Sewing Illustrations

This winter my mom taught me how to crochet!  I've never been much of a knitter and always used it as an excuse that my fingers were meant to be drawing and painting, not knitting or sewing.  But what do you know, last fall I suddenly got the craving to crochet and I just finished my first project the other day, what a good feeling!  I'll share it with you on my blog soon (I have to admit, I'm darn proud of it). So right after I finished my winter crochet project, I got the urge to make these illustrations.  

Happy Easter!

Playing with patterns, step by step

Once again I find myself spending more time on pattern making than I should.  But being my own boss, no one is yelling at me (but me!), so I'll pretend and assume it's time well spent.  

I posted a little peacock on my blog the other day, and with that peacock as an inspiration, I started making a new pattern.  This time I decided to do it the old fashioned way; pen, pencil, scissors and tape (with a dash of computer to help out at the very end).  I documented the process, so here you can see, step by step my peacock pattern in the making.  

First I started doodling, with nothing really in mind but what just came out of my head...

...then I doodled some more (making sure the drawing didn't touch the edges of the paper)...

...then I cut my piece of paper in half!  ("oh my she's crazy" you must be screaming)...

...I reversed the two halves and taped them together (I suggest being a little more precise with the cutting and taping than I was)...

...so then it looked like this...

...then I cut it again (it's seriously nerve wracking cutting your drawing like that)...

...and then I reversed the halves again and taped so it looked like that.  So now I had a nice clean area in the middle to fill in (well, my standards of clean).

Then I finished the illustration in the middle of the paper while talking to my friend in Sweden for about an hour or so...

...then I scanned in that piece of paper and assembled it in Photoshop...

...and voila!  This is how my pattern could look like...

...or this, cause seriously, everything looks better in this shade of blue!  

I'll spend some more time painting this pattern and will share it with you as soon as it's done (if my boss lets me spend the time ;)

Bird and Flower Patterns

I find it interesting to see what I actually do with my time when I have a little break in between projects.  Usually it's something I've been craving to do for months, but haven't had the time for.  Most often cityscape paintings are on the top of my list,  I just love painting something I wan't to paint, not pleasing anyone but myself.  Sometimes I spend that time on something really time wasting like cleaning my studio (I don't know why I bother).   But I'm pretty good with time management I think/hope, and am always incredible grateful when the time comes when I can give some pet project of mine the attention it deserves.  

This weeks craving was patterns! 

Birds - Pattern

Orange Flowers - Pattern

Sketches from Thumbelina

I thought I'd share with you a few sketches I did for Thumbelina.  It's really the most exciting stage I think, when you sit down with a blank piece of paper and a razor sharp pencil and start sketching and brainstorming.  And I really REALLY enjoyed sketching Thumbelina, I mean, how can you not just love her?  

Like I talked about in my last post, I'm still in recovery after the work load that poured over me these past few weeks.  So it was only appropriate to leave town for the weekend and spend it in a trailer up North.  Really, I'm not kidding like a few friends of mine thought!  We actually stayed in this trailer for three nights, and it was just wonderful!  Did some skiing and spent time with dear friends.  I think this photo is just hilarious, it looks like it's in the middle of nowhere, like we got stuck there and can't even open the door.  It reminded me of the movie 'Into the Wild'!  But what you can't see in this picture is the little path we dug to get to it and the two houses on each side of it.  It had electricity so we could heat it up, and yeah, my family is used to live in a small space :)

Phew....

These past few weeks I've been working on finishing the stamps I've been designing and the final illustrations for the Princess and the Pea, meaning; Looong hours at the studio!  Now I only have a few things to work on for the Princess and the Pea once I receive the scanned images.  Other than that, it looks like the mental stage at the studio will be,...say a little calmer?  more normal?  not frantic?

Below are a few images I put on Instagram this past week.  I believe they capture my last week before a deadline and the relief afterwards pretty well  :)

Messy Desk

The Color Pencil Monster always eats my favorite colors

Coming along, one by one...

Images wrapped and soon to be in the hands of UPS.  Christ, it'so nerve wracking to send off the originals!

The day after I delivered the final pieces, I ignored my studio and walked downtown early in the morning.  You cannot help to get a little emotional seeing your city as beautiful as that day. And look at that heart reflection in the ocean!

I spent the day drinking about three double latte's and reading this wonderful book.  I got so inspired by it!  After reading, the caffeine hit me hard and I started talking and walking in a speed never seen before...

Lastly, here's a sneak peak of a detail from an illustration I'm making for a show that's being held in Italy this Spring.  It's in honor of the brilliant Maurice Sendak.  I'll share more of that image as soon as decides to be done.

And have a splendid rest of February will'ya!

Ever had a hard time balancing work and family life?

Well, let me tell you my friend, if the answer is 'Yes', you are not the only one.  I hear'ya!  So when I was asked to do two illustrations for a project about this issue, I literally felt like someone had just witnessed the little meltdown I just had in my studio, ha!  

The Centre For Gender Equality created this website with some very helpful advice on how to gain the "golden balance" we all desire (it's only in Icelandic I'm afraid).  I loved working on this, given the insight I have on this matter ;)

Peacock

I recently read an interview with someone that said they felt like they've been guided in certain directions in their career.  Almost like they have no control over it.  I kind of believe that we are guided to take the right decisions and choose the right path, if we just listen to ourselves.  

Well, like I talked about in my last post, I'm getting a little obsessed with patterns and textiles,...and there's just something that tells me to keep working at it.  This peacock appeared on my Bristol paper last night, I wonder where he'll find a home...