A Journey Back to Art: My Story
Hi, I’m Sofie Thorhauge, and I’m happy to welcome you to my creative space. My journey as an artist has been anything but straightforward, but I believe it’s the twists and turns that have shaped me into the artist I am today.
Early Inspirations and My First Encounter with Art
I started painting when I was very young, inspired by my grandmother, who was a talented watercolor artist. She lived on the West Coast of Denmark, near the dunes and beach houses, and looking back, I can see how those landscapes continue to shape my work today.
A watercolor painting made by my grandmother in 1988, the year before I was born.
Painting wasn’t just a hobby for me - it was a way of understanding the world. I was always drawing and painting in school. It helped me focus, even if it sometimes seemed like I was off in my own world.
It wasn’t until I was 12 years old, during a particularly difficult time, that I realized I wanted to become a professional artist. My sister was diagnosed with a severe mental illness, which she has fortunately recovered from today. But back then, it was a period of immense confusion and sadness for me. Art became my refuge, a place where I could process the emotions and experiences that words couldn’t touch. It was in that moment, amidst the chaos of my sister’s illness, that I decided I wanted to pursue art seriously.
Efterskole and the Dream of The Royal Academy
After finishing elementary school, I went to "efterskole," a Danish type of boarding school that focused on creative subjects like music and art. It was here that I transitioned from loose, expressive painting to more figurative work. I remember becoming fascinated with Picasso, and many of my pieces were paraphrases of his work. Below are some examples of my work from this time (2006-2007).
This was a time when I began to approach my paintings with more intention, possibly because I was growing older and becoming more reflective.
By the time I was just 15, I had already applied to The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, convinced that it was the place I belonged. I imagined the academy would be a sanctuary, where I would find kindred spirits, escape the loneliness I felt after my sister’s illness, and finally feel understood. I was certain that the academy would heal the feeling of being left behind while life went on for others. But that wasn’t the reality I encountered.
My Time at The Royal Academy
It wasn’t until I was 20, preparing to study psychology, that I submitted my third and final application to The Royal Academy. This time, I wasn’t expecting much. I had shifted my focus and didn’t think I’d get in, but to my surprise, I did. My artistic style had evolved again by this point, becoming more conceptual and graphic, and I was thrilled. Below are the five paintings of my application.
But the dream I had of finding my place among like-minded people quickly turned sour. The academy’s environment was competitive and harsh. The language of art there was alien to me—overly complicated, distant, and often lacking the friendliness, openness, and curiosity I had longed for. I found it incredibly hard to fit in, and it wasn’t long before I realized that the atmosphere was suffocating my creativity. Despite this, I stayed for three years, long enough to earn my bachelor’s degree. But the experience took a toll. I stopped painting altogether. My joy and passion for art had evaporated, and I left the academy unsure of where to go next.
A Detour Into The Skies: From Cabin Attendant to Psychology
After leaving the academy, I felt lost. I needed a change, something entirely different, and I found it as a cabin attendant. Traveling gave me a sense of freedom, allowing me to reinvent myself away from the weight of my past experiences. Exploring new places helped me see the world with fresh eyes, and in a way, I see now how that time influenced the themes of longing and escape that often appear in my work.
It was during this time that I discovered paragliding, which became a major passion of mine. And it was through paragliding that I met Jamie, who would become the love of my life and the father of our daughter, Ava. Below are two paintings, both inspired by paragliding adventures.
Eventually, I returned to my studies, this time in psychology. The atmosphere couldn’t have been more different from the academy. Here, I found warmth, support, and curiosity—everything the academy had lacked. This environment allowed me to slowly reconnect with my urge to paint. The nurturing atmosphere gave me space to rebuild my confidence and rediscover my passion for art.
Rediscovering Art: A Beach House and a Theme Revisited
During my psychology studies, I began painting again. At first, it was small landscapes, but one day, I decided to revisit a piece I had painted during my final days at the academy. It was a simple painting of a beach house, inspired by a vacation poster. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but looking back, I realized there was potential in that piece I hadn’t explored.
Below is the original painting from 2013 on the left and the new painting inspired by it from 2022 on the right.
Picking up that thread, I began to build on it, and what started as a simple experiment has since become the foundation of much of my recent work.
The themes of beach houses, vacation, and escape run through my paintings now. For me, these images reflect a deep sense of longing - longing to escape, to go beyond the present moment, to find peace in distant, unknown places. There’s a quiet mystery in these scenes, often tinged with a sense of melancholy, and I think that reflects my own experiences of seeking, traveling, and growing.
The Leap into Full-Time Art
After working as a psychologist, primarily focused on promoting healthy work environments, I became a mother and took a long pause from my career. This pause gave me the time and space to reflect on what I truly wanted. It became clear that I needed to follow my dream - to dedicate myself fully to being an artist. It’s funny how people often say, “Follow your dreams,” but for me, it feels like the opposite. My dream has been quietly following me all these years, gently nudging me forward until I finally surrendered and made the leap to pursue art full-time.
There’s a beautiful symmetry in the fact that, after experiencing such a toxic environment at the academy, I went on to work as a psychologist promoting healthy workplaces. Now, I am able to create a work environment for myself as an artist that is supportive, nurturing, and aligned with my values. I believe that this space will allow me to thrive and continue developing as an artist.
As I move forward on this path, I am excited to see how my art will grow and evolve. This journey feels both new and familiar, and I’m ready to embrace all the possibilities it holds.
