Interview with Hermanni Pellinen
Born In Central- Finland 1978, self taught . Youngest child of three. As a child, always drawing something. Wanted to learn more. Inspired by fathers abstract painting, he made a decision to someday become an artist.
He Started to paint, made paintings and portraits as a teenager. Studied to become a practical nurse in 2000, keeping art as a hobby. His father died that time. 20 years went by, and life had him keeping busy starting a family and raising a child. Making a career in healthcare, mental hospital and sheltered housing.
Year 2020 came and he started to paint again, got married and had a brain stroke in honeymoon at the lighthouse. Spent seven months home and trained himself back to normal life. He took a paintbrush in his hand and started to paint all his past life, frustrations and sorrow away about his dead father and now when survived from stroke, seeing the most important things in life more deeply now.
He became an artist.
Near future plans in 2022 are Representation one year in PAKS Galleries in Vienna, Austria and castle Heidenreichstein, also in Munich Germany and in Fine Art Cannes Biennale, Boulevard de la Croisette organized by MAMAG Modern Art Museum.
He continues to push boundaries and takes himself far beyond from comfort zone as living life to fullest, and thinks someday his legacy will be seen and heard.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I describe myself as an artist that reflects the world that surrounds me. I feel all the energy of the world, and collect it deep inside me. Whether it is positive or negative energy, I kinda get the energy, and when I feel to push it out from me, I push it out through my artworks.
I think my art needs to be done, and the world needs this. All the negativity and cruel things in the world need to send far away to the universe! All the positive things in life have a place here, and they can be spread everywhere. I do believe that with art and communication we can achieve great things in life. Maybe we can also make the people, that usually doesn’t watch art, somehow change perspectives in life and make art a priority in their life. Make room for thinking, and learning new ways to see life.
My art changes and lives its own life. Sometimes it is colorful and happy, and somedays it is the opposite. I live a life that is either you do or don’t do. For me, it is hard to just leave things behind that need to be done. I wanna change the world for good!
As long as I breathe, I continue to push forward for bringing happiness and bigger experiences for people. I want to give a full show and so passionate art, that doesn’t leave anyone unsatisfied.
My personality is adaptive. When I am with shy people, I feel I may be also quite shy, but also supportive. I wanna help a shy person to feel safe and secure with me. I always protect and help a shy person to give the time if they wanna speak.
When I meet an open personality, an extrovert, I also come from my shell and open up. It is a strange feeling. I feel that I have both sides in my personality. I am open-minded and a shy person too. It depends on the situation.
How do you go about beginning a new piece? Do you have an idea already in mind, or do you start working with materials or sketches to find the departure point?
I have lots of styles when it comes to starting a piece. I often find myself thinking about what would I start doing. Then I realize and see myself doing exactly the opposite and a whole new idea. Painting can change many times before it starts to come together and in the final result. I feel that a piece has its own mind, and it decides what I am starting to paint. I often think that the painting is the creator, not me. I am just filling up the places that the painting wants to be filled. I feel that I am fully connected to something great. That way the universe and almighty decide what is coming next. I like that perspective.
A piece can be done also in a very natural way, very abstract style. It happens sometimes when I wanna just play with colors. With that style, there is no pressure at all. I use this strategy only if I feel stressed out or very tired. It kinda keeps me in the world of art, without losing my motivation for art-making.
There is also a way that can be very frustrating. I am speaking about realism and portraits with full details. For this painting style, I need more time. This can’t be done in a rush and can be very stressful and you can lose motivation with this style. I have learned that I have to be very careful with it. Not to rush, not to force anything. Sketches help with this. In the end, there will be the satisfaction of making it the harder way.
When do you think your most prolific time of the day or week is?
Definitely at night. Late night. Not in the morning. I like to start my day slowly with coffee, thinking about the day and what do I need to do. In the daytime, I usually spend my time with my family, or I am working at my daytime job as a licensed nurse. I do also like go to the gym and workout, and go jogging. In the nighttime starts my creational and inspirational thoughts. I am full of ideas and my powers are full at night. I can spend hours and hours with my paintings in my studio, and forget about everything else. Sometimes I forget to eat and drink also. (Coffee I don’t forget)
I think I don’t have any favorite time or day of the week, the best time is when I have free time. My wife understands this and helps with our home and children.
What is a barrier you as an artist overcame? Is there anything that enabled you to develop your work as an artist in your life?
I overcame my fears to be an artist! I had my brain stroke in 2020 and survived from that, and after that, I thought I can do anything! There have been mornings when I have thought of life as an artist and had doubted my skills, or questioned am I doing everything right, or is this path the right one? There are things in my life that push me forward to develop as an artist. I do this whole thing for my family. I want to develop myself so well and powerful that I can leave behind a legacy that can be remembered! I want my family to know I do this for them, and I wanna be one of the greatest artists in the history of art! I can develop and continue to grow as a person in the direction I choose.
I wanna help people, and heal wounded souls to get on their feet with my art.
Did you have an idea of what you wanted to create right from the beginning?
I clearly saw a vision of a better world. I saw love. My path is to stay on this path and create passionate paintings from love and for love. Love creates my paintings. I don’t see any other visions. I say love is the answer to this question.
What is the meaning or creative inspiration for your work? We’re curious what the narrative or story is to what you are producing?
I think this leads back to an earlier question. Love. I can open up more my thoughts about it. This subject is a very large one to discuss, but I can try.
When I go to my studio/ garage, I usually feel either very happy or very sad, disappointed. I can go there and start to push put the feelings I have gathered inside me for days, months, years. I gather the world's feelings, emotions for me, and let them out powerfully to the canvas! That is the moment I feel I have done something great, I reflect on the world around me and make it an artwork, for the people to see. I hope and believe that people can relate to my art somehow. I can shoot love on the canvas! Comforting people with art can be very important. My mission here in this world is to bring and give love. It inspires me every time and never leaves me empty-handed.
Besides your artworks, are there any other things in life that your voice as an artist may consider vital or valuable? What makes you joyful and creative, in other words?
I feel joyful and creative when I have plenty of free time and nothing to worry about. Family and friends give me joy. Music. Sports. The next best thing after art and painting to give me a good mood is gym and jogging in the forests. Holidays are the best time to produce and create new. In the summer I can paint also outside. Backyard and terrace are the places to do that. Or, it is possible to go to the forest and paint there. Winter here in Finland is too cold to paint any (-30celcius), maybe small sketches?
Are there any exhibitions or places where people can see these beautiful creations in person soon? Anything on the horizon?
I have made a contract with Paks Gallery for one year of representation in their Galleries over Europe, and Fine Art Cannes Biennale.
Exhibition: New Contemporary. The unique world
Date: 8th January - 3rd March 2022
Location: PAKS Gallery in Vienna
Exhibition: Art between thoughts and spontaneity
Date: 9th March - 20th September 2022
Location: PAKS Gallery in Munich
Exhibition: From thoughts to artwork
Date: 28th September - 21 December 2022
Location: PAKS Gallery by the castle Heidenreichstein
-Art Cannes Biennale (Boulevard de la Croisette) in 2022 with Paks Gallery
-I will also participate in 26.1. - 4.2 2022 in collaboration with (Capital Culture House) physical Exhibition called INCANDESCENT in Madrid at Eka Art Gallery & Moor.-In the Autumn I will make in Finland my own physical show exhibition at Kellarikalleria in Suonenjoki town 1.8.-26.8. 2022
-My studio is open for people to see anytime, we can arrange appointments at
Metsämiehenpolku 1 40270 Palokka Finland.
