Where Are You From?
Norway
Where do you long to live (reality or fantasy)?
In a calm, quiet place. Probably on the country side with a big batch of dachshunds and corgis. To have a big studio with panorama windows facing the ocean, seems like a dream.
What started you on your journey into art professionally?
I had 2 main motivations when deciding to “give it all” for my dream. To prove the art-academy in Tromsø wrong, and to prove to myself that I can achieve my goal. After applying 2 years in a row at the art-academy, and still being dismissed, I had to take a minute and re-think. Do I really need art education to make a living as an artist? And what plus/minus sides are there in being completely self-taught.
In addition, only at the age of 22, I was facing major bumps in the road with my health. These 2 things made me question if working professionally as an artist was even possible for me. It also lit a big fire in me, an urge to make this happen, despite these obstacles.
How has your art changed and evolved over the years?
It has changed and evolved dramatically! It’s almost like watching a movie, where my art is a cartoon character that goes through different phases and happenings in life.
When I started painting in 2006, I spent the first years on mainly painting self portraits. I used painting as therapy, in the start I was actually unaware of it.
Endless of emotions and dark thoughts was coming out on the canvas. Looking at my paintings from that time makes me sad, but it was obvious that I needed to get it out. However, after this period, more brighter and joyful motives emerged. Until now, I’ve only been painting with oil, which I really loved.
In 2018 I faced cancer, which forced me to stop painting for several years. Finding back to my paintbrush was enormously hard. I struggled with both artist block and self confidence. After several trials and fails with oil paint, I figured I needed a different approach. So I started to play with mixed media, which was brand new to me, and so much FUN! Soft and oil pastels, ink, liquid acrylics and spray cans. This opened many new doors, and also changed my art style completely! Going from fine details and more figurative style, to messy, raw and naive!
I kept my my snowball rolling (in trying new and different things), and I also dived into fiber art. As per today I actually sew more than I paint. There’s a very clear red line between my paintings and dolls, which is kind of fun to witness.
We have a thing for oversharing...
New artist interviews, articles, books and more!
What advice would you give an artist starting out (young, middle-aged, old – any age) who wants to do it professionally?
I love this question, because I wish someone told me this when I was starting!
Remember to HAVE FUN and don’t get stuck in rules! This is by far the biggest advantage of being self taught. No teacher told me “this way is the correct way to paint”, I do everything without limits.
Only create for yourself, not to impress others. Comparing yourself will completely kill your creativity.
