The Princess & the Pea in da house!

Well, look what greeted me at the post office today!

There's really nothing like it to have the real book in your hands.  I delivered the first sketches for this book about a year ago and now it's finally here.  My project for the next few weeks is doing sketches for the next book in this series; The Beauty & the Beast  :)  If you want to order the book, it will be available at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon in October.

...so....yayyyy! (me dancing silently in my studio)

What I love the most about drawing...

...it's really quite simple: With a single pencil and a piece of paper, you can create a whole new world. A figure, a place or a feeling that no one has seen before but you in your own imagination.  And that drawing on that piece of paper is what captures what only you have seen and therefor now exists!  

Now that was deep... ...but like I said, it's really simple.  I LOVE drawing and that's the reason.  

This guy was born in my sketchbook one night when there was nothing on TV...

 ...turns out he lives in a rainforest...

 

...which apparently looks something like that!

To have a partner in crime (or illustration)

shake-it till your dots fall off!

I have a friend - such a good friend that I must tell you about.  I met her at my first class at the Academy of Art - the scary Color Theory class.  Man, it was difficult!  And I who thought my English was ok felt totally clueless most of the time.  A student in that class was Lindsey Manwell, who has since become my friend, advisor, critic and supporter in the scary world of illustration.  I can only hope I can help her out as much as she's helped me.  Once in a while we meet up via Skype (late in the evening my time, afternoon California time) and talk about this business we're in for at least an hour each time.  It means EVERYTING to be able to talk to someone who knows exactly what you are doing and going through.  And every single time after our conversation, I feel inspired and more energetic.  You must check out her stunningly beautiful art work here!

I've been in the writing mood for a while now.  Ideas pile up in my head, in my computer and notebook, but most of them in my sketch book.  I've been reading a lot, many things suggested by Lindsey, and I feel like I'm discovering a whole new world.  There are so many interesting books, blogs and podcasts out there for children's book writers and illustrators, I can't believe it took me so long to find it!  So if you are interested in illustration and writing and haven't discovered these blogs and podcasts yet, check out these brilliant sites:

Resources for Children's Writers

Guide to Literary Agents

Katie Davis

Julie Hedlund (...you must check out her interview with the brilliant Peter Brown here.

Illustration Age

Paper Wings Podcast

Enjoy!

When mad - paint rabbits!

Do you know the feeling when you've been working on something in the computer for a while and then something happens, kind of like out of the blue - and boom - your stuff disappears!  Or it's somehow mysteriously ruined - and it's totally NOT your fault!  At least that's what you tell yourself....  

Well, that happened to me last night.  At the final meters of my deadline, the piece I'd been working on for almost two days somehow got so seriously messed up in the computer, that I basically had to start all over again.  I'm sure you can imagine the frustration! I was in total disbelieve that it'd happened!  At first I got really angry at my stupid Photoshop, then at my stupid computer, then mad at me, then at just about everything!

At that moment I found a piece of paper that I'd scanned in probable about six months ago.  And I started painting the rabbit on that piece of paper.  "Stupid rabbit" I grinned.  But you can't really stay mad when painting a little innocent rabbit that had nothing to to with my document being ruined.  So I got happy again. 

So here's my advice to you my friends - when mad - paint rabbits!

Lára had drawn two rabbits on that piece of paper - so here you can see her version of a happy rabbit :)

A lovely 'Thank you' & stu-studio

The other day I got a "Thank you" email from someone I don't know, for making this stamp.  I can't tell you how happy that email made me.  For someone to take the time to write a "thank you" note to someone they don't know must be one of the nicest thing you can do.  And to receive that "thank you" for this particular stamp, which I know would be extremely controversial in some countries, made me even more happy - it made my day and more :)  I think I'll be inspired by this person to do the same - say "thank you" more often, even to strangers.

I've always been so interested in seeing other artists studios and work spaces.  There's something sacred about them and so private.  I understand that people are not always ready to share it with everyone cause it is so personal.  I love my studio and happily spend my days there.  Here's a sneak peek of what my work space looks like today,..pretty close to deadline, so I'll only show you my desk and not what's behind that camera, cause it's a messsss....

#1: My Andy Warhol coffee mug (of course it's the #1 item in my studio)

#2: My laptop - an essential item but also an interruption

#3: My great grandmother's mustard yellow chair (I don't normally sit in it, but it looked better in the picture than my black office chair ;)

#4: My coffee thermos Eggert gave me

#5: Cheap Ikea lamp that comes in handy on dark winter mornings when I have a hard time opening my eyes

#6: Dagur & Lára, the most precious thing I have

#7: A birthday card of an old couple I got from Eggert

#8: To do lists - EVERYWHERE!

#9: Watercolors

#10: A beautiful flower print I purchased from the brilliant illustrator Rebekka Seale

#11: Breakfast

#12: Nutshell Library box by Maurice Sendak

#13: You can't really tell what it is, but it's a bad print of a Vermeer painting I bought at an antique shop, I really love it

#14: A drawing by Dagur of him running the Reykjavík Marathon

...and that's it! 

A hike over Laugavegur and working on a new project

Did the summer vacation have a grand finale or what!  I came home late Monday night after a three day hike over Laugavegur, from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk with a group of 19 brilliant women, all wearing the reddest lipstick they could find, paired with the reddest nail polish and the brightest red roses in their hair.  I'm so high after that trip.  I'm in awe of my beautiful country.  I'm inspired after spending that time with these 19 awesome ladies and I can't believe I actually managed to walk these 55km without giving up, ha!  

My favorite part of hiking is the moment when you've been walking for a while only looking at the trail in front of you so you won't trip, and then you finally look up to see where you are at and this is what you see:

"This is so AWESOME!" was a sentences you constantly heard in the group!  

After the first day of hiking for 8.5 hours, we celebrated with a glass of champagne.  I swear, champagne has never tasted that good.  

And after the second day of hiking for 6 hours we celebrated with a glass of Sangria.  Also, the best sangria I've ever had.

Can't you see how happy I am with all that stuff?  Nature, sangria and my dear friend Svava.

Syðri-Emstruá

Me and my friend Hulda, seriously liking this whole thing.  Can't wait till next years hiking trip!

Phew... so back to reality now ;)  I'm working on a really fun book series for an Icelandic Publisher. The illustrations will be black and white except for the cover.  I'm enjoying using only my pencil and having the drawings a little "raw" and alive.  This character here is not a part of the book but I found her in a sketchbook and used her as an inspiration for the style I'm working in.  She's got some attitude doesn't she?

Hope your summer's been lovely!

Sweet Summer - second half

Back in reality after a really, and I mean really nice summer vacation.  Although I love being on a vacation and away from the things you normally need to do every day, I celebrate the daily routine that comes with longer shadows, wind and rain, candle light and home made meals.

I haven't said goodbye to summer yet though for this weekend it'll be it's grand finale when I go on a three day hike with a group of mighty fine ladies.  Wish me luck will you?

Here are just a few photos from the second half of the summer.  

Could this be any nicer?

A hike above Seyðisfjörður

Mr. & Mrs's Einsdæmi/Seyðisfjörður

I payed the room's rent in Einsdæmi/Seyðisfjörður by leaving the owners
this painting - in the hopes of them being willing to have us over many,
many more times in the future ;)

The three striped cousins above beautiful Borgarfjörður Eystri

Dagur & Lára in Jökulsárlón

Sunset at Jökulsárlón; No words - or filters needed 

And this little lady turned FIVE and got a big girls bike!

pssst...if you want to follow me on Instagram I'm here!