Linda Olafsdottir - Illustration & Fine art

Heading to NYC!

2012-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

so, lets see....

Portfolio - check!
Business Cards - check!
Postcards - check!
Tear Sheets - check!
Dummy - check!
Airline ticket - check!
Hotel - check!
Meetings - check!
Babysitters - check! (or should I double check?)
Laundry - ......whatever...
Getting to the airport with all that snow pouring down - crossing my fingers!

Yup, I'm heading to NY tomorrow for the SCBWI Winter Conference. I've spent so much time preparing for it, I can hardly believe I'm leaving tomorrow already! And I'm oh so excited for it :) My lovely husband is joining me and we'll spend a whole week in the city.

Will post a blog from the conference experience as soon as I get home, so stay tuned!

Me - tomorrow - without the backpack though...

New Website!

2012-01-11T02:12:00.000-08:00

After quite a few long days, late nights and busy weekends, planning, discussing, working and creating it's finally up and running, updated and improved:

www.lindaolafsdottir.com

It really makes me happy that its ready and to get to work with my husband Eggert on creating it is just the cherry on the top.

Go check it out and tell me what you think!

HAPPY 2012!

2012-01-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

A new year - and soon to be a new website! This jolly little air balloon is a sneak peak of a detail on my new website that I've been working on and designing with my awesome husband, who is just brilliant at this thing, lucky me! It'll be launched in the next week or two, so stay tuned......

Hope you all had a wonderful 2011 and that 2012 will be even better :)

Christmas Cards

2011-12-01T02:37:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the Bright Lights of the Season!

The holiday spirit just caught me! And right now with the snow pouring down so gently and the weather oh so still and pretty, it's hard not to look forward to what's to come...

I just received the Christmas cards I did this year from the printer, and I'm oh so happy with the printing, the paper and the packaging of them. I'm selling 8 cards in a pack with two different types of cards. Shoot me an email if you are interested in purchasing some ;)

The Good Old Traditional Christmas Tree

"Yfir fannhvíta jörð leggur frið" the lyric from my favorite Christmas Song by Ólafur Gaukur

And remember to share the joy of Christmas!

Sanitas - Art Show

2011-11-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in a group show hosted by the web gallery muses.is. This is the first time I show my cityscape paintings outside my safe-zone, a.k.a. my studio. Thanks so much to all of you who came to the opening on Sunday! Lots of talented artists have their wonderful works on the walls, so if you are in the area, make sure you drop by at the old Sanitas factory, Köllunarklettsvegur 4, open Thursday-Sunday, 1pm-5pm till Dec.18th.

...and who says you can't have fun at an Art Show?

Painting Planes

2011-11-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

The story behind this posts artwork is my grandpa. My grandpa really is the sweetest grandpa you could ever ask for. He's also the coolest grandpa I know (and I'm not just saying that, he is !). He's a quiet guy, always neat and a little tanned with his hair perfectly combed back. And back in the days, he used to be an airline captain.

Every now and then he and my grandma (which by the way is the sweetest grandma you could ask for) drop by my studio unexpected but always welcome. I really love their visits and it makes the rest of my day a better day when I see them. And in one of these visits my grandpa asked me if I could do a painting for him.

He asked me to paint three planes he flew for the airline Loftleiðir (the coolest airline) and combine them in one painting in the order of which he flew them. Luckily a little later I got to fly with my brother where I shot some reference photo's for the painting (yes, my brother is also a pilot,...and so is my dad!).

This piece it pretty different from most of my paintings, but I loved painting it and I loved giving it to my grandpa :)

From right: DC-6, CL-44 & DC-8

Reference shot, Skarðsheiði, June 2011

Cpt. Árni F. Ólafsson

The Beautiful Borgarfjörður Eystri

2011-10-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Right now, when the weather outside is reminding us that the Summer is really, truly, believe it or not, so over, and that we have to wait patiently for just a few months (8 months really) for Summer to return, it's the perfect timing to review all the pretty Summer photos that were taken (which seems like was just yesterday). It really makes the house a little warmer.

We had a wonderful time at my mother in law's hometown, Borgarfjörður Eystri. It really is one of the most beautiful places on planet Earth.

The sunset at Borgarfjörður is like nothing else...

...and the little church must be one of the prettiest one you can find...

...I took my easels, canvas, brushes and paint with me and painted Dyrfjöll (and pretended to feel the presence of Master Kjarval) while the rest of the family played on the beach ...

