Lea Viita - Action painting

I was born in Kemi in 1948. My artist name is Lea Viita, my maiden name. Viita means an old forest.  My favourite subject at school was drawing but I graduated at School of Economics and University of Helsinki, as my Father hoped.  In the 1990's art stimulated my interest and I began to draw with ink on paper and paint with acrylic on factory cellulose in our kitchen and bedroom.

When I began to paint bigger and bigger works my husband Erkki Tossavainen built me an excellent studio, called Gallery Lea Viita. Since then I have been able to paint on the floor and nowadays mainly on canvas. My favourite working method is “action painting”.  My favourite artists are Jackson Pollock (1912 – 1956) and Reidar Särestöniemi (1925 – 1981) and all old impressionists from Europe.

Sometimes I draw with ink accurately for example on old skateboards or on Japanese paper. I used to paint or draw a set of 10 – 20 works one after another - if I have spare time. I worked at school as a teacher at the same time (1976 – 2008).

The Nature of Lapland is the source of my inspiration, particularly the winter, the northern light and snow. When I begin to paint, I sometimes think that the wind or the rain helps me to spread colours, lines, ink and all the other materials I use.

I began in the 90’ to arrange personal exhibitions and take part in some group exhibitions too. At the moment I am free from my daily works at school and I have begun to paint every day.

• Curriculum Vitae