Hello!

I am Pauliina Toivonen, an artist, graphic designer and illustrator based in Säijä (next to Tampere), Finland. I am updating my graphic design and illustration skills now in Ikaalinen college of Crafts and Design (Ikata). At the same time, I also study basic studies of fine arts (25credits) in Tampere Summer University/University of Lapland. 

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My visual studies began as a child, deepened at young age with studies of an illustrator and graphic designer in Ikata. During the years 2006-2011 I studied the unique Degree Programme of Crafts and Recreation at Wetterhoff HAMK University of Applied Sciences. In 2009 I got a great opportunity to arrange myself an exchange student to the University of Feevale in southern Brazil. I studied arts and photography in Feevale and carried out my in-depth internship guiding art therapy for disadvantaged people of favelas in Novo Hamburgo.

 

While I have studied, over twenty years I have also done practical nurse work with people with different special needs. I am highly sensitive person and very emphatic, so I can relate to people and that is one of my strengths when I am making art and customer work. Nearly 20 years I've worked as a freelance designer and as an artist, doing wide range of custom work. 

 

In 2019, I was the chairwoman of the Lempäälä Art Association and organized, among other things, a Pop Up art exhibition to Lempäälä Myllyranta park and held a private exhibition called Responsibility in the Lempäälä Library. I am a longtime member of Taku Association and this year I got a membership fo Kuvittajat Association. 

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With my open-minded attitude and diverse skills, I am able to create new eye-catching returns from outside the box. I love new visual challenges, multitasking and my best friend says I'm  full on positive energy and peculiar ideas! 

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