Studio Notes

Winter light tends to flatten a room. The colours are quieter, and objects stand more clearly on their own. There’s less movement, less distraction. What remains is often enough. This is usually where my Scandinavian interior drawings begin. Scandinavian winter cabin in the forest. In these scenes, the outside is present, but only just. Snow against a window, a dark line of trees, a sky that doesn’t fully brighten during the day. The room holds the light instead of reflecting

The handles are darkened where they've been held. The metal is worn, but not evenly. The sprout is lighter. The base is scratched. Next to it, the can is worn too. The color has faded in places. The lid is slightly dented. Nothing has been restored. Coffee pot and can, worn through use.

There’s a difference between a room that has been arranged and one that has simply continued. This kitchen falls into the second category. The stove is low and heavy. The surface shows use, but not wear in the usual sense. It hasn’t been restored or updated. It has just remained. Kitchen corner with stove and utensils. A pot sits on top. Not placed for effect, but left there. On the wall, wooden utensils hang from a rack. Not evenly spaced. Not decorative. Positioned where