Nona Hyytinen
Like most realist artists, I drew pictures from my imagination from early childhood on. Mine were characters, illustrations for stories or books.
I began painting in earnest in 2006. Prior to that, I had sculpted and created porcelain artist dolls. I was painting too, but not so frequently.
I paint in oils. Oils are not only very rich looking; they’re very forgiving. As long as a painting is still in my possession, it isn’t definitely finished. I can go back to it and change things I want to. Also, oil paintings are tough. As long as you don’t rip them or burn them, they’re pretty durable. Frames, on the other hand, are fragile.
I’m a figurative artist. Most of my paintings have an idea or story. I do make portraits, but if I’m composing the picture, there is typically a suggested narrative or situation I want to portray. I mostly paint people engaged in some activity, but I paint dogs and horses, desserts, and flowers too. I strive to paint accurately, with perspective and verisimilitude to the subject, but I want my work to LOOK like a painting, not a photograph or a technical drawing. I think oil paintings are beautiful to look at. They’re the first thing I will look at when I enter a room. If there’s a bookcase, that will be the second thing.
I have a BA in Ancient Greek Studies from St. Olaf College. I intended to be an archaeologist but refocused during my Junior year--while standing on the Parthenon, no less—determining that I was really an artist personality. I would pursue my love of history through painting and writing. I intended to go to art school after my undergraduate years, but wound up working and taking art classes as an independent student instead, and attending workshops after that.
Art has profoundly influenced my life. I travel to look at art. I buy art. I paint on my walls. During the Pandemic, I holed up and wrote a novel, painting portraits of all the characters and having the time of my life. This is a love affair that will never die.
It’s important to make the Arts part of the community experience of such a beautiful and historic small city as Galena, IL. I am grateful to participate with and support the Galena Center for the Arts as a regional artist.
I am also a member of AMP, Arts Mineral Point.
I began painting in earnest in 2006. Prior to that, I had sculpted and created porcelain artist dolls. I was painting too, but not so frequently.
I paint in oils. Oils are not only very rich looking; they’re very forgiving. As long as a painting is still in my possession, it isn’t definitely finished. I can go back to it and change things I want to. Also, oil paintings are tough. As long as you don’t rip them or burn them, they’re pretty durable. Frames, on the other hand, are fragile.
I’m a figurative artist. Most of my paintings have an idea or story. I do make portraits, but if I’m composing the picture, there is typically a suggested narrative or situation I want to portray. I mostly paint people engaged in some activity, but I paint dogs and horses, desserts, and flowers too. I strive to paint accurately, with perspective and verisimilitude to the subject, but I want my work to LOOK like a painting, not a photograph or a technical drawing. I think oil paintings are beautiful to look at. They’re the first thing I will look at when I enter a room. If there’s a bookcase, that will be the second thing.
I have a BA in Ancient Greek Studies from St. Olaf College. I intended to be an archaeologist but refocused during my Junior year--while standing on the Parthenon, no less—determining that I was really an artist personality. I would pursue my love of history through painting and writing. I intended to go to art school after my undergraduate years, but wound up working and taking art classes as an independent student instead, and attending workshops after that.
Art has profoundly influenced my life. I travel to look at art. I buy art. I paint on my walls. During the Pandemic, I holed up and wrote a novel, painting portraits of all the characters and having the time of my life. This is a love affair that will never die.
It’s important to make the Arts part of the community experience of such a beautiful and historic small city as Galena, IL. I am grateful to participate with and support the Galena Center for the Arts as a regional artist.
I am also a member of AMP, Arts Mineral Point.
