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my blog
illustration
lettering
design
about me
say hi

Aurora Borealis #1

December 15, 2013

In Uncategorized

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Hello, lovelies! Happy Thursday! I am sorry for being so busy these past few... weeks, really. Here's the scoop... I'm moving to Eugene, Oregon in two weeks and my life is turned a bit upside down while I'm preparing for that. I've had deadlines to meet for my book (which I'm super excited about!!), I've been working on my first fabric collection (which I am also super excited about!!), I had outpatient surgery to remove some skin cancer on my nose (thank goodness that is taken care of!!), and I've had a lot of random tasks to do for this upcoming move in addition to client work that I'm struggling to get to. To be perfectly honest, I am not able to process the change that is about to happen in my life due to how much is happening, and I find myself just trying to "David Attenborough" every moment. Moving is stressful, but I'm very excited about moving closer to the ocean and mountains, and I look forward to the new adventures I will have and the friends I am sure to make in Eugene. Anyway, I thought I'd share this picture of a piece I created for an awesome client a little while ago because... ❤️💛💚💙💜🖤

Well, hello there! I haven't looked at these doggies in a while with all my deadlines lately, but after toast happy hour (my TMJ is under control, so I can have toast again!!!) with my dear friend, Kari, I'm putting in some time to work on this commissioned dog painting. Happy Saturday! I hope you have a wonderful day! Take the time to do something that makes you happy today.
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#dog #illustration #illustratorinminneapolis #watercolor #painting #paintinginpublic #canteen3255

I updated an illustration for my upcoming book yesterday with some almonds and almond meal and sent the whole thing off to the publisher! Woohoo! I'm really excited. This is an illustration I had to rethink and redo a bit to make my Mormor's recipe for Nøttekaker (nut cookies) more appealing. I had a funny conversation with my editor in which I explained that my paintings of the cookies are actually what they look like (not just a bad painting of cookies), and that although they don't look that great, they taste delicious! I added some almonds and almond meal to help make it a bit more interesting! I think that did the trick. Would you want to try this recipe? I'm wishing you a wonderful weekend! Remember to take the time to do something that makes you happy!
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#stripedpearsandpolkadots #makingitupasigo #watercolors #watercolor #almond #almonds #almondmeal #foodillustration #illustration #illustratorinminneapolis #nøttekake #nøttekaker #nutcookies #almondcookies #norwegianrecipe

Mondays are more magical with bread bunnies and a double dose of raspberry jam at Kopplin's, and sitting at my favorite table by the window. I hope you are having a good day and that you treat yourself to something fun to make it a Magic Monday!
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#magicmonday #jamandbread #breadandjam #kopplins @kopplins #illustratoratlarge #rustica

I added a few more details. This is the last illustration I needed to complete for my upcoming gift book, Striped Pears & Polka Dots: The Art of Being Happy. While living in Reykjavík in the winter, I noticed a trend that made me very happy. People created little displays in their windows for others to enjoy as they walked by, and that became clear to me because everything was intentionally facing outwards. There was poetry for passersby to read, glowing resin lamps of animals or mushrooms, and framed pieces of art to create little galleries. In this way, I felt like they were creating sunshine in the darkness of winter for people like me. My first big purchase was a resin duck lamp so that I could reciprocate this joy.
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#illustratorinminneapolis #stripedpearsandpolkadots #watercolor #painting #makingitupasigo #window #windowdisplay #reykjavík #reykjavik #windowsofreykjavik #happymakers #heicolamp #illustration #painting #iceland #bengtandlotta #ducklamp #bunnylamp #owllamp #mushroomlamp

Happy Saturday, lovelies! I'm sitting at Canteen at my favorite spot by the window, listening to Otis Redding (I love him!!!), sipping an almond milk chai and painting into the window frames I started the other day. It is a lovely day here, and not too hot, which is perfect for me. I hope you have a wonderful day and take the time to do something that makes you happy!
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#painting #canteen3255 #paintinginpublic #otisredding #window #watercolor #workinprogress #illustratorinminneapolis #illustration #makingitupasigo #saturdaybliss

After popcorn and a couple different kinds of cookies, I've just painted some windows. Next up, I'm going to put some things inside them...
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#workinprogress #illustration #windows #window #watercolor #illustratorinminneapolis #makingitupasigo

And I'm nearly done painting popcorn... On to the next recipe to illustrate...
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#paintinginpublic #illustration #workinprogress #watercolor #canteen3255 #popcorn #popcornlover #popcorntime #popcornillustration #illustratorinminneapolis

