Interview
Mari Tastula
Mari Tastula is a self-taught Finnish contemporary artist and the creative force behind Art Studio Mari. Creating art has been a constant in her life for as long as she can remember. For Mari, the studio is a personal retreat where she embraces absolute artistic freedom and paints purely by intuition, allowing each canvas to evolve naturally in the moment. Driven by the liberating philosophy, “Don't take it too seriously!,” Mari’s work brings a sense of playfulness and joy into the world. Her subjects shift seamlessly from the mysteries of wild animals and vivid floral stories to abstract textures and expressive pop-art personalities. The undeniable common thread throughout her portfolio is vibrant color. She draws inspiration freely from everything she sees, hears, and experiences, often using music and silence to guide her creative flow.
Technically, Mari’s pieces embody a skillful fusion of acrylic paints and mixed media to build powerful, heavily textured surfaces. There is always a beautiful sense of surprise hidden within her artwork, which reveals itself through the interplay of light and shadow, intricate details, and versatile materials. To add a touch of luxury and magic, she frequently incorporates handcrafted gold leaf into her paintings. Ultimately, Mari creates an empowering, color-rich experience designed to completely transform a space rather than simply blend into it. Her paintings are a living “dance of colors” meant to stir emotions and touch the viewer's soul.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Creating art—specifically drawing and painting—has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. Today, I create under my brand, Art Studio Mari, driven by a simple but powerful philosophy: art should be fun. My slogan, ‘don't take it too seriously!,’ guides my entire intuitive process. Because no artist ever paints the exact same line twice, my themes shift naturally across different subjects—ranging from mystical animals and vivid floral stories to abstract textures and expressive pop-art personalities. As a self-taught Finnish painter, I treat my studio as a personal retreat where I embrace total creative freedom. I don’t just create art; I create an empowering and immersive experience. Colors, forms, and movement are more than just visual elements—they provoke emotion, stir memories, and connect deeply with the viewer's soul. The absolute common thread in my work is vibrant color. The world is full of color, and I love freely and unapologetically drawing inspiration from everything I see and experience. My pieces embody a fusion of acrylic paints and mixed techniques to build powerful, textured surfaces. To bring a sense of luxury and magic into everyday spaces, many of my paintings also incorporate unique, handcrafted details such as gold leaf. Ultimately, art is a lifelong journey of learning—not only about art history and techniques but also about my own life, which inevitably reflects in my work. I want my art to leave a mark. It is designed not to simply blend into a room, but to completely transform it, bringing new energy, emotional depth, and a vibrant dance of colors into people’s lives.”
What inspires you?
“When it comes to my creative flow, I am deeply inspired by shapes, colors, music, my emotional states, or simply a single moment captured in time. The world is full of color, and I love being able to freely and unapologetically draw inspiration from everything I see and experience. Music plays a huge role in my process, though not always. The tracks I choose usually align closely with the specific piece I am developing. Yet, there are also times when I opt for absolute silence. This entire need stems from deep within me. Sometimes, I begin a canvas with music, but if I hit that empty, ‘blank canvas’ creative block, the artwork might only begin to flow once I am surrounded by complete silence. Other times, it works the exact opposite way. Ultimately, I am inspired by the connection art creates. I can feel how the power of my works connects with the viewer, creating a unique bond in the enchanting dance of colors. My pieces embody a fusion of acrylic paints and mixed techniques to build powerful, textured surfaces, allowing me to paint magnificent stories into each piece. I am driven by a desire to bring powerful emotional expression and vivid color into people’s lives, creating art that doesn't just blend into a room, but completely transforms it.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“While my subjects shift naturally from the mystery of wild animals and vivid floral stories to abstract textures and expressive pop-art personalities, my core theme is always centered on intuition, freedom, and emotional energy. I don't tie myself to a single subject; instead, I follow where the moment and my emotions lead me. The underlying message in everything I create is beautifully captured by my slogan: ‘Don't take it too seriously!’ Life can be heavy, but art should be an empowering retreat and a source of joy. Through my work, I want to challenge preconceived notions of everyday life and bring a sense of lightness and playfulness into the world. Ultimately, my message is that art shouldn't just quietly blend into a room—it should shake things up and completely transform the space. I use vibrant colors, mixed media, and handcrafted gold leaf to create a living experience that touches the viewer's soul, provokes emotion, and leaves a lasting mark.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as an empowering, color-rich experience driven by pure intuition and emotional expression. My art is visual energy captured on canvas—it is vibrant, bold, and designed not to simply blend into a room, but to completely transform it. Technically, my pieces embody a skillful fusion of acrylic paints and mixed techniques, which allows me to build powerful, textured surfaces and fascinating structures. There is also a sense of surprise hidden within my pieces, which reveals itself through the interplay of light and shadow, intricate details, and the combined use of versatile textures. You will find a dynamic mix of everything from mystical animals and vivid floral stories to expressive pop-art influences. To add an element of luxury, magic, and light, I often incorporate unique, handcrafted details such as gold leaf into my paintings. Ultimately, my work is a ‘dance of colors’ that touches the soul. It is layered with magnificent stories, but it always leaves room for the viewer to feel their own connection and emotion. It’s art that reminds you to embrace artistic freedom and, above all, not to take life too seriously!”
