A tall lady with her dog.

One of last summer's drawings has now got its colors. The dog was added into the picture just today to give some life into the front area. I chose his photo, among several ones, from a Dog Handbook (he isn't therefore Aarne, my GR) and I wish that he "sits" well there, by the lakeside of Jyväskylä Harbor.

Sleeping Aarne, the Golden Retriever

This color-pencil picture represents sleeping Aarne (2,5 years)and the warmth which he radiates into the surroundings. This gesture is, by the way, very typical sleeping position of dogs, called "kieppi" in Finnish.

The Fisher Lady

I have to admit that my wife is a much more experienced fisherman than I myself. She is responsible for the fishing with the net - I only row the boat and take photos (and sit at the net...). This picture tells about a sad situation during mid-summer evening when very few fishes can be found - but, in opposite, late May and early June give us overwhelming big portions of pikes, breams, whitefishes and pike-perches.

This picture was based on a photo. First the main lines with a pencil, then with very thin (1 mm) calligraphy felt-tip pen and - at last - some shades with color pencils.

Orthodox baptism

Naming of the child takes place very early after the birth in Orthodox Church. It can be performed separately or in the Holy sacrament of Baptism. Only one Christian name is preferred and this name refers some holy, sanctified orthodox person - in this case, Holy Miriam.

Photography of color pencil drawings is not an easy task because the difficulty of color reproduction. This photo has ignored all bluish shades which cannot be corrected with the relatively simple tools of PowerPoint program. It is therefore most important to secure the right shades in the final photo. I think that this problem is especially often faced when trying to copy the relatively delicate shades of color pencil works.

My drawing table

I will tell shortly about my working manners. I prefer to draw during night-time (whenever it is possible). Day-time is too confusing and I cannot reserve several hours' period for these tasks before midnight.

Drawing with the left hand is somehow challenging because the tendency to progress from left to right (as we western people tend to write). Sometimes it is better to start from the right side of the picture and progress to the left but - very often - I will forget it and need a rubber to clean "extra colors". Drawing gets even more difficult when I use ink-based tools (fountain pen, calligraphy felt-tip pens). Better to remember the working direction and - at least - let the ink on the left dry before the continuation of the drawing to the right. This is why also keep all the pens on the left side of the table.

Some additional tools are also needed: a coffeepot, a cup and a my old SELENA short-wave radio, which has served me in an excellent way during the years gone.

Sketch of a dog

A rapidly drawn sketch of a dog - a study for a more extensive drawing. Night-time is suitable for this kind of precise work, especially during dark Finnish winter time.

Isola, Slovenia

A warm summer day in 2007. The neighborhood of the hotel was hiding behind trees and bushes - everything green! This B&W picture was drawn by me just before the strong thunderstorm attacked the small city of Isola in the evening: lightning and rain vere really heavy!