Calendar 2021

https://youtu.be/qLubDlKPFw0

Here's a preview of my Art Calendar 2021, which is available exclusively from the ArtWanted website. I've collected twelve of my most suitable works for this calendar which focuses mainly on nature and the country of Finland where I live. 

The calendar can be found at this link here: https://www.artwanted.com/alanhogan/calendar

Find more of my art on Instagram: https://t.co/4BAsNay9BQ 

or on my Facebook page:
https://m.facebook.com/hoganfinland

#artist #new #calendar #preview #new2021 #artcalendar #arts #artiste #konst #kunst #taide #irishartist #irishinfinland

Dagmar's Spring, Finland

Hi,

I'm back on my Blog again!

'Going to be posting the occasional video from a recent project I started called 'My Big Fat Finnish Portfolio'. I've already set up and started this project over on Facebook and Instagram, plus I now have a YouTube channel and Pinterest board dedicated to it also.
'Would be great if you could join, add or follow any of these platforms.

For now here's a little clip I made not far from where I live in Finland. It's a nice little place called Dagmar's Spring, a natural spring with beautiful surroundings and easy-going nature trails.


All the best for now,


your friend, 

Alan.

Holy Redbreast! ..just sold my Robin design!

Sold!!!... thanks to the person in North Carolina USA who bought this 'Robin' chiffon top design from my Redbubble webstore. This is the first time I've posted details of an art product sold by an online webstore. I hope to do it again. I would be very pleased if buyers could send me photos of my artwork or products so I can share on my blog or facebook. If any of you have anything simply contact me through my Facebook page 

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan

My Finland 100 : 91- 100

Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 

As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, and now I'll finish with 91-100!

91/100
...a much aquired taste, Salmiakki is a salty liquorice sweet/candy from Finland which I tend to keep well away from.🍬 . Instead I prefer it's alcohol-infused cousin in liquid shot form (served cold!)
🍷😀 ...'bottoms up! .. Have a good Saturday!!!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 16, 2017 at 8:41am PST

92/100
...Sunday sounds! Hailing from Kitee in Finland, Nightwish have to be the most successful Finnish band internationally ever. The ultimate in symphonic metal! ..Play extremely loud!!! 👊😎

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 17, 2017 at 4:43am PST

93/100
'Pohjola' is the Finnish word for North. This and many other soapstone sculptures were made by Finnish artist Hilda Flodin for the facade of the Pohjola Insurance building in Helsinki. Her sculptures were inspired by Finnish folklore and blend in perfectly with the wonderful art nouveau style seen throughout the city. They're one of my favourite features in the capital. I painted one of the sculptures with a little 'tongue in cheek' addition of some mobile phones. I called it 'Holding for Hilda'. 

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 18, 2017 at 5:41am PST

94/100
'The Snow Tree' (acrylic-on-canvas, 2009)

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 20, 2017 at 6:19am PST

95/100
..this is the Joulupukki in Finland also known as the Julbocken or Yule goat, a very old Christmas tradition in northern europe which won't be found in my old country Ireland. The joulupukki can even be found on some Christmas beers up here. ...so cheers!!! 🐏 🍺😀 (ps. Santa Claus is also called Joulupukki in Finland)

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 21, 2017 at 3:03am PST

96/100
...fakenews and ad-free technology and my favourite era of mobile phone evolution. Nokia have now moved on to creating smartwatches amongst other things. A long way since kiddies' shoes! (see 15/100).

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 22, 2017 at 1:28am PST

97/100
.. Vodka Veekend! #finnishvodka #tgif 😀 🍸

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 22, 2017 at 1:18pm PST

98/100
Postcard from Karis!
...The best little town in Finland!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 23, 2017 at 2:26am PST

99/100
... Christmas in Finland means glögg with vodka!! ..kippis! ..skål!! 🍷😂

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 25, 2017 at 9:26am PST

100/100
Merry Christmas from the home of Santa Claus! ...Hyvää Joulua!! ...God Jul!! ...Have a good one!!🎄🎅👍

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 25, 2017 at 11:17am PST

Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan

 

My Finland 100 : 81- 90

Finland became an independent state on 6 December 1917. Already there have been numerous events staged throughout the country to celebrate this centenary year. The theme of the centenary year is ‘Together’. 

