Caroline Wendelin Interview
Motherhood grounds me, reminding me that my art isn’t separate from life, it grows out of it.
Q. Caroline, you're both an accomplished artist and a mother of three, how would you introduce yourself in your own words?
I’ve always felt a deep pull toward art and storytelling. It’s not just a career, it’s the way I make sense of the world. Painting is at the heart of my practice, but I’m equally passionate about music, writing, photography, and film, because each medium gives me a different way to express ideas and emotions. For me, art is about exploring both the inner landscape of thoughts and feelings, and the outer world of people, culture, and nature.
At the same time, being a mother of three is central to who I am. Motherhood grounds me, adds layers of perspective, and constantly reminds me that my art isn’t separate from my life it grows out of it. My creative journey and my personal journey are inseparable, and I see that as a strength that enriches my work.
Q. How did living in Malaga, Spain influence your artistic style and the themes you explore in your work?
Living in Malaga, and more broadly Andalusia, has had a profound influence on how I see and create art. The Mediterranean culture gifted me an appreciation for light, warmth, color, and rhythm the vibrancy of Spanish life, the passion of flamenco, and the intensity of the landscape are deeply embedded in my work.
At the same time, my Finnish-Swedish and German heritage is equally present. From the North, I draw on a deep sense of stillness, mythology, symbolism, and a connection to nature’s quiet strength. These two influences the fiery expressiveness of the South and the contemplative calm of the North are in constant dialogue in my art.
I often think of my paintings as a meeting place where these contrasting worlds merge, creating harmony out of duality. This cultural blend allows me to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the beauty that arises when different traditions and emotions coexist.
Q. Many of your paintings feature intimate, emotive scenes. Where do you find the emotional depth and inspiration for these pieces?
Much of the emotional depth in my work comes from simply observing life as it unfolds around me. Motherhood, in particular, has been an endless source of inspiration it teaches you about love, vulnerability, patience, and the full spectrum of human emotions in such a profound way.
Relationships, too, whether personal or observed, reveal the subtle gestures, unspoken connections, and emotional undercurrents that I try to capture on canvas. Beyond lived experience, I also draw inspiration from reading and photography, as they allow me to step into different perspectives and see how others interpret the human condition.
I’m fascinated by how feelings shape who we are how joy, loss, tenderness, or longing can transform us and painting becomes my way of translating those inner landscapes into something visual, tangible, and hopefully universal.
Q.Balancing motherhood and a creative career is no small feat-what daily habits or routines help you sustain both roles?
I've learned that perfection is the enemy of presence. With my first baby I had a lot of routines and tried to do everything perfectly, but now, after three children, my 'routine' is like a tide: it comes in and goes out, but I show up for it whenever it's here.
I work in small pockets of time, often with toys under my feet or a saucepan simmering in the background. I get most of my painting done while the kids are at school in the morning, and sometimes after they go to bedI work on the computer. What keeps me sane is a daily ritual of noticing, writing down my thoughts, sitting on the floor with my kids, and most of all practicing gratitude: every day I remind myself of how lucky I am, and then all the 'problems' in my daily life suddenly feel small.
Q. You've built a large audience online. How has social media shaped your art career, both in terms of opportunities and challenges?
Most of my collectors have found me on Instagram, so its an essential tool in my work. I believe many galleries would say my art doesn't fit in their curated style, so social media has changed what's possible for artists like me instead of waiting for galleries or exhibitions, I can share my work directly with people who connect with it.
That's been incredible. But it also means my work has to survive the noise of trends and algorithms. The challenge is to keep my own vision even while it's public, to keep painting what I truly love instead of what is expected of me. I take a lot of social media breaks and a lot of weeks I don't post anything at all, trying to focus on being present and not looking at the screen too much.
Q. When creating, do you begin with a clear vision in mind or does the artwork evolve organically on the canvas?
I usually begin with a clear vision, at least regarding the pose and gaze of the subject. From there I build the symbolism around her: the flowers over the eyes shift the focus away from the individual to something bigger, the braided hair represents ties and strength, the feathers are about freedom. After that I often let the painting evolve organically, just let it flow and the end result is often a bit different than I had planned in the beginning.
Q. Your paintings often incorporate gold and textured elements, can you share the meaning or intention behind that choice?
Gold, for me, is about enlightenment and transcendence. It lifts the work into something beyond the everyday. The textures, whether it's flowers, braids, or feathers, give physicality to abstract ideas like strength, freedom, or unity. They're a way of grounding the message in something you can almost feel with your eyes.
Q. What's one misconception people often have about being a full-time artist?
One of the biggest misconceptions about being a full-time artist is that it’s all about living in a constant state of inspiration and romantic creativity. In truth, the artistic path requires as much discipline and persistence as any other profession sometimes even more.
There are long hours of practice, problem-solving, and trial and error that go unseen. Inspiration is wonderful, but it can’t always be relied upon; as an artist, you have to learn to show up every day, even on the days when it feels difficult. What makes it fulfilling, though, is that in committing to that discipline, you also get to design a life built around what matters most to you; creativity, expression, and the freedom to tell stories through your work. It’s not effortless, but it is deeply meaningful.
Q. If you could collaborate with any historical or contemporary artist, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with any artists, I would choose Claude Monet and Gustav Klimt, because they represent two very different yet equally inspiring dimensions of art. Monet, with his ability to capture atmosphere and light, teaches us the power of slowing down and really seeing the world noticing the fleeting beauty in a moment, the subtle shifts in nature, and the poetry of everyday life. His work reminds me to remain present and sensitive to what surrounds me.
On the other hand, Gustav Klimt fascinates me for his symbolic language, his bold use of gold, and his celebration of the feminine figure. His art is deeply expressive and layered with meaning, which resonates strongly with my own interest in symbolism and emotional depth. To me, Monet and Klimt embody two sides of creativity I deeply connect with one rooted in the poetic observation of the external world, and the other in the symbolic expression of the inner life. Bringing those two together feels very close to my own artistic vision.
Q. And just for fun-if your art could magically come to life for one day, what scene or moment would you most want to witness?
If my art could magically come to life for a single day, I would love to see all the women I’ve painted gather together in one place. Each of them represents a different story, a different mood, and in some ways, a different version of myself and of womanhood as a whole. To watch them move, speak, and interact would be like witnessing fragments of my inner world step out of the canvas and into reality.
I imagine it would feel both surreal and grounding at the same time surreal because it would be like entering a dream, and grounding because it would affirm the universality of the emotions and experiences I try to capture. It would be a reminder that my work isn’t only personal, but part of a larger collective narrative of femininity and human connection.
Bio:
Caroline is a Swedish-German artist based in Marbella, Spain. Known for her symbolic portraits of women, her work blends Mediterranean warmth with Nordic stillness, often incorporating gold, texture, and elements like flowers, braids, and feathers to explore themes of strength, freedom, and transformation. A mother of three, she weaves her daily life into her creative practice, building an art career that has reached hundreds of thousands through social media. Inspired by both Scandinavian mythology and the vibrancy of Andalusia, her paintings reflect the balance between inner depth and outward light.
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