There are so many occasions that I remember as a moment where I thought: “Let’s see how this could work as a still life image” while going to the shops or getting ready for the day. These out-of-the-blue moments are hard to explain and I am grateful every time it happens. My favourite pieces are the ones that are results from a truly spontaneous moment, the watch made of an apple or the ironing man. The more conceptual images could be described as a result of a chain-reaction of what-if thoughts: What if Ironman was called Ironingman? What if Ironingman pushed a giant iron to iron clothes? 

It is a great way to break up the day by challenging your mind in an artistic way. I like to turn my spontaneous daydream-insights into reality the same way writers bring their thoughts to paper. I have always liked the idea of a creative diary or documentation that creates a body of work over time. Some of these ideas come from conversations that I have with friends or family and some are more visual insights. Allowing yourself to let your mind drift might be the most important aspect for random and spontaneous creativity. When we focus too much on something we do not allow our brain to consider all the options and possibilities that are around us. As a young child, I remember my teacher calling me a daydreamer. I think this might explain everything!

Coming to a new country and starting a new life comes with a range of challenges. Everything feels different and it was hard in the beginning to find my feet. It is as if the brain has to work in overdrive-mode, speaking in a different language all day long and not having many friends as a new resident. This new situation had a direct impact on my life: You don’t look at things the same way as you used to. I lived in Melbourne before I moved to Canberra where I joined a photography meet-up group. I enjoyed taking pictures of pretty much everything and it was a great way to document and explore my new life by taking pictures. It was also the time when the first image-based social media platforms, Flickr and Instagram offered a huge amount of unseen inspiration created by other creatives. While the majority of people used to share images of their latest meals or cars, photographers and artists began to share their personal art projects on social media. It was exciting to see how quick and accessible art and creativity has become through social media and it also allowed me to inspire other artists. Having moved to a very distant place like Australia made me want to connect with the rest of the world in a meaningful way. 

I have always struggled to consider myself as an artist that can only work with one medium. I like to focus on ideas and then see which style or method could work best. In the past a lot of graphic design styles have been inspired by art, so I asked myself what if graphic design could influence my art? I have worked as a designer for more than 15 years. It is interesting for me to experiment with my skillset as a designer and turn design into art. I like to include modern and digital elements as they are part of our digital everyday lives.

It is important for me to be able to make time for personal work even when there is very little time left due to deadlines and everyday tasks, household etc. I found it helpful to allocate small junks of time as my me-time. This could be a small art project or time to think about ideas. Even if it is only 15 minutes per day, it will ensure that I will achieve at least something art-related by the end of the week. It does not have to be completed all in one day.

And lastly, don’t be intimidated by the vast amount of (digital) art out there and pay attention to your own ideas and what makes you feel excited. Small steps go a long way.