On the Street. Beret Man in a Hurry, Kamppi, Helsinki.

 

One more man wearing beret for the cold spring before these street style illustrations start to reflect summer. Sometimes I get these looks from people I stare firmly. If they are in a hurry, I have no change to tell that I like the outfit. If I have the chance, that case the suspicous mind turns to a smile immediately.

On the Street. Never Ending November, Lauttasaari, Helsinki

This year in Helsinki the winter has not been the same as it used to be. No frost, no snow. Mostly only grey days, rain and wind.

I have seen this character on my home street regularly walking head down, hood on the head, no face to see, dressed in totally black protective equipment to fight against the somewhat hostile weather type. Slowly walking to the seashore and back.

I admit. The feeling is like never ending November has hit this corner of the world, Helsinki. Is this the future along with the climate change? Just thinking…

On the Street. Real Life Manga, Metro Helsinki

Two friends dressed in long black wool coats. It starts to be that time of the year. The season of black outfits. Many people rely on black, when the cold season crawls out from the spot it has been hiding during sunny season. 

This sight turned my head and this pale girl was nailed to my mind. Some tone of manga characters, big clumsy boots and sheer white shirt with a scarf that is more like rope. The scarf turned many times round the neck. No makeup. This sight includes symbolism to November that starts in two days.

On the Street. October Like Grey Flannel, Helsinki

October, the month of Inktober. Let’s participate, at least this first day.

I saw this guy in Habitare fair last year. Just found this illustration under a pile of papers. Habitare is the yearly organized interior, design and furniture fair in Helsinki. Good place to see somebody to draw after.

In October we dive in to the grey, rain and puddles. This blonde fellow was dressed in the tones of black, grey wool flannel trousers, white shirt and black v-neck knit. Fits to the mood. Classic and cosy. To be in style, we can always trust in classics.

On the Street. Black Silhouette, Kamppi Metro Station, Helsinki

There is always a group of people who like to dress in all black. In these cases the outfit pops from the background if the silhouette is interesting. Like in this case: lots of volume in upper body and thin stick-like legs on bottom. Note the beanie. This mohair fluffy beanie style continues to be popular the second winter in a row in Helsinki.

Just look at this. >> Posted last winter.

On the Street. Star Eye Girl, Metro Helsinki

I saw this girl three weeks ago, drew two weeks ago and now live in blog. This is it, the impossible circle in life of mine. Too little time for free time activities. But I do my best and post here irregular on regular basis.

But isn’t this girl something! The eye makeup and the amount and volume of black colour really turned my head. Fur and layers. Red and black hair. Something to draw with ink!

On the Street. Be Aware, Little Granny, Lauttasaari Helsinki

We are living dangerous times in Helsinki. The streets are covered with thin layer of snow and the danger lurks under the snow. If you are not in guard the rough layer of ice makes the trick. Suddenly you may wonder laying on the ground, what was the last idea before the carpet was pulled away under the feet.

The headlines on metro news screen tell that there are queues on health center because of numerous falling injuries. The old people are in line of fire. The bones are in danger to crack. In these feelings I saw this little granny far away going slowly towards grocery store. Heartbreaking sight. I’m glad she had the rolling walker to secure the road.

On the Street. Furry hair Icon, Metro Helsinki.

The color of this lady’s clothing reflects perfectly the conditions of Helsinki weather. Snow comes and goes, days are gray, dark evenings. The blue card in her hand is the travel ticket of Helsinki region transport. Fits well to her outfit because the backpack and the curly hair ends are blue as well.

By the way, we have new extension in Helsinki Metro line. Wow-wow! Let’s make some waves. It’s been a long curly process to get it ready. Speaking of curls, it popped to mind… Otherwise the Helsinki metro is straight one line. Only in the east is two endpoints making the metro line the form of fork. People in big metropolises like London and Paris may think its funny. Their metro maps look like spaghetti.

There is more of this subtle color play in her outfit. Boots and hair make a color pair. There is contrast of form, straight fringe and wild curves. Note the snowflake shape reflector. Be seen even in darkness of winter evenings. Ten points from me.

On the Street. Dive Into the Grey, Lauttasaari, Helsinki.

This little lady reflects perfectly the season we are about to dive in. November in Finland is a month of grey tones. At least in Helsinki area, where moist seashore climate melts all the possible temporary snowflakes before they land on the ground.