...and this is the result, the "right" side of Dyrfjöll.

Ps: If you haven't spotted this post's real agenda, it's my attempt to lure my friends abroad to visit me with their brushes and easels, or just visit me, either way I'd be so happy!

View from the Tower

2011-09-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Paint what excites you!", is probable one of the best advice I got in art school. If the subject doesn't excite you, just forget it, it'll be a struggle from the beginning to the end, so you might as well spend your time on something else.

There is something about roads, traffic jams and the view from above that excites me. I like trying to see the beauty in these often ugly man made sculptures we usually don't consider anything that pleases the eye.

A Sunday Shower

2011-09-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

When I lived in San Francisco I was lucky enough to experience a tradition we don't have here in Iceland; a Baby Shower! A group of my dear friends threw one for me when I was pregnant with my daugther Lára and I knew right away it was a tradition I wanted to take back home with me (along with Halloween and talking to strangers (which is another tradition or a habit not too common here ;))

So today I had the loveliest Sunday of all as we celebrated my friend Elfa and her little boy, scheduled to arrive in just two weeks, or less (she hopes)...

Congrats my dear Elfa on the soon to be fourth little dude, you brave woman!

Late Summer at Bergstaðastræti

2011-09-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Every time I get the chance, I do a cityscape. It's such a welcomed feeling to take a break from the 3B pencil and Nr.0 brush I use for my illustrations and just make a little mess in my studio. Plus, I never get bored of my lovely city in it's everchanging colors and shades.

What fun...

2011-09-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

...it was to finally have all my paintings ready, framed and hung for everyone to see! Here are some photos from my show. Special thanks to everyone who came to see it and to everyone who helped me out every step of the way, could not have done this without you (you know who you are ;)

a quick cappuccino before the guests arrive

my little helper

everything looks prettier on a turquoise surface ;)

Dagur chose the illustration for the letter 'J' for his room

part of the showroom

part of the showroom also showing some sketch work and process

lovely guests having fun at the opening

...and last but not least the my greatest creations of all...

Show opening

2011-08-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'll be showing my illustrations from the book Lestrarlandið at Reykjavík City Hall. The opening party is August 25th between 4-6pm, and the show ends September 4th. Hope to see y'all!!!

It's out!

2011-08-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is me - very happy with one of the first copies of Lestrarlandið, warm from the printer, shiny and new! It felt like a never ending process at times, creating the almost 40 illustrations for this book, but oh my, it sure feels good to hold it in my hands now. And I am happy with it, which is the best feeling.

Next week, all the 6 year old's here in Iceland will get this book and use it to learn how to read. I feel honored to have my illustrations in the book for the next generations of readers :)

In a few days I'll post an invitation to a show I'm having on these illustrations in Reykjavík at the end of August. Stay tuned...but till then, try to struggle through these pages:

Pink......really?

2011-06-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

I love the expressions that just tell you exactly what a person is thinking :)

Introducing Letters E & Ú

2011-06-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

L is for...

2011-06-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

...Lína? Lappi? Lykill? Lás? Linda?

I'm finally able to post an illustration from the 'Learn how to read' book. Let's start with the letter 'L', cause it's the coolest letter,...right Lindsey?

woohoo!

2011-06-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

I feel like celebrating after turning in the last paintings today for the book I have been working on since February! Can't wait to share the illustrations with you soon :)

R.I.P. Kazuhiko Sano

2011-06-01T02:50:00.000-07:00

I woke up today to the sad news that my former teacher, Kazuhiko Sano has passed away, only 59 years old. Way, way too soon. My condolences go out to his family and friends.

I sent him a little note the other day when I heard he was very sick. I thought I'd share it here how I remember him.

May 20th, 2011

Dear Kazu,
I wanted to write you a little note to say that I am thinking of you. You are one of the best teachers I ever had and one of the nicest person I have ever met. I will never forget you and everything you taught me.

Every time I hear " Here Comes the Sun" with the Beatles (which is a song we here in Iceland really appreciate once the snow finally starts melting;), I think of you. Every time I'm wondering if I can accomplish something or not, or whether I should go for it or not, I think of something you once said to me. I had been thinking about it if I could and should stay in the US after school, and asked you how you (as also once an international student like me) were able to stay. As much as I wanted it, it felt somehow impossible for me to do. You said you once knew someone who told you at a similar moment as I was having, that you could do what ever you wanted to do, you were entitled to do everything you wanted. The road can be tough, but if you want it you should go for it. I think about this often. Every I am puzzled or meet someone who's puzzled about the future, I tell them what you told me.

