Ofelia

Trained as an artist in my home country Finland and later in Italy, I use the same method studied by the masters of the 19th century. The roots of this classical painting and drawing method are in the Academic tradition and Renaissance. While painting the live model I focus on exploring the light, shadows and halftones. My drawings and paintings are based on direct observation of nature.
I got inspiration for the painting Ofelia from Odilon Redons Ofelia painting and Shakespeares story of Hamlet where Ofelia is one of the characters.
I studied the lifecycle of different flowers (mainly tulips) outdoors and composed them inside the studio as a layer on top of the Ofelia figure in the round painting. I found it interesting to learn from the lifecycle of the flowers- how the colors and forms where changing. It was absolutely beautiful. The ever changing circle of life on the top of the young girl whose looking for the meaning and purpose for her existence.