TRAVELLING WITH EYES

Two drawings of Petäjävesi Church, Central Finland

2012-02-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

The old Petäjävesi Church is a cultural target, protected by UNESCO. I like to visit it on warm, sunny summer days because the fine, old buildings and the tranquil churchyard, located on the shore of the lake. Petäjävesi is situated some 30 km westward from the city of Jyväskylä - I'll recommend a visit there if you are travelling in Central Finland!

A tall lady with her dog.

2012-01-24T11:19:00.001-08:00

One of last summer's drawings has now got its colors. The dog was added into the picture just today to give some life into the front area. I chose his photo, among several ones, from a Dog Handbook (he isn't therefore Aarne, my GR) and I wish that he "sits" well there, by the lakeside of Jyväskylä Harbor.

Sleeping Aarne, the Golden Retriever

2012-01-17T06:46:00.001-08:00

This color-pencil picture represents sleeping Aarne (2,5 years)and the warmth which he radiates into the surroundings. This gesture is, by the way, very typical sleeping position of dogs, called "kieppi" in Finnish.

The Fisher Lady

2012-01-14T03:06:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that my wife is a much more experienced fisherman than I myself. She is responsible for the fishing with the net - I only row the boat and take photos (and sit at the net...). This picture tells about a sad situation during mid-summer evening when very few fishes can be found - but, in opposite, late May and early June give us overwhelming big portions of pikes, breams, whitefishes and pike-perches.

This picture was based on a photo. First the main lines with a pencil, then with very thin (1 mm) calligraphy felt-tip pen and - at last - some shades with color pencils.

Orthodox baptism

2012-01-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

Naming of the child takes place very early after the birth in Orthodox Church. It can be performed separately or in the Holy sacrament of Baptism. Only one Christian name is preferred and this name refers some holy, sanctified orthodox person - in this case, Holy Miriam.

Photography of color pencil drawings is not an easy task because the difficulty of color reproduction. This photo has ignored all bluish shades which cannot be corrected with the relatively simple tools of PowerPoint program. It is therefore most important to secure the right shades in the final photo. I think that this problem is especially often faced when trying to copy the relatively delicate shades of color pencil works.

My drawing table

2011-12-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

I will tell shortly about my working manners. I prefer to draw during night-time (whenever it is possible). Day-time is too confusing and I cannot reserve several hours' period for these tasks before midnight.

Drawing with the left hand is somehow challenging because the tendency to progress from left to right (as we western people tend to write). Sometimes it is better to start from the right side of the picture and progress to the left but - very often - I will forget it and need a rubber to clean "extra colors". Drawing gets even more difficult when I use ink-based tools (fountain pen, calligraphy felt-tip pens). Better to remember the working direction and - at least - let the ink on the left dry before the continuation of the drawing to the right. This is why also keep all the pens on the left side of the table.

Some additional tools are also needed: a coffeepot, a cup and a my old SELENA short-wave radio, which has served me in an excellent way during the years gone.

Sketch of a dog

2011-12-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

A rapidly drawn sketch of a dog - a study for a more extensive drawing. Night-time is suitable for this kind of precise work, especially during dark Finnish winter time.

Isola, Slovenia

2011-12-11T17:25:00.000-08:00

A warm summer day in 2007. The neighborhood of the hotel was hiding behind trees and bushes - everything green! This B&W picture was drawn by me just before the strong thunderstorm attacked the small city of Isola in the evening: lightning and rain vere really heavy!

"Under the volcano cloud"

2011-11-29T18:23:00.001-08:00

The last holiday trip to Crete was most exciting because the volcanic eruption in Island happened on the very same week as our trip took place. Total stop of air traffic from/to Crete led to an extended holiday period of 1,5 weeks and allowed some extra walking in the surroundings of the hotel, some 20 km westward from Hania. This color pencil landscape was finished by me not before last week when some small but still importand details were refined. - I will thank my teacher Minna who helped me significantly in this task!

Mr. Pumpkin

2011-10-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

A relatively small pumpkin from my garden. Drawing was made with color pencils.

Final step of Slovenia landscape

2011-09-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

The long-lasting work with Slovenia landscape is now finished. It reflects the "constructivity" which I try to avoid in the future - much more "impressionism" is needed, I think.

Harvest time has begun!

