Inspiration comes in many shapes and forms. For illustrator and graphic designer, Saara Katariina Söderlund, it comes in the form of a bird. Living in the Finnish countryside, where she shares a home with her husband and two dogs, she spends her free time birdwatching, binoculars in hand. And when she isn’t watching birds, she paints them.
“I love birdwatching, especially in spring when the migrating species arrive back to Finland,” she shared with Flow Magazine. “My favorite place to watch them is by the water, so I guess that’s why aquatic birds are the most dear to me, but actually I love all birds. I’m definitely a bird lady.”
According to the said “bird lady”: “Birds are so fascinating. There are so many different species, and the spectrum of colors, shapes, patterns, and sounds seems endless. I also find age-old mythologies behind birds interesting. In so many cultures they have been used as an explanation for countless questions.”
Using mainly gouache, her paintings are both playful and endearing. Something to follow on Instagram, whether you’re bird people or not.
