While creating this painting, I kept thinking about how disconnected many of us have become from ourselves, from nature and from the universe as a whole. We are taught to see ourselves as separate beings moving through a world outside of us, when in reality we are part of it in every possible way.
The same matter that formed the stars exists within our bodies.
The same cycles that move through forests, oceans and seasons also move through us.
Nothing in nature exists alone. And neither do we.
I wanted this painting to feel like a reminder of that.
A reminder that there is something vast and ancient living inside every human being. Something intuitive, powerful and deeply connected. I think many people spend their whole lives forgetting how much potential they actually carry because the world constantly encourages us to make ourselves smaller, quieter and easier to control.
But separation is an illusion.
You are nature.
You are part of this living universe.
And there is so much more inside of you than you have been taught to believe.
This piece was created using charcoal from my own fireplace here in the Swedish forest, sealed into several layers of mixed media. It carries the last golden light of autumn, the first cold winter nights and the quiet spirit of the north within it.