Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year 2026 ❤️

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year 2026 ❤️

Best wishes,

Sisumo Oy

From the darkest day of the year to the anticipation of Christmas

This image concludes this year’s visual entries. New work will follow again in the coming year.

Here in Finland, today marks the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. From tomorrow onward, the light begins its gradual return. At this time of stillness, small sources of light take on greater meaning, candles, quiet illumination, and moments of pause. This season naturally invites reflection and a slower rhythm.

As the year draws to a close, the work, like the light, rests for a moment before continuing.

Wishing you a peaceful and gentle Christmas season.

Mari

A Little Glimpse into Our Entryway

I am sharing a quiet glimpse into our home’s entryway, where the artworks have recently found their place again. The walls hold paintings and drawings by Aleksi and myself, created over many years and carried with us through several homes. These works form a kind of personal archive, shaped by time, movement, and shared experience.

In the entryway, the pieces are gathered into two larger compositions. Elsewhere in our home, the works continue in smaller constellations, appearing where space allows. Some newer pieces are still unfolding, while others rest in their finished state, existing simply as part of everyday surroundings.

Here in Finland, the first snowfall has already appeared and disappeared again. The light is changing, and the season invites a slower pace and a sense of waiting. This quiet transition feels present in the work as well.

Thank you for taking a moment to read and to look.

Mari

Pictures of November

I am already working on November’s journal entry today, taking advantage of a rare day off. Music has always held an important place in my life, alongside other forms of art. This month’s visual series begins with an image of my bass guitar, photographed and edited by me. Lately, playing the bass has been my primary musical focus, and much of my creative energy has been drawn there.

Among the November images are also original, unedited photographs. Photography has always been close to me. At home, photographs share wall space with drawings and paintings, forming a quiet visual archive of lived moments. When Aleksi was young, we documented everyday life extensively through photos and videos. Over time, this has grown into a large personal collection, one that still holds many undiscovered fragments worth revisiting.

This month, my attention has been drawn especially to form, light, and shadow. Some of the images reflect the muted tones of autumn. Here in Finland, the transition toward winter feels close now, and the changing light carries a particular stillness that finds its way into the work.

November also holds a personal significance connected to ILO, our familiar presence and quiet companion. This time of year naturally invites reflection, both on continuity and on the small rituals that shape everyday life.

Thank you for taking a moment to read and to look.

With care,
Mari

On Silence and Focus

 

I work as a part-time entrepreneur, creating digital works out of genuine passion rather than obligation. For me, making art is a moment of immersion, a way to step outside daily routines and focus entirely on the creative process. Balancing full-time work, everyday life, and artistic practice can be demanding, and it often absorbs more time and energy than is visible from the outside.

Sometimes people wonder why I am not always present on social media, why posts appear irregularly, or why responses are not immediate. The reason is simple. Absence does not mean indifference. It usually means I am deeply engaged elsewhere.

What social media does not show

Visibility online is often mistaken for activity. Yet quiet periods frequently reflect concentrated work behind the scenes. Developing new pieces, refining details, and allowing ideas to mature takes time and attention. Much of this work happens away from screens and timelines.

For me, creating art is not primarily about marketing. It is about exploration, reflection, and making space for ideas to take shape. While social platforms can be useful for sharing, I am careful not to let them override the reasons I began creating in the first place.

Staying present in the work

I value the balance I have, even when it requires patience and adaptability. There are periods when inspiration leads, and others when structure and responsibility take precedence. Both are part of the same path, and neither diminishes the commitment to the work itself.

If it seems that I step back from visibility at times, it is usually because my attention is directed toward creating, refining, and developing new digital works.

In closing

I may not always be present online, but every interaction, every message, and every person who engages with my work is genuinely appreciated. They serve as a reminder that even during quieter moments, the work continues to find its place.

Silence does not signal distance. It simply reflects focus.

Digital Works

 I have always been drawn to digital works for their quiet simplicity and the freedom they offer in how art is experienced. A digital piece exists without fixed boundaries. It allows the artwork to enter a space on its own terms, shaped by the choices of the collector.

When acquiring a digital artwork, the piece becomes immediately accessible. It can be realized at a scale that feels right, printed on paper or canvas, framed or left unframed, and placed where it resonates most. The final form is not dictated. It is discovered.

For me, digital art is not about convenience, but about possibility. It removes distance and delay, allowing a more direct relationship between the artwork and the person who chooses it. The work is complete in itself, yet open to interpretation through its physical presence.

This approach also reflects a quieter, more sustainable way of collecting art. One that values intention over excess, and presence over permanence.

A digital artwork offers a personal connection. It is not mass-produced for every space, but selected by an individual, for a specific moment and place. In that sense, it becomes part of a lived environment rather than a decorative object.

Thank you for taking the time to view my work.

Mari