A few years ago, I was a burned-out freelancer...

I was 37 years old. I had been working as a web designer, digital strategist, and copywriter for the majority of my career. I was good at it. I made decent money. But it was slowly killing my soul. My passion and drive was gone, I couldn't be authentically myself, and I wasn't in control of my time and energy.

And so, in the midst of the pandemic 2020, I hit a wall and went on sick leave. For months, I struggled to find my footing. I tried gardening, bread baking, knitting. I freaked out about the future. I had an identity crisis. I spiraled into anxiety and depression.

In an effort to calm myself down, I returned to my childhood love of drawing and painting. I started a fresh sketchbook. I fell madly in love with watercolor. And I started painting birds - my spirit animals. Slowly, life started to make sense again. I re-learned how to concentrate and go into a flow state. My energy returned, and my motivation. I practiced my art, built a body of work, and started selling my first few paintings.

That's when I decided to take the big and scary leap into a brand new career (and identity) as an artist.

And it was the best decision of my life.

Today, I make and teach art full-time. I share what I'm learning and discovering in my weekly newsletters, and on my YouTube channel, The Calm Creative. And I help other creatives learn art and grow (calm) creative businesses.

So if you're a fellow artist or creative: Welcome. 🖤 This place is for you. Make yourself at home.

Fun facts

I'm Swedish

I was born in Stockholm. Now I reside in the smaller town of Gävle.

I'm musically schooled

Started playing the piano at around 5 years old. From there, I added guitar, drums, accordion, and mouth organ. Went to a music high school. I wrote and performed rap songs as a teenager. Today I mostly sing. I love everything from jazz and blues to hiphop and metal.

I'm a (casual) bird watcher

Not the serious kind, with crazy-expensive binoculars, who get up at dawn or travel the world looking for rare birds. I study birds mostly from an artist point of view, and like to observe them in my yard and while on long walks. I'm probably more of a bird listener than a bird watcher.

I have a degree in game design

Video games have always been a huge passion of mine. So much so that I went and got a Bachelor's degree in game development in my early twenties. That later led to co-founding a startup in the field of gamification.

I'm a part-time actor

I sometimes star in short films, indie films, and tv shows. Acting is lifelong passion of mine, and I have a one-year acting school credit, as well as many years of experience in the business.

I love lifting weights

I was a yogi for many years, until I feel madly in love with strength training. Nowadays I'm a gym rat who also enjoys long walks and the occasional Pilates session.

I sometimes write stories

I have written stories since I was in Kindergarten. Have a few horror/fantasy short stories under my belt, as well as some half-written novels.

Hey, we should stay in touch!

I write weekly letters to my email list of artists and creatives, sharing musings and advice from my own creative practice/business. I would love to have you there. 🖤

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