Kaija Savinainen
Oils

From my ancestral and cultural roots in Nordic Finland and Sweden, and my explorations of Canada’s wilderness and natural landscapes, I have learned to listen and observe nature closely, and intimately. These interactions/connections have enriched, deepened my understanding of my art making process. I choose not to reproduce or replicate but rather to search for an inner soul, the spirit of the subject. It is that persona, that impression, I try and capture on canvas. My body of work over a lifetime of artmaking reflects my interactions with nature.
For example, these artistic explorations recently yielded a series of raven paintings that exemplify my art-making process. The paintings are bold and colourful of ravens I met in Yellowknife. Ravens in the north are much larger, louder, tenacious, clever and spirited creatures. A kinship developed with one notable female raven - Penny. Recent wildfires raging across these lands necessitated evacuation, but upon return Penny, the clan matriarch, was waiting. She is guardian spirit of the family cabin at Peninsula Lake, NWT.
The art making process begins with travel to a location. A series of sketches are produced on site. The next steps involve working in my studio. I work quickly, spontaneously beginning with a “loose” drawing on canvas using paint. Once the composition is in place the painting process itself beings in earnest. I work in an expressive, passionate manner seeking to capture the “soul” of my subject be it the natural landscape or the creatures that inhabited her.
Kaija Savinainen received her art education at the University of Lethbridge, focusing on painting, printmaking and drawing.  For her academic and creative efforts, she earned the prestigious President’s Gold Medal. During her university tenure she also received several studio awards, including a printmaking commission for the University of Lethbridge. She also earned a Bachelor of Education from Ottawa University with a specialist in Visual Art education.
She brings her Nordic roots to her expressive and emotionally striking oils. Inspiration comes from her upbringing in Finland and Sweden, her connection to the land, waterways, and forests. Northern Canadian landscapes and its inhabitants continue to inspire her painting practise. 
Artistic influences include Finnish painters of the early 20th Century – Akslei Galle-Kallela, Eero Järnefelt, Emily Carr, Helen McNicoll, and Mary Ryder Hamilton and the German Expressionist painter Franz Marc.
At a recent juried exhibition, Waning Twilight, won a first-place painting award. At The Art of Birds, Raven’s Hunger received an honorable mention.
Searching for, bringing an awareness to the rapidly disappearing landscape, nature’s vulnerability, the link between nature, home, place. “In doing so, I hope to stimulate the viewer’s sense of where we are going with what nature has bestowed upon us and which is all around us. Nature needs our respect, and care more than ever these days, and I challenge us all to be mindful of this through my art”.
“We are inundated with news of conflict and negativity. I want to shift our collective attention to what is around us - the colours, the light, and the uplifting energy that nature gives to us.  My work challenges the viewer to motivated to get out and experience nature - to breathe, see, listen, inhale and regain one’s senses of our privileged time on this earth”.

Recent exhibitions:
Why Do You Create 2026, Visual Arts Mississauga, RE:MEMBER 2025, Modern Fuel, Kingston, Many Flavours of Life, Art Pontiac, Contemporary Art & The Art of Birds-Museum of Northern History, SCA 57th Juried Exhibition, Ontario Society of Artist – 150th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Paint Ontario, The 45th Annual BMFA Juried Art Show, Collingwood, John B Aird Landscapes and Wildlife, The Ten Collective.

Associations and Memberships: Society of Canadian Artist elected member, Modern Fuel Gallery, Art Pontiac, ECOAA, CARFAC, OCT-Ontario College of Teachers

​Awards:
2025 First Place Painting, The Many Flavours of Life Exhibition,
2025 Honourable Mention, The Art of Birds, Museum of Northern History
2025 Viewer’s Choice Award, Contemporary Art Exhibition, Museum of Northern History
1995 Watercolour Prize, Equine Show, Royal Winter Fair, Toronto
1993 Award for oils, 1st Annual Equine Art Exhibition, Newmarket
1990 Best of Oils, Westboro Arts Festival, Ottawa
1990 Honourable mention Exhibition 90, Regional Art gallery, Cornwall
1985 Gold Medal, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge
Publications:
2021 The Humm, February, Kaija Savinainen - A Brush with a Gifted Environmental Activist
           The Millstone - Award-winning Almonte area artist launches unique website
2007 the Humm – A Finnish Canadian Painter
1991 The Almonte Gazette - Love· of Horses fuels local artist
            Equus, Printmaking-The real deal vs reproductions