mobile: continuing

As Max (my offspring) didn't want to part from his mobile phone collection, I'm working on another version. I don't want to show what I'm doing yet, so you'll just see the traces of my work. (Suspense?) I hope to finish it by next week.

Sofia Hultén: Events with Unknown Outcome.

a special something

I've been tagged by Bibbi "Show me a special something, important or beautiful or meaningful or full of memories for you - or all of that - and tell me about it."

So: I inherited this mortar from my father. Not only is it beautiful, but it has a story:

This is the story about my father's aunt Nanny as a little girl. One beautiful summer day she was playing in the forest when a group of soldiers came to rest in the very same place (this being Sweden in the 1880's, it was in no way something scary - the country hasn't been to war for centuries). The soldiers were thirsty and asked Nanny to bring them water. They were all in a good mood and when leaving they gave her a silver coin each. Nanny's family was very poor and she knew she would never be allowed to keep this treasure for herself - so she buried the silver coins next to a special birch tree.

Much later she came back to look for her hidden treasure. She found the tree, or so she thought, and started digging. She didn't find the coins. She found this mortar hidden in the soil. She kept coming back to dig and look for the coins, but never found them. The only thing she ever found was that mortar.

mobile swap

As I have absolutely nothing to do these days (hahaha!) I signed up for an internet swap - I'll make a mobile (see my first attempt above) and send to someone (assigned to me) and someone else (secret to me) will send me one. I really like the idea - read about it at elsie marley.

drawing

I've lately been working with drawings on top of old test prints (copper graphics), at home, before going to bed. I like the square - going outside its boundaries.

A little comment about my enamels (understanding that I've not been clear about it): I buy the "base" from Sprakared Enamel Factory. That is - the plates have been prepared with a base enamel and a layer of enamel colour (black or white). I then continue with screening or painting enamel on them.

Camilla Engman's design for converse.

nice weather

Yesterday I biked across town - rain, 2 degrees Celsius - to my mother's place to borrow her car. After half an hour on the highway - pissing rain - I went for a smaller road - rain, 0 degrees Celsius, snow on some parts of the road - turning in sharp curves with occasional crazy truck drivers. Finally (a bit shaky) I reached my first destination: Sprakared Enamel Factory. Last time I was there it was warm and sunny in September.

Sprakared Enamel Factory has existed for more then 100 years - and probably hasn't changed much. It's an amazing place. Yesterday some Danish artists were visiting planning some enamel work and getting the full tour. I collected my well packed enamels (for the commission and for my own work) and got back on the road. Leaving the little village Kinnahult I got on the road to Borås - snow mixed rain, 0 degrees Celsius, windy - also known as the "death road" (maaaany accidents). Without any problems (even though I took photos while driving. Bad blurry photos.) I arrived in Borås.

I left some newly framed prints at Galleri Jeanette Ölund (new website!) and picked up two big paintings left from my exhibit in October. After chatting and coffee I got back behind the wheel, squeezed behind the wheel (big paining in the car). I got clumsy shifting the gear - snowing - because lack of space - and some weird snow under my shoes glued them to the pedals. Anyhow: now it was just the highway home - snowstorm.

Last night I was very tired. I don't do much driving (though I like it) and my mother's car is brand new. (I was a bit tense and very attentive all day)

Today I opened my well packed enamels. The 14 enamels for the commission were without holes. There were supposed to be holes. Four on each enamel. Not zero. I always check my orders when I get them normally. Why not this time? I didn't show any temper when I called Sprakared Enamel Factory, just smiled - thinking about driving in shitty weather.They said they'll fix it. And have it delivered to KKV here in Göteborg for me.

continuing

washing away

I don't know where this painting is going. I do not want sweet, though - that I know for sure.

Update on Saatchi gallery online (see Thursday last week): I've only managed to upload one art piece - even though I've tried many times. It doesn't work properly. Just registering took me three attempts. If it doesn't work soon I'll just let it be.

preparing exhibition

Today I went to Kungsbacka (just outside Göteborg) to check out the gallery where I'll exhibit in a month. It's just one small room (19 m2), but it's anyhow always better to go and see the place to be able to plan the exhibit. I have a lot of material to chose in between and my work demand space - so I'll just show a few art pieces.

Right now Berit Jonsvik is exhibiting there. The second photo shows her triptyk in concrete - my favorite art piece in the exhibit.

saatchi gallery online

"Dear Alexandra Hedberg

I am contacting you from the Saatchi Gallery here in London. Whilst searching the web I came upon your artwork and was impressed by the high standard of work. I would like to tell you about a new development here at the Saatchi Gallery where you can showcase your work for free. We have created a new resource entitled Saatchi Online; this allows artists to post their work and information on The Saatchi Gallery site. You can now post up to 20 images, biographical information, information about you and your art, as well as your own contact details and website. There is no fee and no commission for any sales you make through the site. We have created resource to assist artists in raising their profile on a worldwide basis..."

Now and then I get these kind of invitations from artist community/online galleries. What to think about it? (There is not such a thing as free lunch.) Saatchi Gallery is of course a very good gallery - and it's not like they really just "came upon my artwork" (probably some search engine). What are they getting out of it?

I checked it out. And was not impressed by the high standard of all the art works; but anyhow found some good artists I know. So I registered at saatchi online. (though it was not very smooth and I just managed to upload one image. I'll try again later) I'll let you know if it gives any results!

(did I sound very negative today? I have this bad cold.)

work in progress

first watercolour sketch

trying a flat blue background (not a success)

splitting
... to be continued ...

Sometimes people ask me about my favorite artists. Francis Bacon is one of my absolute favorites. (he hasn't got a website though - he's dead you know)

modern Swedish: niklas holm

being childish - again

So, my son is sick again. We paint, cut papers and glue - and I try to create some things with the material (fast, though - he is a severe master) on the side. Just cutting and gluing what is already there. It's so fun with the colourful papers. And the speed. He makes 10 art pieces in 15 minutes!

I'm lovin it

Today I finished this painting. Watercolour/acrylics.

and the winner is ...

I watched this TV-film about Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir last night and made this drawing (no commercial breaks - Swedish state TV!). I felt bad about having read everything by Sartre and nothing by Beauvoir. But that will change now. Promise.

Carina Fihn opens her exhibit on Saturday at Göteborg's Konstförening. Carina presents Guest Artists every month at her website. Another guest but somewhere else is Camilla Engman - guest blogging at design Sponge.

back to work

So I'm back to work. I've missed it.

I have a (small) separate exhibit in the end of February, which actually turns out to be sooooon. And I need to do some serous cleaning in my studio (totally make-over cleaning). And I have to pull myself together and do some marketing (I just keep making all this art without trying to sell it ...) It will be fun!

How do you make a good website when you have a lot of material to show and work in different materials - and don't want to give a too "split" impression? Josh Keyes has this website where you need to do a lot of scrolling down down down down. I find that kind of annoying - what do you think? (I like his paintings though;))

finally snow

Christmas vacations

I'm still having Christmas vacations. I had promised not to work - and I've almost kept my promise ... just a little scanning of prints and checking websites (thinking about how to make myself a new one). Petri Hytönen doesn't just have a nice website - he's also a very good artist. I especially likes his watercolours of Lego.

Even though I'm officially not working I'm of course planning my work - and longing for it. And kind of making extra After New Year Resolutions. It's like when someone asks you what you want for your birthday - and you can think of almost nothing. Until after your birthday. It's the same with me and New Year Resolutions - the best ones come a week later.... One of them is to work with sketchbooks - like Camilla Engman - not on all those loose little papers... And do it regularly.