Antti Eklund

"Supermaose" represents power. Great powerful leaders use their powers for all good. They also have the ability to laugh at themselves. Those who abuse their power do not. That´s why they are laughed at, not with. I paint portraits of people who have made an impact on me on our society. I paint oil on canvas and on this painting I used 23K gold leaf.

"Kamala" in Finnish means "horrible" - she is anything but! She is a delightful caring person - and our first female Vice President. ... and depending on how history will unfold, she could become our next President, she is well qualified for it. I chose blue for her as my hope that one day soon we choose to see qualifications and personality over skin color and that we can openly celebrate our cultural differences and heritage instead. I have been painting portraits for years. I started my "Icons of Icons” concept by adding gold leaf to the background, resembling religious icons. Then I swapped the oil paint for the background and the gold leaf for the actual portrait for my "Gold Portraits”. My “Bold Portraits” started when I decided to drop out everything extra, like the gold and most colors. I go through the painting several times with a very small brush in order to give it a relaxed sketchy feel while it still feels finished and refined. Now I sometimes paint hybrids of my “bold” paintings and “icons” by adding gold leaf for the background.

"Michelle" is from my series of BOLD portraits. Michelle Obama is a loved and hard working former First Lady with a solid moral compass. "When they go low, we go high" is dearly missed. I have been painting oil-on-canvas portraits for years. I started my "Icons of Icons” concept by adding gold leaf to the background, resembling religious icons. Then I swapped the oil paint for the background and the gold leaf for the actual portrait for my "Gold Portraits”. My “Bold Portraits” started when I decided to drop out everything extra, like the gold and most colors. I go through the painting several times with a very small brush in order to give it a relaxed sketchy feel while it still feels finished and refined. Now I sometimes paint hybrids of my “bold” paintings and “icons” by adding gold leaf for the background.

I do not know Ruth Bader Ginsburg but I stopped dead on my tracks recently when I heard her name on the news. I went straight to my studio and painted another portrait of her. My reaction was so strong because I thought that she had perished. Why did that feel like a punch in the gut then? It´s because I am aware of her reputation and dedication towards justice, equality and women´s rights. I was afraid that that would all perish with her given the actions of the current Government. A little time has passed, but unfortunately so has she now. I do wish she had been immortal, but at least she is notorious. I paint portraits of people who have made an impact on me on our society. I use oil paints, but on my “BOLD Portraits” I also use a rare ULTRABLACK acrylic paint. It is the blackest black art paint in the world, it absorbs 99% of visible light. I started to paint portraits with oil paints when I challenged myself to paint the two things that are most difficult for me: 1) faces and 2) oil paints. I painted "Icons of Icons" by adding gold leaf to the background, reminiscing religious icons. That evolved into "Gold Portraits" by swapping the oil for the background and the gold for the actual portrait. The thing is that I always liked my paintings more earlier in the process, when they felt loose and light and relaxed. I decided to drop out most elements, like the gold and most colors. I was then able to achieve he undulating sketchy lines I was going after - without the painting looking unfinished - by going through the painting meticulously 3-4 times with a very small brush.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the face of the next phase in our society. She is the face of social justice, not alternative facts and powerplay. She inspires me just for behaving true to her principles. I think I am not alone in being tired of political leaders who only react to polls and political donors, regardless of which political party they represent. My subjects are iconic people / topics that have had an impact on me or our society. I used pure 24K gold leaf on this painting - it emits a rich brilliance. The painting is signed on the back and has my “e” symbol on the front. The painting continues around the sides, so it is ready to hang unframed.

What is the difference between a death mask and the face of death? A death mask is about respect, the face of death is fear. I paint iconic oil-on-canvas paintings to illuminate injustice and to expose the abuse of power. My goal is to encourage and inspire people to take action for a positive change. “We all have a voice, my art is mine.” I developed the most exquisite brick orange exclusively for this painting. You have to see it live to be able to fully appreciate it! I paint iconic people and topics that have had an impact on me or our society. I paint oil on canvas, but often I use gold leaf or ultrablack matt acrylic paint for effect. The painting is signed on the back and has my “e” symbol on the front. My paintings always continue around the sides, so they can be hung unframed.