"For many years I’ve learned about Danish design in architecture, furniture and beyond, so my expectations were pretty high. I am happy to report it did not disappoint. For my first part of the trip I stayed at a summerhouse on the Danish coastline and to be honest I think the idea of being completely alone in the wet, cold Danish forest wasn’t incredibly appealing at first. The pleasant surprise, however, was the sense of peace and quiet I was consumed by during my stay. There were some moments sitting by the fire where it felt like times were much simpler and I was back in the 70’s. No TV, no buzzing technology and no noise. Just the sound of rain drops and crackling logs. I’ve been in quiet and remote parts of the world before, but never alone and “off the grid”. Having that much time to think, explore, relax, draw and just be 100% on my own schedule was a surreal and foreign experience. I’m looking forward to recreating that soon.

My main reason for traveling to Denmark was the late Danish designer Finn Juhl. Being able to visit the House of Finn Juhl exceeded my expectations for sure. The house itself was immaculate and immediately takes you to a different era. I’ve seen so many images and felt so familiar with each room but once you step inside, it’s a whole different world. I’ve never been in a home with that level of sophistication and simplicity. Every object effortlessly coexists in this space which feels like a curated museum. It is truly a work of art. The showroom does an incredible job of recreating the essence and prestige of Finn Juhl’s legacy. After chatting with one of the partners, it was very clear how important to them it is to maintain the craftsmanship and honor the design and original specs for each piece. As someone who overly obsesses over details, being in an environment where every single aspect of design was considered, I felt right at home.

Inspired by my experiences I wanted to take this opportunity to use a slightly different palette than I’m used to in my artwork. Having a limitation of three colors for the print was challenging but it forced me to be super intentional with my selection. The design itself references different shapes found within some of the furniture I got to see and each color is directly pulled from some key moments and locations on my trip. “

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Arrived in Copenhagen late last night, then had a bit of a drive to the summer house. This morning I was able to explore the surrounding woods, walk to the beach and discover some interesting homes along the way. Spent some time drawing, cooked dinner then got a nice fire going.

In this empty and remote Danish beach town (at least this time of year), you're immediately confronted with the overwhelming silence. Coming from Los Angeles less than 48 hours ago, the contrast between the two places is staggering. Excited to spend tomorrow (mostly) disconnected from the internet and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

I spent most of the day without seeing a single person or speaking a word. Towards the end of a long trek late this afternoon, I finally spotted a man with his dog off in the distance. It was pretty eerie walking around the empty beaches but at least I was able to admire some houses along the way. 

I also made a small painting on paper just before the sun went down.

Friday, February 24, 2023

Left the summer house this morning after an inspiring and peaceful three nights. Had a nice little journey into Copenhagen where I was able to visit the showroom of legendary furniture designer, Finn Juhl.

Juhl's work has been an incredible source of inspiration for many years and was a primary reason for visiting Denmark. Tomorrow I will get to tour his home and see original pieces from the 1940's and beyond. 

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Met with Danish artist, Line Busch at her studio and got to preview new works for her upcoming solo exhibition.

Stopped by the famous Juno the Bakery for their cardamom buns, which did not disappoint..

Ended the afternoon touring the incredible home of Finn Juhl. I have books on this house and have looked at photographs of the interior for years.. to finally step inside and experience the design, furniture and artwork in person was surreal. Juhl designed the home for himself when he was 30 years old. 

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Hopped on the train to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art for my last full day in Copenhagen. The weather was great and the museum experience was incredible. It was a perfect place to end the trip and I will definitely be coming back to Denmark in the near future.