Painting. .
***
At a celebratory event at Savonlinna City Hall, the historical portrait I painted of explorer Erik Laxman, who lived and worked in the 1750s, was unveiled. I unveiled the portrait alongside Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen. Japan's ambassador, Takachi Murata, was also present. The artwork has been donated to Savonlinna, Laxman's hometown.
It was a great honor and pleasure to create this portrait. I want to say that painting a historical portrait is a truly interesting and even captivating process. Of course, I made various sketches for the color scheme and the best compositional proportions. By painting, I immersed myself for moments in the atmosphere of the 18th century. I learned about new historical events and brought to mind the costumes and style of that era. But at the same time, I remained a contemporary artist.
Painting this portrait was like drawing a thread through time. Through art and science, we can connect and intertwine different centuries, building new history.
Erik Laxman's life could inspire a very modern thriller! The story would involve various international relations and adventures in different countries such as Sweden, Russia, Finland, Japan, and even Portugal!