Autumn has stripped most of the trees almost naked. Instead there is beautiful silhouettes of dark tree trunks against the gray sky. Days are short. Moist wind goes under your skin… unless you have sense to grab over some wool.

Everything is all right, when you have a warm wool scarf and a layer of wool under the coat. This lady entertained herself with the phone (as we all do), while waiting for the bus to arrive. Chatting with Totoro? Why not? Just thinking this form, dark tones, grey fluffy scarf and the grey days we have had.

On the Street. Young Hero, Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki.

Now what do you know! It is predicted that snow is landing to Helsinki this evening. Brrr. We must release this young hero to make his walk on the runway of Fredrikinkatu of Helsinki. Namely, that was the feeling, when he walked towards me on the street a grim expression on his face. Eyes nailed straight ahead.

I haven’t participated in Inktober movement this October because absolute lack of time. You know, the idea to send an ink drawing to Instagram on a daily basis in October.  As a little compensation this illustration is done with ink only. Suits well to the darkness of this character.

On the Street. Winter Bye-Bye, Kamppi, Helsinki.

This is the feeling. Winter bye-bye. Would you please go on your way to somewhere else than Helsinki? It has been cold days recently. So cold that I read on the news that even the migratory birds rather turn back from Finland’s border. Too cold, let’s wait for a while, they seem to think. Right now it is even snowing. Sigh.

This fragile lady in black outfit felt like a relative to the character from Ghibli anime Spirited Away, Faceless. Dressed in black, slightly sad face. Google it if you don’t know it. Fits good in the mood of cold April in Helsinki this year.

On the Street. Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Postikatu, Helsinki.

Sometimes I think fashion is an ultimate form of degeneration. Walking around town quickly reveals the latest trend in fashion. Every other person looks like fallen and has therefore torn trousers knees. Ripped slit manifest itself some attention in the form of pale knees.

Then I found even from local grocery store jeans with ready made slits in knees. Humanity has come this far that we buy clothes that are pre torn for us. I think this is degeneration if any.

In these days when we should put all our effort to sustainable development this trend feels foolish. Okay maybe I’m getting old and intolerant. Forgive me.

This poor guy is my mannequin that shows us this ripped knees trend. Another trend is the quilted jacket he has. Shiny quite narrow sausage jacket, as I call it. Fits well for a narrow guy as he. Well considered detail was in his manner to reveal the ankles by rolling up trousers legs. Slender ankles, I admit.

Seasons. December Weather Girl Portrait.

So it is last month of the year and time for December Weather Girl. In December Finland  the weather may vary depending how north you are staying. While in Helsinki it may be plus temperatures and no snow in sight, in northern part of the Finland the frost freeze your nose and conditions are perfect for skiing. In Lapland the sky is flaming in northern lights.

Just before Christmas is the winter solstice, also known as midwinter. It is an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. After that moment we know we are moving towards brighter days.

* * *

In Finland each month has its own character and weather type. Four main seasons, but even each month has something of their own.

This is the last weather girl portrait of the series. All 12 months is covered now. If you like to see the other girls click the tag ”seasons” below.

Seasons. November Weather Girl Portrait.

Meet Miss November Weather Girl. If you ask me, November is the most challenging month in Finland. In southern Finland there is only 6 hours daylight and the higher to north you go the less light there is. In Lapland the sun doesn’t rise at all.

In addition there is rain in all forms, water, slush and snow. And the darkness. Did I mention the darkness? This mixture is affecting in people’s minds and in some cases even affecting winter blues. But then arrives a random bright day or a few hours of sunshine removing wrinkles between the eyes. Oh, life is good.

One strategy to meet November is simply decide to love it. About this point of view there is a previous post in Flash For Zonzon:
Seasons. November Blue Love Poem.

* * *

In Finland each month has its own character and weather type. Four main seasons, but even each month has something of their own.

If you want to see the whole series click the tag ”seasons” below.

On the Street. Friend of Totoro, Kamppi, Helsinki.

At the moment looking for fab street style is a bit challenging in Helsinki. Now that November has shown it’s true nature, the snow has disappeared and all we have left is wet dark days. Personally I don’t mind that. I love grey and minimalist tones of color.

