Hello everyone!
I was very happy to learn about this website. I was an active member of It's Art forum back in 2010 or so. Then the website changed and I just kinda dropped out from re-joining. I blame Facebook and all social media for taking so much of my time and it sucks. But we've all been there, one way or another. Just drifting between bits and spaces like lonely astronauts.
Life doesn't always serve us all well, despite all our best efforts. Many things get into the way. Sometimes life just beats us up and leaves us on the streets, begging for help from strangers. Speaking metaphorically in this case. But my career has mostly been a series of attempts and fails. Very few things have taken me forward career-wise. I really don't know what happened along the way that things just felt like I'm waiting for something that never happens.
But one thing that's lasted is that I've continued making art. Sometimes I still forget it's also 'just a job'. I know it's not. It's a lifeline. But those who employ us rarely get that.
It's not easy having friends as an artist, especially an 'old artist' without kids, like me. Now we even have to compete with the machines about creativity. Machines never need rest, breaks or life experiences, they just need human resources. It's the thing that drives us artists forward, away from machine leechery and that makes me want to be part of a resilient community like this.
I don't want to compete with the machines - not now or ever. I do my thing as I've done for nearly 20 years and I plan to continue on that path also every day for the next 20 years. I love painting by hand, it is a method of thinking and keeping up room for dreams and visions. My mind is my art. And that is a tiny cosmos inside me.
This is a very odd introduction, sorry if some find it a bit bleak. I'm Finnish so that's my excuse, hehe. I thought I was going to tell you about my history as an artist and give you lots of client references. But you may find them yourself on my website by browsing my extensive portfolio.
Portfolio here: www.kirsisalonen.com
I hope to post plenty of art for all to enjoy in the future and to be able to build up my profile like it was years back :)
best wishes and have a creative summer!
- Kirsi
