Texas

Texas

I must admit, I'm not much of a pet person.  It most likely has to do with the allergies in my family and the fact that somehow I've just never known how to act around animals.  But some animals just capture you more than others, even me!  My friends Kristín's dog, Texas is one of those pets.  Maybe it's because he was always very calm and quiet and had this kind of a sad but very sweet look on his face.  He sadly passed away recently so I made this little portrait of him and gave it to his mommy. 

Squirrel

It's something about squirrels, I find myself drawing them all the time. 

I'm in the process of updating the works on my website, it'll be up in the next couple of weeks or so.  I'm so grateful for all the new work I get to add to it and simply just grateful for every day I get to call myself a working illustrator (yay!)

Illustration Friday - Water

Water

I haven't participated in Illustration Friday in a looong time, way to long, but today's topic, "water" just yelled this image to my head and onto my piece of paper.

Happy Weekend!

Little fellow on Tuesday's Blog

I told you I'd be blogging every Tuesday, right?  So here you go!  My friend Angela Dominguez and I decided to both dedicate a part of our Tuesdays for updating our blog.  Knowing that my friend is a part of this new weekly routine will definitely encourage me to keep it up.  Angela's such an inspiring artist with lot's of beautiful work, so make sure you check out her blog and her website.

So, this little fellow is a part of a group of other little fellows which illustrate the Hringurinn Children's Hospital Fund's Christmas Card 2012.  I feel so honored to be the one to illustrate it this year and to help a little out with the wonderful work they do for the Children's Hospital.  Right now a large group of volunteers for Hringurinn are wrapping up the 100.000 copies they printed this year (yes, I said One-Hundred-Thousand!).    I'll be posting the full image soon :)

Detail from Hringurinn Children's Hospital Fund Christmas Card 2012

Detail

Thumbelina detail ©Sterling Inc.

Sometimes I appreciate the smallest parts on my paintings the most.  And most often its because this tiny spot was just a happy accident, a splash of just the right color and texture at the right spot.  Which makes you think of all the time you spent on the huge rest of the painting, ha!  And I also wonder if I'm the only one noticing it.  I bet you know what I'm talking about fellow artists!

I've decided to dedicate a part of my Tuesdays for blogging!  I just noticed that this is my 101st blog post since I started blogging in August 2008.  So it's about time I get a little more active here, so expect to see something new in here every Tuesday, whether it's just some rambling thoughts on this'n'that or a bunch of new images I'm excited to share with you!

So, Happy Tuesday!

Ps. A week ago Rás1Radio aired an interview with me, you can listen to it here (it's in Icelandic, so if you don't speak the language you might enjoy what might seems to be 40 minutes of random letters and long words spoken with my odd voice (it's so weird to hear your voice in the radio!) mixed with the music I chose for the show ;)

Thumbelina finals & Besla

 

Ahhh....finally!

Oh the feeling of seeing the end of a project, gathering the pieces to see the whole picture for the first time.  To be just as annoyed by some parts of the paintings as you are happy with some others.  To decide it's done and to decide your are happy with it, and a little proud of it.  And to pack it gently in a box and delivering it in person to...

 NY!!!

 I was lucky enough that my dad (who flies for Icelandair) got a flight to NY during the time I had to deliver the final pieces for Thumbelina.  So I got to go with him for a 22 hour trip to NY! I met with the wonderful people at Sterling Publishing and showed them my finals.  It was lovely!  After the meeting it was speed walking, shopping and dining in the city.  The most perfect 22 hours.   Thanks dad!

Besla - Photo by Jenný Guðmundsdóttir

 In other news, my friend and Studio mate Brynja Emils just got the first outfits for her new collection Besla.  I designed a pattern for a part of the collection.  It all started at the Design March festival where Brynja and I decided to collaborate on a project.  I can't really believe that just a few months later the finished product is in the house, ready to be worn by little boys and girls,....like my little Lára... 

Lára wearing Besla

I'll post some illustrations from Thumbelina soon as well as photos and info on how to get Besla clothing, but in the meantime you can follow Brynja and Besla here.  You go Brynja!!!

expressions of a Summer

This is kinda how I feel these days...

...and this is how my studio feels; deadline is approaching!

A week from today I'll be in NY delivering in person my final pieces for Thumbelina.  I can't wait!

Summer was sweet.  Lots of camping, driving around the country, wine drinking, bbq-ing, biking, staying up late and swimming in the most peculiar places..

Seljavallalaug

 ...and did I mention tree house building.  That's a first. 

 xoxoxoxo