The sunflower has been Ukraine's national flower for a long time, but it has quickly become a worldwide symbol of solidarity for the country and its people since the Russian invasion began. 
Like many of my paintings this started from something completely different.  I traced back my work to learn it started from a graffiti style heart painting that I was manipulating  in 3D.  I took screen shots from various angles  with various colour changed and finally discovered a sunflower.  I had been working on this months ago and put it aside, but recently came across it and was called to create this piece. This painting is emitting positive energy, love and light to the people in the Ukraine and all who are  affected by the devastation that is taking place. 
May this painting radiate love and peace to help heal all.


large_Leaning_Into_The_Light_97eece1df2.png

medium_Leaning_Into_The_Light_97eece1df2.png

small_Leaning_Into_The_Light_97eece1df2.png

thumbnail_Leaning_Into_The_Light_97eece1df2.png

Leaning Into The Light.mp4

large_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.webp

medium_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.webp

1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.PNG

large_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.PNG

medium_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.PNG

small_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.PNG

thumbnail_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.PNG

small_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.webp

thumbnail_1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.webp

1429E5B0-0E14-4C04-A06F-8863C3DDCA02.webp

Leaning Into The Light


This painting was created from a photograph I took late one night after working on scenic design at a theatre.  I had jester-like make up on and felt so exhausted and overwhelmed knowing I had to go back in a matter of hours. I took a photo of myself with porcelain face, large eyes and ruffled collar.
I made this into a digital painting which I added colour, distortion and movement to infuse it with some energy.
In my art I like to find light in tough situations by adding colour, movement and change. If we change the way we look at things, those things change. 

large_Keeping_An_Eye_234f14df6e.png

medium_Keeping_An_Eye_234f14df6e.png

small_Keeping_An_Eye_234f14df6e.png

thumbnail_Keeping_An_Eye_234f14df6e.png

Keeping An Eye.mp4

Keeping An Eye

Part of the first SearchLight Atelier & Gallery in Cryptovoxels 2022. Vessel is an original work of art exploring the figure by incorporating typography, text, and visual poetry – integrated into representations of the body. Vessel compares the relationship we have with ourselves and our body. Living with an autoimmune disease and chronic pain my whole life others have often put boundaries on what i can do, and I listened, the more I listened the further I floated from myself. The more I sat with my inner being and connected to my body, the more present and limitless I have felt and the less I have allowed a condition to define me.

large_RAKKAUS_Crystal_Koskinen_Vessel_MP_4_3_1_MB_GALLERY_1_b8aaedcbee.png

medium_RAKKAUS_Crystal_Koskinen_Vessel_MP_4_3_1_MB_GALLERY_1_b8aaedcbee.png

small_RAKKAUS_Crystal_Koskinen_Vessel_MP_4_3_1_MB_GALLERY_1_b8aaedcbee.png

thumbnail_RAKKAUS_Crystal_Koskinen_Vessel_MP_4_3_1_MB_GALLERY_1_b8aaedcbee.png

RAKKAUS_CrystalKoskinen_Vessel_MP4_3.1MB_GALLERY (1).mp4

Vessel

If you become still enough, you can hear your soul speaking your truth... take the time to listen. Your soul is your inner light, it wants to shine. Let it.

large_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.webp

medium_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.webp

Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.png

large_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.png

medium_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.png

small_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.png

thumbnail_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.png

small_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.webp

thumbnail_Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.webp

Qmek8dYJeY7GzXbTo6ZvHAWDwm6vzy8SrvZa8Yr95dFNh4.webp

In Stillness

From Rakkaus' Connection series. 
This piece uses an x-ray of one of her hips that caused much pain and grief for a very long time.  Growing up with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis this was an area that was injected with medication every week for years, it eventually deteriorated from so much wear and tear. This is a part of her body that no longer exists, just here now on the blockchain. Choosing to focus on the good and gratitude and always seeing things in a different way, Rakkaus decided to find the beauty beyond the pain and make art.

large_I AM.webp

medium_I AM.webp

I AM.PNG

large_I AM.PNG

medium_I AM.PNG

small_I AM.PNG

thumbnail_I AM.PNG

small_I AM.webp

thumbnail_I AM.webp

I AM.webp

I AM

Another piece from my Connection Series.

In this series I use images of my body, bones and pieces I no longer have, or what has been put in its place.

As a young child, one form of treatment for my JRA was to inject gold into my body weekly (this had to be injected in my hip area .. I did not have JRA in my hips) the drug worked and then it didn’t. Doctors would always stop my treatment when I was showing signs of remission, but I would flare up soon after and each time worse than before …and we would have to start treatment all over again… this went on for many years even into high school.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with a gold mixture. I like to think that is what they were trying to do for me.

