1985 Vantaa
Oil painting is a natural form of self-expression for me. The connection between the work and myself is the strongest when the brush is still touching the surface of the canvas. At that moment I may feel a great sense of satisfaction. When I have finished the painting, I remove myself from the picture, which then becomes less familiar to me. However, as time moves on, I may reacquaint myself with the work.
My painting technique is relatively slow, and before I can add a new layer of paint, the underlying layer must first dry out. Some parts of the painting require several layers of oil colour, whereas others may only need a few coatings. Nevertheless, it is always necessary to patch up some parts of the painting, which means that you need to re-paint a spot over and over again.
I use photographs that I have taken as a starting point for my paintings. First I study the photographed material, and then continue by drawing a free hand sketch onto the canvas with a piece of coal. I base my work on a synthesis of a photograph and a painting. I paint sliding colour surfaces and changes in the colour value. I see the picture that is forming in front of me as competing zones of colour. I emphasize the colours and shadows of the painting, which are formed from many different shades of colour.
For me, painting is a way of life, and I have also chosen it to be my profession.
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