Reykjavík Culture Night Stamp

Well, hello there!  Happy New Year!  

I'm back to my blog, finally!  Last year I decided I'd try to blog once a week (which actually worked most of the time) and I found out I really enjoyed it.  Even though I'd be the only one reading it, I felt like it kind of put my work in perspective, for myself!   I often feel that too many days are spent not drawing, which can make me incredible irritaded!  But, looking back on older posts, I see that I've actually been drawing A LOT the over the past year or so, even though I feel like I have to spend too much time on emails, errands and the most boooring part of this business, paperwork and finance, ha!  

After more than a month off my blog I'm happy to be back to share this illustration with you.  Last year the Iceland Post published five stamps in the Town Festival series.  This year they are adding five more to the list, releasing the series in May.  

So......let me introduce you to the first stamp in the series, my home town, Reykjavík Culture Night Festival!    

First drawing

Final Drawing experimenting with the layout

Final painting (the fun part)

And voila!  The outcome as it will look in the all the envelopes, postcards or love letters you will be sending this year!  

For every stamp sheet I create a pattern.  Below is the first pattern I made for Reykjavík Culture Night, and although it didn't make it to the final, I kind of like seeing Hallgrímskirkja repeated like that, on top of my favorite color ;)

Tryggvagata cityscape

I might be starting to get a little obsessed with this view where you can see the big ship on dry land. I just think it's so wonderfully odd.  This is the view from Tryggvagata.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Niceland.  Enjoy the holidays friends!  

!Prints - Prints - Prints!

Finally I've opened up my little shop of prints!  Feels like it took forever to put it all together.  But I'm happy with it!  I found the right paper, ultra smooth but textured creme-colored 300gms Z-Welt Offset paper (doesn't that sound delicious?).  I managed to get the right envelopes (with great help from friends in the US - takk!) and plastic sleeves to protect the prints when shipping.  All produced as "green" as possible with recycled material, printed at an Eco-Labelled Printing Company.

I'll for sure be adding more prints to my shop in the near future :)

If you are interested in getting a print, you can order through my Etsy store or contact me directly via email, linda@lindaolafsdottir.com

YAY!

Slippurinn - part two

This painting might look familiar to those who follow my blog.  Last year - actually just about a year ago I did a small painting from this same location.  Usually when I'm craving to paint something, I start painting it on a small canvas first and then decide if I want to make it bigger.  Before I painted this bigger I shot another photo from that same location (cause I didn't want to paint after the same exact photo).  

I love this spot in the city and I really think this wont be the last time I'll paint it.  I'd love to paint it during winter time, when everything is covered with snow ...if only I could drag myself out of the house with my camera during those dark winter days - sigh...

So, the other day when I was listening to the news on the radio, they were talking about a ship that was fishing herring (sooo interesting right?), but what do you know, they were actually talking about the same ship that I was painting earlier that day - this bright red ship in the painting called Heimaey-VE-1! And I was like - hey, I know that ship!   Don't know if that amused you as much as it amused me at the time, ha!   

This Saturday we are having our annual Open Studio!  Everyone is welcome!  I'll post some more info on that later this week - plus images from the hot from the press new prints I was just making!

xoxoxo

Rainforest Print!

Remember this little piece I posted a few weeks ago in black and white?

Well, isn't life prettier in color?  

I'm preparing a little web shop for my prints!  I'm selecting the best paper for these babies, stocking up on some nice flat envelopes to mail them in and creating some fun little extras to send along with the prints.  It's fun!  I'm already taking orders for this one and the Birthday print I posted last week (need a better name for that one, any suggestions?) The shop and prints will be ready by the end of the month.  So stay tuned :)

When is my birthday?

On December 31st last year, my daughter Lára asked me what would happen in the new year.  I later almost regretted saying "Well, you'll turn 5 next year".

January 1st:  "When is my birthday?"
January 2nd: "When is my birthday?"
January 3rd: "When is my birthday?"

...and I guess you can imagine the rest.  I think Lára asked me every day for some time, then a few times a week after that, from January till July 21st - when she finally turned 5.  For 6 whole months she tried to imagine how much longer she had to wait for the big day.

"When's my birthday?"
"In July" I reply.
"When is July?"
"Well, now is February and it's Winter.  We'll have to wait till Summer comes".

In Iceland we celebrate the official first day of Summer in the end of April (I forgot).

In April:
"Is it Summer yet?"
Still snowing outside.
"Well, yes, I guess..."
"Is it my birthday?"
"...ahh...your birthday is in the middle of the Summer, so we'll have to wait a little longer, sorry..."

* SO, I made this little print for everyone who simply can't wait for their birthdays.  I sincerely hope it'll make it a little easier (also for the parents) to realise how much longer you have to wait when you can visually see the months you have to skip till it's FINALLY your birthday month!

* The print will be available in A3 format (11x16") upon request (also available in English)

Happy Birthday!!!

New Book! Introducing: Mói Hrekkjusvín!

This juicy little book is still warm from the printers!  The official release date for Mói Hrekkjusvín is November 1st.  I can't wait to see it in the bookstores.  The story is by the brilliant Icelandic writer Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir, author of many wonderful children's books. The story was originally published in 2000, but is now being re-released in a series of four books for young readers. I had a blast illustrating this book!  It takes place in Iceland in the 70's and is about Mói, a 10 year old prankster, his imaginary cowboy friend and his partners in crimes.  

Mói is such a character, you just love him no matter what he does.  Below is the cover and a few images from inside the book :)  Eeeehaahhh!