--- title: "The Studio — How Tanya Zafirovic Paints | Process Videos & Studio Diary" url: https://tanyazafirovic.com/studio/ description: "Watch Swedish painter Tanya Zafirovic at work: priming birch panels, stretching linen, painting the smallest details, varnishing and framing — plus 24 short films from her studio diary." --- Behind the canvas # The Studio From a bare birch panel to a signed, framed painting — and all the small hours in between. Pull up a chair and watch. How a painting is made · The studio diary ![The studio wall: The Elements, Red Ridinghood, Spirit of the North and more](https://tanyazafirovic.com/img/studio/the-studio-wall-1200.webp?v=1e67162e1a) The studio wall ![Tanya in her studio with Autumn Fox, Blueberry Bear, Here Comes the King and A Friend Who Listens](https://tanyazafirovic.com/img/studio/tanya-in-the-studio-1200.webp?v=8f4fb2b916) Tanya in the studio today ![Sketching in the pine forest, with a four-legged studio assistant](https://tanyazafirovic.com/img/studio/sketching-in-the-forest-1200.webp?v=a5adecd7fc) Forest sketching How a painting is made ## From wood to wonder 1. ![Priming birch panels with gesso](https://tanyazafirovic.com/img/studio/priming-birch-panels-1200.webp?v=3687d7d22a) Priming birch panels with gesso ### Priming the birch panels Grundning Many of Tanya's paintings begin on birchwood rather than canvas. Each bare panel is brushed with white gesso, one layer after another, until the grain is sealed and the surface is ready to hold oil paint for generations. 2. [Film: Lantern light on Magical Train](https://tanyazafirovic.com/video/magical-train-details.mp4?v=944313384a) Lantern light on Magical Train [Film: The Yule goat's golden collar](https://tanyazafirovic.com/video/yule-goat-details.mp4?v=87c303f200) The Yule goat's golden collar [Film: A mouse with a Christmas gift](https://tanyazafirovic.com/video/christmas-mouse-details.mp4?v=d99cbe0be5) A mouse with a Christmas gift ### The small details Detaljerna Lantern light, frost on a goat's collar, the whiskers of a tiny mouse — the last touches are painted with the smallest brushes, often in the wee hours of the night. 3. ![Painting “Be Fierce” outdoors, by the lake](https://tanyazafirovic.com/img/studio/painting-the-storm-by-the-lake-1200.webp?v=5b3be58f65) Painting “Be Fierce” outdoors, by the lake ### Painting outdoors Måla ute Whenever the weather allows — and sometimes when it doesn't — the easel goes outside. “Be Fierce”, the storm of The Elements, was painted by the lake, and “Fire Phoenix” in her snowy garden. Short films · @tanyaz.heart ## The studio diary Little films from Tanya's TikTok: paintings coming to life at the easel, art turned into velvet, silk and gold-leaf ornaments, a book of fairytales — and a few adventures in clay. ### At the easel Vid staffliet - [The painting: *Julebock sprider julmagi*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/julebock-sprider-julmagi/) Bells jingle and a golden sleigh, pulled by the magical Christmas goat, comes thundering through the forest. Then it slows down so the snow spins — two children, cold noses and feet, must not be forgotten… I am feeling the Christmas joy sneaking up on me while I paint, and memories from my childhood appear on the canvas. - [The painting: *Magical Christmas Gift*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/magical-christmas-gift/) Few things are as wondrous as the fantasy of children, where magic is still real and miracles do happen. Finished this painting in the small hours of the night, getting ready for the Christmas market at Larssons Lada. - [The painting: *Magical Train*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/magical-train/) Magical train — completed this painting in the wee hours of the night. Getting everything ready for the Christmas market: new paintings, prints, handmade ornaments, cookie jars, Christmas cards and wooden jewellery boxes. - [The painting: *Sleeping Forest Elf and Winterfox*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/sleeping-forest-elf-and-winterfox/) I love winter and snow and reading fairytales in front of the fireplace. - [The painting: *Midsommar drömmar*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/midsommar-drommar/) In Sweden, the night of midsummer eve never goes completely dark — there's always some sunlight in the back of the sky, even as the moon rises and the stars come out. The best of nights for soulful contemplations and daydreams. I just completed this large oil painting tonight, after not being able to let this image out of my mind for days. - The spring. The sun's rays reach into the deepest nooks and crannies of the forest, awakening everything from its deep slumber. Oil on canvas, 100 × 70 cm. - [The painting: *Fire Phoenix*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/fire-phoenix/) I am sitting in my garden while it is snowing all around me, painting “Fire in my Soul”. The world looks like a snowy Christmas card and I am shivering a little in my gloves and hat. Inspired by the beauty and heat of music and dance, that can be like fire in the blood and warmth to the heart. - [The painting: *What If?