If The Warmth Behind the Walls brought you here, then something in it connected — and that means more than I can say.
This painting is more than a scene. It’s a gathering point — a quiet emblem of belonging. A reflection of what it means to be welcomed into someone else’s world not with grand gestures, but with presence. The shared meals. The slow mornings. The way snow is brushed off your shoulders without a word. That kind of warmth doesn’t shout — it just is.
This page is simply here to share more: the story behind this piece, the path that led to it, and what to expect if you choose to bring it into your home.
Whether you’re here to explore, to connect, or just to take a moment — welcome. You’re exactly where you need to be.
The Warmth Behind the Walls
See What You See
While each of my paintings holds personal meaning for me, I truly believe that art meets everyone differently. You might see something entirely your own in this piece — a memory, a mood, a moment — and that’s exactly as it should be. Just because I felt something specific when creating it doesn’t mean you have to see it the same way. We all carry different paths, and sometimes a painting becomes a mirror for the quiet things we hold.
So please don’t feel bound to my version of the story. Let your own experience guide you — because that’s what art is really about: feeling, connection, and seeing yourself reflected in unexpected places.
It’s cold outside.
About ‘The Warmth Behind the Walls ’
We travelled by bus for about 45 minutes outside of Oslo, heading toward a beautiful hillside town where my partner’s family lived. Founded in the 1600s, the town still holds that feeling — layered with history, shaped by time. I loved those bus rides — sitting quietly among locals, looking out the window, watching day-to-day life drift by in soft motion. But it was the walk that followed — about 10 or 15 minutes uphill through the snow — that stayed with me.
Each time we stepped off the bus near the centre of town, we made our way on foot to the family home. Most walks were slow, layered in quiet. Something new would catch my eye each time — a tree leaning toward the road, smoke curling from a chimney, the crunch of snow underfoot. Unless it was really cold. On those days, I wrapped myself tightly in too many jackets, tucked my hands close to my chest, and moved with purpose. But when the cold allowed — I noticed everything. The town is nestled along the Lommedalselva (Lommedal River), but what stays with me most is the hush of those snowy walks — the way the world seemed to pause, just long enough to let you really see it.
Where the River Town Lives
It was just a house, really. But it stopped me mid-step.
Painted in that deep, unmistakable Falu red — the kind that feels rooted in tradition — it stood quietly in the snow, steady and still. Not flashy or grand, just quietly beautiful. Like a symbol of all the warmth waiting behind the walls.
There was something in the way the snow had settled on it — soft, unhurried, gentle. It felt like a gathering point, even if no one else was around. Like it held stories. Laughter. Long meals and familiar voices. That kind of warmth doesn’t need to shout. It just is.
I didn’t know anything about the people who lived there, but I didn’t need to. The moment felt full. Like a quiet celebration of people coming home to one another. Of lives unfolding under the same roof, day in and day out. The kind of moment that often passes by unnoticed — but stays with you, quietly, all the same.
And somehow, this house became a symbol for more than just itself. It became about gathering. About history. About being surrounded by people who know you, and showing up for one another in small but lasting ways. It became a reminder of how deep connection can feel — even when you’re standing outside in the snow, just looking in.
A House Full of Quiet Meaning
Building in Layers
Like the others in this collection, this piece began with willow charcoal — just a few loose lines, enough to hold the feeling. Then came soft acrylic brushwork, layered slowly to create atmosphere and memory. Palette knife markings followed, bringing depth and shape, like a second memory forming beneath the first. I wasn’t trying to copy the house exactly. I was trying to hold what it felt like to see it — steady and sure, full of presence.
The Warmth Behind the Walls
This painting is more than a scene. It’s a gathering point — a quiet emblem of belonging. The feeling of walking unfamiliar paths that slowly start to feel like your own. Of witnessing lives built with care, and being invited in for a moment. There’s stillness in that kind of welcome. Strength, too. And a soft reminder that home isn’t always where you’re from — sometimes, it’s where you’re received.
There’s something deeply moving about being allowed into someone else’s world — not in a loud or obvious way, but in the small gestures. The shared meals, the slow mornings, the way snow is brushed off your shoulders without a word. It’s the kind of belonging you don’t have to earn, only honour. And it lingers in the most ordinary moments.
