Iina Koppinen: Working and vacation in Italy – medieval castle Izzalini

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – The best thing in Italian culture and lifestyle is they know how to have fun and enjoy every moment of life – they call it la dolce vita.  It is so remarkable difference to my domestic culture in Finland.  I love spend time at those piazza restaurant’s and cafe’s, work while drinking espresso and join those people doing the same thing late in the morning.  I want preserve their lifestyle – assume this and never forget these moments – it turned to be mindfulness now.  It is essential to remember how to enjoy moments of life.  So, don’t worry – time goes still, everything is going to be alright, we all know.  If you make yourself happier and more cheerful, you should do it anyway, even though anyone is against and saying you should not..

Lifestyle in my own head, well.. now I believe more in this relaxing and not so busy life – it is the experience called Italy. I felt has something in my personal comfort – you can feel this passion and joy of life, self esteem, taking care of yourself.

Refreshing and bravest thing what you can do in this era and to share is be what you really are. The wisdom of life, shining intelligence – if anyone has this, it is not avoiding from mistakes, or you are and always will be uncompleted.  I am telling about this in my interview which was published in local newspaper, to be exact I received it when travelling.

Italy is much more than Milan which seems to be center of fashion, success and wealthy. Italy is much more than eternal city of Rome, its history, medieval blocks and arts.

Italy is a great adventure and experience, who ever you are, taste it, satisfaction guaranteed!

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy | espresso!

photo Iina Koppinen |Todi | Italy | 2018 | Flowers hanging down towards the alley

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy 2018 | Todi’s streets and alleys

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy 2018 | Alley | artphoto

I would not spend long periods or work here, or could not live here permanently. The things are not working in the way I am used to. Still.. I want the best parts of this lovely country, not the promises to do things which probably never happens, this could be my life here. Waiting taxi for hours, when the driver say I will be there in minutes. Yammer? I think I am not.. I just presume things should happen as promised. If you are living here, studying, working, better forget many things in daily life. I don’t care about those grievances anymore, but the many things are not easy to understand in my Scandinavian reality.

Taxi driver from hotel to Todi was very friendly and talkative, I felt my uncertain withdrawn way to talk with this friendly Italian manner of speaking. I tried to focus my mind for photographing, I admired those huge landscapes,  I slipped away to my own imaginations – then, suddenly the driver asked is everything o.k., I said yes and he raised his thumb and smiled. At this moment I became aware of being a bit strange here. I was silent client,  he is used to drive chatty people. I said I really enjoy, later he used translator and we understood more each other. Excellent service!

Castle Izzalini!  Delightful place to stay!

photo Iina Koppinen @ Castello Izzalini | 2018 | Italy

Castello Izzalini, near Todi, is the hotel I really prefer for those who want visit and feel region of  Umbria. This hotel is more than 1000 years, medieval, picturesque rustic surroundings. Amazing! The service at this hotel was excellent! I am grateful for this all! The apartment with all accommodations, living room and bedroom and cozy soft bed, this all was perfect for my needs. Trademark for these modern rooms! From windows you can see delightful landscapes!  Water was sometimes cold, but in principle apartment was perfect, I did not complain.

Rental car is essential, if your passion is cycling, the roads are challenging. There is no swimming pool at the hotel, but some miles from Izzalini is a public satisfying pool. I made my trips from Izzalini, I admired those villages in the hills, which you can not feel in Scandinavian scale.I did sketches, worked, took photos. The surrounding, sleepy feeling but I can go and do my sketches. The life there was so easy, I worked in my own peace, considering what will be the next destination in the hills.

photo Iina Koppinen | Castello Izzalini | 2018 | Italy

photo Iina Koppinen | Castello Izzalini | 2018 | Italy

photo Iina Koppinen | Castello Izzalini | 2018 | Italy

I am grateful for the friendly staff of Kairos Kafe, tasty local wines and tasty local food.

photo Iina Koppinen | Umbria | 2018 | Italy | Restauration of the old castle near the road

photo Iina Koppinen @ local bookstore | Todi 2018 | Italy

photo Iina Koppinen @ Castello Izzalini | Todi 2018 | Italy

This post contains some photo related details from my work related vacation.. So, guys, if you have any questions – I’ll be happy to answer!

xx

Iina

 

Iina Koppinen: Italy, Umbria – with photos and words

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – Italy, the region of Umbria – when travelling here, it’s worth keeping in mind that easy and slow life are rhythtmic characteristics of this area. Italy is pleasant country in the way, suddenly here comes in my mind, a bit unusual – maybe I am a bit unaccustomed traveller – series of experiences. Fortunately, in this old castle where I have accommodation, is excellent wi- fi connection!  Locally, there are squashed areas, especially here in the mountain region.  Here you can pay with a banknote or credit card, but most of the stores and restaurants accept only cash! Can you believe – in the country where the whole banking system was developed!

