The Artists I Always Come Back To

I have a hard time picking favourites or listing my inspirations when asked. The question simplifies something too complex; Colours are beautiful depending on their context and arrangement, music depending on the mood. Tastes evolve, and it’s hard to pin them down.

But I have to admit; Since becoming an illustrator ten years ago, there are great artists and works that have inspired me over and over again. I always come back to them. Some bring me a sense of calm, others energize me. Each of them, in their own way, has stood the test of time. In a world where trends constantly shift, they are an anchor that brings me back to what truly inspires me and keeps me going.

Winter Night in the Mountains by Harald Sohlberg at the National Gallery in Oslo

Einar Jolin 

Between Playful Structure and the Romance of Winter

Even if I had never set foot in Scandinavia, I would still be fascinated by this Swedish painter’s work. That being said, there’s something magical and romantic about walking down the street and realizing you’re in an Einar Jolin painting.

A page from the book Einar Jolin (Exhibition), Stockholm 2010-2011

View Over the Rooftops from Nordiska Kompaniet, Visby, and The Promenade by Einar Jolin

Harald Sohlberg 

A Winter Night in the Mountains

I don’t know Harald Sohlberg’s entire body of work very well, but there is this magnificent painting at the National Gallery in Oslo that always makes me stop for a moment. It radiates a quiet cold, a soothing serenity in soft shades of blue. It has been my eternal screensaver because looking at it feels like taking a deep breath in a frozen landscape that clears the mind.

Winter Night in the Mountains by Harald Sohlberg

A blue palette inspired by the painting

Hilma af Klint 

Geometry and Explosive Abstraction

What first fascinated me were the photographs of Hilma af Klint’s sketchbooks. They give the impression of a methodical, almost scientific quest. Yet the resulting work is vibrant and full of colour. I later learned more about the spiritual process that led her to create her famous series of giant paintings. Her spiritual approach resonates with me less, but the contrast between discipline and an explosion of forms and colours captivates me, with a distinctly feminine sensitivity.

A work from the Evolution series at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, followed by 'Vetekornet' in the book Hilma af Klint, Catalogue Raisonné

Art Print Evolution no 13, purchased on Empty Walls Store

Pierre Boncompain 

Patterns and the Simplicity of Lines

The poetry of trees through which you glimpse the simple lines of buildings. Enchanting patterns that bring me back to summer. The unique texture of his dry pastel work, instantly recognizable. Pierre Boncompain is the first artist I turn to when I feel unmotivated or don’t feel like drawing. The world he conveys through his stunning compositions is contagious, inspiring me every time.

In Pierre Boncompain’s studio, followed by Colette’s Garden

The Fountain of Vaucluse and Striped Tablecloth

Henri Matisse

Refined Intuition

I once read that Matisse often doubted himself, reworking his paintings over and over, sometimes spending months reconsidering colours and textures, creating multiple versions of the same idea until he was satisfied.

When people talk about artistic creativity, there’s this popular idea that it’s all about talent and inspiration. I know that’s not true, and yet, I was still surprised. To me, Matisse was the embodiment of spontaneity, of exploration and curiosity. Knowing that doubt was part of his process makes me appreciate his work even more and reminds me that creativity also comes from discomfort and uncertainty.

The Red Studio and Apollo at the Moderna Museet

Henri Matisse quote at The Rosary Chapel in Vence