Happy Sunday! I'm at Canteen this morning, sipping an almond chai and painting popcorn, as one does... I'm missing popcorn something fierce! I started having really bad jaw pain last weekend, saw a dentist about my jaw pain on Monday, was told it was likely TMJ, and I'm supposed to avoid chewing anything hard for a while, and no popcorn. Um, popcorn is my drug of choice, so this is a difficult withdrawal. Not only that, but I'm at Canteen during toast happy hour and I am not having toast because of my jaw. Thankfully, this week of not eating hard foods has helped my jaw feel a bit better. I'm not back to normal, but I'll get there. Anyway, popcorn is so important to me, so it is obviously going to be in the book I'm working on, with a recipe to make it on the stovetop because it is so simple and so fun, and so much better for you than microwave popcorn! Any other popcorn-lovers out there? It's magical, right? Making popcorn is like being a magician and a spectator all at once. I know how it works, but it never ceases to amaze me that tiny kernels can pop into fluffy clouds of yum within seconds! Have a great day and remember to do something that makes you happy today. Maybe eat some popcorn and think of me. ;)
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#paintinginpublic #canteen3255 #workinprogress #paintingpopcorn #popcorn #popcorn🍿 #popcornlover #popcorntime #watercolor #makingitupasigo #illustratorinminneapolis #illustration

Art imitating a watercolor set, painted using said watercolor set. How meta?! I'm working on the last bits of illustration for my book, and I'm so excited about how it is turning out! I hope you are having a great day and take the time to do something that makes you happy!
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#workinprogress #watercolor #painting #winsorandnewtonwatercolours #winsorandnewton #cotman #illustratorinminneapolis #portablewatercolors

It's raining, it's pouring, and the power went out. I've lit myself some candles and I'm powering through to meet some big deadlines. Stress has never been this cozy before. Here goes!
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#painting #illustration #illustratorinminneapolis #poweroutage #workingbycandlelight #makeitwork

Happy Caturday from Eyja, my cute kitty! I hope you are having a good day and that you take the time to do something that makes you happy!
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#eyjathecat #icelandiccat #cat #catsofinstagram #bellyrubtime #bellyrub #kitty #catsofminneapolis

Hello, lovelies! I have been super busy with this book project I'm finishing up, but I thought I would share a little client work I just did because I find my job amusing sometimes. Behold, watercolor graham crackers for a graham cracker pattern! I really hope my client loves them!
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#watercolor #illustratorinminneapolis #painting #grahamcrackers #grahamcracker #paintingfood #nowiamhungry #snacktime

Happy Friday! I'm seated at my favorite table by the window at Kopplin's Coffee, sketching some dogs for a commissioned piece. There are so many kinds of dogs that it is hard to choose! I think I've selected the dogs for this piece, though, but I could go on and on looking at different breeds and mixes and adorable mutts! I don't typically sketch first, but just like bikes, I'm not super familiar with dogs, so I wanted to have an idea for the types of dogs and a general composition since I'll be selling the original. Here goes!
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#paintinginpublic #workinprogress #kopplins #sketching #sketch #dog #dogs #dogillustration #illustratoratlarge #illustration

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! I just put some finishing touches on these bicycles, so I thought I would share some thoughts on why I love biking... I love biking because it is a completely different experience than driving a car. In a car I feel like I'm in my own little bubble, disconnected from the neighborhoods I pass through and the people I pass by. I will admit that sometimes it is a comfortable barrier from the outside world where I can control the climate and the soundtrack to my commute, but it keeps me from engaging with the places I pass through and the people I pass by. On a bicycle, I feel more connected, more alive, and more present. I notice things I would never have noticed otherwise. I make eye contact with strangers and smile or wave. Consider biking to someplace you normally drive to. Not only will you get some exercise, but you might just gain a whole new perspective about your neighborhood!
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#bike #illustratorinminneapolis #bicycle #bikes #bikestagram #illustration #bikeillustration #pattern #painting #watercolor #iliketoridemybicycle #bicycles #graphiklinemaker #staedtlerpigmentliner #copicmultiliner

More progress. I used a Staedtler pigment liner to draw the wheels so far, and I'm adding little details with paint still, too...
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#illustratoratlarge #kopplins #makingitupasigo #painting #pattern #watercolor #bike #bicycle #illustration #handbookwatercolorjournal #staedtlerpigmentliner #workinprogress #magicmonday #paintinginpublic

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