Paying only by cash, oh.. I got rid of it, carrying banknotes in my purse!  Here we go again.. I visited town called Todi yesterday and bought Benetton shoes for walking, super- nice pair of shoes, I think. I really like! I am using those now, altought I usually have my sandals – my trusted pair of sandals when searching for locations and other exploration missions related to planning and implementation of my work. Good to have new pair of shoes, because for this short travel in here, I did not carry everything with me. And in the afternoon I’m invited to have a dinner, certainly – pizza, because I’am in Italy.  Haha!   That visit comes to a real need, because my laptop is not working as I expected, or something between camera and laptop – I had just taken the wrong USB cable which looks the same as the working one, I should have – and of course the right one is in Finland!

Here it is valuable to know some words or phrases in Italian – local people really appreciate it – and presto, smiling faces are quaranteed!

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | Thoughtful daydreamer

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | looking for photo locations

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | collage

Here the things are happening really slowly, and it is not always satisfying me, waiting something is not the best sides of my personality and I get stressed so easily!   It was only driving from Rome, when I came here – after a long drive, the reception was closed cause they had siesta.  I was sweating and was not laughing.

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | collage

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | sunflowers

The tranquility itself is a big positive thing to mention – I can do my work just in my own way, and no one is disturbing me.  And the landscape is really fantastic.  So – the nearest town is less than five miles away, Todi, as I already mentioned.  A pretty little, nice town, full of those small, mysterious narrow roads and alleys.  In the silence of narrow alleys I can experience great stories of the past.  I must tell – it is extremely charming!

I listened my own footsteps while walking there and admired the blossoms that roamed down the old balconies up there, over me in the shadowy race of the sun and the shadows.  The older gentleman was looking at me – he had carried his chair outside to the wall of Todi – and was looking down to the plains and fields.  The landskape is almost the same from year to year, but I can not believe he gets tired of it.

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | view down to the valley

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | selfie with flowers

The landscape and nature of Umbria is clearly green, very picturesque.Taking photos of streetview is especially interesting me. I shoot so many photos that some injury shots might hit quite well too. I am one of those who take pics also from an airplane window – if I am booked to a window seat, and if it’s clean enough for shooting.

The flight from Helsinki to Rome was really easy, quick with a good service while enjoying it! And as I said earlier the car is a must here because Italian connections with traffic are not very good.. and it also gives more freedom.

photo Iina Koppinen | Helsinki – Italy flight | 2018 | 

For some, this is the land of dreams. I have to say that you might probably love and hate this country at the same time. My vision is to compose my exhibition here, one serie of those, to do more work with sketches, depicting and watercoloring too. I have a lot to do here, because the week is such a short time. The castle is good place to rest – when I give myself a bit mercy – and oh, I have given it!  Makes good for the soul, you know.

Here is also the good mood for the upcoming exhibition serie! The exhibition is becoming more cool, breathing in this mode.  The world is wider than I sometimes think, no matter how much I think.. so, maybe it is a good idea to travel sometimes.  I’ am the kind of sofa corner traveller with TV and net. I really need to be experienced and move around to find new angles, visions.  Here in the Umbrian area somehow seems to be the future and the past mixed together.  Here a manuscript is being molded in a way, for the serie of this kind of exhibition (the one I started in Spain, I was there like a month about half year ago, and that’s the serie I’am speaking) – and here I do more visual art work for it. Lots of moods.

The only purpose of the questions is to be silent – I realized. Not bad at all.. I’ am going to give answers to questions through the exhibition – answering via visual expression to viewers questions.

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | vine

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | local little pub

photo Iina Koppinen | Italy| 2018 | Umbria | tasting local vine

photo Iina Koppinen | Todi | Italy| 2018 | sunset

Ciao bellissimo!

kisses and hugs

xx

Iina

 

Iina Koppinen: Answering a question about my studio habits – and great weekend at the cabin

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – I had a great weekend at the cabin! It’s the silence which makes me relax and listen the sound of the burning woods at the fireplace. Looking out from window to the lake, and sitting at cozy couch..  Weather was so calm and a swan flew close to the surface of the water – so near I could see it’s mirror image from the water.  

