1. Could you tell us a bit about your background?

I have always told stories. Now my paintings tell stories, but before I used to use other mediums. I have worked with film and TV and theatre productions, and also tailor-made exhibitions, installations and performances. I studied BA Arts in London, and I always knew I was going to paint full-time, so in 2015 I went all in, when I debuted with 100 paintings on one same subject; ‘Do you see me?’, about the people we do not see. When younger, I dreamt of becoming a criminal investigator, I was obsessed with puzzles and riddles, but art was my calling. However, they are not so far apart: an investigator solves mysteries, while an artist creates them. Within the stories of my paintings, you will find a lot of secrets.

2. Your art often focuses on colour and the emotions it evokes. How do you choose the colour schemes you work with?

I love to use the whole spectrum of the pallette, all colours are beautiful in their own way. I don’t need colours to tell the stories, but they add dimensions to the experience. When I start off a painting, I know how I want the painting to look, what the subject and content will be. The colours are chosen on intuition based on enhancing the feel that I want to inspire. I also often paint on commission, and then the pallet can be based on a wish from the customer or based on the environment where it will be hung. I also believe that there are no rules for the use of colours, I think that each colour can be used for every feeling, if used in the right way. I also use pigments of gold and shiny particles, because they are a natural part of how I want my stories to be felt, and also make the stories appear different in various lighting and times of the day.

An investigator solves mysteries, while an artist creates them.

3. If you had to describe your artwork to someone who was colour blind, what would you say?

I want people to experience colours they haven’t seen before. You don’t need to see the colours within my paintings to be able to feel them. The stories within will bring out the emotions, even if you are colourblind. I aim for my art to touch someone’s core, influence their ways of thinking and to give a voice to the silenced. The colours within my paintings are only an extra dimension, but unnecessary to experience and explore my art. If I was to describe my work to a person who is colourblind, I would use music to fill in the missing colours.

4. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am inspired by people, people’s untold stories. I am inspired by the colours and structures in the nature, and capturing the feel within the different seasons. I am inspired by things with a wistful beauty and uncovering the secret stories within peoples eyes. I try to evoke feelings that are too complex for words. I wish to capture the beauty in life; passion and compassion. Most beautiful things I know, are not necessarily pretty.

5. Future plans?

I want my paintings to create a difference in this world, hopefully make a slight influence to ways of thinking, through the subjects I choose. I also want to reach out with important untold stories. And hopefully to make as many people feel seen and heard, by each and everyone recognizing elements form their own stories, within my paintings. My aim is to leave a footprint in history, a voice from the real people living at this moment in time.

Most beautiful things I know, are not necessarily pretty.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

My best advice for aspiring artists is to not be afraid of the canvas. A suggestion is to splatter some paint or take a bold pen and clutter a little, then the “perfect white sheet” in front of you is already «destroyed», so you don’t need to be to cautious when starting, you can attack it more. And do not judge what you are doing while working, but instead just go for it and have fun. And then hide your work for a little while before you can with fresh eyes look at it, and probably it will look better than you think, and if neccessary you will see more easily what to do to improve it. If you are using paint and is a beginner, start off with only 3 colours (plus white and black), it makes it easier to not make it all turn brownish. Again the most important is to have fun, be brave and make many paintings, cause quantity creates quality.

This interview was not paid

All images come directly from Merete’s Instagram: @m_art.no