Which artists influence you most?
“As a self-taught artist, my influences are incredibly diverse, spanning from historical masters to contemporary visionaries who dare to break boundaries. I am deeply influenced by numerous Finnish artists. The atmospheric storytelling and deep connection to nature found in the works of Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Eero Järnefelt have left a lasting impression on me. At the same time, I am heavily inspired by the bold, playful, and unapologetic creativity of contemporary creators like Anssi Kasitonni, as well as the powerful visual narratives captured by Stefan Bremer. On an international level, I have always been drawn to the energetic world of the Pop Art movement, particularly the iconic style of Andy Warhol, which reflects in my expressive portraits. I also absorb the emotional power of color from masters like Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh—where shades are used to evoke feelings rather than just mimic reality. Ultimately, rather than copying a single style, I filter all these diverse influences through my own intuition and life experiences. I am inspired by any artist who allows their freedom to guide the brush, embraces the unexpected, and reminds us not to take life too seriously!”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is completely driven by intuition, freedom, and spontaneous emotional expression. I embrace full artistic liberty to express myself exactly how I feel in the moment. Because of this, I never plan my pieces rigidly from start to finish—instead, I let each artwork evolve naturally on the canvas. Technically, my process embodies a skillful fusion of acrylic paints and mixed techniques, which allows me to build powerful, vibrant surfaces and rich textures. I paint with a sense of surprise hidden within the layers, which eventually reveals itself through the interplay of light and shadow, intricate details, and versatile structures. To bring a sense of luxury, magic, and light into everyday spaces, I also frequently incorporate unique, handcrafted details such as gold leaf into my paintings. An essential part of my creative flow is the environment I create around myself, particularly through music and silence. Often, though not always, I listen to music while painting, selecting tracks that align closely with the specific piece I am developing. However, there are times when I opt for absolute silence. This entire need stems from deep within me. Sometimes, I begin a canvas with music, but if I hit that empty, ‘blank canvas’ creative block, the artwork might only begin to flow once I am surrounded by complete silence. Other times, it works the exact opposite way. Ultimately, my process is about channeling the world around me into a ‘dance of colors.’ Each stroke reflects a moment, a shape, an emotion, or a memory, revealing the deepest essence of my art. I don’t just apply paint to a canvas; I paint magnificent stories into each piece, aiming to capture the viewer's attention and touch their soul.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe an artist’s primary role in society is to provoke emotion, challenge the mundane, and offer an empowering retreat from the pressures of everyday life. Art has the unique ability to bring joy and lightness to the world. Through my own philosophy, ‘don't take it too seriously!,’ I see my role as a reminder that we need playfulness, freedom, and bold expression to thrive. An artist's duty is not just to decorate a space, but to completely transform it—bringing vibrant colors, powerful emotional expression, and magnificent stories into people's lives. As we look to the future, I see the artist’s role evolving into something even more vital. In an increasingly digitalized and automated world, people are craving authentic, human connection. As technology shifts how we consume visual content, the value of raw intuition, handmade textures, and physical craftsmanship will only grow. Art will evolve to become a necessary anchor for the soul. The enchanting 'dance of colors' and the tangible interplay of light, shadow, and handcrafted gold leaf on a canvas cannot be replicated by a machine. Moving forward, artists will be the essential gatekeepers of emotion, helping people slow down, connect deeply with their inner selves, and rediscover the magic hidden within the moments of their lives.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Every exhibition is a milestone for me, as it offers a beautiful opportunity to see how the power of my works connects with the viewer in a physical space. It is incredibly rewarding to witness people pausing in front of the canvases, exploring the intricate details, and letting the vibrant colors touch their souls. Over the recent years, I have had the privilege of showcasing my work in several wonderful locations across Finland. Some noteworthy highlights include my solo and group exhibitions at ELOA Art Gallery La Fiaba in Jyväskylä, and the Kulttuuriportti (Emalikukka) in Järvenpää. Each venue has allowed me to experiment with how light and shadow interact with my heavy, textured mixed-media pieces. Looking ahead, my exhibition calendar is filled with exciting upcoming showcases. I am thrilled to bring my art to the Aulagalleria Vikman in the famous Art Town of Mänttä-Vilppula, followed by an elegant window gallery exhibition at Ninnu Visual in Lahti, and a showcase at the Hotel Gustavelund Aulagalleria in Tuusula.”