I was hoping I had time to take a photo of it, but I didn’t.. I don’t know, sometimes it’s just better I think – not to save every moment with a camera, you know. Sometimes it’s just better to watch and let those beautiful things to make their own memories. I took my lap top with me but chose not to write this blog there, because I thought it would be better not to have all this modern technology around me all the time. I think you can understand, sometimes it is important just to be without those for a little while. I need them, of course in my everyday life, but when I can choose, I take one day off from technology – at least I try – and now I spend time at the cabin, just nature around me.

photo Iina Koppinen | early morning at the lake | 2018

photo Iina Koppinen | flowers – daisies | 2018 | Marimekko – shirt

photo Iina Koppinen | 2018 | summer | at the cabin | water lily flowers

Oh yeah! Some days ago I received this e-mail. One reader asked a question and it’s always nice to answer to them!  So, this reader asked how relationships affects my work or how can this be seen in my artwork? I think now it’s time to answer this question. And oh, people – if you have something to ask, I’ll be glad to answer others too.

Only thing relationships or life itself outside the studio affects is how I manage get enough time to work. In my life the work is number one and after this other important things which are meaningful in my life. Usually I need to think – just like all other people – how and where to set more energy or passion to do other meaningful tasks, or is there any sense to go for a dinner or meeting friend at cafeteria after work. Normal daily routines like these. Relationships are crucial to me, case these give new perspectives to life, those give joy and alternation also. Good, integrating and safe friendships precisely.

sketch photos and sketches Iina Koppinen | 2018 | ink on paper | from the serie – Hands

While working I like to be pure – can I say so – even clean. I don`t carry any worries fears or any kind of relationships I am involved to my studio. In this space where I work I don`t think or solve any problematic things of my life. I leave these things outside studio. I am only working there, there are no other persons, it is only for me, myself.  I am very strict in this personal rule, otherwise I can`t work properly enough.

Sometimes it is not easy, if life around takes a hold on me, I don`t start working before I purify myself from all this stuff or even from other stressful things I am carrying. I read or dance til I am relaxed and can start working. Emotional balance and peace of mind are – as I said before – essential for working and good results, work takes a hold on me. I use to pray while working, I have my own personal faith, I call it faith in my heart.  Some artists might use meditation or talk with tabula rasa sipping wine before they start working. We all have own habits to focus our senses to working. This is my way.

photo Iina Koppinen | summer wear | 2018 | little suitcase for my paintbrushes, paints etc., easy to put it in a bigger suitcase | favorite dress right now

Can you fellows guess where I’ am going to travel for a short work trip?  To Italy.. Doesn’t it sound so nice?  I’ll tell you more about it later..

Love you guys.

xx

Iina

 

Iina Koppinen: Exhibition at Galleria Patina – placement of artworks and making friends with other visual artists

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – On friday afternoon we had the opening parties of exhibition at Galleria Patina in Jyväskylä, Finland. I’am invited visual artist and one of nine artists in July exhibition. I was pleased to meet artists never seen before, I have met none of them.

The gallerist had made new style in placing artwork – close, but harmonic, however. At first I was almost upset while walking there and saw from the street far away that my large paintings were placed in showcase.   But shortly after – I realized this is great – people walking on the street can see my artwork even when gallery is closed! And to be exact, there was not enough space inside the gallery, so this is really what I wanted from this exhibition. Paintings are totally in a new point of view – advertising this exhibition. My smaller concretistic paintings are placed in congruent close, but well controlled inside the gallery.

I really have to say, the gallerist has strong- minded and long experience view how to place artworks – usually this has to be done in very short time limit.  I can say professional gallerist and culture producer are those who I admire and appreciate, I really want devote my skills and satisfy their wishes .. although I let them know which suits me or not .. unless I’am not responsible place the paintings on the wall. I always want to make sure there is no surprises or no bad taste in my mouth or theirs, you know.  It is so exciting to be one artist on this exhibition!

Artphotos and photos Iina Koppinen | Galleria Patina | gallery | exhibition | Jyväskylä

As I have said before (maybe in my Finnish artblog) the rules concerning the artworks and artists, I have to ask their permission to take photos.

