Anneli Kokkonen
Basic information
b. 1952, Lauritsala
Residence: Lahti
Contact information
Email: anneli.kokkonen@outlook.com
Artist’s Statement
I was about 7 years old, when my father began to teach me to paint landscapes from Lake Saimaa. I learned later still-life painting, portraiture and caricature. I worked years in Finland and Norway as a drafting geophysical and technical. Because of work and children I couldn’t paint as much as I wanted.
After returning to Finland I saw paintings of Martti Innanen and Lea Pihkala. Their paintings were full of humour, colour, joy and messages. I fell in love with Naïve Art.
After that my life changed drastically, I only wanted to paint and study more. I started painting my life experiences. Finnish summer dance and sauna culture as well as swimming in crystal bright waters; lakes and ponds are often the subject matter in my paintings. Some of my paintings are influenced by my volunteer work that I did for 30 years at the international winter sports events as an attache. Also ice swimming in the blue moment of wintertime is important to me. The topics of my paintings of the local history of Lahti supported my work as a guide and vice versa. Creating art has literally saved my life. Hard times have turned into good times.
I am still a development-oriented optimist.
I have taught Naïve painting with oil paints and washing techniques at several art workshops and Adult Colleges. The colour of gouache and ink changes the shape of the work greatly during the process. My washing technique is suitable e.g. for poetry book illustrations. In washing techniques the fast result is also fascinating.
After returning to Finland I saw paintings of Martti Innanen and Lea Pihkala. Their paintings were full of humour, colour, joy and messages. I fell in love with Naïve Art.
After that my life changed drastically, I only wanted to paint and study more. I started painting my life experiences. Finnish summer dance and sauna culture as well as swimming in crystal bright waters; lakes and ponds are often the subject matter in my paintings. Some of my paintings are influenced by my volunteer work that I did for 30 years at the international winter sports events as an attache. Also ice swimming in the blue moment of wintertime is important to me. The topics of my paintings of the local history of Lahti supported my work as a guide and vice versa. Creating art has literally saved my life. Hard times have turned into good times.
I am still a development-oriented optimist.
I have taught Naïve painting with oil paints and washing techniques at several art workshops and Adult Colleges. The colour of gouache and ink changes the shape of the work greatly during the process. My washing technique is suitable e.g. for poetry book illustrations. In washing techniques the fast result is also fascinating.
Current information
THE SALES EVENT OF THE FINNISH PAINTERS’ UNION 202317.2.–17.4.2023 online sales https://teosvalitys.painters.fi
11.–19.3.2023 at the Cable Factory
The annual major painting event, the Sales Event of the Finnish Painters’ Union, will be staged in Merikaapelihalli, at the Cable Factory, in March. It is the biggest art event in Finland, and over 700 artists take part in the exhibition, putting nearly 3 000 works of art on display.
The Sales Event offers a broad overview of Finnish painting. Most styles and techniques are represented and both new entrants and well-known artists are participating.
The Sales Event is open for nine days, and customers are welcome to take their purchases immediately. It is worth visiting this free-admission event several times, because the selection changes during the nine days as the artists replace purchased works with new ones.
The number of visitors to this popular event has been rising over the years, and last year a record of nearly 24,000 art lovers visited the Sales Event.
The Sales Event of the Finnish Painters` Union March 2023
Cable Factory, Merikaapelihalli, Tallberginkatu 1 C, 00180 Helsinki
Free entry. Open: Mon–Fri 12–18, Sat–Sun 11–17
Pictures of works: https://teosvalitys.painters.fi
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