Illustrating Memory: 4 Vintage-Inspired Scenes from Denmark

Vintage-Inspired Illustrations Rooted in Memory and Danish Detail There are places I return to — not always on foot, but in pencil and paper. Many of my illustrations begin this way: with a remembered path, an old house seen once, or a fragment of foliage that lingered longer than expected. These five pieces each come from a specific place in Denmark, though they’ve been filtered through memory, story, and a quiet kind of visual rhythm. This is less about realism, more about what remains.

1. Autumn Cottage Scene. Illustration by Liv Hansen.

This piece was drawn from a real thatched-roof farmhouse in North Zealand, Denmark. I visited the area last summer, and the building stayed in my mind: low timber beams, smoke curling from the chimney, tall trees rustling with early wind. The final drawing is a blend of observation and emotional memory—not quite photorealistic, but meant to feel lived-in.

Right: The real-life farmhouse that inspired the drawing above—partially hidden behind the trees on a quiet path I walked one summer morning.

2. Foliage with Red Berries. Illustration by Liv Hansen.

This drawing is part of a series of foliage studies in colored pencil. It reflects my interest in old Scandinavian botanical books and antique field guides. I’m drawn to natural details that feel a little imperfect — slightly uneven berries, leaves that curl in their own direction. These sketches are often meditative to create, and often feel like a pause in the middle of a faster day.

3. Train Platform, Danish Summer 1954. Illustration by Liv Hansen.

This illustration is loosely inspired by the work of my great-granduncle, Aage Rasmussen — a Danish poster artist active in the 1950s. There’s a timelessness in how people wait for trains: the posture, the pause, the way someone holds their coat. It’s one of my favorite quiet scenes. The entire piece was built to echo the feel of an old paperback cover or railway poster.

4. Rabbit in the Forest. Illustration by Liv Hansen.

This drawing leans more whimsical than some of my other work, but it’s still rooted in older Scandinavian storybooks and natural history sketches. I drew this during a stretch of early spring, looking to balance character with texture. The mood isn’t overly sweet, just quiet—something a child might come across in an old field guide or a book passed down.

Final Note:

I often describe my style as vintage-inspired illustration rooted in memory, story, and a kind of visual restraint. These pieces are linked more by mood than subject: nothing too loud, nothing overdrawn, just quiet scenes with a bit of history underneath.

If you’d like to explore more, you can visit my art portfolio here and can also find me on LinkedIn, where I share updates as a Danish actress, voiceover artist, and illustrator.