My name is Maija Laakkonen (pronounced MY-ah LAH-ko-nen) and I'm from the great state of Minnesota. From a young age, I have always had an interest in art. Spending most of my life creating and experimenting with as many mediums as possible. This passion led me to obtain a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in 2022. During this time, I was able to learn many new skills such as 2D/ 3D animation, storytelling, and graphic design. However, my love has always been for illustration.

I specialize in photorealistic black and white drawings, created with colored pencil, graphite, and charcoal. I also enjoy using watercolor, digital painting, and many other mediums. While my primary focus is on photorealism, I also enjoy exploring various styles and techniques.

In the future, I look forward to creating collections and growing as an artist!