellow, but brown and the colors of the leaves aren’t the only wonders the forests offer: mushrooms and berries, such as blueberries and cranberries, are treasures that grow during this period.
For Finns, Ruska is more than just foliage, and “Ruskaretki” is a typical excursion beloved by many Finns and tourists, a collective ritual consisting of hikes in national parks, days spent in mökki (the wooden cabins by the lake), and mushroom and berry picking thanks to jokamiehenoikeus (the right of every man). Ruska is a precious time of contemplation and recharging, marking the end of summer and preparing for the long Nordic winter.
I’ve been to Laplandmany times during the Ruska season and have been fascinated not only by the gorgeously colored leaves on the trees but also, above all, by the veritable autumnal sea that accompanies you as you walk across the incredible shades of leaves.
Thinking about Ruska, I had the idea to ask eight incredibly talented Finnish artists to show us Ruska through their eyes, and I must say, the result of this experiment is truly astonishing, as you’ll see.
In the article, along with a brief introduction to the artist, you’ll find two paintings: the first is her Ruska and the second is one of her favorites, or the presentation of an upcoming solo exhibition.
I invite you to visit their social media pagesand websites to better understand their talent.
To Minna Pärttö, Ella Petman, Satu Kekäläinen, Mari Knuttila, Taru Rouhiainen, MaJ Sjö, Martina Uthardt, and Liisa Viima, I extend my heartfelt thanks for making my idea of presenting Finnish Ruska in a slightly different way possible.
Minna Pärttö – Furu, 2021,81x100cm, acrylic on canvas
Ella Petman – Ruska, 54×65 cm, acrylics on canvas
Satu Kekäläinen- Kupliva syksy, Bubbling autumn
Mari Knuttila – Autumn Glow (Syyshehku) – diameter 40 cm
Taru Rouhiainen -Violet, 2022, mixed medium on linen 33x41cm
Maj Sjö – Magic Happens , Acrylic on canvas, 2025 , 50×50 cm
Martina Uthardt – Midsummer in Sapmi, 100 x 81 cm – sold
Liisa Viima – Lighthouse, 55 x 46 x 2 cm. Oil on canvas
Minna Pärttö and the art of discovering emotions between past and present
Minnalives in Inkeroinen, southern Finland, and began painting regularly in 2019.
Since then, she has participated in exhibitions both in her home country and abroad.
Painting has becomeMinna’snatural way of expressing herself, because sometimes it’s not easy to put into words what you feel inside, and for her, art has become a preferred channel for expressing those emotions that are difficult to put into words.
You can find more information about Minna on her social media pages,Instagram andFacebook.
For Ruska, she presents: Furu, 2021, 81x100cm, acrylic on canvas.
As a second painting, she presents: I Can Still See You, 81x100cm, acrylic on canvas. Both paintings are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Minna Pärttö – Furu, 2021,81x100cm, acrylic on canvas
Minna Pärttö – I Can Still see You, 81x100cm, acrylic on canvas
Ella Petman after a long journey she found her paradise
Ella Petman, born in Jyväskylä, central Finland, where she has lived most of her life, except for the period when she moved to Tampere while studying to join the police.
Since May 2023,Ella has begun to devote herself entirely to painting and has begun producing her works, which are mostly semi-abstract, leaving the observer complete freedom to interpret the painting according to their own vision.
You can find more information aboutElla on her Instagram page and website
For Ruska, she presents: Ruska, 54×65 cm, acrylics on canvas,
As a second painting, she presents: Fulfilled with love, 70x90x3 cm, acrylics on canvas Both paintings are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Ella Petman – Ruska, 54×65 cm, acrylics on canvas
Ella Petman –
Satu Kekäläinen a fairy tale born from ice
Satu Kekäläinen, she was born inHelsinki, but after living in various places acrossFinland, she currently lives in Lieto.
Ice is a sort of common threadthat has accompanied Satu throughout her life, but artistically it all began in 2015 when, needing to find strength and breathe fresh air, she immersed herself in the nature of nearby Lake Littoistenjärvi, and since it was winter, she began photographing with her camera the figures she saw in the lake ice.
You can see her works on her Instagramand Facebookpages and website
For Ruska, she presents: Bubbling autumn
As a second photos, she presents: Autumn look
In January 2026 she will partecipate in an exhibition at the Mökkigalleria(cottage gallery) in Kaarina Both photos are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Satu Kekäläinen- Kupliva syksy, Bubbling autumn
Satu Kekäläinen-Syksyn ilme, Autumn look
Mari Knuuttila when painting becomes poetry
Mari Knuuttila born in Lapua, a town located in Southern Ostrobothnia and where she currently lives and creates her works in her studio. Marihas been painting for about seven years, although her main profession is that of Chief Inspector at the State Administrative Agency, a role that requires strict compliance with laws and regulations.
Through painting, Mari has found a way to give free rein to her visual art, free from rules or pre-established patterns.
You can find more information about Marion her Instagramand Facebookpages andwebsite
For Ruska, she presents: Autumn Glow(Syyshehku)– diameter 40 cm
As a second painting, she presents: Golden Trace– 80×100 cm Both paintings are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Mari Knuttila – Autumn Glow (Syyshehku) – diameter 40 cm
Mari Knuttila – Golden Trace – 80×100 cm
Taru Rouhiainen when art transforms into joy of living
Taru Rouhiainen born inHyvinkää but currently lives in Vantaa. Taru’s is one of those stories that shows us how not only painting, but art in general, can be the best medicine for overcoming difficult times.
In 2020, after the crisis,Taru found herself needing something that would allow her not only to stay busy but also to process and express her feelings.And so, making a life-changing choice, she enrolled in a painting course and fell in love with art!
Before discovering painting, she had always appreciated colors and, above all, their effect on our emotions, bringing joy into our homes.
