New Year Resolutions visualized

New Year – New focus

New year, new focus, well at least some is new. I have discovered that going to the gym doesn’t happen no matter if it is a new year resolution or not, so there’s really no reason it should be. Instead I want to focus on health overall. Mental health, health though food and everyday physical movement. I also want to create more art and do things that I love, rather than following trends and assignments only. I have been so stressed in 2018 and I have discovered that the stress doesn’t amount to anything in the end except for headaches and wrinkles around the eyes. 2019 is going to be a year filled with positivity, deep breaths, healthy vegan food and creative adventures. What are your new year resolutions?

Make it in Design – Surface design experimentation

Last week I started a surface design class online to get some more experience and a better understanding of the market. The first week has mainly experimentation with mark making and seeking inspiration. It was been very insightful this far and I want to share some of the work that I have been doing with you guys.

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Drawing the same object again and again in everything from 10 seconds to 3 minutes. 

Exploring successful repeat patterns and deconstructing them to understand what shapes goes into the design and then exploring some sketching on my own. 

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Exploring sketching with different mediums and strong colors. 

More sketchbook / mark – making exploration 

Watercolor exploration

In the month of January I took some skillshare classes in watercolor techniques! I like using watercolors a lot, but I have never really taken the time to try out different techniques. I have previously simply used them for naive coloring of doodles, but now after taking some classes I have a better understanding of the medium. How the paints work and mixes together. These are some of my first paintings I did along watching the class. I have a lot to lean still, but I am really enjoying the progress that I am already making. Yay to trying new things! Stay tuned for hopefully much more watercolor experimentations in the future 🙂

2017 Year of the Rooster

I have been working on this tribal design for 2017 Chinese New year (coming up this weekend!) and this year is the year of the rooster, hence the rooster subject matter 😀 I am super excited about this new technique that I just learned. I have been watching tutorials on lynda.com on original tribal illustration and this is my first go at it. I love how graphic it is and how all the shapes connect with one another. If times permits I would love to turn this into a series. Perhaps not all the Chinese  horoscopes, but it is a good place to start. It is something a little bit different from my normal style, but I don’t think it diverts enough to not work with my portfolio. Feel free to reach out and let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for subject matters that would look awesome with this tribal style!

2017 – Year of the Rooster

Thank you for viewing 🙂

New January Projects and resolutions

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Alright, it is a new year and I am determined to start minding my online presence a bit more. One of my biggest downfalls running a business is that I often get so very caught up on doing artsy projects, that I forget to do all the business stuff, like using social media effectively and taxes and that kind of business – we don’t talk about the later one. It is great to work well under a strict deadline, but it makes it very hard to do the things that doesn’t really have deadlines, like for example updating a blog. I want to be better at sharing what I am working on regularly and taking in progress shots, because let’s be honest, it is so much more fun to watch as something is being created, compared to the final product. So that is one of my new year resolutions for this year! My goal is to post at least twice a month for the rest of the year. I am putting it out there in cyperspace, because somehow I think, that will make me hold myself more accountable. I am obviously already behind, but not for long, because here comes the first post of the year!

Here is a preview of the first project I am working on this year. It is a project continued from the end of last year, but I didn’t have a chance to upload anything here. I am in the process of creating a coloring book about the beautiful architecture and landscapes of Europe. I am trying to represent as many countries as possible, which has proven very educational for me as well. There are many eastern european countries that I don’t know almost anything about, and I am really enjoying doing some serious research. The book will not be ready until late spring, but I am in the process of inking out some of the initial drawings out. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for beautiful architecture that I should include! If you read this far, thank you for being an awesome follower – next post will be shorter 😉

 

Inktober 22 – Hare Decor

It is crazy that October is almost at an end. It feels like I just started my inktober drawings yesterday and now Halloween is just around the corner! I am a bit behind but will catch up this week. I’m excited to have another inktober collection to show for this year. I have really enjoyed this medium. This is inktober 22 – A decor pattern with a cute little Hare.

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Inktober 22. 2016  – Hare Decor

Sleeping Fox – Inktober 21

For Inktober 21st I did a cute little sleeping fox. I have been drawings a lot of more realistic or pattern inspired animals in the last few years and though it would be really fun to try to do something small, simple and cute. This is the second in a little mini series.

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Inktober 21. 2016 – Sleeping Fox

Hedgehog Love – Inktober 20th

I have started a new little mini series of small simple and adorable garden animals for part of this years inktober series. I am so glad I gave watercolors a chance because this month has been so much fun, experimenting with new mediums and subject matters.

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Inktober 20. 2016 – Hedgehog in Habitat

Cute Inktober Raccoon

Inktober 19th is a cute raccoon all dressed up for the approaching winter. He is very content with his green sweater and nut combo  🙂

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Inktober 19. 2016 – Sweaters and nuts