WHAT

In general

I paint until I reach a point where I have nothing more to give, and then I stop. Painting is a journey, watching, experiencing, and meeting people along the way. Surprises abound. A painting is always and never ready. If you're lucky, sometimes you feel it's enough.

In my garden

Painting is like a garden: lots of work, with most of the seeds being just ideas in your brain. You must think about what you'll harvest the next winter. You need the breaks and friends passing by bringing new ideas and inspiration. Old plants and discarded materials make their way to the compost. And then sometimes, unexpectedly, a rose blooms.

Alternatively, a garden can be a metaphor for Paradise, representing both heaven and hell. The smell of soil in your hands is a reminder that you're surrounded by the unknown. I'm intrigued by the possibilities of exploring this classic artistic motif in new and innovative ways.

— Mirja Ilkka