You can find more information about Taru on her Instagram and Facebook pages and website For Ruska, she presents: Violet, 2022, mixed medium on linen 33x41cm
As a second painting, she presents: Red, 2025, mixed medium on linen 33x40cm Both paintings are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Taru Rouhiainen -Violet, 2022, mixed medium on linen 33x41cm
Taru Rouhiainen – Red, 2025, mixed medium on linen 33x40cm
MAJ SJÖ from Finland comes with a breeze of positivity
Maj SJÖ, born in Helsinki, where she has a studio space in Kaapelitehdas, Finland’s largest cultural centre, but currently lives in Espoo where she also creates in her home studio.
When I first saw MaJ’sworks, I immediately understood how she managed to capture and convey in her art all those small and large miracles that life can give us day after day.
Her collection of works on the Archipelago and in general on everything that is sea or water (after all, her surname SJÖ in Swedish means lake/sea) can convey incredible emotions and for those like me who have experienced the magic that Hankocan convey, looking at her paintings that portray her means reliving moments of indescribable joy and serenity.
You can find more information about Maj on her Instagram and Facebook pages and website
For Ruska, she presents: Magic Happens , Acrylic on canvas, 2025 , 50×50 cm
As a second chanche, she presents: the poster of her next solo exhibition which opens on November 1st in Helsinki Painting is available for purchase on her social media pages.
Maj Sjö – Magic Happens , Acrylic on canvas, 2025 , 50×50 cm
Maj Sjö – HOUSE OF ALCHEMY – personal exhibition Take Me Home Galleria, Helsinki
Martina Uthardt from Finland send a hymn to the joy of living
Martina Uthardt, born in Malax, where she currently lives in this big village and welcoming of about 5000 inhabitants in Southern Ostrobothnia, whereSwedishis spoken rather than Finnish (about 6% of Finns speak Swedish)
After a 10-year stint running a photography agency specializing in portraits, Martina has dedicated herself fully to painting professionally since 2021.
She has experimented with various techniques but currently prefers acrylic painting with its possibilities for layering and variations that make each painting alive and unique in different lights.
When I first saw Martina’s paintings, I was struck by how this artist was able to perfectly represent theFinlandI love so much.
You can find more information about Martina on herInstagramand Facebookpages and website
For Ruska, she presents: Midsummer in Sapmi, 100 x 81 cm
As a second painting, she presents: Blue Dreams, 100 x 81 cm Sapmi it’s the real name for Lapland The second painting is available for purchase on her website
Martina Uthardt – Midsummer in Sapmi, 100 x 81 cm – sold
Martina Uthardt – Blue Dreams, 100 x 81 cm
Liisa Viima – It’s never too late to bring joy and beauty into the world
Liisa Viima, born in Ouluand currently based in Espoo.
Although she began painting as a teenager and dreamed of becoming a professional artist, she chose a more conventional path, earning a master’s degree in economics and dedicating herself to her family, including raising two daughters and caring for horse – her lifelong passion.
After facing significant life challenges, Liisa experienced a personal transformation that led her back to her original calling: painting.
Her mission became clear – to bring joy and beauty into the world through her art. Liisa’s style is contemporary and abstract, often infused with elements of realism, surrealism, and even whimsy.
Recurring themes in her work include humanity, love, and forgiveness, expressed through symbolic imagery such as faces, hearts, stars, hands, the moon, pigeons and also horses.
For Liisa, horses represent courage and nobility values that have guided her life and artistic journey.
You can find more information about Liisa on herInstagramandFacebookpages and website
For Ruska, she presents: Lighthouse, 55 x 46 x 2 cm, Oil on canvas
As a second painting, she presents:Soul, 60 x 40 cm, mixed media on paper Both paintings are available for purchase on her social media pages.
Liisa Viima – Lighthouse, 55 x 46 x 2 cm. Oil on canvas
Liisa Viima – Soul,60 x 40 cm. Mixed media on paper
Today I’m pleased to introduce you to Finnish artistAnnika Aro, born in Iitti, a small village in the Päijät-Häme region of southern Finland, and currently residing in Vantaa.
As a child, Annika loved reading and drawing and was very creative and a dreamer, but she had the level head to excel in school and put in the effort she put in at everything she did – the classic “good girl” who wants to please everyone and thus gain everyone’s approval.
Her passion for art and an innate creativity accompanied her throughout her adolescence, but after graduating and moving from her small native village, her creative side abandoned her to the point of thinking she had lost it completely.
For 20 years, she focused on her studies and a career in marketing, and also studied to become a nutritionist, but during this time, her relationship with art faded.
But life sometimes takes strange turns and brings you back to square one, but the greatest thing about all this is that the new beginning will be experienced differently because you are no longer the same, but you have changed.
And that’s exactly what happened to Annikawhen, in 2020, after separating from her partner, she moved into her own apartment, where she felt her creativity reawaken within her.
She began painting again and hasn’t stopped since, and over time she has modified and refined her painting technique.
At first, she used watercolors, drawing inspiration from her grandmother’s old photos, a path she enjoyed but which somehow stifled her desire for freedom, which truly emerged when she approached abstract painting. Annikapaints intuitive, abstract works in which the layered and ever-evolving pictorial process becomes visible, and her works are composed of multiple dimensions of color, mood, and form.
Through her creative process and her inner world, Annika uses abstract expression as a tool to convey intuitions and emotional states that are difficult to express in words.
Today, Annika can be considered a well-rounded artist who expresses herself primarily with acrylics, but also occasionally uses watercolors and freehand drawing, a playful medium that simultaneously relaxes and creates, yet without pressure.
