Artist Spotlight – Ingela P Arrhenius

Retro Kids·June 15, 2019

We are very excited to share our interview with one of our favourite illustrators Ingela P Arrhenius and very grateful to her for taking the time out of her busy schedule to be a part of this blog post dedicated to her amazing talents.

Can you tell me about your work studio and where it’s based?

I share a studio with around 10 other people. We are illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, journalists amongst others. It´s quite big so I have a big space which is necessary since I have a lot of stuff around me. It is situated right outside Stockholm and within walking distance.

What does your typical day involve?

My typical day involves first saying goodbye to the kids when they go to school then saying goodbye to my husband when I leave the house since he works as an author and works from home.

I go on a bike ride to my studio which is very close. I work until around four then I go home. I might run with my dog then. My day never involves cooking since I am lucky enough to have a husband that does that! After dinner I often work a couple of hours more, by the kitchentable. Then I read a book and fall asleep after ten minutes.

What products/collection of your brand is your favorite?

I like the wallpaper I´ve done for Ferm Living, the salt and pepper cellars for OMM Design, the City Prints for Lagom and the card board cases for La Marelle Editions.

How do you gain inspiration for your work?

The best places to find inspiration is either at flea markets or in an antiquarian bookstore. Small findings from places like that inspires me a lot.

Whose work in the field do you admire and why?

I admire Lily Scratchy since it is so very playful!

How would you describe your style?

Graphic, retro and colourful. And made with joy.

How did you get started down this route and what did you do prior?

I started at an advertising agency doing everything from serving coffee to being an art director assistent. Then I went to art school and studied graphic design and advertising. But when I graduated I realised I wanted to be a full time illustrator so I started to freelance the day after. And that is 22 years ago…

But I was also very into languages and studied French in Aix-en-Provence and German in Berlin.

What are your goals for the future?

My goal is to continue doing what I am doing. I am exactly where I want to be, working with products. I worked more with advertising and editorial assignments before, and still do but not as much anymore.

Most of my time I design for the product business and I love it!

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I recently found an old book where I had written what I wanted to do when I grew up and it said “hairdresser or illustrator”!