Hi, I’m Jori Poutanen. Born and raised in Finland, I left my homeland in my twenties to explore more of the world. My journey eventually brought me to Australia, where I met my wife and built a life together. We raised our three boys in tropical Cairns, North Queensland, surrounded by lush rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Now that our sons have left the nest to follow their own paths, I find myself with more time to focus on my lifelong passion for painting.
I’m an oil painter who also enjoys working in charcoal. I paint the natural beauty around me as I see and feel it, often experimenting with different techniques and exploring new ways of using oil paint to capture light, depth, and atmosphere. Living in Far North Queensland provides endless inspiration, from the rich greens of the rainforest to the changing colours and moods of the sea and sky.
Art runs in my family. My father and uncle in Finland were both artists in their own way. My uncle was a professional artist and served as a World War II TK draftsman, documenting life on the front lines — holding a rifle in one hand and a pencil in the other. He carried many stories that never needed words; they lived on in his drawings. My father was a sailor who painted whenever he found time while offshore. Watching them work when I was young planted the seed of my own passion for art, a passion that has stayed with me throughout my life.
As Finns, we don’t tend to talk too much; we prefer to let our work speak for itself. I try to do the same with my paintings. For me, painting is a way of expressing what I see, feel, and experience in the world around me. I hope that, in some way, my paintings allow others to share in that experience.
I create my oil paintings on wood panel, MDF panel, or canvas. I prepare every surface myself using a marble-dust gesso made from my own special recipe, and I work exclusively with high-quality oil paints to achieve rich colours and lasting results. Each painting is framed as shown in its photographs.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my work. I hope you find something in my paintings that speaks to you.
You can also follow my artistic journey on Facebook: Jori Poutanen Art