This house felt like family. Like love quietly woven into walls, layered through time and care. It held a kind of presence that didn’t need to be spoken — steady, welcoming, full of life that had been lived and shared. It didn’t call for attention, but offered something far more lasting: the feeling of being held by love, of people gathering, of being gently welcomed into something already whole. And maybe that’s the kind of warmth that stays with you — not because it insists, but because it opens its door and lets you in.
What This Collection Is Holding
This collection began in a place that isn’t mine by origin — Norway, where my partner’s family lives — but it felt like home in a way I didn’t expect, and still can’t quite explain. We were there for a white Christmas, my first, surrounded by snow-soft days and people I’ve come to love deeply. These paintings hold onto the quiet moments that linger: the warmth of being gathered after too long apart, the stillness of a hidden house on the fjord, the quiet pull of a cathedral I’d never seen before but somehow already knew.
They’re not about recreating a place. They’re about something deeper — the feeling of being welcomed into someone else’s world, of walking alongside a path that’s not your own, and feeling, somehow, at home there too. They’re about joy that belongs to others, and how beautiful it is to witness. About distance, and closeness, and the soft, surprising shape that belonging sometimes takes.
The Colour the Heart Remembers
Each piece in The Shape of Belonging is painted in a single colour, explored through quiet variations of shade and depth. This choice wasn’t just visual — it was emotional. Like the way some memories return not in full detail but in feeling, or how some dreams surface in black and white, these works lean into the essence rather than the specifics. A certain kind of remembering lives here — not literal, not exact, but true in its own way. By limiting the palette, I’ve tried to stay close to what mattered most in each moment: the shape of the emotion, the texture of presence, the way belonging sometimes arrives not with clarity, but with a quiet sense that this is where I’m meant to be.
See Full Collection
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‘The Paths We Found’
This piece began with a little house by the fjord, but it holds something deeper — a moment of stillness, connection, and quiet joy. It’s about the paths we take, and the ones we’re lucky enough to share for a while.
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‘Somewhere Known’
I walked past this cathedral nearly every day during our first white Christmas in Oslo. I never went in — I didn’t need to. Something about it stayed with me. Not the building itself, but what it came to represent: presence, stillness, a quiet sense of belonging.
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‘The Warmth Behind the Walls’
The Warmth Behind the Walls is a quiet tribute to family, love, and belonging. Inspired by a snow-dusted walk outside Oslo, it captures the feeling of being gently welcomed — not through words, but through presence, care, and the warmth that lives behind closed doors.
A Note on Quality
Whether you’re collecting an original or a print, you’re receiving something made slowly, by hand and with great care, to be lived with, not just looked at.
Prints: Fine Art Giclée Prints.
If you’re purchasing a print, it will be created with the same care and attention to detail. All of my prints are professionally produced using Epson printers with archival-grade inks, ensuring depth, clarity, and long-lasting colour.
They’re printed on Ilford Galerie Textured Cotton Rag 310gsm — a beautifully soft, 100% cotton matte paper with a subtle surface texture. This museum-quality paper gives your print a painterly, tactile feel and enhances the finer details and lighter areas of the artwork. It’s designed for exceptional image stability, so your print will remain vibrant for years to come.
Do the colours look exactly like they do on screen?
Colours are represented as accurately as possible, but every screen displays colour slightly differently.
Can I frame my print?
Absolutely. Prints are sold unframed so you can choose a frame that suits your space.
How are the prints made?
Prints are created using Epson printers with archival-grade inks to ensure rich, lasting colour. They’re printed on Ilford Galerie Textured Cotton Rag 310gsm — a 100% cotton, museum-quality matte paper with a beautiful surface texture that gives each print a soft, painterly feel. This combination results in exceptional image depth and detail, made to be treasured for years to come.
How long will it take for my order to be sent?
Prints are typically processed and shipped within 14 days of your order date.
Original artworks can take up to 4 weeks to ship, as I prepare and package them with care and include supporting documents like a Certificate of Authenticity.
Can I return or exchange my artwork?
For full details on returns, refunds, and shipping policies, please see the Returns & Shipping Information page.
In general, due to the nature of original artworks and made-to-order prints, I don’t offer returns or exchanges unless an item arrives damaged. That said, I want you to be happy with your purchase — so please reach out if you have any concerns, and I’ll do my best to help.
Can I request a custom print size?
If you’re after a specific size that isn’t listed, please feel free to get in touch — I may be able to accommodate your request.
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For original paintings, the exact size is listed above in the artwork description.
