Meet Artist Seija Martin

I grew up in a small town near Helsinki, Finland, which was my backdrop for my painting inspiration. My hometown was decorated with peaceful blue lakes, lush forests, endless summer nights, and plenty of snow covered scenery in the winter. Influenced by an artistic family of 10 children, it was natural for me to start drawing and painting at an early age. My work has been inspired by fond memories of playing out in the field on our family farm with my brothers and sisters, hiking to the nearby lakes, and ski trips in the winter.

 

Most of my art education has been self-taught. However, my brothers, who are talented artists, taught me the importance of being true to who I am as an artist and letting my creativity be an extension of myself. Combining my childhood art influences along with periodic workshops and the study of many famous artists, has formed the foundation for my art training.

I paint primarily on canvas using oils and acrylics. My style is realism, favoring soft muted colors to create a sense of peace and tranquility.  My favorite themes are country and garden scenes, stemming from my childhood growing up on a Scandinavian farm.

 

I have displayed my art work in galleries, private homes, and commercial spaces. For several years, I was the owner of a successful mural painting business, creating large scale, custom murals in a variety of spaces. I am now a full-time artist working in my home studio in Southern Virginia and a member of Brush Strokes Gallery. If you live out of the area, contact me directly and I will be glad to provide free shipping of my work in the continental US.