Especially in her depictions of the human figure, the technique creates an intriguing, organic atmosphere that adds depth and emotion to the work. Annika is a member of the Suomen Taiteilijat Ryand the Helsingin Taideyhdistys.
Her works have been exhibited in several group shows and galleries in the Helsinkimetropolitan area, and in 2024 and 2025, she also participated in the summer exhibitions at the beautiful Strömfors Ironworks in Loviisa, Finland.
In addition to painting, Annikaloves exploring creativity as a channel of empowerment and a tool to overcome the exhaustion, oppression, and lack of deep meaning she often experiences in her 9-to-5 office job.
In recent years, creativity has also become a gateway to deeper self-knowledge and understanding, leading her to share and discuss these topics on her creativity-focused Instagram account @mariannica.art, where she has also created a transformative coaching service on these topics.
Also, something really interesting is that she organizes Paint & Wine events in Helsinki with her fellow artist Kaisa Palonen.
Together, they teach painting, and participants can unleash their creativity while painting and sipping a glass of wine!
For information and contact, you can find them on Instagram at @sivelvin.
You can find more information about Annika Aro through her Instagram page:@mariannica.artand her website www.annikaaro.com
Annika Aro la vita a volte fa dei giri strani e ti riporta al punto di partenza, l’arte!
Oggi sono lieto di presentarvi l’artista finlandeseAnnika Aro nata a Iitti, un piccolo villaggio situato nella regione del Päijät-Häme situata nella Finlandia meridionale e attualmente residente a Vantaa.
Da bambina Annika amava leggere e disegnare ed era molto creativa e sognatrice ma con la testa sulle spalle quanto basta per essere molto brava a scuola e capace di impegnarsi al massimo in tutto quello che faceva, la classica “brava ragazza” che vuole accontentare tutti per ottenere di conseguenza l’approvazione di tutti.
La passione per l’arte e una innata creatività l’hanno accompagnata per tutta l’adolescenza ma dopo aver conseguito la laurea e il trasferimento dal piccolo villaggio natio il suo lato creativo l’ha abbandonata fino al punto di pensare di averlo perso del tutto.
Per 20 anni si è concentrata sugli studi e sulla carriera nel marketing, e ha anche studiato per diventare nutrizionista e in questo periodo il suo rapporto con l’arte è venuto meno.
Ma la vita a volte fa dei giri strani e ti riporta al punto di partenza, ma la cosa più grande di tutto questo è che il nuovo inizio sarà vissuto in modo diverso perché tu non sei più lo stesso, ma sei cambiato.
Ed è proprio quello che è successo ad Annikaquando nel 2020 dopo essersi separata dal suo compagno si è trasferita in un appartamento tutto suo dove ha sentito la creatività risvegliarsi nuovamente dentro di lei.
Ha ricominciato a dipingere e non ha più smesso, e nel tempo ha modificato ed affinato la sua tecnica pittorica.
Agli inizi ha usato gli acquerelli, ispirandosi a vecchie foto della nonna un percorso che le piaceva ma che in qualche modo soffocava la sua voglia di libertà che è uscita fuori alla grande nel momento in cui si è avvicinata alla pittura astratta. Annika dipinge opere intuitive e astratte in cui il processo pittorico stratificato e in continua evoluzione diventa visibile, e le sue opere sono composte da molteplici dimensioni di colore, umore e forma. Attraverso il suo processo creativo e il suo mondo interiore, Annika utilizza l’espressione astratta come strumento per trasmettere intuizioni e stati emotivi difficilmente esprimibili a parole.
Oggi si può dire che Annikaè un’artista a tutto tondo che si esprime principalmente con l’acrilico ma non disdegna ogni tanto l’acquerello e il disegno a mano libera che è un modo giocoso capace di rilassare e creare al tempo stesso, ma senza pressione.
Soprattutto nelle raffigurazioni della figura umana, la tecnica crea un’atmosfera intrigante e organica che aggiunge profondità ed emozione all’opera. Annikaè membro del Suomen Taiteilijat Rye del Helsingin Taideyhdistys.
Le sue opere sono state esposte in diverse mostre collettive e gallerie nell’area metropolitana di Helsinki e, nel 2024 e nel 2025, ha anche partecipato alle mostre estive presso la splendida Strömfors Ironworks a Loviisa, in Finlandia. Annika oltre alla pittura, ama esplorare la creatività come canale di empowerment e strumento per superare la stanchezza, l’oppressione e la mancanza di significato profondo che ha spesso sperimentato nel suo lavoro d’ufficio dalle 9 alle 17.
Negli ultimi anni, la creatività è diventata anche una porta d’accesso a una più profonda conoscenza e comprensione di sé, tanto da portarla a condividere e parlare di questi temi sul suo account Instagram dedicato alla creatività @mariannica.art dove è presente anche un servizio di coaching trasformativo su questi temi.
Inoltre, cosa davvero molto interessante organizza eventi Paint&Wine a Helsinkicon la sua collega artista Kaisa Palonen, insieme insegnano a dipingere e i partecipanti possono liberare la loro creatività dipingendo e sorseggiando un bicchiere di vino!
Per informazioni e contatti le trovate su Instagram con il nome @sivelvin
Potete trovare maggiori informazioni su Annika Aro attraverso la sua pagina Instragram : @mariannica.art e il suo sito web www.annikaaro.com
Annika Aro – Serenity
Annika Aro – Bliss
Annika Aro – Rebirth
Annika Aro – Orchid
Annika Aro – Triangle Drama 1
Annika Aro – Triangle Drama 2
Annika Aro – Triangle Drama 3
Annika Aro – Finding Joy
Annika Aro – TRUST
Annika Aro – Frequencies
Annika Aro – The Wait
Annika Aro – Transitions
Annika Aro – Roots
Annika Aro – What title would you give to this painting?