I remember once when I was taking you class, my son was sick. I sent you an email letting you know I couldn't go to class because I was taking care of him. You sent me such a sweet and wonderful email back, so understanding, letting me know the most important thing for me was to be with him, nothing else mattered. I know you are surrounded by the people who love you to take care of you in your sickness.

Thank you for everything Kazu, I will always remember you,
love,
Linda
----
You can see more of his wonderful artwork here.

Illustration Friday - Asleep

2011-05-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

I don't think there really is anything more beautiful and peaceful as a sleeping child. Whether your day has been wonderful or just crazy, all is good at the end of the day when you have a little something like this snoring in the bedroom.

I did this sketch of my son sleeping a few years ago, been so busy lately so I decided to use something old for IF this week, just wanted to participate because I love the topic so much.

This little girl...

2011-05-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

...reminds me of this little girl....

always drawing...

drawing while eating some cheese and salmon...

drawing with a little help from big brother...

drawing and smiling...

Drawing has always been my favorite thing to do. I doubt the day will come when I don't enjoy it anymore. Ever so often I find old drawings of mine, framed on some family members wall, and usually I find it pretty embarrassing. But this one here above, I have to admit I'm actually a little proud of.

I drew it when I was 12 years old in my grandparents summerhouse. It's of my grandpa doing a crossword puzzle, always in the same seat, in the same pose, finding the right words, ..and it actually looks kind of like him.

A recent trip to my grandparents summer house made me think of all that time I've spent drawing. And it made me realize that I might be raising a little artist in my own house :)

Happy faces, silly smiles

2011-05-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

After my last post, where I couldn't stop talking about the sun finally arriving, it started snowing again, in May!!! Come On!!! But NOW, Summer is here for sure, which makes me and everybody I draw have this silly smile on their faces.

This is a detail of the painting from the 'O' spread of the book I'm illustrating (you can see the drawing a few posts below). The paintings are going well, at least I can see the end of it. So, in about two (ok, maybe three) weeks, I'll have that smile stuck on my face, plus some teeth showing...

A mouse and a rooster

2011-04-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

This morning was so lovely! The sun finally woke up after a looong nap. I was starting to wonder if it would ever make it's way up here. The brightness outside made it very easy for the whole family to wake up and leave the house bright and early, everyone ready for their task of the day, whether it was in school, preschool, work or studio.

Finally I'm seeing a glimpse of color on the illustrations I've been working on for the last few weeks. Many, many, (in fact incredible many!) left to finish, but I am looking forward to spend the month of May painting.

This sunny morning started with a very black cup of coffee, the Royal Wedding streaming on my computer, and this mouse and this rooster...

'O' is for 'Ormur'!

2011-04-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing for the book that I'm working on now. This spread is for the letter 'O', which in this case stands for the word 'Ormur' which means 'Worm'. I tried to fit the whole story into this one spread, creating a kind of a collage/comic strip into the worm circling around the page.

Oooooh, and it's snowing again! Come on, it's April!

Apaknús!

2011-03-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

I've been busy, busy lately working on a Learn-how-to-read book for an Educational Publisher here in Iceland. It's such a fun project with many different stories and scenes, so I spend all my time on it right now. I'll post a few sketches from it in the coming weeks, but here's one I just did with a little help from my friend Elísabet, the monkey-hugger :)

Giraffe Girl

2011-03-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

It's time to celebrate Ash Wednesday here in Iceland! Tomorrow the schools and the shopping streets will be filled with kids in costumes, singing for candy, beating on the piñatas (we call it hitting the cat from the barrel, ..I know, what an odd thing to say! But no worries, there is no cat in the barrel, just candy)!

Illustration Friday - Swarm

2011-03-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

Friday comes late this week, it's Wednesday already! Wasn't sure if I'd have the time to do this one since I've been busy lately moving my studio. But the topic was just so sweet, so this drawing appeared on my sketchbook late last night.

Illustration Friday - Sweater

2011-02-14T07:51:00.000-08:00

"They both wanted to wear the same sweater - at the same time..."

