Once upon a time it was summer in Finland and I decided to create a body paint with her... A few weeks ago I started my Seasons-series. I thought it would be my way to celebrate and honour the 100th anniversary of my home country. Beautiful Finnish nature and art.

Stay for a moment (2017) / Viivy vielä hetki
Artist: Riina Laine
Model: Jane Suvanto

After releasing my latest artwork "Our vow" and the making-of video of the project, I've received a few emails asking how one can book a commission body painting with me. So I decided to write a little guide on how the process works and how to get your own unique artwork on your wall. If you still have questions after reading this, don't hesitate to contact me. You can leave a comment below and I will answer you the best way I can. ​

For anybody. Being body painted is an experience I recommend to anyone. It should be on everyone's bucket list! Getting your own fine art piece as a result of it is a fantastic present for yourself, your spouse, your family. You can model on your own or together with someone. Fine art body painting would make a great gift for a wedding, for a birthday, for a baby shower for a mother-to-be or it can be just a fabulous experience you can give to yourself. ​

The artwork can be designed so that it incorporates the whole body or just part of it (face, back, feet...) For example for Take my hand I painted the hands of mother Hanne and their 4-month old baby Mimosa. ​

I use ONLY professional, usually water-based paint that’s designed to be used on the skin. The paints I use are make-up and gentle on the skin. They are non-toxic and suitable for children too.  The paint washes off with soap and water or make-up remover. ​

After you've contacted me we will go through the specifics on what kind of piece you would like, who is being painted, where the final print will be placed etc. We will discuss on the phone first and then we'll schedule a face-to-face meeting at your place. This way I get to know you a little bit and see the surroundings of the final print.  We can discuss the colours and the size of the artwork and other details, and of course your story, the "why". You will have a chance to give your ideas to the painting and then I will create it with my interpretation according to your wishes.

The painting takes one day and is usually done in my home studio in Helsinki. We can also arrange it on your choice of location. The day is of course exciting, but also relaxing and it gives you a good time to forget everything else and just focus on yourself. There will be just me and you present, and if you wish, also a videographer to capture the process - a making-of video of the session is a great keepsake for yourself and also a perfect way to explain to your friends how the whole piece was created. You'd be surprised how fascinating people find it! :)

After the actual painting, I will start working on the final piece for the print. This takes some time as I want to make sure I pick the right image, with the right emotion so that the end-result will be nothing but amazing. Once the piece is done, I will show you the raw version of it before taking it forward to be printed. This is the exciting part as you will get a glimpse of what the final artwork is going to be like. Even when you've seen some pictures from the camera during the painting session, the final image is usually unexpected and surprising. The word I hear most often is just WOW. ​

Have a look at my fine art pieces in the Gallery and check out this Behind-the-scenes video of 'Our vow'  below to see how these body painting pieces are created.

I've been waiting the chance to share this project with the world - a fine art body painting commissioned by a beautiful couple, Susanna and Mikko. This project was full of excitement, fun, emotions and life. I feel blessed to have been trusted to create a piece of art of the most special time in this couple's life.

Lupauksemme - Our vow
Artist: Riina Laine

​Here is Susanna's and Mikko's story. ​

The behind-the-scenes video is in Finnish for now, but you can click the button for the English subtitles. :)

CREDITS
Thank you Susanna and Mikko for this wonderful commission! 
Thank you Pinja Bruun for the behind-the-scenes photos and videography.
 - Check out Pinja's beautiful work at www.pienipalaunelmaa.com!

Wonder Women - The WAU Project exhibition opened in Helsinki city centre two weeks ago. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to show these 12 works and share the stories of these amazing women in the artworks. So empowering and it's touching to see how some visitors have moved to tears because they feel they can relate to these Wonder Women. The feedback has been absolutely wonderful.

The exhibition has got some nice publicity too! The two Finnish daily newspapers Iltalehti and Iltasanomat wrote about the project and pop star Anna Abreu being one of the models. Yle Puhe interviewed me and we got talking about women and equality, the struggles women still face in today's world and body painting as an empowering art form.

So still one week to go, please come and say hi if you you are around!
Akkuna/ LASIPALATSI, Simonkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki. Open Tue-Fri 12-18 and Sat-Sun 11-16.
Welcome!

The artworks and the Wonder Women  -wall calendar 2016 are available for purchase at the exhibition or at Riina Laine Art Store. Part of the proceeds of the sale will be donated to UN Women!