Hello! I'm Mervi Eskelinen

Born early '80s somewhere in rural Finland, I've always been a dreamer. Partially raised by a cat (Misu tried, at least), I learned to dream about faeries and other creatures of the forest. And to appreciate the softer things in life.

Now I want to help you to create a softer life, which is better for everyone and not just the rich and the powerful.

Here are a few ways I might be able to help you:

• Do you wish to nurture your creativity? I'll help you to boost your creativity.
• Do you want to communicate better? I'll give you a hand.
• Don't know what to draw or paint next? I'll give you ideas.
• Do you want art and illustrations? Let me draw and paint for you.
• Need inspiration and motivation? I'll give you the nudge you need.

So how did I get here from cats, forest and faeries?

I have been drawing and painting all my life. In my home we were always encouraged to draw and paint and write. So art became a natural thing for me to do. But along the line I became pretty self-concious about my shaky hands and there were even periods of time I quit drawing almost altogether.

Sometime in late 1990s I made my first website by copying html from other websites. In early 2000s, for a few years, I studied computer science before switching to web communications and design in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

During my studies I started freelancing as a web designer and developer. I designed and built websites for small businesses and bigger organisations alike. I wrote my thesis about utilising social media in business-to-business marketing, and it was graded as excellent. Eventually I was slapped with a degree, Bachelor of Culture and Arts.

The conventional and traditional has never suited me and I have too many interests and skills to be a narrow specialist. That's why I've been self-employed, involved in a couple of startups, had my share of failures and burnouts and successes, made bigger and smaller changes to my career, and worked with other business owners for over 15 years.

Throughout those years I have learned (the hard way) how hustling with something that feels unsatisfying and meaningless leads to failing. Now I'm working on returning to art. My hands still shake and it's a condition I have to live with. But I have decided to not let that stop me. Shaky hands or not, art is what I do.

In 2024 I implemented daily non-judgemental art creation, meditation and stream of conciousness journaling in my life. While the process is slow, I have noticed the benenfits of it all. They are giving my busy, noisy mind a new kind of peace and moments of quiet.

With my strong background in design and marketing, and my heritage of craftspeople and story tellers, now both my work and this site are dedicated for art, communications, meditation and softer life.