Danish artist and designer Lise Uhrskov finds inspiration in the outdoors around her.

Living in the historic Latin Quarter in central Copenhagen, Lise is often surrounded by colorful architecture and creative people.

“There’s a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere here, and people know each other,” she says.

“There are lots of antique shops here, and people mix styles. I love it when someone wears a fashionable suit but pairs it with bold shoes or a big hat that doesn’t match the rest of the outfit.” These people and bold colors are the subjects of Lise’s work.

Influenced by Pop Art in her use of color, she likes to mix patterns with strong personalities: “I like creating happy, quirky, and slightly unusual people and characters,” she says. She uses broad areas of color and simplified forms to make color the true focus.

“I use color to play with depth, perspective, and optical illusions, creating a sense of movement and three-dimensionality.”

Her recent work is a series intended to depict relationships between people and how we interact with one another.

She explains her fascination with the human experience and with how different personalities coexist.

Most of her inspiration comes from her surroundings. Lise has a studio at home, which also makes it easier for her to keep working whenever inspiration strikes.

However, this also means that Lise cherishes and prioritizes leisurely weekends. “My week is busy, like most people’s, so I enjoy peaceful Saturdays. I love listening to the birds singing in the backyard, where I’ve planted some small trees and plants.” She spends the afternoons with her family, going to the skate park with her son and having dinner with her sister and her family.

“I feel like I’m living my dream,” Lise says, then reflects: “Maybe I’d like to work abroad more. I lead a busy life, so perhaps my dream is to have more time to rest.”