We are happy to be interviewing Emma Wiklund aka @tjoller_illustrations for our artist spotlight this week!
Please can you give us a brief little introduction about yourself?
- I was born and still live in the northern part of Sweden, with my husband and two kids. I have worked at different administrative authorities for the past 12 years and still do full time. Drawing/sketching/painting have always been a big hobby of mine since childhood, I always loved art class in school and I studied art in different forms for a year before I went to university. But in my early twenties I stopped sketching, drawing and painting. I think I had to high expectations on myself and compared myself to others too much. Last autumn I felt a need to express my creativity in some way so I started painting again and it was so much fun. I started my Instagram account, mostly as a storage place. Somewhere to put my art so that it wouldn't be put in a drawer. The word "Tjoller" basically means "nonsense" in my swedish dialect. I had no idea that I would find this wonderful community of artist to share my art with.
What inspires you?
- I find inspiration in so many places, it could be something I've read or a movie I've watched or just something I've done together with my kids. I also find inspiration looking at other people's art.
What is your favourite thing to draw?
- I love drawing cute, non-realistic, animals. But since I started my Instagram account in November I have found that I really enjoy participating in "dtiys-challanges" and most of all drawing prompts. It really sparks my imagination and sometimes takes me outside my comfort zone, which really is a good thing since I otherwise tend to do things that I know how to do.
What art goals do you have for this year?
- I really want to improve my skill for painting backgrounds. I find it easy to come up with characters and I want to put them into a more visual context.
What techniques/supplies do you use?
- I mostly use my Samsung Galaxy Tab6 Lite and Clip studio paint (I'm not an Apple-kind-of-girl so no Procreate for me). But now and then I like to dust off my watercolors and paint traditionally.
What advice would you give to another doodler/artist?
- To paint, paint, paint, sketch, sketch, sketch as much as you can. It's really true (as I tell my kids over and over) you have to practice to get better. And try not to compare yourself to much to others, we're all different, talented in different ways with different circumstances and at different stages on our artistic journey.
Where can people go to learn more about you or see more of your work?
My IG account: @tjoller_illustrations


