The Artist
Annukka Yliruusi is a Finnish artist and illustrator.
Her paintings draw their inspiration primarily from the sacred texts of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition: Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
At the heart of this tradition is bhakti-yoga—the yoga of loving devotion to the Supreme. Bhakti means devotional service, while yoga signifies both the path and the connection. Through bhakti-yoga, the individual soul awakens its eternal relationship with the Supreme.
Annukka has studied devotional watercolor painting at Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium.
"What fascinates me most about watercolor is the uncontrollable nature of water and pigment. The less I try to control them, the more alive the painting becomes. In my art, I combine drawing with a brush and painting. My style is Scandinavian in its restraint—a quality that often challenges me when depicting the rich abundance found throughout bhakti literature.” —Annukka
The Atelier
Annukka’s home atelier is nestled in the peaceful Finnish countryside, surrounded by forests, open fields, and apple trees.
The atelier is currently taking shape. A small, characterful sauna cottage is gradually being transformed into an artist’s atelier.
When Amṛta Atelier opens its doors, visitors will be warmly welcomed to experience Annukka's devotional paintings and the place where they are created.
"The silence held within the old timber walls is deep and warm. Yet I usually fill the space with kīrtana or lectures on bhakti. I do not know whether I can still hear them once I become immersed in painting, but I believe their transcendental spirit finds its way onto the surface of the work.” —Annukka
The Inspiration
Inspiration may begin with a single sentence.
A faint image appears in the mind, quietly waiting to become a painting. For Annukka, illustrating the sacred narratives of bhakti literature is a peaceful and meditative process. The atmosphere, gestures, and subtle details often live in her mind long before the first brushstroke is made.
Collaborative devotional art projects with writer and philosopher Lotta Leben are a continual source of inspiration. There is great joy in bringing words and images together in service of a subject that is deeply dear to them both.
"I have spent countless hours looking at the sky, wondering what color Kṛṣṇa's complexion truly is.
The radiant blue of the autumn sky and its unfathomable depth. The violet flash of lightning breaking through dark thunderclouds. That fleeting moment before dawn when the stars disappear into the light. These passing moments offer only the faintest glimpse.
But what is the true color of that transcendental complexion?" — Annukka
