Aiko Tanabe paints the quiet hours

Aiko opens the studio door at eight, coffee in hand, already talking about the light. "Mornings are for colour," she says — Berlin is still quiet, and the big north window does most of the work.

Aiko paints quiet interiors and gardens in oil. Originals are shipped directly from her Kreuzberg studio; prints are produced on 310gsm cotton rag.

Where it all starts

Every series begins with a walk and a sketchbook. Markets, tram stops, the corner of a kitchen table — Aiko collects small moments and lets them sit for weeks before turning any of them into a finished piece.

I want people to feel the temperature of the day when they look at my work — not just see it.

— Aiko Tanabe

From the easel to your wall

Once a piece is finished, it is scanned at high resolution and colour-matched by hand against the original. Only then does it go live on Salon — available as an art print, canvas or aluminium, in four sizes.

"Knowing someone chose my work for their home is still the best part," Aiko says. "Every order notification feels like a small exhibition opening."