Nordic Art and Inspirations in Australia

The beautiful nations of the Northern Hemisphere evoke a sense of seclusion, serenity and also design sophistication. Dense forests, awe inspiring fjord lands, skies lit with auroras, volcanic rock formations; the landscapes are primal and quintessential of cold-climate

Europe. Perfect for inspiring art and crafts.

This is a far geographic and figurative position from Australia - the wide brown land - yet both environments inspire my art. Walking in nature in Canberra's many reserves and hills, and spending time in my garden during this Autumn gives me a great appreciation of place. I love where I live, and I am acutely aware of my privilege and freedoms in Australia.

I am often encouraged by well-meaning Aussies to 'paint local'. To join the other artists painting eucalypts, regard dry hills, and local landmarks (I admire many of these Artists). The implication is that you are somehow not being true to your roots or the locality you call home, if you don't paint what surrounds you. While I greatly admire the landscape and topography of Canberra, it is not consistent with my core body of work. Though, I do hope to soon do a series of acrylic landscapes that depict the Brindabellas, Murrumbidgee Corridor and wider Namadgi in my signature style, I am artistically and culturally drawn to depict Nordic heritage. As a Finnish / Australian dual citizen, and the daughter of a full-blooded Finnish Mother, (who is sadly no longer with us), it feels like both a birth right and also a way to honour connections that may otherwise become tenuous. I also consider it important to pass down tradition and pride in heritage to my own children - lest it be forgotten.

A sense of yearning for another land, culture, and the nostalgia of family rituals, is something that is not unique to me - it is intimately experienced by diaspora from all different countries. Art allows an outlet - an ode to intergenerational heritage and history. It does not need to do this overtly, (though it can), and my own nods tend to be interpretive and impressionist rather than realistic or explicit. This is something that I have explored extensively in recent years through my paintings. Choppy palette knife work to depict snow and frosts, layers upon layers of brushwork that take days to depict fog, and coniferous trees that - while not out of place in Canberra - betray native Australian flora. The style is - I hope - unique and appreciated, bringing a touch of Nordic inspiration and whimsy into homes, workplace and galleries. I have been buoyed this year by the positive reception to this work both face to face and online, and I am slowly finding my artistic community, and art collectors who appreciate it. Thank you to anyone who has purchased one of my artworks - big or small, or engaged with me on them in any way.

In May and June of this year I am excited to again be set to travel to Finland and Norway. This will be time with family, time to reconnect, and time in nature also. It will also be a mental reboot after a challenging few years. I speak hopefully that I will even get on that plane at this point, with the present fuel crisis unfolding. Something tells me, with a sense of perspective, that if for some reason we cannot, it will be the least of the world's concerns. I am touched by the tragedies unfolding in the middle east, as much of the world. I hope if and when we take our trip it will provide inspiration for my artworks. While I won't be getting much painting done while we travel, I do intend to take a sketch book. Sketching in graphite, pen and charcoal always takes me back to my artistic beginnings as they were my previous mediums of choice. I wish I found more time for them still.

I will be taking in the birch trees, dairy farms, and lake views that are at my doorstep in Juva, in regional Finland, where my Aunty's Summer cottage is. I will view with glee the heritage buildings of Helsinki. We will also be stopping by Porvoo, Turku, Tampere, and broader Savon region (we will decide where once we get there), and will also hopefully spend a few days in Tallinn the Estonian capital. Poland is also going to form part of our adventures, and potential some other side-quests also. We had hoped to include Iceland. I am hoping to come back invigorated, re-connected to family and culture, and with more Nordic, Baltic and Scandinavian influences from people and places.

2026 was a year in which I set out to establish more gallery presence. and to focus on deepening my body of work, whilst worrying less about things like social media and online sales. After a successful solo show "Interlumen" at Tyger Gallery in Yass NSW, and an upcoming show in preparation for The Front Gallery (upcoming this July/August), and a few more shaping up for 2027, I am already saying I have reached my goal.

As much as it pains me, I then need to knuckle down and consider where I want my art side-hustle to take me professionally and commercially. Part of that means getting my promotional ducks in a row - websites, socials, business activities. This side of art does not appeal to me much and it can significantly drain the creative flow, but it is the reason I am commencing the occasional blog. Mostly I do this in the hopes of finding my periople, my audience, my buyers, and other artists who can spur me on to keep creating. It's not that the art itself needs an audience, but having a piece find a home, or having it speak to someone, beats it living in an echo chamber (literally and figuratively) off the nook of my home studio.

So, if you are looking to connect with Nordic Art in Australia, please reach out. My contact form is where it's at. You can also follow me on my Instagram page @ghostwriterart.

May soothing Nordic vibes and soft light grace your home and life.