One delightful artist and watercolor painting teacher said to me – don’t quote, don’t copy, but steal, exactly what Picasso said.  He gave me a lot visions about his artwork and about my own paintings.  I usually understand something wrong and something right from the flow of spoken feedback when this is the case of my own paintings.

This artist said you can’t repeat his feedback, otherwise but your own words, which are colored from your personality.  This is the truth, I think.  He spoke about watercolor painting in the way, artist has to be a friend with colors – cause this style is demanding – is the only way to make it work. I met also art critic Hannu Castrén, whose articles I have read with pleasure, he is insightful and excellent writer.  And speaker, too.  He also attended to opening at Multiainen Sato last year, where I had pop- up style gallery exhibition with other artist – duo- style exhibition.

The artists, whatever they are.. musicians, writers, painters.. they become the servants when they bring out their works.  This is the way they give their experience.. when one is listening, reading or watching .. they can perceive this world and themselves part of it, and perceive identity.. coping in this hectic life we are living.  I was talking about this – and now, writing this article, I’am not sure, did I understand it wrong or right, but I share this opinion in my own way, my words.

I got this feedback, several of them, from one of my smaller paintings.  I have made it to confuse the eyes – in the way colors are attacking the eyes, the shapes and huge contrasting confusing whole vision.  I’ am not surprised if someone gets headache from my optical, concretism artwork.

 

photos and photos of art Iina Koppinen | Galleria Patina | Jyväskylä | gallery

Minna Lenfeldova and her work | photo Iina Koppinen | Galleria Patina

Katriina Korhonen and art | exhibition openings | photo Iina Koppinen

Minna Piispanen | artworks Minna Piispanen | photos Iina Koppinen | Galleria Patina

photo Iina Koppinen | other artworks you can buy | Galleria Patina | Jyväskylä 

I think people are beautiful, everyone in their own way, personal or classic – and I mean it like visually.  One artist said to me that I can’t take a good photo from her.. I think if it’s not me, it’s someone other who can take a brilliant photo from her – it depends so much from the situation when photos will be taken.  Or about the photographer.  I did not have time to relax nor guide those artists who were willing to be in the photos.  It was not my task in these photos.  I know, I myself, freeze sometimes, when new photographer is taking photos and it demands good nerves to find a photo I accept.  I was busy there, running around from here to there in parties, so quality is not the best in this time.

I take photos of myself, so I know nothing replaces helping hands when taking photos.

photo Iina Koppinen | e- mail | Galleria Patina | Jyväskylä

If you have any questions or something to ask, please contact.  During coming week I hopefully get feedback / critic from art critic and art historian Harri Hirvonen, who chose one of my paintings in exhibition at Keuruu.

Makes me feel good!

Hopefully you all have those good vibes!

xx

Iina

Iina Koppinen: Why visual artists should have a blog, success – and one epic failure

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – Here I’ am – sitting and staring at a blank laptop screen.  Sometimes it just happens.. if I’am tired, I lose all my good ideas what I was thinking to write about! And that is frustrating.  I don’t want call it a day to be anything like walking away from the laptop.  I always tend to write my ideas up, but sometimes it’s not possible – a couple days ago I was driving my car, and had this wow– moment.   I thought – oh yeah, this is something I can remember without stopping and writing it up.  After I had done everything I needed before starting to write my new post – obviously, I tried, but I couldn’t remember, what the wow was.

 

photo and sketch with a quote: Iina Koppinen (upper photo taken in Adeje) – “Lazy day artblogger”

I think every visual artist should write about their work.  It’s nowadays almost necessary – if you want to succeed in a career of yours, you know.  I started to write about my life and my work, because this gives me ability to tell my own words, who I am, and what I think, and especially, this is a great way to show my work.. tell what’s behind my work.  Writing a blog gives me possibilities to imagine.  It is also an effective way to make brand as artist.. and sometimes it helps me developing my visual projects better. Writing gives an other way to see myself and my work.  I can’t stay waiting for some fairy of an inspiration to come.  I mean – what would happen if everyone would be thinking – oh, I can’t do my work, because this inspiration thing haven’t been seen anywhere near to me?

I know people are different, and that’s just my opinion.  If I think about inspiration it’s more like those situations like should I go for a walk or jogging.

