He became a student assistant to Akseli Gallen-Kallela after 1899 and helped him to produce frescoes for the Finnish pavilion at the Exposition Universelle (1900). In addition to his paintings and drawings, he designed furniture, rugs, book covers and small buildings. Among the buildings he designed are a cabin and wooden storehouse in Lempäälä (1900); the "Villa Helkavuori" in Kauniainen (1907, designed together with the sculptor, ) and a residence for the ski manufacturer Julius Uusitupa (1878-1950) on Salmi Beach, near Jyväskylä (1929).