by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Magnolia Leaf
archival inkjet print
20.3 x 15.25 cm. (8″ x 6″)
I have forgotten to post this image of a print edition I did some time ago. Some readers may recognize this as a smaller black and white variant of this larger full colour one.
If you are new to my work, you may see more of the Hands series at the Hands link on the left side under Printworks, or visit the Gallery (still a work in progress that has stalled while awaiting a new site in WordPress).
by Marja-Leena 
Self-portrait 1968
drypoint
image size: 24.5 x 22.5 cm (9.5″ x 9″)
I have occassionally posted some of my very much older work here as I unearth them from the bottom of my flat files. This is one I had forgotten to publish though it was very much a favourite of mine. It was one of the last prints done in my final year in art school when my major was actually in painting. This was the time when I really fell in love with printmaking and especially the drypoint technique. It would be well over a decade before I was able to return to printmaking seriously.
My older works may be found in that category under Printworks. Another drypoint from that period is this one.
Added January 5th, 2014: As I continue to edit broken links and other funky things after this blog’s move to WordPress, I do end up reading a lot of old posts. Just now I came across this one, which is about this work being published in Qarrtsiluni! I had forgotten that, and how cheesy my words are!
by Marja-Leena 
Mother & Child – etching – image size: 11 x 7 cm. (4.25″ x 3″)
I handprinted this etching in an edition of 65 for Christmas cards sometime in the mid 1980’s, I think. (The date is obscured behind the mat.) It was during a special time when I had found a wonderful print studio where I was able to take up my longed for desire to focus on printmaking. When I came across this particular framed piece in my storage recently, I recalled that it had been hanging in my late parents’ home. With those happy memories, I became inspired to use this as my online Christmas card for this year.
So my dearest friends and readers, with this I wish you a warm and love-filled holiday season, one with happy new memories to hold close. Hyvää Joulua!
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Bark
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
by Marja-Leena 
I recently completed editioning the last piece in the Hands series, in this format anyway. Today I put it up on the studio wall with the earlier ones. You may have seen the first six on the wall earlier. As always I like to be able to stand back and study a body of work as a whole. Ideally I would display them in a single row with more space in between so that each piece stands on its own instead of competing with its neighbours, while also being part of the large group. This image is really too small on this screen to do them justice, I know.
In a day or two, I will post the last one (top right). Please check out the Hands link to see the others individually.
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Milkweed Pod
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
As with some of the other objects in the Hands series, this too was the subject of a very early scan.
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Kelp
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
Another recently completed edition for the Hands series.
Some readers may recall seeing this image before here. Who knew then that these would become a print series?
Added Feb.24th: While searching for something else deep in the archives, I found the first scan of this object! Do have a look at the surprise inside.
by Marja-Leena 
These are the first six of my ongoing Hands series of prints all together, completed at the end of last year. I’ve already posted these individually, to be found under Hands. While preparing several more to print the next few weeks, I put these up on the wall of the printmaking studio to have a long look and think. This is merely a snapshot, not a good photo, for the lighting was poor and I did not use a tripod. However, it shows for me the series as a work in progress, like this other photo. I like to pause like this, to revisit what I’ve done so far, how they look together, which are the strongest ones, which the weakest. I try to imagine ten or twelve in the series all in a single row, as I’d like them to be were they to be in an exhibition. I also enjoy the feedback from my artist colleagues in the studio, just as I do from you, dear readers.
Now to carry on with some more ‘Hands’ with objects. Hope to print one more tomorrow…
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Wasp Nests
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
Here is a close up look at one of the nests – just amazing and beautiful, isn’t it?
