jojo art - my story

I have always loved drawing and painting but almost all my life it has only been this little tiny hobby, like painting christmas cards or so, something that I don't do very often. However, everything changed last year.

I started painting bit more seriously around November last year when I hurt my knee and was forced to spend weeks inside my appartment. One day I found myself looking at Leonid Afremov's paintings online and I just got so inspired. I should've stayed in bed but the need to paint just got greater and greater. A couple of days later I had finished two paintings already.

In Paris. This is my version (and mirror image) of Leonid Afremov's painting.

Young couple.

After those I did some presents for people I know and my mom started spreading the word. And the photos of my paintings. Soon I found myself getting more and more orders. More than I had time to do.

In the jungle.

Young couple # 2  (I wasn't very creative with names then...)

Wolf.

At summer cottage.

Deer.

Mist.

In february, 2010, I said NO to others and concentrated on me and my needs. I did a painting that was very important and special for me that time.

Alone. This was by far the biggest painting I had done, 60 x 80 cm.

Painting is my way to deal with difficult times and go through my feelings. It is also my ”hiding place”, way to escape school stuff and all the stress. When I paint, I'm like in completely different world. This also shows, at least according to my boyfriend. He always says I look so concentrated and like I give my all to the painting. And I think he's right in a way. I do put piece of me to every painting. I give my all. 

Together.

 HOPE

Misery.

Poverty.

Darkness.

These three I painted after going through lots of pictures of children living in bad conditions - in misery, poverty and darkness - but still they had smile on their faces and hope in their eyes.

During summer I painted and drew lots of portraits of people that do not exist. I have never been good at this so wanted to get bit practise. My aim was to show different kind of feelings and tell a story. I didn't name these because wanted everyone to create their own stories without getting affected by me.

Nowadays I do get orders every now and then, I have some paintings at a coffee place and at times I "paint for myself". But I don't know where I'm going. Or if I'm going. I am extremely busy with my school and hardly have time for anything else but somehow I manage to get some painting done anyways (it truly is a miracle). Painting is very important to me but time will show, I guess, if it becomes to play a bigger part in my life or if it stays the same. One thing is sure, though. It won't go away. Painting is in me - in my heart and my soul. Forever.

I do.