One night I was seeking a bus to ride home from town. Far away I saw a big, somehow familiar silhouette waiting for a bus as well. Is it a friend of Totoro waiting for a cat bus?

On the Street. Waiting for a Date, Railway Station, Helsinki.

You know the feeling? When you are waiting for a date to arrive in your meeting point. When I saw this gentleman in Helsinki Railway Station I thought this was the case.  Standing aside from people in a hurry. Tidy and groomed. A bit nervous, looking around thinking, is it her? Or her? Code word is red scarf. She should recognize. This scene is like from Aki Kaurismäki’s film.

On the Street. November Black Swan, Railway Station, Helsinki.

Funny. In previous post I just mentioned the word winter and boom, there it comes rushing in second day of November. I admit, there is still a battle going on in my mind accepting the situation.

Let this wonderful black lady swan symbolize the change of season. November is dramatic month, dark, darker, darkest. There was a universe and planets print in her bag in the same colour scheme as her wild hair. Impressive.

Seasons. October Weather Girl Portrait.

May I introduce Miss October Weather Girl. October is time for big change in Finland. First the colours in nature start to lose green, revealing bright yellow, red and different shades of brown. Mornings are crisp and sky is more often grey than blue as October progresses.

At the end of October nearly all the tree leaves have fallen and remain naked tree trunks. It is fun to wade in the flood of fallen leaves. It is time to look for gloves, woolen scarf and cover head with something warm. The surrounding changes dramatically and the whole colour map changes muted. The mind settles down waiting for winter to arrive.

* * *

In Finland each month has its own character and weather type. Four main seasons, but even each month has something of their own.

If you want to see the whole series click the tag ”seasons” below.

For Fun. InkTober in Instagram.

I noticed it is Inktober time. Ok, I love ink so I try to put some black spots to paper every day.

It is time for InkTober in Instagram. 31 days 31 drawings. The point is to draw something with ink every day in October. And post it in Instagram. There is a list of topics to be drawn but it is okay to draw whatever you like.

I like people and fashion so that is what it's gonna be in My case. Or that’s what I thought in the beginning, but from day 5 I started to follow the given prompt list. It is fun and challenging to find an angle to the given word.

Check The Official 2016 Inktober Prompt List >>

Here are the first nine days inky illustrations. The first one is up above.

Inktober day 2.
I spotted this photogenic guy today in Paul Smith IG. Made a quick sketch of him.

Inktober day 3.
This is something about Mark Jacobs FW2016 fashion collection. Well, this time this girl seems to be a boy. But who cares. Very inspiring collection it is.

Inktober day 4. 
Yesterday I visited an art supply store. The lady behind the cashier gave me an impulse to this character.

Inktober day 5, SAD.

Sad about the situation that women in Poland have. Polish lawmakers push on with near-total ban on abortion. Women should have right to self-determination including abortion.

Inktober day 6, HIDDEN.

Hidden in to the woods.

Inktober day 7, LOST.

Lost in a city of patterns.

Inktober day 8, ROCK.

Thinking about word rock the first image that comes in mind is Iggy Pop.

Inktober day 9, BROKEN
.
What a bad luck, broken heel!

Follow @sanna_pyykko in IG and join me in the journey.

Seasons. September Weather Girl Portrait.

September is time to settle down to autumn season in Finland. No hassle, life starts to flow on it’s natural paths. The weather is not particular cold or warm. September gives pleasant sunny days that one can be thankful for. Oh, what a sunny day it is! On the mind’s back knocks the image of soon approaching darkness that is evident when autumn continues further.

But there is still time to enjoy pleasant outdoor life wandering in parks and woods on weekends, picking mushrooms, doing the last canoe trip of the season.

We even had an official ”sleep night outdoor” -day in September 17th in Finland. Suomen Latu − The Outdoor Association of Finland is the organisation behind the idea. The Sleep Night Outdoor -event pays attention to everyman's rights, which able everybody to enjoy the Finnish nature. You can sleep outdoors in a national park, at a camping site or even in your own yard, if you have one.

On social media the hashtag is #nukuyöulkona if you want to check how the event looks like in social media.

* * *

In Finland each month has its own character and weather type. Four main seasons, but even each month has something of their own.

If you want to see the whole series click the tag ”seasons” below.