Why this was the first thing I thought of when I decided to illustrate this topic, I don't know...maybe because I have two younger sisters? ;)

My sweet Lára and the hot chocolate

2011-01-26T02:17:00.000-08:00

My 2 year old daughter, Lára Rún and I walked around town the other day when her preschool was closed. We fed the ducks and walked into a café in the freezing cold morning air and just had to have some hot chocolate,...and of course you don't just drink the chocolate when you have a straw to make bubbles with :)

Illustration Friday - Dusty

2011-01-24T05:11:00.000-08:00

"Well, I guess I'm just a dusty old man after all..."

Every Friday at noon I get an email from Illustration Friday with the topic of the week to illustrate. Every Friday I plan to make an illustration for this topic, but every Friday just flies away and I end up with something totally different on my drawing table. But this week I submitted my first post, and certainly not the last.

The Experiment

2011-01-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just have to give it a try to know the outcome....

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T02:19:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 everyone!!! 2010 was an eventful year and I'm excited to see what 2011 beholds.

I recently illustrated 5 New Years Poems and these are three of those illustrations. In Iceland we (well, some of us) believe that something magical happens on New Years day and also on the thirteenth day after Christmas. Elves and fairies honor us with their presence those days and celebrate with us.

Up & Down & All Around, Illustrated Calendar 2011

2010-12-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

I've been working with a team of girls on creating a calendar for the year 2011. We are a group of 6 working illustrators who just love to draw and draw and draw and decided to do something fun together! Here is a sneak peak of the calendar we just finished. My friend Helga Theodors designed it for us and did such a great job (thank you Helga!). Can't tell you how excited I am to finally run my fingers through the finished product by the end of the year.

The theme of the Calendar is; Up & Down & All Around 2011

Featuring Illustrations by:

Angela Dominguez

Angela Willetts

Kellie Charlton

Lindsey Manwell

Linda Olafsdottir

Sun Young Yang

The calendar is 4.5" x 9.25". Calendar printed # 100 Cardstock (Imagination Paper Cover White) Each Calendar is enclosed in a clear envelope, and sealed.

If you are interested in purchasing a calendar, please send me an email to: linda@lindaolafsottir.com

May the year 2011 be a very Happy Year!!!

Christmas Calendar

2010-12-07T03:39:00.000-08:00

I just finished illustrating a Christmas Calendar for an Educational Publisher in Iceland. These are two of 13 illustrations from that project. In Iceland we actually have 13 Santa Clauses and they have a few siblings and two very strange parents. They live in the mountains but come to town one by one 13 days before Christmas to give all the kids some treats. The girl who's ice-skating is one of their sisters, and the troll with the apple is their mother, named Grýla. She is evil to say the least and eats kids who misbehave....so....BEHAVE!!!

More Santa's to come so stay tuned....

Knitting ladies

2010-11-24T02:18:00.000-08:00

Everyone is knitting! There is a knitting revolution here in Iceland, and I love it, ...I mean I don't love to knit, but I love drawing people when they are knitting! I especially love their facial expressions, they get all so serious!

Little birdie

2010-11-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

This little birdie is a detail of one of the illustrations I am working on now, which is a series of Santa-Clauses doing all kinds of tricks. I'll post those illustrations later when the Santa Clauses start making their ways one by one to the city in the beginning of December. This birdie belongs to a Santa Clause that enjoys playing with wooden sticks.

Geeh, getting payed to paint Santa Clauses, does life get any better? ;)

Surrounded by Master Kjarval

2010-10-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

Karl og Kjarval - Me and the Master - Oil on Canvas, 12x12"

I've been craving to paint this piece since I shot the reference for it at a Kjarval exhibit in December 2008, finally it was it's turn at the easels.

Studio and the view from my studio

2010-10-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

I can't stop talking about how happy I am to be back at work and to have my own studio to go to every morning, without having to clean up my mess and make sure no little hands touch my wet canvas. I am also super happy with the view from my studio, over looking Mt. Esja, my favorite mountain (along with Mt. Tamalpais, CA). I suspect I'll paint Mt. Esja many, many times in the future...

I'm back, it's Bunny Time!

2010-09-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I've finally started painting again after spending the last few months on moving from San Francisco to Reykjavík and settling in. I have my new studio space all set um and am eager to start doing art again, so stay tuned for a lot of new stuff!

I decided to enjoy the beauty of mindless painting when I sat down to paint my first piece in a while. I got a little color crazy with my oils which I have missed dearly. They all demanded to be used after being still for so long ;)

Ahh...feels good to be back....

Happy Summer!

