![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3tmgz6Gr6EdgOVivPxuRTUMXGYzuqZPsd2RURV-G_qp7LJva-qWf3i7EdKjBz9QBbJDk7mLPLR6RVZL_qw4Utg8uLiaebp3OD0GKT4mH3O2Boi0Jr6kG7wS2snX4AWLDkcar-xrIn8r4/s400/MartineChegaray.jpg)
Dreamy landscapes, subtle figures and colour contrast are three things that come to mind when I think about the French painter OJAM OJAM. She has been living in Copenhagen more than ten years. She's always busy - working for a Scandinavian company, travelling, and taking care of her children, yet she's full of elan and creative ideas. It's amazing, how much energy you can feel from her pictures.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvf1khrjt7RqJWxS93rPUZmyPR9hyhk6TqJWBlfovO_GNzAGdLu8nnv2loCKzsWXuRaNeCYoa-eKPqOykd7crXk20-s4N4k8o3zdoMdGmPW7cPL91u8-2Iz4Rk_JaXkyLx7xz_ZvBgzhW/s400/MartineChegaray4.jpg)
When did you start painting, Martine?
I have always liked carpentry and wood carving and I started when I was really young in a creative and not always constructive manner!
In Sweden in the early 2000, I went to 'Upplands Väsby Möbelsnickarskolan' (woodworking school of Upplands Vasby, Sweden) and enjoyed woodworking as much as designing the pieces. A lot of my home furniture results from this activity. After moving to Denmark in 2003, I continued to design some pieces and explored the design aspect further, which I then developed into drawing and painting activities; it was also easier than woodworking activity and equipment when living in an apartment in town.
I very much enjoyed this new interest, which I keep exploring.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtbuoZel2Lz3eiJVy71VpxORDaPP2tWWUClKTZAROwSQXdDO9c6wkV5fWegmn_T8tkJ4M9cjK44oWB-E-v29rHr6u9XKUtF1BYsOVopGR8WbdYpxH0RjDKFAd27eCgo2Qfwp46oJwFgLz/s400/MartineChegaray_3.jpg)
What are you currently working on?
I always enjoyed painting in an abstract realism with a restricted colour palette. Today I am investigating this further with a grey-black colour palette, where I am trying to extract real atmosphere, using the essence of the light effect.
Simultaneously I am also working on pencil drawings based on classic sculptures in the Glyptotek Museum in Copenhagen.
With this I am hoping to better integrate people into my city atmosphere paintings.
Today I just finished an exhibition in Helligåndshuset, Copenhagen from which I got very interesting feedback, and I am currently experimenting new paintings and technics before planning for a next exhibition event.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTIf5LAFZddM2aU5uUerIhLwobjuLjwIAEaye_vcyISXnAiXEH85wnxqinjG2FRSsMDjdExLykzoZlMdv2bOE-p72gBO7HxzAJbfRiyP0UvdhVHRdsKhwnFpJJ1tJiwXN832J8ov0nYsO/s400/MartineChegaray_sketch2.jpg)
What inspires you?
I very much like to paint atmosphere, or life experience ambiance, mostly based on real situations. My kids are also a very rich source of inspiration, either from a common situation we experienced or by enjoying the act of painting together, their feedback and participation is always welcome and contributes a lot to my painting.
We enjoy traveling together, and these common cultural, architectural, and sporting experiences form an endless base for creativity.
I was fortunate enough over the last ten years to meet excellent painters and teachers such as Karin Court-Payen, Vladimir Voronin, Laurent Auer, and Håkan Nystrom. They have helped broaden my technique and further developed my enthusiasm for painting and drawing.
Thank you for the interview.
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