I want to learn from my mistakes, or someone else’s mistakes.  Always hoping not to repeat those in the future.  Writing about mistakes or troubles does not make anyone weak – but of course I feel that I should not show any sketch which is somehow totally epic fail!  I can tell you, sometimes I am almost too sensitive person – and more like an introvert too.  But I try really hard to become better and better all the time, and find my strengths also in my everyday life as well as working.

Here below is my epic failure sketch..  And I would be so delightful, if you told me what you think about it?

sketchphoto: Iina Koppinen, black and white ink on paper, 2018

“Believe me… I’ve made a career out of being the right thing in the wrong space and the wrong thing in the right place.  That’s one thing I really do know”  – Andy Warhol quote

“Another time Ivan Karp said: Why don’t you paint some cows, they’re so wonderfully pastoral and such a durable image in the history of the arts. (Ivan talked like this)” – Andy Warhol / Pat Hacket

I really love those quotes!  When I was on my early twenties and moved to a new town after art school.. I often heard about my way to speak and articulate.  It had not happened before, in art school nobody thought about those kind of things.  Once I was in some little local pub and this older gentleman took himself a freedom to come and tell me nobody speaks like that.  It was horrible.. I was so shy.  My way of speaking is more like this literary language.  I tried to make it sound more like this normal spoken language, dialect perhaps. Nowadays, when I’ am older, I’am happy the way I speak.. it just happens to be my style and it is unique.

Everyone of us are unique persons and everyone of us have our own different styles to communicate.

Photos: Iina Koppinen – “In a garden, smiling to you”

Sun is shining.  Ther’a a lot to do.  See you soon, again!

Have a relaxed, happy feeling, where ever you are!

 

xoxo

Iina

Iina Koppinen: Opinions about critic and art – and drawing with the left hand

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – I can’t stop to admire how beautifully some people can combine their words and their pictures! They can have a such poetic way.. melancholy looks to distance, in the words and in the images. They give this additional form to pictures, briefly but concisely.

By reading and looking I often get a lot of ideas to myself. All sorts of emotions can connect people, and in the best situation, it also leads to the productive perspectives.  For me, this joy of writing.. it is also a joy of perception.

Many years ago I was in accident, my left hand was operated. It is still severely sore, especially if my hand is overworked. Earlier I could use both hands even when writing, but especially drawing. I can tell you – if you want some alternation, you can try writing or drawing with your other hand. It gives new kind of sensitivity and perspective in drawing and it is good exercise.  And it can be fun too! It took really long time to adjust drawing again with my new titanium elbow.  Here’s this first picture, I did – and yes, it has been a long time since I used this left hand.. maybe even half a year or so.  What do you think about my left hand sketch?

photos: Iina Koppinen – drawing sketches with my left hand and “Something melancholic”

As a visual artist, its good to have this ability to know how to take criticism – but also be able to be my own critic and analytic when it is all about my own work, my pictures.. my paintings – for example in some exhibition.  An excellent forum for this kind of things are always interviews, because then I can give my unique estimate to the journalist about my work.  I can offer my own perspective, and also guide the audience to look at my work and make it easier to approach by telling how I live these works through.

photos: Iina Koppinen – upper, jury exhibition, “Flowers and balls”, acryl on canvas, 2017, 100x100cm, and the other – here’s a sneek peak to you!

The art critic does not only evaluate the works of art, but also produce and shape the meanings of culture.  Critics, evaluations, and opinions are important.  Criticism in words is always unfinished, and nobody can say the last word, especially if it is new, contemporary art.  As a visual artist I’m always ready to listen the audience, how do they see, what do they feel.

Theme. It grows into a series of paintings.  And the paintings create an exhibition.  The first sentence of my biography.  I have received a lot of good criticism of my work.. reviews. And the opinions.

photo of a painting: Iina Koppinen – “Sculpture on a canvas”

When I brought sculpture to the canvas by metallic colors – several layers, and then maintain this sculptural style by using spray paint to prevent the brushstrokes from appearing.  In this way, I work the painting more and more to sculptural direction.  I want it to look like a depicted image externally rough and sharp metal pieces.  I have taken to my guiding star, the clarity and consistency and taken off all those extra bursts.  I have conjured modern metallic sculpture to the canvas – subtle those golden and in silver shiny pieces and displayed the lights and the shadows almost vanishing play with metallic- looking surfaces.