2010-04-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

The first day of Summer in Iceland is always the first Thursday after April 18th. It is a big deal for us and we celebrate it by having the day off from work and school. We have parades and carnivals and it's a custom to give children gifts, "Summer-gifts", which is often something that has to do with Summer activities. No matter the weather on this first day of Summer, we really celebrate it. We march down the streets with marching bands, try our best to hold on to those balloons in the wind, try not to seem too cold in our shorts (it's Summer, right?) and with the weather beaten frozen smiles on our faces we say Hello to the Summer, sometimes in the middle of a snow blizzard....and we never regret saying goodbye to Winter (by the way, we don't celebrate the first day of Winter)!

Buying Time #1

2010-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Time doesn't allow me to paint much these days (nor to read for that matter), so I keep playing with black & whites, and I absolutely love it. This drawing is the first in a series of drawings that are just waiting their turn.

Pippi

2010-03-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in a show called Once Upon a Time in The Museum of Children's Art in Oakland, CA (www.mocha.org). The opening is this Saturday, March 27th from 2-4pm. The exhibition ends on May 7th, so check it out if you are in the area during that time.

All the illustrators in the show have one illustration as well as a drawing they did when they were kids. I did this one of Pippi Longstocking when I was four years old, happy to see it again after all these years :)

More sketches...

2010-03-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

A little wind in the hair always does it, right?

Color of Age

2010-03-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

I saw this lady at the bookstore the other day. Her hair had once been black but was slowly turning gray and was very white at the roots. I loved that she didn't bother to color it, black or white, but just let it grow naturally. But what I loved the most was that she wore a sweater that matched her hair perfectly, white at the shoulders and slowly turned black near the waist. It was such an odd sight I have to say. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera in the bookstore, so I started this drawing as soon as I got home.

Sticking to your roots

2010-03-08T23:25:00.000-08:00

- What am I? Can't you tell? I'm a Cod, cod damnit!

Waiting in the wind

2010-03-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

This little girl has been begging me to throw her into some adventure. I promise I will, but she has to wait a bit though, it's not her turn yet. So in the meantime, I'll let her stand here in the wind on my blog, patiently waiting her turn..

Cityscape - Reykjavík - Iceland

2010-02-25T23:25:00.000-08:00

This is the first cityscape I ever paint of Reykjavík. I've been wanting to paint it for some time, I've had the reference for almost three years now of downtown Reykjavík on our independence day on June 17th, 2007. So after all that time there finally came the moment when I had the canvas, the occasion and the time to paint it. I'll most definitely paint it again, and a bit looser next time I think...

sketching away....

2010-02-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

I've been sketching a lot lately, not doing as many finished pieces as I'd like to, but I like to think I'm preparing for something new and fun by doing this. Also been trying out different mediums and rediscovering my love of color pencils.

Again, where do these people in my sketchbook come from? I think I know the little girl with the headphones pretty well, but the other are a mystery to me...

Poets & Artists - March/April issue

2010-02-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

I am honored to be featured in the latest issue of Poets & Artists Magazine! It turned out pretty good I think. Took me a while to shoot the right "in the studio" photo, but with a great help from my husband and daughter, I think I captured what it really is like (when it's clean) :)

You can read the interview by clicking on the photos here above, or by visiting www.poetsandartists.com

Boat on the Bay

2010-02-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

I keep enjoying painting San Francisco, you can find such beautiful views everywhere. Oddly enough, this painting sort of reminds me of my hometown, Reykjavík, maybe my head is already half way there...

Mr. President...

2010-01-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

Yes or No...Good or Bad...Left or Right...

...no, I'm not talking about politics, I'm talking about that beautiful hairstyle!

Creative Quarterly #17

2009-12-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to have my In the Big City illustration featured in the newest issue of Creative Quarterly!
I submitted two illustrations and they both got in, one was a Bronze Winner and got into the magazine, the other one was a Runner-Up, and is featured in the magazines Online Gallery. Better run to the next bookstore!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Imagine if we sometimes changed parts. Even if we only did it once a year,...it would only seem fair, at least to the Christmas trees...

Merry Christmas - Gleðileg jól!!!

Prints

2009-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

I recently had some prints made of two of my paintings (see above). They are size 12x18" (30x45cm) and are each signed with my name and edition. I sent a few pieces to Iceland, but also have prints here in the US. If you are interested in purchasing a print, contact me: linda@lindaolafsdottir.com

If any other works of mine interest you, let me know as I can make prints of more pieces.

