Interview with Sonja Lehto
NAIVA BRATISLAVA brings for you an interview with the unique naïve artist Sonja Lehto from Finland, the winner of the PRIX FOR STORY 2021.
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In her optimistic colorful pictures, you can feel the joy of everyday life. Her paintings really tell stories and often raise a smile.
What was your path to art?
Everything starts from the childhood of course! My grandmothers used to read tales for us children. One of my aunts did art-painting herself and brought some papers and colors for us. And we found the drawing and art fascinating. Important was always the doing itself, not the result. Later, as adult, I was studying some art and participated some painting-courses, but I got bored of the teaching, because they just taught me still-life and landscape stuff.
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PRIX for STORY NAIVA BRATISLAVA 2021
How do you perceive naive art? What makes it unique for you?
I was looking for something, that would be my own personal art. For me, this is naïve art: It is representative and free at the same time. Difficult topics also are handled with love. This is why naïve art is fascinating.
Do you have a favorite themes and motives that you return to in your work?
Favorite topics!? The world is so big place! I like people and animals. Also, I do like children of course and because I am mother and grandma myself, I have so many stories to tell. You can also see things from the point of view of the colors. Stagnation is not a good thing, but you can look from new perspectives cats, rainforests, giraffes or Adam and Eve. Naïve art has a lots of foundation pillars and building blocks.
Where can we see more of your work? Whether online or live.
I
am on Facebook as Sonja Lehto - hakutulokset and on Instagram as Sonja Sofia
Lehto. And I have my own website https://naiveartsonjan.kuvat.fi
![](https://8cd4292d30.clvaw-cdnwnd.com/aa3552c5716eb13c1dc5f85785283384/200000446-e9bf2e9bf4/Sonja%20Lehto%20-%20Happy%20Village-9.jpg?ph=8cd4292d30)
Do you have any advice for a person who would like to try painting?
For everyone, who has the desire towards painting, I will only say, make your own research and do your thing.
Thank you for the interview.