Art exhibitions
Cable Factory, Helsinki Annual exhibition, Finnish Artists Association 11.-31.8.2025 Cable Factory, Helsinki Rhythms, Helsinki Art Association 11.-31.8.2025 Strömfors Ironworks, Loviisa Eudaimonia. Group exhibition Annika Aro, Lotta Sahrqvist, Sanna Nyberg & Marie-Elisabeth Tiitinen 4.-30.7.2025 Piano Art Gallery, Helsinki Joint exhibition Annika Aro & Sanna Nyberg 6.3.-13.5.2025 Opus Business Park, Helsinki Private exhibition 5.2.-3.8.2025 Jorvi Hospital, Espoo Joy and Inspiration, Helsinki Art Association 26.1.-22.2.2025 Strömfors Ironworks, Loviisa Eudaimonia. Group exhibition Annika Aro, Lotta Sahrqvist, Sanna Nyberg & Marie-Elisabeth Tiitinen 4.-30.7.2025 Aatos Gallery, Porvoo Joint exhibition Annika Aro & Sanna Nyberg 8.-31.1.2025 Strömfors Ironworks, Loviisa On the growth curve. Group exhibition Annika Aro, Lotta Sahrqvist, Sanna Nyberg & Marie-Elisabeth Tiitinen 1.-31.8.2024 Petite & Cherie Gallery, Helsinki Group exhibition 29.6.-27.7.2024 Cable Factory, Helsinki Splendor themed exhibition, Association of Finnish Artists April 1-14, 2024 Fogga Gallery, Helsinki Call of the Jungle, group exhibition 2023 Fogga Gallery, Helsinki Together for a new beginning, joint exhibition 2022
Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to a Finnish artist, Minna Pärttö who lives in Inkeroinen, southern Finland.
Since she was a child, Minna has always enjoyed painting, making music, and engaging in all kinds of creative activities.
Immersed in the world and atmosphere of art, Minna felt at ease, surrounded by a sense of peace and calm.
As the years passed, her creative pursuits faded into the background, but that spark ignited at an early age remains within her. Minna holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, with a focus on psychologyand social psychology.
Beyond the theoretical aspect, Minna wanted a more holistic approach to human well-being, and she discovered Emotional reflexology , which considers the person as a combination of thoughts, emotions, and body.
This school was the fundamental reason why painting resurfaced in her life.
These studies allowed her to delve deeply into herself, examining her identity and emotional heritage.
She began painting regularly in 2019 and has since participated in exhibitions both in her home country and abroad.
Painting has become Minna’snatural way of expressing herself, because sometimes it’s not easy to put into words what you feel inside, and for her, art has become a preferred channel for expressing those emotions that are difficult to put into words. Minnadraws inspiration for her works from the details and patina of time found in nature.
Weather-worn concrete walls, rusted pillars, or rocks smoothed by flowing water have always struck her as beautiful, and she remains fascinated by how time leaves its mark on everything that exists.
The patina of time emerges spontaneously, unforced, but naturally, bringing with it depth, layers, and perspective.
Her works take shape slowly, and after an initial impression of sobriety,s he allows details, colors, and textures to emerge from the painting.
Her abstract painting is intuitive, where colors, techniques, and shapes are selected gradually as the pictorial process progresses.
For Minna, intuitive painting means above all trust in a creative process free from unnecessary rules, where each brushstroke moves towards a result that is due to the complete acceptance of any imperfections that increase the interest of the creative process until the work is completed.
Sometimes, however, frustrations and questions are part of this journey, but the important thing is being able to overcome them to reach the desired goal.
For Minna, painting is, above all, a moment to stop and be with herself.
Her thoughts calm down and her emotions emerge, leading her to a kind of introspective meditation.
As she paints, those emotions that are still subconscious emerge, and very often, the subconscious in each of us is like a bridge to our own history.
Thus, past generations, their stories and emotions, intertwine with the emotions that pervade Minna, almost creating a channel through which to recognize the emotional legacy passed down from generation to generation.
You can find more information about Minna on her social media pages: Instagram Facebook
Minna Pärttö e l’arte di scoprire emozioni tra passato e presente
Con grande piacere oggi vi presento un’artista finlandese Minna Pärttö che vive a Inkeroinen, nella Finlandia meridionale.
A Minna fin da bambina è sempre piaciuto dipingere, fare musica e dedicarsi a ogni tipo di attività creativa.
Immersa com’era nel mondo e nell’atmosfera dell’arte Minnasi sentiva a suo agio, circondata da un senso di pace e calma.
Con il passare degli anni, le attività creative sono passate in secondo piano, ma quella scintilla accesa in tenera età continua a rimanere dentro di lei.
Minna ha conseguito una laurea magistrale in Scienze Sociali, con studi incentrati su psicologia e psicologia sociale.
Accanto all’aspetto teorico, Minnadesiderava avere un approccio più olistico al benessere umano, e ha scoperto la Riflessologia emozionale, che considera la persona come un insieme di pensieri, emozioni e corpo.
Questa scuola è stata la ragione fondamentale per cui la pittura è tornata ad affacciarsi nella sua vita.
Questi studi le hanno consentito un’immersione profonda in se stessa, un esame della propria identità e del proprio patrimonio emotivo.
Ha iniziato a dipingere regolarmente nel 2019 e da allora ha partecipato a mostre sia nel suo paese d’origine che all’estero.
La pittura per Minna è diventata il suo modo naturale di esprimersi, perché a volte non è facile esprimere a parole quello che si prova dentro e per lei l’arte è diventata un canale preferenziale per far conoscere quelle emozioni difficile da esprimere a parole. Minna trae ispirazione per le sue opere dai dettagli e dalla patina del tempo che si trova nella natura, muri di cemento consumati dalle intemperie, pilastri arrugginiti o rocce levigate dallo scorrere dell’acqua a lei sono sempre sembrati bellissimi e rimane affascinata da come il tempo lasci il suo segno su tutto ciò che esiste.