Happy Holidays!

Little devil

2009-11-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

I had a fresh new blade in my x-acto knife the other day. This little devil appeared on my paper as a result of that shiny new blade. Later in the day I came to my desk to turn off my lamp and noticed the shadow from my cut out on the blue paper it lay on. What a happy accident, that devil really came to life!

"Only for you my friend..."

2009-11-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

I´m adding some more black and white stuff to my portfolio. This bird appeared on my sketchbook. I guess he works on Canal St. in NY and apparently always has the best deals on designer's watches. Too bad birds don't have wrists!

I worked on it here and there around the house, and it wasn't till I had scanned in my computer and opened it up, when I noticed that my bird had suddenly had an offspring, which just stood there very innocent in the corner of the paper, just to be admired by it's dad, the salesman...

Jr. Birdie, by Dagur

What's my name?

2009-11-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

I´m working on the finishes touches of a dummy for a story that I wrote and illustrated. This little figure is a silent but very supportive character in the story and in it's honor it gets the title page. What should I call him/her/it?

City Scapes

2009-10-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Bus on Jackson St.

Potrero Hill

Sacramento St.

I´ve been quite busy lately playing a business woman and planning my trip to New York in November. So I haven't been doing many illustrations, but once and a while I take a break from the computer and paint some city-scapes, my other passion in life. These paintings will be at the Tiny Show at Studio Gallery on Polk St. San Francisco, from Nov. 4th - Dec. 24th. So please stop by if you are around.

New Works!

2009-09-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

I´ve just updated my website with all the illustrations I have been working on this Summer. I´m so glad it´s finally out there, and out of my hands :)
Check it out : www.lindaolafsdottir.com

New works

2009-09-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I´ve just finished my first book! I just turned in the paintings so now I´ll just have to wait to see the actual book. I´ve had a lot of fun with this project, although it´s been tough on times combining painting with family life. I´ve found out, more than once in the last couple of months that these things don´t always get along so great. But it´s funny that once the project is done, you feel like it wasn´t so hard to get through, though you know in your head that it´s not entirely true... But I owe everything I do to my very and supportive husband and children who cheer me on and help me out more than you can imagine.

I´ll be having a show on my illustrations, opening this Thursday September 3rd. It´s at Gallery 79 New Montgomery St. in San Francisco. I´ll be showing my illustrations from the book I just completed, as well as my final project from the Academy. It´s open through September, so please stop by if you get the chance.

I´m in the process of updating my website with new works, so stay tuned...

Four more drawings...

2009-08-13T21:27:00.000-07:00

Here are four more drawings from my current project. I´m having so much fun with it, it has so many different scenes and characters and the poems are really inspiring and well written. I can´t wait to paint them all!

Three Drawings

2009-08-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

I´m now starting on the paintings for the book I am currently working on. By the end of this month 9 pieces will be ready (seems crazy sometimes, but it´ll work out!). I´ve finished all the final drawings and posted three of them above.

On September 3rd there I´ll have an opening with three other artists at Gallery 79 New Montgomery in San Francisco. I´ll be showing illustrations from my final project as well as the paintings from this project. More info on that and more drawings and paintings to come...

Íris

2009-07-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

My sister spent almost the whole summer with us. She went back home yesterday and I already miss her a lot. Very late in the evening, her last night here in San Francisco, I painted this quick portrait of her over a candlelight and a beer.

The nasty cupcake girl

2009-07-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

I´m working on my first project now since graduating. I´ll post sketches and paintings from it soon when I´m further along. It´s a really fun project and so far I am enjoying every bit of it. Since I´m in the real world now (and can´t take forever to finish every little detail like I did with my Final Project), I´m in a rush to finish this by the end of August. So I´m going to use the opportunity now and develop some technique that is faster than what I normally do.

I posted here a detail of a piece that is still in progress, using a new technique. It´s from an illustration I did just for the fun of it, showing kids at a birthday party. I love the grin on this girls face. She´s not a nice kid, she sneaks worms in the other kids cupcakes when the don´t see...

Finally....

2009-06-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

...school is over, I have graduated and my final project is completed! Although I have more pieces to finish from my book, I now have finished 9 double page spreads for me thesis. I got 5 of them into the Academy Spring Show, as well as a book I did (I´m So Proud of You) in my oh so wonderful Book Arts class last year. I got the 2nd place "Best in Show" for the book, so I´m very happy. Just hope things keep on rolling after graduation...can´t wait.

