TOP 10 OF THE YEAR 2018

My year 2018 TOP 10 EXHIBITIONS, FLOWER WORKS AND INTERVIEWS 

It's time for recap of the year 2018. It has been full of hard work and wonderful assignments - both commissioned and personal work. I am more than happy how the year treated me. I've been busy and I will take a short pause in January and after that I will be ready for the year 2019.  As I said it's been a busy year and it has been full of emotions especially with my cat family. Haruki got 4 kittens in June 14th and it was super lovely to follow kittens growing and finally one of the kittens stayed with us - Tove darling. Now Haruki has a cat friend and I'm very happy about that too. In the beginning it was quite difficult but now they really are friends. 

But let's get back to my top 10 of the year 2018. It wasn't easy to choose from all the assignments I had. It was also hard to put them in order and order is not necessarily considered very seriously - they are all works I loved to do. There are also things I can't tell or show you yet but I will during this year. I want to thank you each and everyone for co-working with me. You made my day and hopefully we do some unique things this year too! 

10. My editorial flower story in online magazine The Green Gallery which presents flowers and plants as the source of inspiration.

9. At World of TRE Jewellery on a Pedestal installation is a collaboration between four individual fine jewellery brands and one floral artist. 

1805story  pionidesign  keskipomppu  mannstromjewellery 

8. ABL Laatat flower installation for their pop up shop window in Uudenmaankatu in September. I was in good company. Marble mushrooms by talented Pasi Kärkkäinen.

7. Asun magazine editorial story for X-mas issue, photographed in Seurasaari. Styling by Selina Vienola.

6. PRIME floral art photography exhibition 12.9. - 23.12.18 in Bang Bang Gallery.

tulips, 2018

5.Flower workshops at Kultaseppä Kulmala, Måla and More, Johanna Gullichsen, H&M Home, Stockmann, Ryti-talo, työhuone ovi 10 Floral Art Now workshops.

4. Flower wall and a Christmas garden chair installation in the Center for Finnish Fashion  Kämp Garden.

flower wall 2,5m x 2,75m

3. A story and video of me as an artist in Helsingin Sanomat  

arrangement I made in 30min (for me it's quite short time when same time talking to video cam what I'm doing :0 )

2. A story of me as an artist in Finnair's Blue Wings magazine  ( I'm a cover girl, how cool is that haha! )

photo by Laura Iisalo

1. In January I SEE COLOR exhibition at Mattsson & Mattsson workspace gallery in Helsinki. 3 works from the exhibition was also part of Käsittämätöntä group exhibition in Arktikum during Arctic Design week in Rovaniemi in February. I SEE COLOR exhibition was back in Helsinki in November at Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius. 

conformity, 2017

Thank you for reading so far :)

Coming up Floral Art Now workshops you can find here.

Take care and Happy New Year 2019!

xoxo
Kreetta

THE MOST IMPORTANT EXHIBITION FOR ME DURING THE YEAR 2018

I SEE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Conformity, 80cmx100cm 2017

The year 2018 has been the year of exhibitions, floral design and kittens. I begun the year in January with the photography exhibition I SEE COLOR. It took place at Mattsson & Mattsson workspace in Katajanokka, Helsinki. The project took about one year and it is about a young woman who suffers from anxiety disorder. She is my friend Alexandra. I will show here all the photos because I know lot of people did not have possibility to come and see it in the gallery.

I can't breathe, 80cm x 100cm 2017

I did not plan this exhibition. I just wanted to help my friend with positive experience. I got an idea that we could make photos together for fun. Alexandra could make the make up and I could make a flower accessories for the pic. Both could do something they love. Maybe Alexandra could use these photos in her make up portfolio. Make up has been Alexandra's hobby and also a protection shield. No-one can see you feeling bad when you have a perfect make up on you. 

I see color, 80cm x 100 cm 2017

We have talked about the disorder a lot. All the works we made are based on those conversations. It's hard to understand what it really means to have an anxiety disorder. Because of these conversations I began to feel strong will to make the exhibition about the matter. I was a bit nervous when I asked Alexandra how she feels about it and for my surprise she said yes very quickly. We agreed that all the photos should be accepted by her of course.

