My greatest artistic influence: Artistic influences can be so overwhelming that they are hard to get past. An extraordinary exhibition can take weeks to recover from. I used to have artistic house gods but I don’t anymore. I try to search within myself.
My most important mentor: I have a handful of close friends and colleagues that constantly impress and challenge me and never let me forget that I can do better.
The word that best describes my creative philosophy: Work. You can’t think yourself to a good painting. Working, failing and finally getting there makes progress.
My first memory of Marimekko: When I was a small child my mother wallpapered my room in strong yellow striped wallpaper. She also painted my furniture in the same intense yellow and hang curtains with Maija Isola´s Unikko in navy blue, orange and yellow. I loved my room, it was as if the sun was always shining in there, an endless summer.
The Marimekko product I use all the time: The salad bowls. I first got one as a work sample and it quickly moved from my studio into my kitchen. Now I have two and I use them all the time for everything.
The most important thing to remember when decorating a room: At the moment I’m hooked on lighting. Different kinds of light sources and dimmers that enables the room to follow the time of day.
The pattern I’m most fascinated with right now: Manhattan by Josef Frank.
I relax by: gardening.
The smell that reminds me of childhood: Fresh cut lawns and melting butter.
