Three by Three: Guest Artists in Focus

QUESTION 2.    Many of your paintings feel driven by movement, light, and sensation rather than fixed narratives. What usually comes first when you begin -- music, memory, emotion, or a visual impulse?

• ANSWER 2.  I don't start with a fixed memory or a specific emotion. Instead, I try to be present when painting, concentrating on the act. The origin point is the movement itself, creating what my inner self has to offer in that exact moment.

Valtteri "Völi" Laaksonen
Painter

MEDIUM:    acrylic & oil

BIO:    I am a self-taught artist from Joensuu Finland. I paint on canvas using acrylics and oils, exploring dynamic composition, three-dimensionality, and the subtle presence of light. My inspiration comes from beauty, emotions, movement, personal experiences, as well as nature and its phenomena – often also drama and music.

My style blends elements of Impressionism, abstraction, and realism. Prussian blue is a particularly beloved color of mine and recurs frequently in my works. I have held several solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. Since 2025, I have served as the Vice Chair of the Harha Art Association and as an active member of various art communities.

WEBSITE:    VolinArt

QUESTION 3.    In series like Kajosumu, you translate Finnish nature through feeling rather than depiction. How do you know when a landscape has captured memory instead of just scenery?

• ANSWER 3.     I’m less interested in whether a place is identifiable and more in whether the painting feels familiar. When it recalls how the landscape was experienced, not just how it looked, it feels complete.

QUESTION 1.    You began painting only recently, yet your work already spans
abstraction, impressionistic atmosphere, and realism. What internal
shift made painting feel urgent enough to pursue so intensely?

• ANSWER 1.    I was burned out from work that used creativity in a limited, functional way, and painting gave my curiosity somewhere real to go.

"Kajosumu 3", 2025, Acrylics, 65 x 53 cm

"Kajosumu 4", 2025, Acrylics, 100 x 81 cm

"Kajosumu 1", 2025, Acrylics, 55 x 46 cm

All copyright and reproduction rights are reserved by Valtteri "Völi" Laaksonen.
Artwork may not be reproduced in any form without the artist's express written permission.

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