Understanding Ulla

Award-winning Danish-born painter Ulla Plougmand explains, “All my canvasses are painted with passion and love, straight from the heart. Even though I am heavily inspired by the post-impressionists I would describe my own style as a curious mixture encompassing figurative, naive, abstract, as well as modern Impressionism.” In short, Ulla cannot be ‘pigeon-holed’, not fitting into any established movement, instead, her paintings simply evolve together with her life. Abod2 sat down with her to find out more about this unique talent

Tell us about your artistic journey

I always joke that I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. I grew up in Denmark surrounded by nature, deep forests, large fields and the wild North Sea not far away, all undoubtedly contributing to my inspiration as a painter. Having a father who was a country doctor and a mother who was a psychologist, my upbringing was both liberal and caring.

Having lived a colourful life, I have been fortunate enough to be able to pursue my passion for painting for many years and hope sincerely I can do so until, as I put it, ‘I Fall out of my little red Danish clogs.’

My Playful Cosmos - Cosmic Eruption

How would you describe your style?

Developed over many years of dedicated work, if I have to sum it up in brief I’d say - complex. Progressive Impressionism would do. For me it happens like this: Experience life, let the experience settle, then paint my impressions through my ‘mind's eye’. Sometimes this can take just days to mature, however,  more often than not it takes months, even years, but I know it will always come out properly formed in the end.

Where do you find inspiration?

I have travelled the globe with an open mind to new impressions, life, beauty and passion. Besides this, I am inspired by diverse sources, from philosophers to painters and artists: from Plato, Leonardo da Vinci to Michelangelo and onwards to the post-impressionists to expressionists, Van Gogh being a firm favourite. My ‘abstract-ish’ female forms are also heavily inspired by my time as a model.

Colourful images are forever swirling in my mind – especially when it comes to one of my latest and ongoing series, MY Cosmos – which I am calling ‘My Playful Cosmos’. The stars, galaxies, in fact all ‘heavenly bodies’, act as my muse.

My Playful Cosmos - Space Orgasm

What is your life philosophy?

I pray for peace, freedom, love - and hope. Now our world needs this more than ever.

Tell us more about your ‘Love Ukraine’ collection

Nobody ever wins a war. Wars solve no problems. They cause only destruction, vast unhappiness and sorrow, loss of lives and tragic devastation in general in a world that belongs to us all.

I started painting this poignant series during the summer 2022 and have been painting like wildfire ever since. I aim to show all the natural beauty of this special country and its spirited people, before the terrible war – their courage and tenacity that leaves us all in awe. The deeper I dig, the more I find a true abundance of inspiration. To capture this idea, I fill my canvasses with sunshine and hope.

I have chosen to paint on snow-white canvas board in acrylics and use the national colours of Ukraine, a multitude of hues of blue and yellow. As always, I am relying on my genuine inspiration, my passion and intuition - a trusty guide above everything else. I hold a deep-felt belief that my work will also eventually show a new resplendent Ukraine, rising like a phoenix, after the war.

Love Ukraine - The Red Sun Rises

Where are you taking your artist flair next?

So far, my artistic mind is wholly focused on my Love Ukraine series, but as an artist, I am also always vividly alert to anything new - as long as it is positive. Negative is not for me and my sunny heart.

Inspiration can strike like lightning, so one will have to wait and see.

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