Florence Italy

In the heart of Italy, nestled along the banks of the Arno River, lies the enchanting city of Florence. The 15th century marked a pivotal era for this beautiful city, as it blossomed into the cradle of the Renaissance—a period that would forever change the landscape of art and culture.

My Florence oil painting captures the enchanting essence of this historic Italian city, blending architectural grandeur with vibrant street life. The scene is set against the backdrop of a brilliant, azure sky, where the sun casts a golden glow over the iconic terracotta rooftops. In the foreground, the bustling streets are alive with locals and tourists alike, offering a glimpse into the daily rhythm of Florentine life.
Key Elements
The Duomo: Dominating the skyline is the majestic Florence Cathedral, its red-tiled dome standing proudly as a symbol of Renaissance ingenuity.
This version is on canvas, which is unsual for my work as i prefer the smoother finish of wooden panels. Panels also allow me to go into greater detail whilst canvas can lose some when rendering the painting. But this turned out beautifully nonetheless and I'll be painting more large canvas paintings in the future. All my paintings are framed in my studio.

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Hi, my name is Jori Poutanen. I was born in Finland and have spent half my life in Australia. I now live in Cairns, in tropical North Queensland, surrounded by lush rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef – an inspiring place to raise a young family and to paint.
I am an oil painter who also enjoys working in charcoal. I paint the natural beauty around me the way I see and feel it, often experimenting with different techniques and new ways of using oil paint to capture light, depth, and atmosphere.
Art runs in my family. My father and uncle in Finland were both artists in their own way. My uncle was a professional artist and served as a World War II TK draftsman, “holding a rifle in one hand and a pencil in the other,” documenting life on the front lines. He carried many stories that never needed words – they lived in his drawings. My father was a sailor who painted offshore whenever he found the time. Watching them work when I was young sparked my own passion for painting.
As Finns, we don’t tend to talk too much; we prefer to let the paintings speak for themselves. I try to do the same. My work is simply my way of showing the world as I experience it, and I hope you enjoy what you see.
All my oil paintings are created on either wood panel, MDF panel, or canvas. I prepare every surface myself using a marble-dust gesso made with my own special recipe, and I work exclusively with high-quality oil paints to ensure lasting, vibrant results. Each painting is framed as shown in the images.
You can also follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joripoutanenart