La patina del tempo nasce spontanea, senza forzature, ma naturalmente e porta con se profondità , strati e prospettiva.
Le sue opere prendono forma lentamente e dopo un’iniziale impressione di sobrietà fa in modo che dettagli, colori e texture emergano dal dipinto.
La sua pittura astratta è intuitiva dove colori, tecniche e forme vengono selezionati man mano che il processo pittorico procede.
Per Minna la pittura intuitiva significa soprattutto fiducia nel processo di creazione libero da regole inutili, dove ogni pennellata si muove verso un risultato che è dovuto alla completa accettazione anche di eventuali imperfezioni che aumentano l’interesse del processo creativo fino ad arrivare al completamento dell’opera e talvolta però frustrazioni e interrogativi fanno parte di questo percorso, ma l’importante è riuscire a superarle per arrivare alla meta prefissata.
Per Minna, dipingere è , soprattutto fermarsi per stare con se stessa, i suoi pensieri si placano e le sue emozioni si appalesano portandola a vivere una sorta di meditazione introspettiva.
Durante la pittura in Minna si fanno spazio quelle emozioni che sono ancora a livello subconscio e molto spesso il subconscio in ognuno di noi è come un ponte verso la propria storia.
Ecco così che le generazioni passate, le loro storie e le loro emozioni, si intrecciano con le emozioni che pervadono Minnaquasi a creare un canale dove poter riconoscere l’eredità emotiva tramandata di generazione in generazione.
Potete trovare maggiori notizie su Minna sulle sue pagine social Instagram Facebook
Minna Pärttö – Sky BeneathMinna Pärttö – Far and Away
Today I’m delighted to introduce you to Finnish artistKatja Stefanovic, born in Kuopio but currently lives in Lahti.
Although she began drawing and painting as a child, Katja only began dedicating herself full-time to painting in 2021, when an even deeper passion for art developed within her.
Before becoming a full-time artist, Katja worked as a hairdresser and singer, and she continues to sing and compose music in addition to her art.
Her paintings express an abstract realism created with a wide range of acrylic colors, often mixed with gold.
She loves to portray the hypnotic beauty of flowers and nature, sometimes incorporating human or animal figures to give the painting a different depth.
Her mission is to bring beauty, joy, hope, and harmony through her art to this broken world, something that makes the soul soar with ease toward happiness.
In a world where frenzy reigns supreme, Katja invites those who are about to view her works to take a break and reconnect with the childlike essence that resides within each of us, allowing us to see the world through eyes guided by that kind of childlike wonder that knows no filters, only profound feelings of freedom.
One of her latest abstract paintings, ” My Kind of Elegance “ conveys a sense of calm and harmony through a wild and colorful look. Katja pays close attention to the quality of the materials she uses for her works, because a work of art must remain intact over time.
For this reason, she uses wedge frames and fabrics purchased from a reliable, national manufacturer.
The wedge frames and spacers are made of specially dried, knot-free national pine.
Above all, they are highly durable and retain their shape over time, while the canvas fabric is made of high-quality, medium-to-coarse linen.
The acrylic paints she uses are exclusively high-quality pigments, offering excellent lightfastness, coverage, durability, and resistance.
You can find her work on two Instagram pages: Bella Katrien, which focuses on floral art, and Katja Stefanovic art design, which includes all types of art she creates.
On her website,www.bellakatrien.com you’ll also find all the prices for her work and how to purchase it. Instagram Bella Katrien Katja Stefanovic art Website
Katja Stefanovic e il suo realismo astratto ti portano nel mondo delle meraviglie
Con grande piacere oggi vi presento l’artista finlandeseKatja Stefanovicnata a Kuopio ma attualmente residente a Lahti.
Pur avendo iniziato a disegnare e dipingere da bambina, Katja ha iniziato a dedicarsi a tempo pieno alla pittura solo dal 2021 da quando si è sviluppata in lei una passione per l’arte ancora più profonda.
Prima di intraprendere l’attività di artista a tempo pieno Katja ha lavorato come parrucchiera e cantante, e tuttora continua a cantare e comporre musica oltre a dedicarsi all’arte.
La sua pittura racconta di un realismo astratto creato con colori acrilici utilizzati in una gamma piuttosto ampia e spesso mescolati con oro.
Ama ritrarre la bellezza ipnotica dei fiori e della natura, a volte inserendo figure umane o animali capaci di dare una diversa profondità al dipinto.
La mission che si è data consiste nel portare bellezza, gioia, speranza e armonia attraverso la sua arte in questo mondo spezzato, qualcosa che faccia volare l’anima con facilità verso la felicità.
In un mondo dove la frenesia la fa da padrona, Katja invita chi si appresta a visionare le sue opere a prendersi una pausa per ritornare in contatto con l’essere bambino che alberga dentro ognuno di noi e che ci permette di guardare il mondo attraverso gli occhi guidati da quella sorta di meraviglia infantile che non conosce filtri ma solo sentimenti profondi e di libertà.
Uno dei suoi ultimi dipinti astratti dal titolo “ My Kind of Elegance “ è capace di trasmettere un senso di calma e armonia attraverso un look selvaggio e molto colorato. Katja è molto attenta alla qualità dei materiali che usa per le sue opere perché una opera d’arte per essere tale deve mantenersi integra nel tempo.
Per questo motivo usa cornici a cuneo e tessuti acquistati da un produttore non solo nazionale ma anche affidabile.
Le cornici a cuneo e i distanziatori sono realizzati in pino nazionale, appositamente essiccato e privo di nodi, ma soprattutto sono molto resistenti e mantengono inalterata la loro forma nel tempo, mentre il tessuto della tela è in lino di alta qualità, di grana medio-grossa.
