[4] He had spent many of the early years at this school studying painting under Victor Westerholm,[5] but he was mainly self-taught as a sculptor.

He learned the technics of treatment of marble with his relative Aarre Aaltonen, and by working as a trainee stonemason in Hirvensalo.

Sculptor Felix Nylund was a substitute teacher in the art school in Turku for one season, and his work was inspiration for young Aaltonen.

When the new House of Parliament for Finland was built, architect Johan Sigfrid Sirén wished he could buy sculptures directly from Aaltonen.

[6] A large collection of his works are on permanent exhibition at the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art in Turku.