Index – Artist's news, year 2024 – 2025 – – 2023 – 2022
Artist's speech at the unveiling of Marjo-Riitta Järvelin's portrait on 10 June 2024
"This portrait painting project started on the October in 2022. I got an email from Nina and she told, that:
– We are planning a portrait of one of our professors, and because the professor is abroad a lot, the portrait need to be painted from photographs. How long time you need for portrait painting, and do you have possibilities to paint it in the near future?
At that time, I was painting a portrait of urology professor Teuvo Tammela from Tampere University Hospital. I replied to Nina’s email that, if you choose me to paint the portrait, I can start a new portrait at the beginning of 2023.
On January 2023 I received the first photos of the portrait model and I was delighted because the model was a beautiful woman – professor Marjo-Riitta Järvelin. I had painted a lot of military commanders and other male portraits.
Then I received more photos of Marjo-Riitta, and in many photos her eyes shined of joy: when I looked at those photos, it felt like the sun had shone directly into my heart. That’s why I suggested very light background and some sky blue to the portrait.
At the end of January 2023 I started to draw a sketch. Marjo-Riitta hoped that the portrait would paint according to the photos in which she is wearing an evening dress.
I sent a photo of the sketch to Marjo-Riitta, to Nina and to the Research Director Minna Ruddock. I asked for comments, and I knew I would get requests for some changes, and I got some: the hairstyle changed a couple of times and the eyeglasses needed updating. That was very okay for me.
At the end of March 2023, I started to paint a portrait with oil colors and sent photos for comments. There weren't many wishes for changes, and the portrait painting was completed at the beginning of June 2023.
And very soon we will see it. Thank you, it was a pleasure to paint this portrait."