NORTHERN SUMMER

Summer in North, first in the waves of Norwegian and Barents Sea, then hiking the fells. Around lakes, deeper in the fjords. Calm waves, many bonfires, wrapped in many layers, with wide smiles, even with big puddles inside shoes. Whales, crowberries, cloudberries, eagles and crows. Mist that covers the fell tops.

SUMMER CITIES

Summer cities filled with bicycles, roses, sunshine.

Hollyhocks, night birds.

Cities filled with colours.

Cities filled with canals, more bicycles and early sunsets.

Cities filled with boats and blue night skies.

To the summer cities traveling by train over bridges, under seas.

Oh so many boats!

From some dream destinations, called The Fairy.

Wind gentle, lights turning on.

Many friendly summer city beings.

Summer holiday travels will continue, happy july!

AN ISLAND, A LIGHTHOUSE, ROOTS

Night train towards the North. A bus and a ferry to the landscapes of mist and rain. A small trip to see where my grandfather's mother was born. The thick clouds disappearing from the island, the sun tickling, wind calming down. Beautiful music festival just by the lighthouse. Sunset by the beach listening to the waves.

Middle of the island a village with kind people, good food, tiny piglet and a goat that became a mother for an orphan calf. Light violet harebell meadows everywhere. Sunshine on shoulders, a birch branch to keep the insects away.

Traditional houses painted with Falu red, flea markets and the scent of bent-in-the-wind Scots pines in sunshine.

Afternoon walk in the warm sea.

With a friend. With sun tan.

Evening walk.

Sunset and the songs of seagulls and terns. The horizon disappearing.

Sleeping next to the lighthouse and dreaming of the times when my grandfather's mother lived here. Maybe now I understand why I dream of islands and the blinking towers.

Summer trips with never setting sun.

Greetings from the island!

And warm and sunny July to you!

SUNDAY SAILING

Strong winds and rowing instead of sails. Bicycling up and down the hills of this city. Summer afternoon breaks with friends in square markets in harbour.

Birthday card sketches for a friend. 

It is almost Mid Summer.

Cloudy Sunday greetings, melodies of seagulls on the lake and promises of rain, but it does not matter, a long bicycle trip around another lake awaits.

SUNSET WAVES

Summer nights. Thunder storms and the scent of rain on dry asphalt. More sunny and warm days. Train trips, dear friends, sailing boats, parks, cafés by the sea, sunsets. Gazing the sun to rise above the city lights.

A few rain drops today make the summer to scent more magical. Birch trees.

Sweet Tuesday greetings!

ONE WINTER NIGHT

Forest Cuckoo -print

12 Greeting Cards

Blossom Sailing -print

It can happen sometimes, at 23:02, just when you are brushing your teeth and have just switched on your reading lamp by your bed and are eager to get in between fresh clean sheets on a cold first winter night, that you get the idea that you were searching for for the whole day. Then it naturally happens that your reading lamp shines lonely and you find yourself toothbrush still in mouth sketching fourty-five minutes later. 

Written on my sketchbook last week with drawings of trees, birds and snowfall.

Two new prints, Forest Cuckoo and Blossom Sailing plus some new greeting cards in my online shop. Hopefully you enjoy them!

Silently the first snow came, silently it also disappeared other night. Thank you for the comments in the last post, it became such a nice dictionary of the word "snow". Rain on the calendar with hints of sun rays.

Have a good last day of October, welcome November! Warm evening greetings with dark cloud silhouettes on the sunset sky!

GREETINGS FROM A PAINTING TABLE

Hello from my painting table. 

Turquoise, clover red, puffy dandelion white and forests of greens are filling this table. A small clinging sound as the brush is cleaned in an empty jam jar and comforting melodies of boiling water, as a teapot is filled. Today, Sakura green tea and adventures of drawing small wooden houses. The colder air of autumn makes this spot at home even more precious.

Blossom Sailing. A small boat ready for an afternoon trip on a lake. Sun glimmering, nearby meadow sending greetings as flying leaves and flowers. Water in the lake is perfect for a small swim. 

Sweet Kate from BSDA asked me to join her art show of original artworks. There are six pieces for sale for six weeks. You can find all the works here with some more pictures. The two paintings in this post are included. There is also a small interview. You can find BSDA also here. Hopefully you enjoy them!

Wild Strawberries. Clovers, Forget-Me-Nots and Cow Vetches are covering small white flowers of wild strawberries on a clearing. Still need to wait a bit for the sun-kissed, red-cheeked berries to come.

All the works are from this year and signed and sent by me from Finland. On soft cotton paper, by watercolors and some small drops of white acrylic paint. With a lot of love, many long walks and thoughts and many pots of tea.

Thank you so much Kate for this opportunity!

Today is one of those mornings when the small lake behind my window is completely silent and reflects the same colors and forms than above the horizon. Pine trees, trees of a city garden, a corner of a field. Towers of this city. A perfect beginning for new stories to happen. A perfect morning for anything.

Warm smiles and happy last days of August! Thank yo so much for your visits and kind words!

MELODIES FROM TREES AND BUSHES

Days that end with bird songs. Mornings that start with raindrops on the window sills. Turning sunny before lunch time. Knocking on the door, ringing on the phone. Fetching daffodils, passing a blanketful of snowdrops. Naps on the balcony. Evenings to paint.

Kappacavy (10 years old) drew a picture of me. Thank you so much! ♥

Safe travels, migrating birds, welcome back home! (Though a little bit of snow might be still on the way, stay warm!) Always wondering how you make it back, navigating between stars, mountain peaks and over seas and oceans.

Wednesday evening greetings with a sound of a gentle rain.

WHISPERS FOR THE DAYS TO COME

Hello dear Eleven,

This will be good. Filled with rowing on gentle waves, seeing new skies. Warm winds and blooming hills to climb. Days to walk and days to watch. Weeks to paint and a year to smile.

Happy New Year, Let´s make it a wonderful one!

1. My parents, maybe late 60´s or early 70´s (they met when they were 16, in December they had 30th anniversary) ♡

2. My mother´s cousin (I think!), maybe late 60´s or early 70´s.

3. My best friend and me from 2007.