LINNEA JONSSON TALKS VIENNA PAINTING

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

With self-portraits surrounded by, and sometimes entirely made up of, nature, is it a longing for nature, that you have. A kind of yearning?

Well spotted! All my motifs are influenced by things that are especially close to my heart. I have always loved nature, the sea, warmth, and color, and I’m probably a bit of a daydreamer. Society today can be quite stressful and difficult to navigate! A recurring theme in my paintings is often longing, and I want to convey a dreamy and nostalgic feeling. My goal with art is to inspire others to follow their dreams, adding color to everyday lives, and to spread positive energy in the home. It has been natural for me to place myself as a women at the center of my art, especially since women, not least in the art-world, have been objectified for decades. Recently, my works have developed to become increasingly abstract. Much of my current inspiration comes from Scandinavian trends in interior design as well as fashion.

You have been painting since you were very young?

I was really quite crafty and creative even as a child. I especially remember the art studio in my first school. During after-school hours it was supposed to be locked, but sometimes I would sneak in alone and go wild with all the art materials. I loved it! As a teenager, I decorated my room with sketches of my “pop idols”, think Darin and Britney Spears. The actual painting came a little later but it has stuck with me ever since, even when I moved to the other side of the world, to New Zealand. I haven’t attended art school or taken art courses.

What's it like sharing your art?

As a self-taught artist, I think it can feel a bit extra scary to share your work. Since I am trained in marketing and business and have worked with several brands’ social media, I see my art as its own brand. My hope is to make art accessible to everyone via my Instagram. It feels very timely to challenge the conventions of the traditional art world!

How often do you paint today?

As often as I get the chance. It’s quite a few hours each week!

Do you have a special place where you always paint?

I mainly paint at home, most of the spaces in my apartment are filled with paintings, canvases, brushes, and tubes of paint! I’m also quick to take advantage of a sunny summer day by setting up the easel outdoors.

As beautiful as the world can be, as you said it can also be a very stressful place to be, one that can easily distract you from focusing on what you’re trying to do, do you have any ways to shut out the outside world and get into the right mood?

Painting is very therapeutic for me, and I get to release my thoughts and feelings. Painting is like a wonderful release in some ways! Most often, I start my painting playlist at full volume. Or sometimes I also listen to a podcast or two. It does not take long before the world outside is completely gone!

For how long do you think about a painting before you actually put your brush, or pen, to canvas?

When I start a new motif, I often have a mental image of roughly how I want that painting to look like. I often collect my ideas and inspiration in folders. In them, you can find everything from portraits, nature, and sculptures to color palettes and poems! So I plan for the foundation and the sketch, for example, the placement of the motif and how much texture I want the painting to have. Then I work in more layers to create dynamism in the painting. This is a more spontaneous process, where I will experiment with different brushstrokes and color-schemes.

Do you think planning ahead allows for more spontaneity?

Balance is key! Personally, I think balance is important. A certain degree of planning can save time, but it is also important for me to let parts of the process be free. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so for me, the challenge has been not to overwork my motifs. In the end, it’s often that unexpected brushstroke that becomes the most beautiful detail.

Do you always know when a painting is completely "done"?

I like to let my works “rest” a bit before I do the finishing touches. The process generally looks a bit like this, I sketch and lay down the first layers, start a new work and eventually return to refine the first piece. It may sound a little complicated, but I like to let the process take its time. How long it actually takes from sketch to finished work often varies. Sometimes the painting is done in one session, other times, I never feel completely finished! I think many artists can relate to this. The subject, technique, and size of the painting, of course, also play a role.

Any paintings in progress now?

I have several paintings in progress at the moment, all at different stages. Recently, I’ve received many requests for 'Vienna' replicas, which is still one of my latest motifs. So there is some romantic works in pastel colors on the way to clients!

Is there a gallery or particular context where you would love to see your art be exhibited or mentioned?

A dream of mine is to do a large art collaboration with a company in interior design, or fashion, for example with H&M, something else that would also be fun is to be featured in magazines like ELLE and Vogue, and people like Matilda Djerf and Zara Larsson are definitely on the list of my dream clients!

How can they or anyone reach you if they're interested in your art?

You’re welcome to send me a DM on Instagram or email me.