Prints are available in a few different sizes — you can select your preferred size from the dropdown menu on the product page. If you’re unsure which size will suit your space, feel free to get in touch — I’m happy to help.
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Everything is packaged by hand in my studio, using mostly environmentally conscious materials. I avoid plastic wherever possible and use paper wrapping, cardboard mailers, and compostable tapes. Occasionally, a small amount of protective plastic may be used for delicate surfaces — always with care and intention.
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You’ll find this clearly noted in the title and description. Originals are one-of-a-kind, signed paintings made in my Perth Hills studio. Prints are professional fine art reproductions of my work, created with high attention to quality and detail.
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That depends on where you’re located. All artwork is shipped from Perth, Western Australia. I currently only ship within Australia. Once your order is sent, you’ll receive tracking details so you can keep an eye on its journey.
Made in the Perth Hills.
Each piece begins in my studio in the Perth Hills of Western Australia, where the light moves gently through tall trees and the days are slow and quiet. That sense of stillness finds its way into everything I create.
Originals: One of a Kind Works.
My original paintings are made using high-quality acrylics on professional-grade stretched canvases. I work intuitively, layering colour, shape, and texture until a piece feels finished. Some are built up slowly with brushes, others shaped with palette knives or mixed materials. No two are ever the same — each carries its own quiet story.
When you support an artist, you’re welcoming more than just an image into your space.
You’re choosing something that was made with care, by hand, in a quiet studio surrounded by trees. You’re saying yes to the kind of beauty that doesn’t rush — the kind that holds feeling, memory, stillness.
Every original is one-of-a-kind. Every print is made with that same intention, thoughtfully reproduced to last.
Thank you for considering this piece — and for supporting small, slow art. Whether it ends up on your wall or simply stays with you for a moment, I’m so glad it spoke to you.
Before you wander further….
Thank you for spending some time here. It honestly means a lot. Every person who connects with my work, even in the smallest way, becomes part of its story. I hope something here has stirred something in you — a memory, a feeling, a moment of stillness. That’s what I’m really trying to share.
A Few Kind Words
These kind words are from my wedding flower days — when I was creating heartfelt pieces under Budding Moments. The medium may have changed, but the care, intention, and soul behind the work remain just the same.
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‘ Thank you so much Monique you were so fantastic and professional.. thank you for taking the time to meet up with me to discuss what i really wanted for my day and delivering on time and in perfect condition what i felt were the best flowers for my day. I could recommend you and your work a thousand times more... all the best x’
Maz Bee
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‘ Jack I had our wedding on the 12th of April 2018. We couldn’t have asked for a more amazing florist to help us out with such an important part of our special day. Our flowers were PERFECT. Not only did Monique create 8 gorgeous bouquets but also provided us with very well priced table flowers and petals for our flower girls. Monique was also very quick to respond to all of our queries and just an overall delight to work with! THANK YOU SO MUCH MONIQUE. I couldn’t recommend your services enough’
Teenie Alyse
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‘Monique is one talented lady! She went above and beyond for me to make my wedding day as beautiful as ever. She is friendly, understanding and has the ability to put everything you ask into a beautiful masterpiece! I can't thank you enough’
Chrissy Woods
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‘Monique was a absolutes amazing! Constructed our bouquets exactly as I asked, beautiful fresh flowers! Keeps in touch, and nothing was too much trouble. 1000% satisfied, couldn't have asked for any more!’
Carolyn S.
More About MK!
I create textured, abstract works with acrylic — inspired by nature, emotion, and this wild, beautiful thing we call life. Each piece begins with an idea, then evolves intuitively through the process. My work is about connection; when someone sees a part of themselves in a painting, that’s the heart of everything I create.
Alongside painting, I’m also a florist, and I still absolutely love it. I spent many years creating wedding flowers for couples, and there’s something incredibly special about it. Floristry, like painting, is creative and expressive, but it’s also grounded in nature, which I’m endlessly inspired by. That connection flows into my art too, in the movement, the texture, the colour, and the feeling.
Whether you’re just here for a look or you’re searching for the perfect piece for your space, thank you. Truly. I was that little girl who was told again and again that being an artist wasn’t a real job, that it wasn’t realistic. But I never let go of that dream. And to be here now creating, sharing, and connecting through my art, is honestly incredible. Your presence helps make it real. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a part of this and for being here.