I colori acrilici da lei utilizzati sono solo ed unicamente pigmenti di altissima qualità capaci di avere un’eccellente resistenza alla luce, copertura, durata e resistenza.
Le sue opere le potete trovare sulle due pagine Instagram :Bella Katrien che si concentra sull’arte floreale e Katja Stefanovic art designche include tutti i tipi di arte da lei realizzati
Mentre sulla sua pagina web www.bellakatrien.com troverete anche tutti i prezzi delle sue opere e le modalità per poterle acquistare Instagram Bella Katrien Katja Stefanovic art Website
My Kind Of Elegance – Katja StefanovicA Happy Day – Katja Stefanovic
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the Finnish artistElla Petman, born in Jyväskylä, central Finland, where she has lived most of her life, except for the period when she moved to Tampere while studying to join the police.
As a girl, she was fascinated by art and her paternal grandmother wanted her to attend Art school to become an artist, but as often happens, life sometimes takes us on strange twists and turns that, like in Ella’s case, end up right where they should have begun.
She worked as a police officer, having the opportunity to see the dark side of life for 12 years, until indoor air problems made her ill, effectively forcing her to change jobs.
And here, a first bell rang in Ella’s mind and she became passionate about tattooing and, since there were no schools in Finland to learn this art, she went to study privately in Hua Hin, Thailand, to learn from a tattoo artist.
Having learned the art of tattooing, she returned to Finlandand started working on her own, and after a year she dared to open her own tattoo studio, Kanthima, in Jyväskyä in 2006.
Her strengths were her attention to detail, precision, and ability to listen to the client with such a sensitive ear that the tattooed image became what the client had in her thoughts but was unable to fully describe what she actually wanted.
She designed and created almost all the images herself, so her artistic streak was no longer just a bell and whistle, but something that was guiding Ella on the path to rediscovering her true self.
After 18 years as a tattoo artist, her shoulders were too sore to continue, and so after a long journey,Ella found her paradise by dedicating herself to something she’d been waiting for her whole life: painting!
Since May 2023, Ella has begun to devote herself entirely to painting and has begun producing her works, which are mostly semi-abstract, leaving the observer complete freedom to interpret the painting according to their own vision.
She attended artist Emmi Mustonen’soil painting course and Säde Numminen’sintensive Artistic Growth Program, laying the foundation for the best period of her life.
She describes herself as a creator of stories on canvas through color and draws much inspiration from nature, particularly flowers, which represent the fragility of life and its entire cycle, femininity, sensitivity, and the ability and tenacity to rise again and bloom again.
She paints for herself, but she also works on commission to create custom paintings.
She leverages her twenty years of experience as an art entrepreneur to listen to her clients’ desires and provide advice on the right color scheme and size to perfectly match the space in which the painting will be displayed.
She also paints the edges of all her works, so a frame is not necessary and the painting can be hung on the wall as is.
As a fledgling artist, she hasn’t yet participated in many exhibitions, and those few have all been in her hometown.
However, recently, one of her paintings was exhibited at the annualHabitare interior design fair, held in Helsinkifrom September 10 to 14, 2025.
This participation was very significantfor her and a good omen for others that are sure to come.
You can find more information about Ellaon her Instagram page and website, where you can admire her paintings and request quotes and information via email.
Ella Petman dopo un lungo viaggio ha trovato il suo paradiso
Con grande piacere oggi vi presento l’artista finlandeseElla Petman nata a Jyväskylä, nella Finlandia centrale, dove ha vissuto gran parte della sua vita meno il periodo in cui si è trasferita a Tampere quando studiava per entrare in Polizia.
Da ragazza era affascinata dall’arte e la nonna paterna avrebbe voluto che lei frequentasse la scuola d’Arte per diventare un’artista, ma come molto spesso succede la vita a volte ci porta a fare dei giri strani che talvolta come nel caso di Ellafiniscono proprio dove avrebbero dovuto cominciare. Ella ha lavorato come agente di polizia avendo l’opportunità di vedere il lato oscuro della vita per ben 12 anni, fino a quando dei problemi di aria interna l’hanno fatta ammalare costringendola di fatto a cambiare lavoro.
E qui, un primo campanellino è suonato nella mente di Ellache si è appassionata al tatuaggio e non essendoci in Finlandia scuole per imparare quest’arte è andata a studiare privatamente a Hua Hin in Thailandia per imparare da una tatuatrice.
Imparata l’arte del tatuaggio, una volta ritornata in Finlandia ha iniziato a lavorare in proprio e dopo un anno ha osato aprire il suo studio di tatuaggi, Kanthima, a Jyväskylä nel 2006.
I suoi punti di forza erano l’attenzione, la precisione e la capacitàdi ascoltare il cliente con un orecchio talmente sensibile da far diventare l’immagine tatuata quello che il cliente aveva nei suoi pensieri ma non riusciva a descrivere al meglio quello che in realtà voleva.
Ha progettato e creato quasi tutte le immagini da sola, e quindi la vena artistica non era solo più un campanellino ma era qualcosa che stava indirizzando Ella verso la strada per ritrovare la vera se stessa.
Dopo 18 anni di professione come tatuatore le sue spalle erano troppo doloranti per continuare e così dopo un lungo viaggio Ellaha trovato il suo Paradiso dedicandosi a qualcosa che aspettava da tutta la vita, dipingere!
Da maggio 2023Ellaha iniziato a dedicarsi in toto alla pittura e ha iniziato a produrre le sue opere che sono per lo più semi-astratte, lasciando all’osservatore una totale libertà di interpretazione del dipinto a seconda della propria visione.
