I recently finished reading a romantic escape novel set in Copenhagen, Denmark. While I enjoyed the story, what stayed with me most were the descriptions of the charming houses lining colorful streets and waterfronts. The images painted by the author’s words lingered in my imagination long after I had turned the final page.
Inspired by those scenes, I decided to take out my acrylic markers and create my own interpretation of the houses using an Impressionist approach. Rather than focusing on architectural details, I concentrated on color, light, and atmosphere. Using blocks of vibrant color and simplified forms, I tried to capture the feeling the novel left with me rather than an exact representation of the setting.
I am quite happy with how the artwork turned out. The bright colors and expressive marks allowed me to experiment freely while continuing to explore the Impressionist style that I had recently fallen in love with.
At the same time, this painting left me with an important question.
Should I continue creating artwork inspired by romantic escape novels?
I certainly enjoy translating the places and moods from stories into paintings. Yet somewhere inside me, I feel that I am still searching for a subject that resonates more deeply and personally. A subject that feels uniquely my own.
What could it be?
I don’t have the answer just yet.
Perhaps discovering an artistic voice is a journey rather than a single moment of realization. For now, I am content to keep exploring, experimenting, and learning.
In the meantime, I’ll continue reading romantic escape novels, gathering inspiration from beautiful places around the world, and creating more Impressionist paintings with my acrylic markers.
Every painting brings me one step closer to finding the subjects that truly speak to my heart.