Artist Spotlight: Tove Koch

Tove Koch is an artist and photographer based in Washington State. Born to two artistic parents, she was raised within a large family in the Swedish countryside. Her mother is a ceramicist and her father is an architect and hobby painter. “My siblings and I grew up playing with clay and painting a lot when we were young. I have always loved expressing myself creatively, so taking the artistic path as I grew older felt very natural to me. I have been creating artistically ever since I was a kid except for a few time periods when my creative spirit disappeared.” You can view a selection of her photography on her website here. 

Tove was first inspired to become a photographer when she received her first camera, a digital Pentax, at age thirteen. “I was hooked right away and would spend hours and hours photographing in our lush backyard and in the forest. I had always been drawn to nature and fascinated by its complexity and detail, and the camera was an amazing tool to me as it allowed me to see the objects in a more focused way, and it allowed me to use my creativity in a very exciting way.” Though she has delved into art much less than photography, this changed last year. “Painting, drawing and illustrating is something I have done a lot less compared to photography (except for in my childhood), but in 2020 a got a newfound desire to explore these mediums more and to see how I can evolve and grow with them.” 

Tove states that she enjoys being an artist for the ability it gives to just be yourself. “It allows me to be myself completely and sort of escape from the demanding and stressful chatter of the world including the problems that reside there. When I create I get to be in a world full of color, imagination, joy, and freedom; this makes me feel good in multiple ways.” 

"Magic in the Forest" by Tove Koch pictured above. 

Tove’s favorite art piece is Henri Rosseau’s “The Sleeping Gypsy Lion”. “[The piece] has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. I love the lighting, the smooth transitions between tones, and the peace it gives me. I also really like that it gives me curious and mystic vibes, as if it has a special story to tell.” Within her own work, Tove enjoys and is inspired by nature. “My favorite subjects to photograph are animals, birds, critters, and landscapes. When I paint and illustrate I prefer the same type of subjects but in a more abstract, unrealistic, and playful manner. I feel so much awe when I think of how complex nature is with all its different systems and species that are intertwined so gracefully. It’s the beauty and intelligence of the natural world, and my belief that there is a higher power present in all species, that motivates me. When I create art with natural subjects it feels like celebrating nature and life itself.” 

"Life on Mt. Ellinor" by Tove Koch pictured above. 

To aspiring artists, Tove encourages letting loose and experimenting with your art. “I used to (and still do sometimes) feel this pressure that I have to make great pieces only, and I always lose my creative spirit as a result. Now I’m more open to playing and trying methods/techniques I haven’t tried before, and this has allowed me to evolve instead of limit myself.” 

Tove discovered Golden State Art through another artist at an art fair in Tacoma, WA. “A couple months later I got my first mat kit and started selling matted prints. Golden State Art’s products have helped me start showcasing and selling my work in an affordable and efficient way, especially the mat kits and the black aluminum frames.”   

Visit Tove's social media and website below to view more of her work and connect with her! 

Tove's Website: www.tovekoch.com

Tove's Instagram: @tovekoch.art

View more of her beautiful work below.