About

Hi! My name is My Michelle Widenius and I’m an artist, illustrator and pattern designer from Helsinki, Finland.

Apart from drawing inspiration from nature, a love for art history can be seen in my work. I finds myself constantly looking back in time and seeking inspiration from the past, be it a piece of art, vintage textiles and furniture, a detail on a building or a quote in a piece of classical literature. If I would have to describe my style with one word in would be “Nostalgic”.

At first glance my works tend to look serene and calm, but they often have a darker side to them – such as a snake lurking in the lush foliage of a fruit tree, watching an unsuspecting bird. I think this is about accepting what is and see the beauty in the big picture. When I create something I always want the end result to convey a sense of harmony. For me It is a feather-like feeling: in this very moment, everything is as it should be. Life, not to mention the human mind, can feel brutal and cruel, but maybe… that is just nature and in reality there is no good and bad.

History has shown us again and again that humans are hedonists by nature. I believe that our surroundings pay an important role in how we feel, and that surrounding yourself with beauty and colours can boost our happiness and creativity. Detail is everything.

I work both digitally and with analog mediums like pencil, ink and watercolours. Lately I have had a little fling with oil paints as well, let’s see where that goes. Although I focus on illustration and pattern design, I have a degree in Graphic Design which is useful in my work. I am interested in all kinds of creative projects, from editorial illustration to wallpaper and textile design, to package design. A lot of the art here on my site is available for licensing and I am also open for commissions!