Interview with Kirsi Salonen - Part 4
































IA: Can you describe for us what would be your dream project? Would you like to work with someone in particular?

KS: At one point in my life I really believed that my future was destined to be in the game industry. Then things changed and I thought about the priorities in my life. I came close to following this career path and then when the opportunity arose to move to another country to work in a game company, I finally choose not to go. I'm happy how things have turned out; it feels like I am doing the things I value and love. I’m not just working to entertain and forget reality through games, but to share thoughts through images and stories that make me feel wonder like a child again. I’m doing stories that really make me tick. Whether they are stories done through images, live footage or on paper, I’m content as long as my work has a real and significant message to share.

I actually have a few dream projects going on right now... One that is happening bit by bit, and makes me all fuzzy inside, is doing concept art for people in Hollywood. Working with these people at this point in my young career has been a real the privilege. Hopefully my work for them will become a base for a modern-day fantasy movie called The Cockfighter, which follows an original screenplay of Remington Scott. He's played an essential role in making several hit movies; for example, Spiderman 2 and 3, LOTR- Two Towers, Beowulf and the upcoming Watchmen. It is beyond exciting to work with him in making this wonderful project come to life.
Another dream is to see my book published in many languages, to see it fully illustrated and even become a feature film some day.

My third dream project, which is not yet in the making, would be to make a long and comprehensive series of paintings that portray all kinds of people with a very rare animal. It's a calling which would be amazing to do with a group like the WWF.

IA: If you were to reinterpret a classical painting, which would you choose?

KS: Interesting question, it reminds me of my schooldays when I had a great, yet very strict, Russian teacher from St. Petersburg's Art Academy who, when giving lessons of human anatomy, instructed us to always admire the old masters and learn from them.
I love the English legend of Lady Godiva. A painting I did recently, “Prodigal Son,” is actually based on this mythical red-haired woman, but it's not a real reinterpretation of her, just inspired by the idea of her. I love paintings with Alexander the Great (who has already inspired a few of my paintings already) as their subject and other ancient great historic figures like him, such as Tsingis-Chan, Hannibal, Crazy Horse, Miyamoto Musashi, Marco Polo and the many kings of European history. Dante's Heaven & Hell -concepts inspire me greatly, as do his epic scenes of battles and gods and men, etc.

I don't know which painting or portrait I would most like to make but I have a feeling that it will happen someday, maybe not soon, but it will. It takes plenty of time, research and input to take on such a project and free time is something I too often run out of. If someone would commission me to do one of those, I'd certainly consider making it sooner!




Links

Kirsi Salonen's Portfolio on CG Gallery

Kirsi Salonen Official Website