2011-08-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

Harvest time has already begun! Fresh mushrooms are available for free in Finnish forests. Onions and carrots also are soon ready to exit the garden soil. Autumn is coming!

Happy Fisherlady in Finland and Norway

2011-08-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here are two pictures presenting Happy Fisherlady in Finland (color) and Norway (B&W).
The benefits of calligraphy pens, 1 to 3 mm, are obvious: they are easy to use and they give various widths of lines. Color pencils can then easily be applied to B&W drawings on site or afterwards.

On the southern shore of Crete, "Under the volcanic cloud"

2011-08-23T03:40:00.000-07:00

The annual exhibition of KOPRU is now over. Hundreds of visitors have seen a wide variety of paintings, drawings and sculptures by several artists during two August weeks. This landscape was also presented in this event. I will thank Juhani for his efforts to prepare a digital record of it. I am planning to order some postcards of my works where Eira will help me - choosing the right ones will still be to done by me.

The web pages of KOPRU are also under construction; more about this issue in next posts.

There are still summer 2011 days left!

2011-08-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

We very often forget to follow the nice details of the nature. I was washing my car (!) when noticed these grasses beneath our parking place. Keep your eyes open...

Pencil, colored pencils, charcoal, felt-tip calligraphy pens...

2011-08-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

These are the most common tools of mine when drawing landscapes. This old drawing presents the view from the window of our summer cottage. Reaching westwards, it shows the most impressive cloud formations and sunsets - the colors of this drawing are, by the way, really realistic!

KOPRU Exhibition 2011 in Vaajakoski, Wanha Woimala!

2011-08-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

The annual KOPRU exhibition is open until 21.8.2011. Many new pieces of art - with various techniques - are still to be seen on this week. Art gallery Wanha Woimala is easy to reach - just drive to the island Naissaari (some 10 km from the Jyväskylä city eastward). The admission is free, but you may like to by / order something from the artists? You can also win an art calendar by KOPRU for next year by participating in the vote of new calendar images. Welcome!

2011-05-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

The summer 2011 has started! Birds are singing during the early morning hours, everything turns green and nights get shorter all the time. It is therefore time to start drawing because the Annual Exhibition of KOPRU will be opened already on the 2nd week of August and something new shall be produced.

A short moment on a busy late autumn day

2011-01-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

Late autumn day - first snow has covered the trees on the hills beneath our village. The shape of a lonely birch in front of serious-looking, quiet spruces woke me from my thoughts, however. I stopped my car and took this photo with the simple camera of my mobile phone.

You may not have always time to stop your journey and begin to draw. What you still can do is to pick this kind of emotional views, how simple they may be, and continue with your paints and pencils whenever you have time - still keeping the original emotion of the moment involved in your imagination. This may be the only way during busy winter months but, when the summer begins to knock on your door, you can take all your tools with you again and go to the forests, lakes, rivers...so must it be.

2010-01-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

The very busy autumn period 2009 prevented me to draw. I have been cleaning my home this night and found some old views, however. This one presents the Jyväskylä Harbour, on the shore of Lake Päijänne, and was done by me in June 2009, some 50 oC ago (the thermometer outside tells that we have -27 oC just now, at 3 a.m). No chances to go out fro drawing, definitely.

Selection of works for KOPRU Summer Exhibition

2009-08-02T03:17:00.000-07:00

Final decisions about the choose of drawings and paintings for KOPRU Art Exhibition shall be done today.

Total inactivity in drawing (mentioned in the previous posts) has led to a situation where absolutely nothing new was available. There were, however, four small-scale landscape drawings which were framed by Kissakartano (www.kissakartano.fi) like in previous years and can be included among max. 5 examples of art, allowed for every member of the KOPRU Art Society, to be presented in August.

Here they now are, waiting for the transport to Wanha Woimala tonight.

Another photo from Arja's Toilet Gallery!

2009-08-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

This picture was also taken during the opening ceremony of Arja's Toilet Gallery.

Sanni is sitting here beneath her photo, originating from late 80's, of Hanna and Mira in Puomikallio. The name of the photo is "Dreamers". A photo of the Lake Ala-Kintaus can be seen on the back wall as well as a colour pencil drawing of the lake, seen in front of our summer cottage. Both of them were made by me.