*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/what-if/) Every woman has an innate ability to create, care for and nurture — to create amazing things. But always freely. If a woman is treated cruelly or taken for granted, I hope she does not lose her sense of self-value, but stands up for herself. - [The painting: *Ruler of My Own Fate*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/ruler-of-my-own-fate/) After a lifetime of self-doubt and body shame, a friend of mine decided to stand up for herself — to own her self-worth and her strength, and to realise she could be whomever she wanted to be. I think she deserves a crown! She inspired this painting: a little playful, but mainly a message of freedom and strength. - [The painting: *Love Grows*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/love-grows/) Happy Valentine's Day. If cared for, love can grow from a single seedling into a majestic family tree. - [The painting: *Once Upon a Sunset*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/once-upon-a-sunset/) The magic of painting is that you can dream yourself away to any place you wish. After an eternally long winter, I like to dream that I am walking along a lonely, wide, rocky beach, with the first warming rays of the sun at my back and the water tickling my bare toes. - Protect your art so it will last into the future. Everyone deserves the freedom of walking along a lonely beach while the sun sets, feeling the water trickle between your toes — even royalty. ### From canvas to keepsake Konst att bära hem - [The painting: *Enchanted by the Snow*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/enchanted-by-the-snow/) Do you know how to turn an artwork into velvet fabric? Let me take you behind the scenes, as an artist working in Santa's elves' workshop… - [The painting: *Autumn Fox*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/autumn-fox/) When you want to cuddle a fox, make one in velvet! I always loved foxes. After completing an oil painting of an autumn fox, I had it made into the softest velvet fabric and sewn into a cosy pillow. - [The painting: *Sleepy Baby Fox*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/sleepy-baby-fox/) Turning my Sleepy Baby Fox painting into a wooden jewellery box, with velvet inside. - Did you ever wonder how the artwork is made for silk scarves? I am so excited to have one of my paintings made into the softest scarf in time for the colder seasons. It feels a little magical — bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! - [The painting: *Sailing to New Adventures*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/sailing-to-new-adventures/) How do you make fabric from your drawings or paintings? Simple, exciting — and the perfect gift. - Each handmade Christmas decoration has gold leaf and shiny lacquer, velvet bows and frosted pinecones. A lot of late-night work. - All the Christmas cards just arrived — ready for the Christmas market tomorrow! ### Books & stories Böcker och sagor - And here it is — the cover of the new book! When you open it, you enter a world where magic reveals itself around every corner. Written by author Catherine Weaver and brought to life with my illustrations on nearly every page. - [The painting: *Once Upon a Sunset*](https://tanyazafirovic.com/works/once-upon-a-sunset/) Once upon a time… is the perfect opening for any story. It opens the door to any adventure, mystery or romance, in any world we can dream up. This is why I love painting fanciful images, where the beholder hopefully continues to build the story in their own imagination. If you could be the hero of your story, where would it take you? ### Clay & the kiln Lera och keramik - I made a personal brush dryer that I call “Dream Big”: a sleeping baby dragon that guards my brushes while I paint. Brush dryers look pretty boring, so I decided to make my own in clay. So exciting to see it now it has just come out of the kiln. - I can't get enough of working with clay — it is so fun, soft and real. I always wanted to make my own moon nightlight, and today I could finally take it out of the kiln! - Making a ceramic cup. Goodness — respect to the artists of this craft! What looks so simple takes heavy handling of clay, trying and failing on the wheel, days of drying, firing at over 1000 °C, glazing, into the kiln again — and finally, a cup. Dear visitor, Thank you so much for your interest and welcome to my online art gallery. Feel free to contact me to order your paintings. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the purchase of my paintings. Welcome to my world of colours, where I hope to write a story that touches your heart and makes you dream. Love, Tanya P.S. Many of my original oil paintings are available as fine art prints, as well as fine art prints on canvas. [Write to Tanya](https://tanyazafirovic.com/contact/)