Why is this painting worth looking at?  I have taken away the possibility to touch, feel the statue, or the shape of the sculpture.  No one can see it from any other angle, like a normal sculpture.  It has moved to a canvas like an image for a regular newspaper.  You can experience it, but can not touch.  Sculptors do this the opposite way – they look at the sculpture which they are designing, on a canvas first.  So, that is why I thought I could make a painting of a sculpture.

photo: Iina Koppinen

Today, it’s been windy and rainy out there.. I was hoping I could go for a walk in the forest with my camera..

I really hope the sun will shine to all of you, sweeties!

xoxo

Iina

  

Iina Koppinen: Visual artist writing a blog

By
Iina Koppinen
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OHMYGOSSIP – Visual artist writing a blog. Visual art tells its own story and the readers are also the creators of the story, because every picture makes its own thought and vision, also to you – if you watch it and read the story and that story might not be the same as mine.

I also want to make the type of images that will transmit in a good way this energetic power.  I could describe myself as my own model, because if you are not really famous blogger or something like having a famous name as a fashion photographer.. well, I can tell, it’s harder to get models for those photos and other pictures from outside.  In the end.. I like to be on the both sides of the camera – so, this is the easiest way to do photos.

But, as I like say, the photos are strong.. they are impressive.

Oh, when I started to write this post, it started to rain outside.  It is so beautiful sound behind the window.  Love it.

photos: Iina Koppinen – “Selfies”

I’ve learned early the importance of having fresh ideas to write about.  This is an area where most artists struggle. At the end the result is walking away from computer.  There are times when I can write about a particular topic with ease.  Other subjects will take a little more effort – maybe just because English ain’t my native language.

I must tell – the morning are always important to me.  Usually I wake up earlier than needed – just because I feel it’s good for me to imagine that there’s no hurry going anywhere..not yet.  So, I can drink couple cups of coffee in silence.  Thoughts can be set in peace for upcoming day.  It is one of those – my must to do- things.  My mornings should not be confusing in any way, because somehow I feel like they determine what kind of energy is going to be the whole day..  That’s why I need my own time.  Me and my cup of coffee.

photo: Iina Koppinen – “A cup of coffee”

The refreshment of the morning is also doing those a bit of yoga- type stretches for a couple of minutes.  Youtube has such a lot of good workouts and sometimes I look and listen the instructions from there.  I’ve been really happy with this, because it opens up the body and moves away the sleepy feeling!  About fife minutes of stretching while water for my instant coffees boils.  This is important, because of my working positions gets me often shoulder pain and even a headache when really bad.

When I’am telling all this you might think I’am more like a morning person, but it really varies.  Sometimes I get excited so much about my work, and then I can’t stop until like 2 am. at night!  That’s about the accuracy, which I describe myself – that I’am a human just working like 8 am to 4 pm. But basically, mostly I’am very punctual with my working habits.

I had planned to do a lot of my own work also today, but obstacles happened.. I couldn’t slip them when they came up.  This has happened often now – there are so much responsibilities, and I’am one of these really kind personalities – it’s hard for me to say no.  Part of me sometimes screams that I should be more selfish!  And my friends say, that I should be even a little bit more selfish.  And when I was doing my shopping in some store.. and then went to pay those products, even the employee said to me after hearing that I was talking on the phone and barking myself silly – she said you should be happier.  

I miss some of the times in my life when I didn’t have to struggle with worrying.. Times, when I could stroll through the streets of this little city after work.. having peace in my mind and just walking.  I like to go and buy only one chocolate bar and eat it while enjoying the streets and looking around the other people and doing window shopping.  But life is changing, going ahead – and we’re with it.  For me it means also something really sad, my relative, very close to me got sick very seriously.  She can’t get well anymore.

But thinking all of that – the best thing for me is routine schedules for working!  Because if just I had the chance to stay in the bed in the morning – I would get tired in being there.  I’d just be getting tired and flattered and anxious.  When I have schedules and I have to work, and do these other things beside visual art, and things just have to get done – it refresh me and keeps me going.

photo: Iina Koppinen – “I’m just sitting here and watching the wheels go round and round..”, like John Lennon once said in his song.

Here is some of my relaxed stuff:

Waking up early enough in the mornings and nowadays imagining while drinking coffee that there is no hurry going anywhere.

Doing those stretching things

And yes, sometimes just wondering around and doing some window- shopping

Enjoying the nature. Every season is important to me – and taking photos of everything from birds to insects like grasshoppers

Ciao lovelies..

xoxo

Iina