tuntuu kuin

Helsingin lokakuussa on kuulautta ja Töölö, Kuusisaari, Koivusaari, kauniita! Ja kaupan kassat ystävällisiä. Minulla vaan on liikaa painavia kasseja.

indigo burns on their arms

These bitches still not colored.

 

the devil in me

 I hope Joni doesn't read this blog.

drawing plants in pudukaväli

On Thursday morning 3/4 of the Independent Animators United started their day with drawing September's plants in Pudukaväli. To get rid of my eternal fragile line drawing, I brought a megapack of Chinese markers and drew with them. This was nice except I felt like being on Instagram reel where (I feel like) people often draw with these kind of tools, while voiceover is telling about value of art for the soul. Quite horrible. But some drawings were made and not even shot to a reel!

 

PS. These markers are 6 years old and some of them have started "exploding" in a most unsettling way. I 'm ignoring this phenomenon.

 

Also a recommendation for Bekker's kimchi pies.

Doctor, will I die?

This is Liisi. She's also part of nature.

l. grünberg on a beautiful meadow

It was one carefully selected meadow.

 

a head below the cool nightgown

Piirsin agronomi Gustaf L. Rosenqvistin pään Lapinjärven Mariebergin alueen muutoksista kertovaan näyttelyyn, joka on esillä Lapinjärven kirjastossa 3.10.2025 asti. Pää elävöittää Rosenqvistin (s. 1890) alkuperäistä yöpaitaa ja kävelykeppiä. Näyttelyn järjestää Lapinjärven Pop Up Yhdistys Lapinjärvi Lappträsk ry. 

I drew the head of agronomist Gustaf L. Rosenqvist for an exhibition about the changes in the Marieberg area of ​​Lapinjärvi, which will be on display at the Lapinjärvi Library until October 3, 2025. The head brings to life Rosenqvist's (b. 1890) original nightgown and walking stick. 

 The exhibition is organized by the Pop Up Yhdistys Lapinjärvi Lappträsk ry. 

 

 

Photos are by Marke Kalliola.

teaching in sörängen with aggie

 

On the last week of August me and Aggie teached a week-long workshop for the 3rd year animation students in Sörängen's Folkhögskola, Sweden. It was a creative kick-off week, aiming to offer various approaches to animated film making as the students were about to start their own film projects.

We experimented on architypes, script structures, drawing the rhythm, simplifying the character, unexpected in-betweens and making one's own brush from materials found from nature, for example.

It's always a pleasure to visit Sörängen and get a glimpse of kind of an "ideal" world. With nature, beautiful houses, good food, decent coffee breaks, friendly people, art and a goal of offering education for everyone.

These drawings present visiting teachers on their free time after the school days. 

little green

 This summer there were many days that I sat on the park bench for a long time. This tree I was facing often. Watercolor is always a gamble and this time I didn't win - have to keep practicing.

anonymous meditation

 

mooso

 

gina kaminsky

Sharing wisdom in Tricky Women opening.

 

me, interviewee

Expectations: Great wisdom delivered with ease

 

Lately I've been invited for several online interviews. One was due to my residency in Vienna, two thanks to Nun or Never! being shown in Mubi at the moment. 

This is flattering of course. Now people will REALLY know what a deep, humorous person I am! This is the mindset with what it starts... But not always ends.

 

All the interviews were executed by email which has its good and bad sides. Good side: I can think about my answer in peace and take time to form it. Bad side: Exactly the same. 

Even though it takes eternity for me to write the answers, I admire the effort and thought the interviewers have put to their questions. Also big respect to the graphic designers. These people actually managed to make my work look nice. 

 

Here are links for the interviews. 

 

Waltraud Grausgruber interviewed me to the MQ website as part of my Tricky Women residency in Vienna.

 

Turkish creative studio Ait Istanbul interviewed me to their website.

 

And a Dutch writer Ruth Van de steene interviewed me to her series Ruth and the beautiful makers.

 

I hope you enjoy reading them. 

 

Reality.

puutarhajuhla ja muita kesähetkiä

 

lapsenlikkana

estonian XXVVII song celebration

 

Repearing the bitter memory from 6 years ago, this time I DID get the ticket to the main concert of Estonian Song Celebration - it was touching, grand, fun, sad and great. These drawings look rather like a fanatic nationalist football match but I swear, the feeling was something else. Also I took the chance to wear Hämeenpuku, Finnish National Costume from Häme - last time I wore one was when I was 4 years old. 

Elagu!

människä ja lahtiska kesätilassa

 

weina and andy's garden

 

 

I only drew these two shaky pictures there but visiting Weina and Andy's garden was one of the core experiences of the period in Vienna. After the first visit which included admiring plants, recognising the tiny grape babies and blooming wild strawberries (note to my Nordic self: this was in April!), raking in the sun, grilling in the thunderstorm, walking in the green corridor down the hill and enjoying local wine & grapejuice & pancakes & kaiserschmann & good company in the tavern of the village, I said: This has been the best day in 10 years. I meant it. It was a perfect day.

 

Blown away by the garden

 

Still blown away by the garden

Almost blown away by the thunderstorm

Photos were taken by Weina.

snack a clock

 

puistossa ilta viilenee...

Young aunties in Toompark with "Look at these assholes" attitude.

 

 

 

 

 

I re-watched Darjeeling Limited recently and it' still very dear to me. Partly due to the memories (I went to see it in the cinema twice, first time during my applying exams to Turku Arts Academy and second time with a dear friend) but partly, I like to think, because there's some brilliance in this film.

etno pop juliste 2025

I made the poster for Etno Pop 2025. It's annual summer event with live music and some program for the whole family, organized by Pop Up Yhdistys Lapinjärvi Lapptärsk ry and other local organizations. 

This antropomorphic flower thing is something I grew fond of in Vienna (maybe due to all the ornaments around) and I continued it in this one. This is very international poster - it has been edited in following places: Vienna, Bratislava-Vienna train, café near Warszaw train station, and in the bus Vilnius-Tallinn.

It was nice that the organizers liked the small fauna on the picture. When I had accidentally hidden the rain worm layer from one version, they demanded: "Bring the rain worm back!"

 

 

 

 

Here with the worm and all.

wienin murusia

Taking myself to a much needed walk to Ottakring forest.

 

It feels - - - -  to be back. Same same different, as goes the old Japanese saying. Sander put his nose in from our studio door and asked if I will write a blog report from my Vienna experience. Well, maybe I will! Stay tuned!

kootut toivotukset

 It's the time of the season.

springy times and kaiserschmarrn in vienna

"By the way, this was Hitler's favourite café."