As I have been a resident of Finland for the past ten years I wanted to do a little something. For this I decided to post 100 images to my Instagram account on social media with the hashtag #finland100_igchallenge .

Anyone familiar with the Instagram application will be aware of the vast amount of wonderful photography posted every day online. There are so many amazing images to be found featuring Finland's stunning nature and landscapes. I imagine my photography may be lack lustre in comparison and as a result may not be noticed. So I decided to simply look closer in and around my new home for another approach. I have posted a variety of images found around my own house and neighbourhood. I didn't know much about Finland before I moved here, so I view this as an opportunity to show others a few things I discovered about or associated with Finland and it's culture. I have included everyday items, nostalgic items, locations, food and also some Finnish-themed artworks which I painted myself while living here. In other words, a bit of everything!!

The images are in no particular order of importance or preference, so I'll continue with 81-90...

81/100
... 'Kivimiehet', aka the Stone Men of Helsinki. This is a graphic impression of Emil Wikstrom's big statues outside Helsinki railway station. 

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 10, 2017 at 9:19am PST

82/100
.. these Finnish Christmas pastries are called Joulutortuu or Jultårta, and I'm having a pre-festive #instatasting ! 😊

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 10, 2017 at 12:15pm PST

83/100
...when summer arrives many Finns disappear to the countryside or out by the sea to a place I call 'The Escape Hut' (acrylic on canvas). A small summer cottage which usually has a sauna, just like the one in this painting had. I took my first finnish sauna in this one!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 10, 2017 at 9:28pm PST

84/100
..for that retro look you can't beat Marimekko's classic 1965 'Unikko' design. ...Nice curtains! 😀

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 11, 2017 at 5:17am PST

85/100
..clearing snow is part of life in Finland. And like everything else, it's good in moderation! ⛄

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 12, 2017 at 7:26am PST

86/100
.. 'Snow Tango' (acrylic on canvas) 👫🎶 - it's not uncommon to see people dancing the tango in towns around Finland during the summer and every year in the middle of winter the world snow tango championships take place in Tampere city, no matter how cold it gets!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 12, 2017 at 2:10pm PST

87/100
...originating in Italy, the celebration of St Lucia is celebrated in a spectacular manner at the Helsinki Cathedral Finland every year in December. Here's this year's Lucia leaving in her carriage. ...Bringing some light into darkness! 🌋

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 13, 2017 at 12:41pm PST

88/100
...having grown up beside the Cadburys chocolate factory in Dublin I've been a fan of chocolate for a long time. I've tasted a lot of it from near and far. This large Finnish Christmas chocolate bar or Joulusuklaa is one of my favourites! ..I used to take several bars of it back to Ireland with me every Christmas for friends and family, and they love'd it too! ..Sadly the bars aren't to be found anymore. Maybe they'll bring them back again. They only have them in sweet form now, but i really miss the big chunky bars! ..💯% Christmas!!

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 14, 2017 at 1:53pm PST

89/100
...scissorsisters!! ✂✂✂...every artist needs a good pair of scissors and I can honestly say there's nothing better than Fiskars scissors. Their factory a short walk from where I live. A company who now own Iittala, Wedgewood, Royal Doulton, Gerber, Rörstrand and (a piece of my Irish heritage!) Waterford Crystal. 😀

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 15, 2017 at 6:12am PST

90/100

Oh..Star Wars, you never let us down! ..Brilliant!! 😀🚀..got to watch it in 3D (recommended!) at the Bio Forum cinema in Ekenäs. It's Finland's oldest cinema, operating since 1912 and it doesn't seem to have changed much since then. No computers, just one old lady behind the desk selling popcorn and tickets while scratching seats off a piece of paper. A nostalgic gem!! 🎥

A post shared by Alan Hogan (@alanhogano) on Dec 15, 2017 at 2:36pm PST

Click below for more:

1- 10

11- 20

21- 30

31- 40

41- 50

51- 60

61- 70

71- 80

81- 90

91- 100

Share this blog!

Thanks for reading my blog and please feel free to share it with any of your friends.

- Alan