Some News...

Yesterday I bought myself some flowers and Champagne (ok, cheap sparkling wine).  When I came home I chilled the wine, put the flowers in water and sat down to sign a four (yes, four as in 4!) book deal with Sterling Publishing Inc. in NY!  YAYYY!!! I'll be illustrating classic fairy tales in a series they are publishing and the first one will be Thumbelina!  I can't tell you how happy  and grateful I am to be busy at doing what I love, it's a privilege really.

Buttercups - Thumbnail

In other news, I've been working on a book for a publisher in Texas.  It's a lovely story in rhyme called "In Grandma's Garden" by Ms. Brenda Cockerell.  It takes you on a travel around a garden where the plants are often shown as characters or the objects they are named after.  It is scheduled to be published as a book and an e-book later this year.  All the proceeds will go to breast cancer research and to a fund in the name of  Ms. Holly Horton, which sadly died from cancer, in 2009, but she was a dear friend of Ms. Cockerell.  It's truly a beautiful story with a beautiful purpose and I'm happy to be a part of it.  I'll post more thumbnails and illustrations from it in the next few weeks.

 

Foxgloves - Thumbnail

Inspiration

This week I post no art, ...well that is, no art work created by me, ...well, when I think about it, perhaps it is the greatest piece of art that I have made and will ever make (I love saying that cheesy joke). MY KIDS!

So I thought I'd share a bit of my inspiration, which is one of the most important things when creating art. These loud little creatures that make me as happy as they can make me crazy (more often happy than crazy).

This is Lára, she is three. She found the cookie jar the other day with the last cookie from Chrismas. I'm not sure it tasted good, but it made her happy. And she learned how to cross her eyes (hope it's not because of that old cookie).

And this is Dagur (and the back of my head). He is ten years old. I just noticed he's catching up on me, not that I'm that tall, but in a few years I'll be looking up at him when I either yell at him or hug him (more hugging than yelling of course). Ghees, time flies...

We spent Easter in the country in my parents summer house, and it was so relaxing and cozy after the crazy busy month of March .

We played tourists and watched Geysir's little brother Strokkur erupt a few times and we watched Spring slowly (really slooowly) take over Winter.

I took my paint and brushes with me and Lára and I painted inside while the boys were outside playing on their bikes in the dirt.

Lára is my mini-me...

...and Dagur is Eggert's mini-him.

Dagur played 'Angry Birds' after the dirt-bike adventure.

On Easter Sunday we hide chocolate eggs around the house. The kids have to follow clues to find their eggs. It's helpful to have a big brother to read the clues (and give hints) when trying to find one's egg.

And no, we didn't eat all that chocolate in one day, it was just for breakfast.

And I just had to post this one of Lára with her self-made pose after that healthy breakfast!

Happy Spring!