About the artist
Wildlife enthusiast
Artivist
Ocean lover
I am a Finnish self-taught artist based in Regensburg, Germany. I have a Master’s degree in genetics from the University of Oulu, but I have been working as an artist since 2018. I work with several different mediums - acrylics, oils, watercolors and clay, and I love trying out new styles and techniques.
In 2024 I launched my first online course 'Ocean Spirit', followed by my water-mixable oil course 'Blended' in early 2025.
With my art I want to celebrate the beauty of nature. But at the same time I am filled with eco-anxiety, and I am deeply troubled by the effects of climate change and human impact on countless animal species. With my art I hope not only to bring happiness to the viewer and remind them of the beauty around us, but to also help raise awareness for endangered animals, and to directly aid wildlife conservation efforts.
An A0 print of my painting 'Stealth' in the VIP lounge at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)
I have always been passionate about animals and wildlife - it's what pushed me to become a biologist. The art started to emerge only in 2018. What started as a hobby, or a mere dabbling even, slowly developed into a small business.
I started off painting with only acrylics, but the unbelievable amount of amazing art on social media constantly inspires me to try new techniques. I've fallen in love with watercolors and their soft, flowing nature, and stippling is not only great for detail, but also one of the best ways for me to relax. Water-mixable oils came later, and became an instant permanent addition to my mediums. I started sculpting with air dry clay, and moved onto ceramics from there.
I like to work with acrylics, oils or clay in the morning, and watercolor in the afternoon. When the world becomes too hectic, I like to tune it out and focus on creating detailed pieces with tiny dots. The process for all different mediums is different though. With acrylics I work mostly intuitively and without a plan, but for watercolor and ink I absolutely need an idea and a proper sketch first.
I find inspiration everywhere. I've been inspired by pictures of animals, by the color combination of a tote bag, or the pattern of my daughter's leggings. Sometimes music triggers my creativity, and sometimes I just want to tell the world about a certain species and the threats it faces.
I'm still very strongly inspired by the environment I lived in as a child. I spent my childhood in Southeast Asia, on tropical beaches and in turquoise waters, and I feel a constant yearning to be in those places again. My childhood experiences have left me with a permanent sense of wanderlust, and in complete awe of our incredible biosphere. The feeling of floating underwater and just watching the world below the surface is unrivaled, and it's why I love painting marine subjects.
Hong Kong ca 1989
In 2019 we were lucky enough to be able to release sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean in Bali. But on the same vacation I spent hours every morning collecting plastic from the ocean and the beach. It broke me thinking of those baby turtles amongst all that trash. I think one of the most heartbreaking issues our planet is currently facing is the amount of plastic and other trash in our oceans, and the animal suffering that goes with it.
Social media is full of videos of people freeing animals that have become tangled up in fishing lines or other man-made objects, but what really haunts me is the thought of all the animals out there that receive no help. Animals are completely innocent, and they are suffering the most. Dwindling population numbers caused by human greed is also an issue that weighs heavily on my heart. This planet is not ours alone, but we treat it as if it is.
Social media has really opened my eyes to the power of art. Art is a wonderful way to address conservation issues. You can try to shock people out of their stupor, or gently nudge them into awareness. I am constantly bombarded by matters that I previously had no knowledge about, species I didn't even know existed, and threats that I had been unaware of. We cannot care about things we don't know about. Like Baba Dioum said; we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.
I often feel completely helpless when I think about the state of our world, but at least through art I can try to bring certain matters to light, or attempt to raise awareness for a species. In addition, with my art I can support conservation efforts.
We have a beautiful planet, with incredible animals that have the same right to be here as we do. We are all just one out of billions, but our every action does have a consequence. If we could all truly see the ripples that we make and how they affect the lives of others - humans and animals alike, we would surely be more mindful of our actions. My message is to open you eyes, recognize the beauty around you, and do everything in your power to conserve it. Empathy alone will get us far.
