For years, I've been writing blog posts very irregularly. My intention is to do this monthly, and now that it's written here, I have to! ;) Although, where do you start? Not at the beginning, because I don't find that relevant anymore. So where then? At the basics: Scandinavia, hygge, and fika.
Scandinavia is known for its deep green forests, the dancing Northern Lights, trolls, elves and cute red houses. Each of these is something I love to incorporate into my work. Just like the magic of the small things in life. And this means that hygge and fika run like two common threads through my work.
The Hygge feeling
Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is that cozy, warm comfort you feel when you drink a cup of tea under a blanket on the couch after a winter walk, or when you place a vase of fresh flowers on the dining table on a beautiful summer's day. The concept 'Hygge' comes from Denmark, and I would love to convey this warm feeling to you with my illustrations.
Hygge is also about celebrating small, everyday moments. A cup of coffee from a handmade mug, a homemade cake, or a letter from a friend. I love the nostalgic timelessness of these images, as if they are set in an analog world where haste doesn't exist and where simple, small things are cherished.
Fika: relaxation and coziness
Where hygge is about a general sense of coziness, Swedish fika is more specific. Fika is more than just a coffee break; it's a conscious moment of relaxation, often with coffee and a treat, like a cinnamon bun. Together or alone. It's a ritual and a completely legitimate excuse to do nothing but enjoy the moment—something I can fully relate to (and the reason why the cookies disappear so quickly here). With my illustrations, I want to invite you to join me and partake in this cozy moment of tranquility.
Magic in the everyday
What attracts me to both hygge and fika is the way they embrace the ordinary and make something special out of it. And in this way, I try to put a little magic into my illustrations: not necessarily with grand fairytale scenes, but rather through subtle details. A little elf by the window, a treehouse in a vase of flowers.
For me, hygge and fika are not just inspiration, but a way of life and creation: beauty often lies in the small things.
So, if you're looking for me, I'll hopefully be somewhere with my iPad, a mug of delicious coffee, and a cinnamon bun, trying to capture the magic of the moment.
