A View From the Easel: Anna Pajak

This week's installment of A View From the Easel showcases the workspace of Anna Pajak, an artist painting symmetrical will-o'-the-wisps in the woods of southern Sweden. Pajak has been working in this space for four years.

An average day in her studio begins early, with a cup of coffee. She quickly lays out the paint and dives straight into the canvas. Pajak often finds herself too restless to plan her work, instead opting to immediately start painting. As soon as she enters the studio, she immerses herself in the creative process, squeezing out the paint and quickly getting to work. The coffee inevitably cools and is left forgotten.

Music fills her studio as she paints, unless the canvas demands too much thought or measuring, at which point she requires complete silence. Pajak often works on two canvases simultaneously, akin to sisters standing side by side. She keeps a watchful eye on the sky outside her window, stopping her painting when the gradient transitions from orange to light green, before becoming overly tired or starting to overthink, which would invite a critical voice into her creative space.

To ensure her brushes are ready for tomorrow's session, Pajak meticulously washes them, allowing for a swift start to her next day of painting.