Past Works & Archive
A selection of previously collected pieces. Use this gallery as a reference for my style, technique, and the scale of my work.
Museum Acquisitions
I am honored that Yön tuoksu (2016) and Illankoitto (2015) have been acquired by the Jyväskylä Art Museum for the city’s permanent collection. These works represent a pivotal era in my exploration of light and texture, and they now reside in the care of the city for public enjoyment.
Huurre – Frost
Huurre (80 x 100 x 0,7cm, 2015) is a study of the quiet strength found in the winter landscape, balancing the raw texture of ice with a soft, ethereal light. I created this piece using acrylics and modern structural mediums to hand-sculpt a high-relief treeline that physically emerges from the canvas.
The composition centers on the contrast between the tactile, frosted trees and a dreamlike sky washed in blush and dusty rose. This specific color story brings a sense of warmth and grace to a frozen scene, mirroring the resilience of nature. It was a true pleasure to have this work chosen as a birthday gift for an elegant lady, marking its transition into a private collection as a symbol of timeless beauty.
Siemenet – Seeds
Siemenet (59 x 47 x 1,5cm, 2018) is an abstract landscape that captures the quiet, fragile moment of a tree in a hazy, atmospheric space. I used acrylics on canvas to create a stippled, mist-like effect that surrounds the central, skeletal form, suggesting the potential for new life hidden within the stillness. Given as a heartfelt present, this painting is currently held in a private collection.
Yksi – One
In Yksi (38 x 25 x 2cm, 2018), I focused on the singular, sculptural form of a waterlily emerging from a dark, pigment-rich environment. Using acrylics on canvas, I built a deep, weathered texture that contrasts metallic gold highlights against shadowy earth tones. This piece explores the beauty of a lone subject standing out against a complex, abstract background, and it now resides in a private collection in Denmark.
Olemus – Essence
While my work usually explores the vastness of nature and light, Olemus (2019) is a unique departure: the only self-portrait I have ever created. This piece captures the ’essence’ of the artist through tactile surfaces and a monochromatic palette. I am delighted that this work has found its place in a private collection. While it is no longer available, it serves as a beautiful reminder of the connection between artist and collector.
Tykky – Burden
Tykky (80 x 100 x 0,7cm, 2021) is a tactile exploration of the heavy, snow-laden forests of the North, moving toward a deeply abstract landscape style. I created this piece using a rich application of modern mediums, such as molding paste and acrylic colours to mimic the dense, frozen textures of nature without the need for literal representation.
The composition relies on a palette of warm ochres, creamy whites, and muted earth tones, giving the work a luminous, atmospheric quality that shifts as the light changes. This painting was acquired from the Gumbostrand Konst & Form Christmas Market in 2022 and now resides in a private collection.
The Waterlily Studies Patina I, II & Portent (2024)
The Waterlily Studies Patina I, II & Portent (30 x 30 x 4cm, 2024). These three intimate works were created as the smaller counterparts to a series of two large-scale acrylic paintings on canvas, all of which have transitioned into a private collection. As the smallest pieces in the batch, they represent a ”macro” exploration of the themes I developed throughout this collection. In these studies, I wanted to reimagine the waterlily not as a delicate aquatic plant, but as a resilient, sculptural form. I moved away from traditional floral palettes, choosing instead to work with deep ochres, charcoal, and bone whites to give the subjects an elemental, stone-like quality. The physical presence of the work is central to my vision. I utilize acrylics paired with modern mediums—specifically molding paste—to hand-sculpt each petal directly onto the canvas. This high-relief technique allows the light to interact with the surface in real-time, creating a 3D landscape where the waterlilies physically emerge from the atmospheric, stippled background. While my larger works provide the grand narrative of this series, these smaller pieces are where I find the most focus. They are a study in the balance between the heavy, raw materiality of the paste and the ethereal, misty washes of color that surround them.
Saarenneva art
See the Process Behind the Paint
Curious about how these textures come to life? Follow me on Instagram for a look inside my studio, work-in-progress updates, and the inspiration behind my latest collections.