Arja has already ideas about next exhibition with another theme!

Arja's Toilet Gallery was opened on last Thursday!

2009-08-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Arja has opened her Toilet Gallery on last Thursday!

Her art collection really situates on the walls of her toilet. A quiet place to focus on the paintings, drawings and photos which all follow the theme "Puomikallio" - a shared summer cottage of ours in Central Finland, Europe!

Annual KOPRU Art Exhibition will be opened soon!

2009-07-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

Increased professional tasks have taken so much time during winter period 2008-2009 that very few new drawings were made by me. I therefore looked through my older landscape drawings from the period 1995-2000 to collect them together inside the very same frames. Framing will be done by Kissakartano (Kuohu, Jyväskylä) like in similar busy situations in previous years. I thrust on their professional work, indeed.

Here is a small example of my older works - size of this drawing is only 10,5 cm times 15 cm.

You are welcome to the KOPRU Exhibition in the beginning of August (opening date and time: 4.8.2009 at 18:00) if you are travelling in Central Finland! This event will be held in Wanha Woimala (the old power plant) in Vaajakoski.

All inactive through the winter - but now it is summer again!

2009-06-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

After several decades, I am looking backwards to see the Church of Ruokolahti, South Carelian, Finland, as a B&W photo, taken by me with EXA II (made in DDR), documented on KODAK film. I would like to compose the landscape this way - lake and church below, and the high sky above, with the sun.

Waiting for the sun, waiting for the spring.

2008-12-31T15:29:00.000-08:00

The darkest days are now over here in Northern hemi-

sphere.

We still have only 5 to 6 day-light hours when 2008 turns to 2009 tonight.

A total inactivity in my drawing was obvious during the last months of 2008. I therefore cannot add anything brand new to my blog. I looked into my files and found this photo, taken on the shore of Lake Kintaus, Central Finland, on some spring days of 2008.

I would like to wish

A Very Good and Positive New Year 2009

to all readers of my blog!

New issues will be posted as soon as possible. Thank You for Your interest in my blog! And greetings, especially to Switzerland!

Autumn comes soon.

2008-08-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

After a relatively rainy summer it seems that we are ready to welcome autumn. Rain continues but days get shorter and temperature will drop.

The 30 years' Anniversary Exhibition by KOPRU Artist's Society was succesfull. Now it is time to start something new - maybe autumn landscapes with colours? Photos will help if the weather get too bad for out of door-drawing. Auguste and Grandfather are also in my mind.

- This photo was taken by me in Pärnu, Estonia, during a spa trip on last autumn. Green, yellow, brown, grey - autumn colours.

Construction of KOPRU Art Exhibition is finished!

2008-08-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 3rd of August, was a busy day. All pictures and sculptures had to be installed on the walls and the floors. How they match together? Which one needs sunlight, which survive in artificial light?

Installing lights, preparing some decoration and other activities also took time - not to forget cleaning of two floors in the old Power Plant building.

Exhibition will be opened tomorrow, 4th of August, at 12 o'clock. I think that I will visit it after my duties.

And then the official opening of the exhibition and 30th Anniversary of KOPRU on next Friday. An exciting week, indeed.

The old church of Petäjävesi, Central Finland.

2008-07-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

The drawing, presenting the old church of Petäjävesi, is now finished.

This UNESCO Culture Heritage object has many beutiful features. Old timber, painted details, peaceful interieur...worth to visit!

Colours? Not this time, just B&W.

I will thank the Finnish master of living lines, late Henrik Tikkanen. I have adopted the idea of birds from him.

This drawing will be one of the five pictures which I will present in an art exhibition by KOPRU in Wanha Woimala (an old power plant by Vaajakoski rapids in Central Finland). 2006 is an anniversary year for KOPRU: this art society has grounded 30 years ago.

How do Auguste and Grandfather look like?

2008-07-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

A most interesting contact to Jeroschka: a fascinating, old story about Auguste, Grandfather and tiny people! Because the lack of shared language, Auguste and Grandfather shall travel to meet a professor in a big city to have help.

When reading this story, relatively clear images of Auguste and Grandfather have arisen. I still have to wait until they are "ready" (how long hair does Auguste have? Is she tall or small? Grandfather has a long, white beard?).