Normal, 80cm x 100cm 2017

Process was organic. I got an idea for a photo and we planned the make up or the other way around. I did not want to use real clothing because I thought it takes too much attention and takes the attention to wrong direction. I used different kind of fabrics wrapped around her or black shirt. I did not photoshop the face. All you see is there. Not fixed. 

I'm not here, 80cmx100cm 2017

We have one message. You can get well. Mental disorders have unpleasant stigma and people tend to hide them because they are afraid what it means to them. We think too much other people's reacts. Unfortunately anxiety disorder is very common among young and young adults. It might be that it has begun when you were in your twenties and you try to get help when you are forty. 

Still, 80cmx100cm 2017

I'm not gonna say this was an easy project for me but more important I know this wasn't easy for Alexandra. I felt huge responsibility to make utterly beautiful and interesting photos and  same time I was also worrying and hoping all goes well. But I would not have done it if I haven't felt this is right thing to do somewhere deep inside. This project we made together and I have no words to express how proud I am about Alexandra.  The work above Still is Alexandra's idea. She told me she feels frozen. There are many dimensions in that word. For me this work describes how you feel when you are a viewer of life not the one who is living it. You are stuck with all your emotions, feelings and restrictions they cause and for you they are invincible.

I hate it, 80cmx100cm 2017

Meanings of these works are binded to references they consist to history or other photography genre or art. Things aren't obvious and like the make up for Alexandra these photos are also masks of the cruel mental disorder. I lure the viewer to come closer to expose the ugly truth. 

Bare, 10cmx13cm 2017

Naming all these works were challenging. Almost more difficult to find the right name than to create the whole work. We gave names in English because the name of the exhibition was in English too. The name of the exhibition was born from the Alexandra's experience to see colors in different situations. I don't see colors but I get strong feelings from the places and people. I feel strong empathy. The last portrait is Alexandra without make up. It is a very small pic in beautiful make up box. That pic was the hardest to make. Without the shield you are the most vulnerable. 

Three of these works were part of the group exhibition called KÄSITTÄMÄTÖNTÄ in Arktikum, Rovaniemi during Arctic Design week in February 2018 and in November 2018 I SEE COLOR exhibition was in Gallery Pirkko-Liisa Topelius  with two new works.

Fleeting, 39cmx50cm 2018

After January's exhibition I felt that we need a break and if we make more portraits we do it in autumn. Autumn came and Alexandra felt much better. She was helping me as an assistant with my floral designs and I just could not see anymore make up and flowers. I saw a young woman who had grown and clearly taking over the disorder. All this and what had happened before got me thinking chaos theory, butterfly effect, coincidence. We can't predict how life treats us. But we can be active and positive about our own existence. Growing strong wings is not the easiest task but it is necessary to survive. If I can help one with this project, maybe I can help many by sharing it and that is what Alexandra also thinks. 

Signature, 39cmx50cm

What's left from Anemones we used in Still after being frozen in freezer? It is changed flower.

Hopefully you enjoyed the story and photography work.  

I wish you a sparkling New Year 2019 with plenty of colors and happy feelings! Take care!

xoxo

Kreetta

STILL LIFE SERIES 4

FOREST WALK PLANTS AND FLOWERS

This day has been rainy and dark. I've been a bit sick even though it's my first day of summer vacation and then saddest news from Nice. What ever we people do we should start to care more about - everything. 

We decided to take a short peaceful walk in a forest because the whole day inside the house with the crazy news doesn't make you feel better. On the way I picked few plants and flowers because I felt I needed to. Nature is beautiful in every sense, actually I kind of like the rain if I just have proper clothing and that means - my rubber boots. 

