R. Riekkinen ✦
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artvaris.bsky.social
R. Riekkinen ✦
@artvaris.bsky.social
42K followers 700 following 6.9K posts
Freelance fantasy artist inspired by nature ✦🌿They/Them🌿✦ | ENG & FIN | No genA/I | varis.illustration@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/ArtVaris
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artvaris.bsky.social
Freehand ballpoint pen doodles
4 character head doodles drawn with a ballpoint pen, all have long hair
November 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Yup she wanted to participate haha, but tbh I think she makes me feel more at ease meeting new people
Me and my cat Maikki, I'm hugging/holding her with one arm
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Another netflix evening with her
A photo of my cat curled up on my lap My cat again, but in a different pose
November 11, 2025 at 12:19 AM
artvaris.bsky.social
More body recomp progress stuff, but this time a bit more directly related to the topic of body dysphoria. Someone asked how my (they/them) hips currently look, so here's a front view:

September 2024 vs Now, a little over 1 year difference
Two photos of me (they/them) in different stages of my fitness journey: 1st photo: September 2024, I had walked for 9 months at this point and started bodyweight training at home maybe 2-3 months ago. Already felt pretty healthy and fit and had lost 10-15kg. 2nd photo: Me right now. I still walk for low-impact cardio almost every day, and I have now been training at the gym consistently for 10 months.
November 9, 2025 at 12:27 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
My cat does this thing where she comes to sit on my lap and then turns her head/cheek from side to side depending on what spot she wants me to scritch
A photo of my cat sitting on my lap getting scritches
November 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
And here's a front progress comparison, again September 2024 vs Today
Two photos of me (they/them) in different stages of my fitness journey: 1st photo: Me today. I have been training at the gym consistently for 10 months. 2nd photo: Me in September 2024, I had started bodyweight training at home about 2 months ago. Already felt pretty healthy and fit and had lost +10kg.
November 6, 2025 at 11:28 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
More of my (they/them) recomp progress stuff:
September 2024 vs Today, 10 months of gym training
Two photos of me (they/them) in different stages of my fitness journey: 1st photo: September 2024, I had walked for 8 months at this point and recently started bodyweight training at home. Already felt pretty healthy and fit and had lost over 10kg. 2nd photo: Me today. I still walk for low-impact cardio almost every day, and I have now been training at the gym consistently for 10 months.
November 6, 2025 at 11:17 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
It was really misty today
A photo of a misty scenery
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
A gift sketch for @coeykuhn.bsky.social
Thank you again for sending me the iPad pen back then🖤
A portrait of an OC named Percy, she has dark curly hair and a pet lamb, which is portrayed nestled close to her face. Various sparkly shapes decorate the portrait. The portrait is black and white with some pale golden accents.
November 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Face weight loss comparison stuff this time. I found an old photo of myself (they/them) from the very end of 2023 when I was at my heaviest, just before I started walking regularly and eating a bit healthier again. So about a 2-year difference
Two face photos of me (they/them) in different stages of my fitness journey: 1st photo is from December 2023, I'm just about to start walking and eating a bit healthier again. 2nd photo: Me today, almost 2 years later. I still walk for low-impact cardio almost every day, and I have now been training at the gym consistently for 10 months.
November 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Art vs Artist
A black and white drawing of a character with curly horns and long dark hair worn in two loose braids, surrounded by a forest background and a decorative frame. There's a scar running across their mid chest and ribs. The character is gently holding their hands over the scar, with a calm expression on their face, eyes closed. A photo of me (they/them), I have long dark hair and various piercings
October 30, 2025 at 11:21 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Watching netflix with her
My cat Maikki sleeping on my lap
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
POV: my cat tucking me into bed as usual
My cat Maikki sleeping next to me
October 25, 2025 at 1:35 AM
artvaris.bsky.social
Rough idea doodle vs Finished art
(Character art for a fantasy romance novel written by Sorcha Sam)
A rough sketch of two masc characters. One has long hair and is facing toward the viewer and another one has short hair and is portrayed from the side angle The same idea as a finished illustration
October 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM
artvaris.bsky.social
Both of them also have their own separate portraits! This was such a fun project to work on🖤
A black and white drawing of a masc character, Imalroc, with long white hair. He's portrayed facing towards the viewer with a rather sullen expression on his face, wearing dark leather armor. Multiple sparkly star shapes decorate the illustration. A black and white drawing of a masc character, Rerdas, with dark, short wavy hair. He's portrayed from the side angle, glancing over his shoulder, wearing decorative and fancy clothing. Multiple sparkly star shapes decorate the illustration.
October 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
I also had the pleasure of designing their outfits for this commission (based on the descriptions by the client)
Outfit designs for two characters: Imalroc is wearing a rather simple leather armor with an asymmetrical shoulder pad, while Rerdas is wearing a fancy, high-collar outfit with a cape attached to it.
October 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Character art for an upcoming fantasy romance novel written by Sorcha Sam ✦
A black and white drawing of two masc characters. A character with white long hair, Imalroc, is portrayed facing towards the viewer with a rather sullen expression on his face, wearing dark leather armor. Another character, Rerdas, is portrayed from the side angle, glancing over his shoulder. His short hair is dark and wavy and he's wearing decorative and fancy clothing. Multiple sparkly star shapes decorate the illustration.
October 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Maikki and her favorite woolen blanket
My cat Maikki sleeping on a bed covered by a warm 100% wool blanket which she really likes
October 20, 2025 at 11:33 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Some more old original art and characters
October 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
I've always liked working with inks and pens, here's some original characters from that same time
October 20, 2025 at 7:46 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Found some more of my old fanart from around 10 years ago
October 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
More old FF7 fanart, at one point some people started to refer to me as a "Final Fantasy fan artist" since I drew so much FF fanart for a few years
October 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Some more old FF9 fanart!
October 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
I was also introduced to Yoshitaka Amano's work through the FF series, and to this day, he's one of my favorite artists. Here's some old Vampire Hunter D fanart that I also found!
October 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
artvaris.bsky.social
Found some old FF8 fanart as well!
October 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM