His artistic expression is deeply rooted in his childhood close to the mountains and forests of Jämtland and Västerbotten in the north of Sweden. August was an avid pencil sketcher in his younger years but it wasn't until later in life, after studies and a move away from northern Sweden, that these landscapes began to resurface in his work. His watercolour paintings often depict those grey, modest, and cloudy days that linger in memory.

With a background that includes a bachelor degree in image-based communication studies and twelve years of professional experience as a cinematographer, August has developed a strong foundation in visual storytelling. This foundation heavily influences his style of watercolour painting. His experience as a freelance cinematographer has also impacted his technique, particularly in how he approaches light, composition, contrast, and perspective.

"I often think of painting the same way I think about taking a photograph. I consider elements like the dynamic range of a camera sensor or which lens would best suit a particular scene. Just like in photography, it’s all about guiding the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go."

During his work as a cinematographer, August has gathered a wealth of reference material and drawn inspiration from encounters with people and places in some of the most remote parts of Scandinavia and other parts of the world. These experiences have become the foundation upon which August builds his ideas in watercolour.

"I often strive to create a moody and wet look using multiple layers of wet-on-wet technique, which places high demands on the quality of the paper. In recent years, I’ve been working with Saunders Waterford 638gsm, as it handles large amounts of water and allows me to paint wet-on-wet repeatedly without compromising the surface.”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/august.artwork/
Website: https://www.augustartwork.com/
 

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