This still life is about all the sadness of killing that happens in the world every day. For us it is shown expecially on the days like this. This day stays in my blog as a sign of human nature. I hope we can all work for more peaceful world. 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

xoxo

Kreetta

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

FLOWERS + LINKS

Instead of pink hearts and cheesy quotes I like to share some creative links with you today. Everybody needs inspiration and chance to see things differently time to time. I went back in time and tried to remember the early inspiration sources I got when I started my blog, painting and making ceramics and DIY. We go back maybe even time before Pinterest.

I remember how happy I was when I found a very interesting site called Book By Its Cover.  It is a site devoted to showcasing creative publications run by talented Julia Rothman. I fell in love with the sketchbooks by Alison Worman. There are a lot of creative energy and talent. Worth to see.

Second place where I like you to visit is Trendtablet by Lidewij Edelkoort. It's a place with so many interesting stories and things to see. This time I chose a wonderful project called grafted for you to see. It's a combination of ceramics and plants. 

Workshops. How much we get positive energy and inspiration from other people? I've been in several food photography workshops and I have to say they have had a big influence on me. I found the very first one I attended from Ace Camps. Different kind of people with different backrounds but with one common thing - love for food photography. It was a beautiful experience and I got plenty of inspiration and met a lot of lovely people. At the moment it is quite easy to find a workshop compared few years ago. They are very trendy at the moment and so many are making them. So choose carefully!

I have so many creative idols that it feels a bit difficult to name only one but her name is Hagar Vardimon. She makes beautiful and thoughful collages. Go and see her wonderful work under the creative name Happy Red Fish Art.

Finally we get to the last link and that is Fine Little Day's blog post about whittle. I don't remember when I found this blog but it has very nice nordic feeling with great topics and this time she is writing about something that is (i think) coming strongly next trend. Whittle. We already have followed creative people like woodworker Ariele Alasko who makes beautiful things from the wood. But as a DIY person I have already made plans to buy a very good carving knife to make a hand-carved wooden spoon. But in a meanwhile I borrow the carving knife from my husband :)

What is your favorite creative link?

xoxo
Kreetta

STYLING YOUR HOME WITH A FROZEN TREE

ART ON THE WALL

Autumn has arrived. When the weather turns a bit colder we stay more inside at our homes. We light up candels and spend cosy evenings in our living rooms. Then we look at our home with a bit different eye too. Maybe we want to change things, buy new things or change the order of furnitures. 

I use to have a very minimalistic decoration at my home but after I spent few months in Copenhagen my style changed. I fell in love with Danish style. Cosy and eclectic. You could see a person's history at his or her home and I think that was very interesting and I was very drawn to it. I'm sure if you are very minimalistic and you visit my home - you'd be overwhelmed, haha.

But this photo isn't from our home. It's from our friend's home. They moved to a new house and they have been decorating it very stylishly. As you can see they also like vintage style but modern too. I was very happy when I was asked to make a photo for them. This photo on the wall is taken few years ago during the very cold winter in Helsinki. It was a weird weather on that day. Actually the weather lasted few days. It was cold, crispy and thick frost on everywhere. Like a macig winterworld. How lucky I was because during that time I had a photoshoooting with meteorologist. Funny coincidence. We were photographing near the sea in one park. There I saw these beautiful trees. They were so perfect and simple. They bring to my mind a bit of Japanese wood drawing. I think after that winter we have had the same kind of weather only once or twice so this pic is quite special. Like my friends too.

xoxo

Kreetta

WHEN I PAINT - I'M FREE

COLOR IS MY POWER

neiti Hattara 2015 (acrylic/145cm x 110cm)

Welcome to exhibition! These are my paintings from autumn 2014 to spring 2015. We made a group exhibition called VÄRIVOIMAA! with our painting class and the exhibition just ended in Herttoniemi sairaala. I decided to show you some of my work because I've been talking about it here in my blog quite a lot. So here we go! The first one is called neiti Hattara (ms Cotton candy, 2015) 

Korento 2015 (acrylic/mixed media/65cm x 63cm)

I have found painting very relaxing and powerful source of strong positive impact. I started about three years ago and before that I thought I couldn't do it. I'm not talented enough. Well some might still think so but I don't. I can and I've noticed that my life is more fullfilled now than before painting.

