Artistic Evolution By: Leigh Patterson, Photography By: Mike Sanders
From student to songwriter/professional musician to real estate developer and entrepreneur, modern-day Renaissance man Stefan Aarnio has already reinvented himself several times over. This constant evolution is necessary “to become the best you can be,” he says, adding, “it takes a fire to burn a forest down and let new trees grow.” Mindful of this mantra, Aarnio has branched out yet again, with a bold foray into the world of art. In just a few short months and with no formal training, Aarnio has already sparked interest in his wildly coloured, textured, high contrast acrylic artwork. Taking cues from his love of aggressive music, Aarnio relies mainly on pallet knife and spatula to aggressively lay down the hard- edged lines that define his work. He occasionally incorporates other media, such as crushed bottle glass or sand to add further texture and dimension. Always experimenting, Aarnio likes to work quickly. “Speed is important. I need the velocity, even if it means I make a lot of mistakes. I just paint over it. As creator, you can be destroyer, too.” This is how buildings became instead a colourful collection of bottles, and how sailboats emerged from a failed canvas after he turned it on its side to gain a different perspective. For Aarnio, intuition and creativity
are inseparable. “You know how for a child a box can be a spaceship? I still listen to that voice,” he says. “We’re all born artists, but we judge ourselves too quickly and harshly, and we end up blocking that innate
flow.” Harnessing the power and viral potential of social media, Aarnio uses his networking skills on Facebook to successfully promote his work. He’s also taken the old-school approach of pounding the pavement, which has led to opportunities to display and sell his artwork in a several popular Winnipeg restaurants, including a selection currently at Edna Fedya at the University of Manitoba. He dedicates a percentage of his sales to Siloam Mission, his favourite charity. Art lovers from all walks of life have been drawn to Aarnio’s artwork. For his part, Aarnio enjoys the reaction and is fascinated that in this digital age people find it exciting to own original art. “I believe in doing what excites you. If it excites me, hopefully it excites you. That’s what life should be
about.” What is Aarnio’s next phase of da Vinci-esque personal reinvention? “I know I’ll always want to build, sell and work,” he says. Right now, Stefan Aarnio the artist is currently working on series of panels that will come together in one large work, while developing other collections on various themes. “Like music, I’m playing off a riff, which turns into a song, which goes into an album. Then you start the process again.”
are inseparable. “You know how for a child a box can be a spaceship? I still listen to that voice,” he says. “We’re all born artists, but we judge ourselves too quickly and harshly, and we end up blocking that innate
flow.” Harnessing the power and viral potential of social media, Aarnio uses his networking skills on Facebook to successfully promote his work. He’s also taken the old-school approach of pounding the pavement, which has led to opportunities to display and sell his artwork in a several popular Winnipeg restaurants, including a selection currently at Edna Fedya at the University of Manitoba. He dedicates a percentage of his sales to Siloam Mission, his favourite charity. Art lovers from all walks of life have been drawn to Aarnio’s artwork. For his part, Aarnio enjoys the reaction and is fascinated that in this digital age people find it exciting to own original art. “I believe in doing what excites you. If it excites me, hopefully it excites you. That’s what life should be
about.” What is Aarnio’s next phase of da Vinci-esque personal reinvention? “I know I’ll always want to build, sell and work,” he says. Right now, Stefan Aarnio the artist is currently working on series of panels that will come together in one large work, while developing other collections on various themes. “Like music, I’m playing off a riff, which turns into a song, which goes into an album. Then you start the process again.”