I hope that these main actors have found their faces soon. After that, Auguste's room, railway station...

These features shall not be too realistic (which is something I try to avoid today) but they shall still be living.

A sunny afternoon in Suomenlinna Fortress, Helsinki.

2008-07-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

It was a very warm and sunny day a couple of years ago. I was travelling for business reasons in Helsinki and had some free hours on afternoon. Decision to travel to Suomenlinna Fortress was easy to do because I have always loved this island.

The ferry trip from Helsinki harbour (beneath Helsinki Market Place) did not take too much time and the ticket was cheap. Contrast between busy Helsinki centre and peaceful fortress island was huge, no matter many other citizens and tourists have also agreed to visit Suomenlinna.

There is an art exhibition near Suomenlinna harbour. After checking it (always something interesting) I continued southwards, towards Suomenlinna church.

Calligraphic pencils 1mm, 2mm and 3 mm as well as a scetch book - then to find the best point of view. One peaceful hour, without anything confusing in my mind. Just to concentrate myself to the landscape: the church itself, trees around it, some other buildings, quiet people walking without any stress on the old, narrow street...

It is fanny that I can recall all these moments when I have got time to draw. Like I were there again!

First lines of the summer drawn!

2008-07-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Now it is done - at last: first lines were drawn after a delayed period of several months.

The church of Petäjävesi (Central Finland) is accepted by UNESCO as an important cultural value. It is'nt very big but it is beautiful! Dark timber walls, roof made of small wooden pieces...

First step took est. one hour: to find the total shape of the building and add the neighbouring trees. Then some hints of the patterns of the walls and roof.

How many lines should be drawn tomorrow? Not too many. This drawing should not be a document of every detail of the church. I try to avoid my tendency to make pictures too complete.

And the question of colours. Shall I use them (colour pencils) or not? Would B&W be better? Let's see tomorrow...

I will take photos of all steps of this drawing and add them here in my blog as soon as everything is ready.

2008-04-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

"The scetch had been of a climbing rose against a wall; the painting was a trellis of pinks and grays and creams, a palette of dangers - which has been avoided. He would have been afraid of it himself, the inherent sentiment, the lack of accent. The ruling quarters of his own zodiac were more those of the colors of the clothes the Mouse wore: autumn and winter." - JOHN FOWLES: The Ebony Tower.

April by the lake...

2008-04-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Sun has shined all the day, and some water has appeared on the ice. Spring seems to come! Colours of this moment shall be chosen very carefully...there are not many of them but I'll try to find exactly right ones.

First drawing with dark colour (black pencil). Not with ink like fefore - not because I would be afraid about mistakes (well, I actually am!) but merely because I do not want too strong lines on the background of the colours.

This picture was done by me one year ago, in Spring 2007. May it be different if I have done it today?

Under the Mediterranean sky...

2008-03-31T07:16:00.000-07:00

My first trip to the Mediterranean area in 2005 was an excellent experience. This was the very first and fast impression of me when exiting the airplane on Karpatos Airport: sun was shining nearly above me! And the same sun was with me every day, brightening the colours which were maily brown, green, grey...I suddenly found this small chapel (absolutely the oldest building I have ever visited!) on the western coast of Karpatos island and catched some photos of it. One of these photos helped me later to paint this landscape on my art course in Finland during long, dark Nordic nights...and here it is: not so naturalistic but, in opposite, joyful in some way - like my feelings during my very first trip to Greece!

A dreaming tree

2008-03-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

A dreaming tree - not botanically very specified but a combination of some leaf trees...just without any backgroung. Only staying and dreaming.

2008-03-22T03:43:00.000-07:00

A grey winter day. On the road between Jyväskylä and Imatra. Resting on a parking place beneath a bridge. An old boot, waiting for the next summer. No other colors than white, blue and grey.

Starting my drawing blog.

2008-03-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

The morning is sunny and beautiful. Winter turns to Spring. A lot of drawings are resting everywhere and photos, taken during last summer, are waiting to be drawn.

How shall I continue? The great Finnish masters - Edelfelt, Gallen-Gallela etc. - were excellent drawers and have applied also a documenting style of drawing. They have been my favourites since my childhood (over 50 years ago) and I have tried to learn an similar, exact technique. But now I think that something new shall be found - colours, some other effects, not only exact lines...?