Ha seguito il corso di pittura a olio dell’artista Emmi Mustonen e il corso intensivo di Säde Numminen – Programma di Crescita Artistica creandosi le basi per poter iniziare il periodo migliore della sua vita. Ella di lei dice che èuna creatrice di storie su tela attraverso il colore e trae molta ispirazione dalla natura e in modo particolare dai fiori che rappresentano la fragilità della vita e il suo intero ciclo, la femminilità, la sensibilità e la capacità e caparbietà di risorgere e sbocciare ogni volta. Ella dipinge per se stessa, ma lavora anche su commissione per eseguire dipinti personalizzati per i quali è in grado di mettere a disposizione la sua esperienza ventennale come imprenditore nel settore dell’arte nel saper ascoltare il cliente nei suoi desiderata e nel fornirgli consigli sulla giusta combinazione di colori da scegliere e le dimensioni giuste per adattarsi perfettamente all’ambiente in cui verrà collocato il dipinto.
Dipinge anche i bordi di tutte le sue opere, quindi non è necessaria la cornice e il dipinto può essere appeso al muro così com’è.
Essendo un’artista alle prime armi non ha ancora partecipato a molte mostre, e quelle poche sono state tutte nella sua città, ma proprio recentemente un suo dipinto è stato esposto alla fiera annuale di interior design Habitareche si è tenuta a Helsinki dal 10 al 14 settembre 2025, e questa partecipazione è stata per lei molto significativa e di buon auspicio per le altre che di sicuro arriveranno.
Troverete maggiori notizie su Ella sulla pagina Instagram e sul sito webdove potrete ammirare i suoi dipinti e richiedere quotazioni e informazioni tramite la sua email.
Today I’m delighted to introduce you to Finnish artistLiisa Viima, born in Oulu and currently based in Espoo.
Although she began painting as a teenager and dreamed of becoming a professional artist, she chose a more conventional path, earning a master’s degree in economics and dedicating herself to her family, including raising two daughters and caring for horse – her lifelong passion.
After facing significant life challenges, Liisa experienced a personal transformation that led her back to her original calling: painting.
In 2022–2023, she completed the Milan Art Institute’s online Mastery Program (USA), which helped her refine her technique and reconnect with her artistic vision.
Her mission became clear – to bring joy and beautyinto the world through her art. Liisa’sstyle is contemporary and abstract, often infused with elements of realism, surrealism, and even whimsy.
Her expressive use of color ranges from bold, intense hues to harmonious limited palettes.
She primarily works with oil on canvas and has developed a unique mixed-media technique using gypsum, stencils, stone fragments, tiles, and broken glass, finished with shimmering mica pigments and resin.
Recurring themes in her work include humanity, love, and forgiveness, expressed through symbolic imagery such as faces, hearts, stars, hands, the moon, pigeons and also horses.
For Liisa, horses represent courage and nobility values that have guided her life and artistic journey.
Her influences include classical art, particularly Don Diego Velázquez’sCrucified Christ (1632), and ancient legends that inspire her creative process.
Since 2023, Liisa has been a member of the Finnish Artists’ Association and has held several solo and group exhibitions, including curated shows.
She was honored with Letters of Honor from the Pinacotheque, a private museum in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in both 2022 and 2024 as part of the Luxembourg Art Prize competition.
In 2024, she was also invited to exhibit her work with Artrewards (Norway), Artsy (USA), and Artmajeur (France).
Her commissioned works are typically large-scale and conceived for specific spaces or themes.
She is currently working on a new collection titled Modern Icons, of which she has completed seven paintings so far.
One of them, Ego Eimi, was been selected for the annual exhibition curated by the Finnish Artists’ Associationat the Cable Factory Art Center in Helsinki in August 2025.
On her website, you will find all her worksdivided into sections: Ad Astra– her first collection, dedicated to universal themes Lines of Light – a collection of mixed media on paper and her new, innovative epoxy resin works Lines of Life – a series of oil paintings on canvas, begun in the fall of 2021 Jewels – a vibrant abstract collection focused on colour, also featuring two mini-series: Quartetand Breath of Spring Liisa paints in her peaceful lakeside home, where the sunrise often fuels her creativity.
She believes that while life can be harsh, change is always possible and if even one heart is moved by her art, her mission is fulfilled.
For Liisa, the true measure of art lies in the emotions it evokes.
Understanding a piece isn’t about logic, but feeling and that’s the essence of an artist’s life: to help others feel and connect.
You can explore Liisa Viima’s work and inquire about purchasing pieces through her email, website, Instagram, and Facebook: email:viima@gmail.com Instagram: @annaliisaviima Facebook: Liisa Viima Website: www.liisaviima.com TikTok: @liisaviima
Liisa Viima – Non è mai troppo tardi per portare gioia e bellezza nel mondo
Oggi sono lieto di presentarvi l’artista finlandeseLiisa Viima, nata a Oulue attualmente residente a Espoo.
Sebbene abbia iniziato a dipingere da adolescente e sognasse di diventare un’artista professionista, ha scelto un percorso più convenzionale, conseguendo un master in economia e dedicandosi alla sua famiglia, tra cui la crescita di due figlie e la cura dei cavalli, la sua passione di sempre.
Dopo aver affrontato importanti sfide nella vita, Liisa ha vissuto una trasformazione personale che l’ha riportata alla sua vocazione originale: la pittura.
Nel 2022-2023, ha completato il Mastery Programonline del Milan Art Institute (USA), che l’ha aiutata ad affinare la sua tecnica e a riconnettersi con la sua visione artistica.
La sua missione è diventata chiara: portare gioia e bellezza nel mondo attraverso la sua arte.
Lo stile di Liisa è contemporaneo e astratto, spesso permeato di elementi di realismo, surrealismo e persino di stravaganza, il suo uso espressivo del colore spazia da tonalità audaci e intense a tavolozze armoniose e limitate.
