Giving back

Every year I make the effort on using my art to give back to the community.  Frankly, I'm just so incredible grateful that art is such a big part of my life and that now I make a living out of it, it's my job!  It's a dream come true really.  So if I can do something good with my art other than to make myself and my client happy (hopefully), that's just the ultimate kind of happiness!

                             

When I'd finished the first set of five stamps for the Iceland Post I thought to myself if I could make some use of the original paintings from the series and not just let it pile up somewhere in my messy studio.  So in collaboration with the Iceland Post I decided to offer all the towns that now have a their own summer festival stamp, to buy the original painting to support Styrktarfélag krabbameinssjúkra barna (Support Group for Children with Cancer).  Every single króna I'd get would go to these great organisation,...and that is because of this little guy...

Tjörvi Freyr Freysson

...isn't he just the most beautiful little thing?  Tjörvi is the son of our dear friends, Elfa and Freyr.  He was a beautiful little soul which sadly only got to be 2 and a half years old.  He was diagnosed with cancer when he was only one years old and died in 2007.  The saddest day of our lifes.  But his parents, brothers and family are such strong and wonderful people, they are simply amazing and I know they have both gotten great support from and given great support to the organisation I decided to donate to for this project.  

ok....tissue please!  

To make a long story short, all the towns I talked to said a big 'YES' to buying the paintings so tomorrow I'm handing Styrktarfélag krabbameinssjúkra barna a check for 365.748 kr at an event at Reykjavík City Hall.  Tjörvi's brothers will be accepting the check in their brothers name.  I can't wait!

  

I want to give a big, huge thanks to those who helped out in making this happen, The Iceland Post, Innrömmun Kópavogs, the towns of Borgarfjörður eystri, Vestmannaeyjar, Ísafjörður, Dalvík and the city of Reykjavík.   :)

Below is a illustration I did a few years back and gave to Tjörvi's brothers.  It's called 'Englaprinsar'.

Characters come alive

 I think I've talked about this before, but as I am sure you've experienced if you are an artist, is that some of the characters that appear on your piece of paper are much more alive than others.  Sometimes the simplest drawings or even a tiny person in the background steals your attention.  Sometimes they resemble someone you know.  Sometimes their expressions are funny and sometimes it's like their trying to tell you something.  I know it sounds like I'm writing this after a few drinks, ha, but I'm telling you, even it it's Friday today, I've only had coffee.  

So I thought I'd share with you details from two pieces I've been working on recently.  They both have characters that I just 'heard' speaking to me (yes, still just coffee in my cup).  

The guy at the top I can just hear that he takes a deep breath and says with a lazy voice "Phew, I've lived a good life.  I know I'm weird and I don't give a damn about what others think of me".

The lady on the right on the drawing below is far in the background on the piece she's in, but still I can't help but to always look at her face first and laugh at her expression.  She's like the oldest sister of three at her youngest sisters wedding.  Being happy for her sister but at the same time thinking "Oh crap,..." realising she'll probable be a spinster for the rest of her life.

Well, that's my two cents at the end of a busy work week.  Happy Weekend!!!