Over TaloArt

My name is Marita Talo. My company, TaloArt, is a versatile painting company specialized in restoration and conservation. I am originally from Finland, where I followed courses such as 'Master-restorer in surface treatment', which means that - combined with practical projects in Finland and the Netherlands - I have ample experience in the professional restoration, conservation and embellishment of restoration objects.
My specialization in this is restoration and renovation of wooden houses from the different centuries. I prefer to stick to the principle of using traditional construction methods as much as possible by using old techniques and materials. At the same time, I think it is important to embrace new materials if it helps to extend the life of the object. Due to air pollution and climate change, these adjustments are sometimes necessary, which reduces the maintenance frequency.

It is important to preserve old houses and, where necessary, to restore these houses to their former glory and adjust them so that they continue to retain value and livelihood in the future. Simple historical research can be part of the 'story' of the house so that the relationship between the house and the resident becomes even closer.

I have a huge passion and dedication in my fields: restoration and conservation, exterior and interior painting, furniture processing, wall and portrait paintings, wallpapering, tiling ... A large part of my skills and completed projects can be seen and read on this website.

educations

- Master in restoration painting and other surface treatments

- Restoration painter

- Restoration carpenter

- Professional home builder

- Tiler and prof. Water insulation diploma

All this done in Finland in the years 2004-2006

Premiums

Medal and student grant received because I was the first person in the world with three professional diplomas, completed within one and a half years.

My story

Thank you for looking at my website! If you are interested, I want to give you an insight into my life below.

I was born in Finland, the country where women stand their ground. At the age of 18 I obtained my high school diploma with art subjects and languages as a specialty. At the same time I graduated as a hair designer from a private hairdressing school in Tampere. I had worked hard for a few years as an entrepreneur until I left for Brazil for my first big adventure. I saw with my own eyes what the impact of logging on the rainforest was: the smoke, everything destroying flora and fauna. This impressed me a lot. Then I was bitten by a fly; travel fly. ;) The only medication for this sensible disease is to keep traveling until you can find peace.

Eventually I sold my own barber shop and left for Belgium to do volunteer work. I trained Lipizzaner's there. Horses are still a big passion of mine and I am proud to be the owner of some beautiful stallions.

Jamaica

Then I left for Jamaica for a year and a half, fleeing Millenium, looking for non-material life, learning to live without time, stress and agenda, with a word: surviving. I have had my life lesson; no one can be trusted: blue-eyed blondy turned to "raggamaffie". to know what it is to be the dust of racism Live extreme good, extreme bad, don't worry, be happy! Learned to respect simple things like: electricity, hot water, true friendship, sosialism and own limits.

Italy

After this Millenium flight I participated in a volunteer project at the Mammola Art Museum in Italy and worked in the WWF nature park Ghirardi dei Oasi in Borgo val Di Taro (Parma) which is in a beautiful location on the mountains. I have drawn posters for various WWF nature parks, carried out observations and care of wild animals, refurbished the farm (foresteria), etc. Removing glass, metal and other dirt from bushes was also part of my duties because the animals can handle this to injure. From this place I found work in a park with endangered species, such as Siberian tigers and other large felines. In 2017 I went back to the zoo and 'my' tiger, Xiper, still recognized me after 20 years! That was a very special experience. During that time I have traveled extensively within Italy and I am increasingly interested in old beautiful buildings and the atmosphere of hundreds of years old villages.

France

A year and a half later it was time to relocate and look for new challenges in France to work on construction projects and build exclusive saunas. I regularly had to take over and finish my boss's projects (with alcohol problems). I learned a lot from this and above all: I had the opportunity to do restoration work!
In Italy and France my love for old buildings and architecture has grown and the seeds for restoration and painting have been planted.

Portugal

Then I also lived in Portugal for a while. I first worked at a large horse farm there. The owner was a French diplomat and I lived in his villa. His wife made beautiful decorative paintings and this fascinated me, but no possibilities to find affordable courses. It became increasingly clear to me what my direction should be!

Education in Finland

No cure-no stop yet, Lisbon was the next stage, here I first worked in an Irish pub and in a super hip hair salon and then I went back to Finland to follow a highly regarded restoration course. This training only just existed and I had just enough building experience to start as a student restorer.
The training was on a project basis in cooperation with the EU, the municipality and various schools that could offer different specialisms. Within one year I had my 'triple' diploma in my pocket: Professional House Builder (including tiling and diploma 'water insulation' for example), Restoration carpenter (-woman in my case ;-) and Restoration painter.

Together with an architect, I led a restoration project and brought it to a successful conclusion, for which I received a medal and bonus.

After this study I continued and completed the 'Master in Restoration' course. I had already decided to live in the Netherlands and I then gained work experience in the field of restoration and followed a few months of training in Finland. Then I had to choose. What will it be: carpentry or painting? In the end I chose painting because I saw more challenge in this.

During these courses we had two beautiful projects in our hands: we were allowed to restore and preserve an old building in poor condition from start to finish. This meant that we were allowed to do research, make a plan, collaborate with other parties, and handle the entire implementation. I studied for this Masters diploma with four other fellow students. We had 15 student students among us who did the companion training. I really liked and like to transfer my passion and knowledge of my field to the coming generations so I enjoyed it to the full.
It was a strict education: in the end I turned out to be the only one who obtained the diploma. At that time I was the 2nd restoration master painter in Finland.

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands I started at a carpentry company in Kimswerd, where I worked on the renovation and renovation of his own farm, converted into four apartments and a home with a large workshop. I was also allowed to do wood imitations there. Great, the routine was still in my hands! This tasted like more and that is why I started my own company, TaloArt, in 2008. At the same time I first worked for various (construction) companies in Overrijssel.

At those companies I carried out a few nice restoration projects, but I noticed that at most companies there was very little knowledge of professional restoration, sustainability, use of materials, etc. I also found the regulations on restoration in the Netherlands very unclear and very local and personal compared to Finland. For example, Finland has very strict rules for all buildings older than 100 years. A kit sprayer is also strictly forbidden in Finland for restoration work, but in the Netherlands it is not that difficult.

I strive to deliver sustainable, precise and professional work for restoration and painting work. I find old farms the nicest basic work but also change colors indoors, redecorate furniture, make murals, take care of decorative stucco work and make commissioned portrait paintings of humans and animals. Very nice to do and why should I always have to choose? The knowledge and experience in each field actually reinforce each other and I love the variety.

Giving new buildings an old look or bringing old buildings back to their original style are fun challenges. I use sustainable, ecological and traditional products as much as possible and can advise clients on the best and most affordable options.

Reuse of objects

In the Amazon, in Italy and on my honeymoon to the Maldives in 2017 (where I have regularly collected plastic from the beach) I have seen the disastrous consequences of human actions for nature and that is why I am a strong believer in the reuse of objects and materials . It makes creative and, moreover, is cost-effective for nature but also for the client.

My motto

Keep discovering and evaluating, keep up with the times, but respect the old and learn from history and to the end: don't be difficult if it can be easier.