I no longer have my hips. Remembering how much pain they caused me, how much grief & sadness, falling down unexpectedly in the middle of an intersection, or getting stuck on the subway stairs in rush hour..is something that is 

large_IMG_1209 3.webp

medium_IMG_1209 3.webp

IMG_1209 3.PNG

large_IMG_1209 3.PNG

medium_IMG_1209 3.PNG

small_IMG_1209 3.PNG

thumbnail_IMG_1209 3.PNG

small_IMG_1209 3.webp

thumbnail_IMG_1209 3.webp

IMG_1209 3.webp

Keep Going

From the Connection Series.

In this series i have incorporated some images from parts of my body that I no longer have and new parts that have been built to keep me connected. I appreciate movement, I appreciate my experiences, I appreciate my body.

large_IMG_1250 2.webp

medium_IMG_1250 2.webp

IMG_1250 2.JPG

large_IMG_1250 2.JPG

medium_IMG_1250 2.JPG

small_IMG_1250 2.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_1250 2.JPG

small_IMG_1250 2.webp

thumbnail_IMG_1250 2.webp

IMG_1250 2.webp

From The Roots

A mixed media digital abstract transformed into a figurative piece. Rich and vibrant colours create an interesting collision of textures and marks in Nail Biter.

large_IMG_7151.webp

medium_IMG_7151.webp

IMG_7151.JPG

large_IMG_7151.JPG

medium_IMG_7151.JPG

small_IMG_7151.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_7151.JPG

small_IMG_7151.webp

thumbnail_IMG_7151.webp

IMG_7151.webp

Nail Biter

In my graduating show in University I used black industrial paints to create the final image in my mixed media paintings. My father used a lot of black line work in his work as well.

I had a very bad arthritic flare prior to our gallery grad show in University and couldn't use my hands properly. I ended up painting on a series of found objects that I turned into canvasses, some were supported with hockey sticks. I did a series of drip paintings I created using old brushes and utensils to drop paint from above to the canvas on the ground. I was unable to paint a proper brushstroke. Black industrial paint finished each piece. I have enjoyed coming back to that from time to time and now digitally. 

large_IMG_7268.webp

medium_IMG_7268.webp

IMG_7268.PNG

large_IMG_7268.PNG

medium_IMG_7268.PNG

small_IMG_7268.PNG

thumbnail_IMG_7268.PNG

small_IMG_7268.webp

thumbnail_IMG_7268.webp

IMG_7268.webp

Dropped u Off My Mind

We are often judged by our outer appearance... when who we truly are... exists deep within. When we are able to get in touch with our inner most self, our true self comes to the surface. We often shine different parts of ourselves at different times, depending on the situation or relationship. To know yourself, is to live your best life.

large_IMG_8264.webp

medium_IMG_8264.webp

IMG_8264.JPG

large_IMG_8264.JPG

medium_IMG_8264.JPG

small_IMG_8264.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_8264.JPG

small_IMG_8264.webp

thumbnail_IMG_8264.webp

IMG_8264.webp

Coming To Surface

Portrait of a Who that didn't quite fit in. 
Inspired by the fictional Dr. Suess characters that all live in a tiny town together.


large_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.webp

medium_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.webp

Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.png

large_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.png

medium_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.png

small_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.png

thumbnail_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.png

small_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.webp

thumbnail_Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.webp

Not_All_Whos_Are_In_Whoville.webp

Not All Whos Are In Whoville

To imagine something by seeing it without actually seeing it with your eyes.

What is it we actually see in our mind's eye? How do the images translate? 
When I create, it is as though an intuitive message is sent from inside my body and makes its way onto the canvas. It is also a series of decisions and choices which comes down to what feels right to me in the moment. It is finding connection. 

Can you step outside of yourself to see yourself from a different perspective? I find this a great way to connect by disconnecting. 

This painting is a feeling of that.

large_IMG_0950.webp

medium_IMG_0950.webp

IMG_0950.PNG

large_IMG_0950.PNG

medium_IMG_0950.PNG

small_IMG_0950.PNG

thumbnail_IMG_0950.PNG

small_IMG_0950.webp

thumbnail_IMG_0950.webp

IMG_0950.webp

Mind's Eye

This piece is a mixed media digital painting with free flow and expression. When I was younger I wanted so desperately to be a ballerina. I would borrow the same 10 books from the library over and over again just to admire the dancers and the outfits. I started to take ballet lessons at age 5, but shortly after was diagnosed with JRA. The doctors said I "couldn't" do it anymore.  I was devastated.
In this day and age, things would be different, but back then it was not common for a child to be diagnosed with an "old person's disease", and in so many instances people just didn't know what to do with me.
I don't think ballet was my calling, but somehow the beauty of it finds its way into my work every now and then. My expression is that I create...that is my calling. 

Rakkaus Art

No Minted Artworks