Lavora principalmente con olio su tela e ha sviluppato una tecnica mista unica che utilizza gesso, stencil, frammenti di pietra, piastrelle e vetri rotti, rifiniti con pigmenti di mica scintillanti e resina.
I temi ricorrenti nelle sue opere includono l’umanità, l’amore e il perdono, espressi attraverso immagini simboliche come volti, cuori, stelle, mani, la luna, piccioni e anche cavalli.
Per Liisa, i cavalli rappresentano coraggio e nobiltà, valori che hanno guidato la sua vita e il suo percorso artistico.
Le sue influenze includono l’arte classica, in particolare il Cristo Crocifissodi Don Diego Velázquez (1632), e antiche leggende che ispirano il suo processo creativo.
Dal 2023,Liisa è membro dell’Associazione degli Artisti Finlandesi e ha tenuto diverse mostre personali e collettive, tra cui mostre curate.
È stata insignita delle Lettere d’Onore della Pinacoteca, un museo privato del Granducato del Lussemburgo, sia nel 2022 che nel 2024 nell’ambito del concorso Luxembourg Art Prize.
Nel 2024, è stata anche invitata a esporre le sue opere con Artrewards (Norvegia), Artsy (USA) e Artmajeur (Francia).
Le sue opere su commissione sono in genere di grandi dimensioni e concepite per spazi o temi specifici.
Attualmente sta lavorando a una nuova collezione intitolata Modern Icons, di cui ha completato finora sette dipinti.
Uno di questi, Ego Eimi, è stato selezionato per la mostra annuale curata dalla Finnish Artists’ Association presso il Cable Factory Art Center di Helsinkinell’agosto 2025.
Sul suo sito web troverete tutte le sue opere suddivise in sezioni: Ad Astra – la sua prima collezione, dedicata a temi universali Lines of Light – una collezione di tecniche miste su carta e le sue nuove e innovative opere in resina epossidica Lines of Life – una serie di dipinti a olio su tela, iniziata nell’autunno del 2021 Jewels – una vivace collezione astratta incentrata sul colore, che comprende anche due miniserie: Quartete Breath of Spring Liisadipinge nella sua tranquilla casa in riva al lago, dove l’alba spesso alimenta la sua creatività.
Crede che, sebbene la vita possa essere dura, il cambiamento sia sempre possibile e che se anche un solo cuore è toccato dalla sua arte, la sua missione è compiuta.
Per Liisa, la vera misura dell’arte risiede nelle emozioni che evoca, comprendere un’opera non è una questione di logica, ma di sentimento: questa è l’essenza della vita di un artista: aiutare gli altri a sentire e a connettersi.
È possibile esplorare le opere di Liisa Viima e chiedere informazioni sull’acquisto tramite la sua email, il suo sito web, Instagram e Facebook: email:viima@gmail.com Instagram: @annaliisaviima Facebook: Liisa Viima Website: www.liisaviima.com TikTok: @liisaviima
Ani Hu (“minä olen” hebreaksi. Modern Icons -collection)Agassio. Private collectionCoeur des Coeurs (Modern Icons -collection)Annabell and Thornibird – Inspired by a great gala of my dear friend I attended with my daughter at Kulosaaren Casino. I at once noticed the beautiful old black piano – wanted to paint something of it!
Ego Eimi (Modern Icons -collection)
Coeur de Courage (Modern Icons -collection)
Io Sono (Modern Icons -collection)
Enheduanna (from my first collection “Ad Astra”). the first female poet documented. En-He = honoured, male/female
Godgifu (a gift of god, female). Lady Godiva riding through her village naked in the night to prevent her husband to press the village people
Hamama. “hamama” means pigeon. In honour of all pigeons, that have been scrified for the human race. She was a clairvoyant (with blue eyes), and tried to tell her village of an enemy. They did not believe, and all were killed. Something like 1000 ec in pre-muslim era
Two Hearts, my commission piece. Private collection
Damma (“damma” is an Arabic accent mark. It means “join”. “Tamma” is a mere in Finnish. I think they match together:)). She has a mate, Sulaiman
Sulaiman, Arab stallion, mate to Damma. Sulaiman means Peace Maker. Known as Solomon, Suleiman, Sliman eg. In Iraq there is a county “Sulaymaniya”
Stigmata ad Astra (from my first collection “Ad Astra”)
“Omorfo”, private collection
Mother´s Sorrow (Modern Icons -collection)
Coeur Courage. My challenge all my life, from here to eternity
Babagha (parrot in Arabic)
Al Digjla (the river Tigris, and the bridge in old Mosul. “Mosul” means bridge in Arabic)
Haqqi (from my first collection “Ad Astra”). It means “truth”
Light of BeLoved (my private collection)
Ummi (my private collection)
Connected by Poems
Thornibird
Paris, Mon Amour
un giornalista in viaggio che non sopporta gli ombrelli
Today, it’s my great pleasure to introduce you to Finnish artist AnnaMaya Sarjula, creator of SoulCrafted Art & Flow and artist at Atelier AnnaMaya.
AnnaMaya Sarjula quando la pittura diventa un riflesso dell’anima
Paula Mikkilä 
Milla Piirainen
Taru Rouhiainen 
Saila Seppo
Kaisa Sirén
Today I have the pleasure of introducing 
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Ulla Väisänen from Finland between dream and reality!
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MAJ SJÖ from Finland comes with a breeze of positivity 
Today I’m pleased to introduce you to 
Art exhibitions
Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to a 
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Ella Petman dopo un lungo viaggio ha trovato il suo paradiso
Liisa Viima – Non è mai troppo tardi per portare gioia e bellezza nel mondo 
giuseppe genta blog 