The world from above

2009-05-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

Slowly and sometimes painfully my project is coming along. The biggest joy about the whole thing now is seeing all my paintings together. It´s like they´ve finally reunited! I´ve been working on most of them for a long time now and usually I´m working on all of them at once. I took seven of my paintings to a photographer the other day and I´m very pleased with the results, he did a great job.

This painting is of the girl in my story on an airplane for the first time. The world really looks differently from above. Looking out the window of an airplane the girl sees patchworks of colorful fields and cozy, puffy clouds...

It´s getting closer...

2009-04-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

A sneak peak of my one of my almost finished pieces for my final project. In this scene, the girl in the story is being carried by birds on her bed sheet to her old home.

Only two weeks now from today to my Final Review, and lots and lots of painting to do...

Kids in costumes

2009-03-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

"Can I be a Peacock?"

There is just something about kids in costumes that I love. They become different characters,..or creatures might be the right word for it, some sweet, funny and odd little creatures. When I used to work with kids (seems like a long time ago), I often did their face painting for events. I enjoyed doing it, but it was often a challenge to say the least! "Can you paint me as an alligator / otter / guinea pig / penguin ?!

"Can I be an Octopus?"

"Can I be a Kangaroo?"

"Can I be a Lion?"

Looking out the window

2009-03-15T23:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked if this illustration of mine could be used as an inspiration for a blog for writers and poets. I agreed, curious of what would be written about my image. So on March 12th my illustration was posted and I have to say I was in awe of some of what was written. Usually I´m inspired by words when I create my illustrations, so it was a fun to see words added to my illustration. This is the blog: http://everyphototellsastory.blogspot.com/

Here is some what was posted:

Looking out the window
I ponder as I gaze
and wonder what the world will be like
when my children are my age
will we have made a change
will we be at peace
or will we just keep doing wrong
will the war never cease
looking out my window
upon the world I gaze
i hope that there will be peace
i hope that there will be change

by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

-----------

Yes i know i am young
but i have worries too

i have
manners to learn
lessons to read

i have to
control the anger
mind the tongue
learn a dance
sing a song

respect the teaching elders
love those teasing friends

forgive the younger brother
offer respects to the older

and when there is so much to do
i can not leave my worries aside

but atleast in these learning times
this couch and the window are here by my side...

by Sudharm Baxi

Guiding Light after school.

2009-03-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

This young girl appeared on my sketchbook the other night while I was watching TV. I sometimes wonder where these people come from, these characters that somehow force their way through my pencil without asking. Guess my subconscious knows this girl oh too well though...

New kid on the block

2009-03-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

Poor thing, first day of school can be so intimidating.
This is the final drawing of the school scene from my final project. Definitely not a quality scan in but works for the next stage. I am going to enlarge it and attach it on a panel and then paint.

Multitasking

2009-02-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

I think the title says it all. I made this quick sketch a few weeks ago after I had just experienced a moment like this; tooth brushing, breastfeeding and painting. Motherhood vs. Art is a tough but a wonderful thing!

Homesick

2009-02-16T22:45:00.000-08:00

Still working on this one for my final project, I call it "Homesick". This is a scene where the girl in my story sees the birds that are going to carry her back home.

Brotherly Love

2009-02-09T22:07:00.000-08:00

I made this illustration for my dear friend that has three beautiful boys. One of them in heaven and two with us. I call it Brotherly Love for the brothers never ending love for each other. Although they might not live at the same place, I believe they are always and forever together.

Taking a bath with the Lexus

2008-08-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

This is Dagur taking a bath in a jacuzzi in Tahoe earlier this year. He always brings his cars in the bathtub with him, this time it was the Lexus.

I´ve been drawing this one on and off since July 20th. I´m still working on it and enjoy it a lot. The reason for it taking me so long to finish is that the day I started it I gave birth to my daughter. And now, suddenly being a mother of two, everything takes a whole lot longer to finish...

My plan is to finish the drawing and then to play with it with different mediums, photocopy it and make it bigger, attach it on a panel and see where it takes me from there.

Welcome to my blog!

2008-08-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

This blog will feature my works of art, my illustrations, fine art paintings, sketches, works in progress and thoughts. My first post is a piece I did this summer just for the fun of it. My reference was my son, and like so many times before, I give him a long hair and change him into a girl. Hope he´ll forgive me some day...

Enjoy!