What was the deciding factor to become an artist?

"The will to paint and express my creativity has been there as long as I can remember. There was a period when I was a bit confused and wondered what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to study languages at the University. Then I realized that I really wanted and needed to be an artist. It was almost painful not getting the time to paint and do other creative things."

How were you trained as an artist?

"I studied at Falkenbergs Konstskola and Gävle Konstskola (two Artschools in Sweden) during a total of four years, 2003-2007."

What present medium/s do you use to create your artwork/ what is your technique?

"At this moment I am developing my photorealistic vein, I mostly paint in oil on plywood, masonite or canvas."

Is there any specific meaning or conceptual reasons you work in the medium you use?

"Oils just simply feels like a suitable medium for my purposes right now. I was painting with acrylics for a while, but the result didn't quite match my expectations."

Linnea Strid, 'Gasp'

What contemporary event do you feel most inspires your work?

"I get inspired by all sorts of events, many trivialities can become fascinating subjects to me. Sometimes I get obsessed with trying to portray things that I feel no one is noticing. I often try to convey my own emotions and happenings in my own life, but sometimes I escape as far away as possible from myself. This usually happen when I fantasize about macabre, nasty things that I really can't identify myself with at all"

Is your work in any way driven by political events?

"Political events inspires me a lot since I am deeply dedicated to human, environment and animal rights."

What kind of emotions /feelings/ questions do you want a viewer to leave your work with?

"What sorts of emotions I want to transmit to the viewer is different in every work. The important thing is that I get the opportunity to say something with my art, and then the viewer can use their imagination and build up their own story about the piece. Different, individual feelings, specualtions and thoughts are equally important as my own views on my art."

How do you feel you break from other representational artwork?

"It's hard to say what makes my work different. Everything I do comes from my own life and experiences and when I paint I try to do it my way. Hopefully I create something new and interesting."

What figure and or artist do you feel you are most inspired by?

"I get inspired all the time by amazing, contemporary artists and I think it's great to find new art. My latest discoveries are the marvellous works of Alyssa Monks, Jorge Santos, Antonio López and Cindy Wright"

How do you develop or come up with the ideas that drive your work?

"Mostly it just pops up an image or a bigger vision in my head that I feel the necessity of realizing. I usually get posessed by a certain idea and then I try to develop it so that I can work with it during a longer period of time."

Do you have any specific directions that you either are planning to take or are going to take with your artwork?

"I always try to follow my instincts, and right now I want to continue making photorealistic art, and telling different stories with my paintings. Just trying to do exciting art."

Linnea Strid, 'Cry You a River'