We first met up with Malin at one of her classes and fell totally in love with her beautiful artwork. Her style is effortless yet complex and after that workshop, we just wanted to get to know her some more. Enjoy!
Tell us about yourself, who are you and what do you do
I work as an artist and surface pattern designer. I work with patterns for wallpaper, textile, tiles, and porcelain for example. What characterises my work is ink paint, floral motifs, and colours- from transparency to pitch dark. Fluid ink suits the way I like to paint, quickly and a fine line between control and uncontrollable.
Fluid ink suits the way I like to paint, quickly and a fine line between control and uncontrollable.
All my relatives talk about flowers and plants, and I do, too. Colour- Ink shades are infinite and even the dirty water has dignity. Regardless of the end product, an upcoming exhibition or a pattern design; my starting point is always ink paintings. I also started teaching ink painting and I really enjoy showing the material and encourage using brushstrokes and body movements.
How did you come to the creative place you are at today? What´s your creative history?
I graduated from Norwich School of Art and Design in 2006. After that, I had a day job and spent evenings, weekends and vacations in my studio. I was one of the artists that Your Wallpaper represented at their big digital wallpaper release in 2009 which opened up for commissions and slowly I built up my portfolio. Today, thirteen years later, I am a full-time freelance artist but there is always a need for new commissions. I think all designers experience that.
What do you try to achieve with the work you create?
To spend a lot of time with a brush in my hand. To carry on a crafts tradition and celebrating the hand made.
How do you get in the right “creative mode” – what does your happy place look like?
To do nothing but walking around in circles in my studio, it makes me focused. My happy place is to start painting in the morning, fresh-minded and un-ruined. My mentor in art school taught me that you have to be able to work wherever you are. But I am lucky to have a studio.
What does your craft space look like?
White walls, old damaged wooden floor, a stone square where the fire used to be, low roof, one window, and grey tables splashed with ink.
If I would like to get going with my creativity, what’s your advice?
My advice would be don’t think about the end result too much, start exploring and do it again and again. Continue. You will get there.
Please share your top sources of inspiration (3 or more…)
Gardens, classic Eastern Asian ink painting and exploring new places.
What do you have planned for the future?
Well, the ink painting courses for the autumn term is up for booking. I am working on an art project concerning my archives, all unseen and unsold paintings. The studios at Bjurholmsgatan 1-11 are open Saturday the 5thof October as a part of Stockholm Craft Week, and the annual Christmas market in our studios will take place in December. My next release is in spring 2020, which is a new collaboration with Duka.
Where can I follow you and find your work
Instagram @malinbjorklundritar
Ink-paining courses via skillbreak.com