Hanami 2015 (acrylic/87cm x 68cm)

Hanami is my favorite and it will be on our living room's wall. It took 2 years before it was  ready. It is the longest time I've painted one work. There are many different kind of layers. 

...AND THE WINNER IS

Patrice. Congratulations! I hope these postcards bring joy to you and your friends and family :) They are soon on their way to you!

Thank you all who took part in. I will do this again later this spring with different photo. I guess I'm doing it also in IG.

I have few blog posts in my mind at the moment. Like to show you my new big cupboard at my workspace and my painting spot. I love the light there and I have made soooo many Instagram photos there. If you want to see some, they are here.

Have a creative week!

xo
Kreetta

Walking in Paris

Love.

Timeless walking at Montmartre.

Art. History.

In front of Musee d'Orsay. It was too long line. We decided to go there next morning before it opens. That was a good call - much faster one. Saw beautiful work of art.

 Louvre.

We used metro a lot. Saw many neighbourhoods.

Shape of house.

Atmosphere.

Small shops.

Artisan bread.

Fresh green. Sunlight.

This was my tour in Paris for you. We spent our Easter there. I have decided that next time when I go there I can speak French. It's lovely language but need practising before I can order my dinner in French, haha. 

What is your favorite place in Paris? I can't name only one. But I loved to stay in Saint Germain des Prés area. Musée d'Orsay was wonderful. Sacré Coeur and Montmartre has lovely atmosphere. There are so many great places. So many places unseen. This city won't let you down.

Have a lovely week!

xo

Kreetta

Frayed and Crackled - Kreetta's Ceramics

Oh, I'm so back from Paris. Wow, that's a place. About my trip to Paris later this week. Some vintage finds of course. Now - ceramics.

I love old and frayed. So when I make ceramics - I like to make things look like they are old and not perfect. I've also noticed that somehow I work in certain period with same way of seeing and when I put things together they might even play well together. Of course not always but this time yes. Do you remember my circus theme ceramics? You can find them here. I decided to move on to different level - still circus but more delicate shades and colors.

 

I've used a lot of raku clay this year because it felt nice to work with. I'm also taking one raku clay course in May. It will be fun! This year I've also worked with paperclay and it's totally different  comparing to raku clay. It's soft and very flexible. Of course I've made paperclay bowl in a rough way and it surprisingly worked quite well.

To make structure I leave my bowls without finishing them too carefully. I paint the glaze and combine different colors.

I have to admit that it's been a little bit difficult process to move on from real rough colors to these light and pastel shades. Of course I use some darker colors to get more drama if you know what I mean. I love crackle!

It's very rewarding when you get something done the way you wanted. I've done a lot of testing before I made bowls that I like. This project needed rethinking and patience. Yes, patience... I've never done one thing so long time. Clay isn't very easy material so many things can make the result not the one you've wished for. But I love to work with clay because you can always start all over again and it feels good - working with hands.

Have you ever tried playing with clay? I think I want to try clay pottery wheel. The course will begin in autumn. I have so so many plans already for autumn. I'm so excited. I promise you hear about them during this spring and summer. 

Have a lovely week!

xo

Kreetta

Feeling Easter

Happy Easter! Spring is giving it's best at the moment. We have light, birds are singing, little by little the green is growing and we are starting to get warm days with bright sunlight. Hooray the winter is gone! I have been working the whole autumn and winter with my project "frayed and crackled" in ceramics. I'm so happy to say that finally I've got something to show to you. But before that I wish you enjoy my Easter feeling photos! Yes, they are dark. I followed the idea of traditional still life painting. I made them two weeks ago when I was working with air plants. Those photos you can find here.

What kind of Easter you are going to have? I'm off to Paris with my husband! It's my birthday present...I've waited this so much. It's good to get older I guess, haha...and enjoy the spring in the beautiful city.

xo

Kreetta