Teuvo "Teutori" Koskinen
"The individuality of everyman."
Teuvo "Teutori" Koskinen (1941-2000) was a versatile Finnish painter, illustrator and author, most widely known for his children's books. As a landscaper artist, he was a subtle observer of the Nordic nature. His portraits are redeemed for their finesse and his Christmas cards for their loving portrayal of traditions.
Career
Born 1941, Teuvo showed spectacular drawing skills early on. His first job as a copywrighter served as a learning ground for his later artistic career, spanning a wide variety of styles and techniques from pencil drawing to gouache and oil paints. That is also where he got the nickname ”Teutori”, derived from his first name, which was to become his artist name and brand, always associated with high quality and delightful style.
In the 1970’s, Teuvo threw himself into the painting career, joining the Artists’ Association as well as participating and organising numerous exhibitions. He became known for almost photorealistic paintings showing ordinary people, often elderly, in their daily tasks. At the turn of the decade, landscapes with a mixture of realistic and romantic style started to take a more prominent role in his works. Because of his realistic touch, Teuvo also became known as a popular portrait painter.
The year 1982 marked the onset of the childrens’ book series Mandy and Andy. Along wiht the cat siblings, Teuvo illustrated and authored in 1980-90’s also other stories for children while at the same time continuing with his portrait and landscape paintings.
”Face Observer.
Teuvo Koskinen entered the Tampere art scene by introducing unknown citizens, faces from the crowds. He found his models on the streets and markets, by the walls and on park benches. The series of faces can be considered stylistically as photorealism, but the paintings were far from the alienating tendencies of photorealism. The faces painted by Koskinen reflected life experience in a positive way; the wrinkles, creases, and stubbles were nothing but sympathy.
It was the individuality of everyman.
Nowadays, Koskinen has abandoned his facial portraits and moved onto a solid and unwavering foundation of Finnish painting: landscapes.
The change of subject has turned Koskinen into a mood creator. His landscapes present themselves as silent, misty, nostalgic, and calming.”
– Pekka Paavola in ”Tampere Artists’ Association 1920-1980”.
“His landscapes present themselves as silent, misty, nostalgic, and calming.”
