learning my secrets

Starting tomorrow I'm planning a week of revealing how I work with my different projects. I've shown some work in process before, but this is going to be a bit different. I will show you my methods, where I get my inspiration - and my secrets.

take a dive ...

... into the unknown.

OK - that was the last one for now.

Now over to some product information - or should I call it consumer information? Lulu again; I ordered 10 books of my portfolio - and of course the images (same files as before) looked totally different. Especially the red that got brownish. Though this is print on demand so you can not expect too much. BUT two of the books had smudges and black spots in them. I complained - of course - so they'll send me 2 new ones. I just thought you should know (this is that kind of information I was looking for before starting to order from lulu). Though otherwise it is OK - I am kind of picky. I mean what other options do you have - blurb probably has the same problems? Or?

Anyone wonder about Saatchi online? No - I didn't have enough friends to win. I'm not submitting more works for the other showdowns. This is not my way.

cats and dogs

... though someone here at home said that my dogs don't look like dogs.

biker and princess

the escape from reality continues.
Are you getting bored? I'm not!

bird and tree

the bird is going somewhere important

(this is my post no 300)

fish

a fish can also have a nice moustache.

have a nice weekend!

Good things:

• Camilla's exhibition opens tomorrow at Nya Stadsgalleriet in Halmstad, Sweden
• I painted a lot today feeling it's heading somewhere - and also managed to make some children's book figures (when waiting for the paint to dry)
  
• to listen to Moma's conversations with contemporary artists (podcast): Swoon
  

Bad things

• My job applications are not even being read (in my mail program I can chose the option to get a message when my mails have been opened - I can also see when they've been deleted without being read)
• The apartment is very cold - and it costs too much to have the electric heaters on daytime
• I can not go and see Camilla's exhibit
  

acceptable standard

"If I am at Harrods By Appointment, I expect a glass of Champagne, unprecedented attention and a free gift. These things are now regarded as standard!" she exclaims.

3 months

today: London for 3 months - and no job so far. This is the moment for a secret fairy godmother to appear.

Anyone out there (godmother or not)? I'm very hardworking, creative and with a positive attitude. I speak French, I am computer literate, I know a lot about contemporary art, I know how to print in big formats with a steamroller. I paint great portraits (just mail me a photo). I master MS Office and have excellent administrative skills. I learn new thing easily. I can do almost anything, just ask.

I also accept donations. You can pay via paypal. For further instructions - and contact - you'll find my mail address here.

I have a dark sense of humor.

someone who cares

"I was in Tuscan earlier this year and at midday, my dermatologist texted to warn me to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm" she remembers

angels do exist

Today felt like such a dark day; my thoughts were dark and so was the sky. But when I unlocked my door there was a little parcel for me on the dark rug. Happy stamps and sticker, strong handwritten address.

Marie-Louise send me a gift; one of her cat brooches. (We have never met, but on each others' blogs.) Thank you so much Marie- Louise; the brooch is just so wonderful - and your gesture an extra gift in its self!

... and the sun came out of the clouds - in double senses.

alphabet soap

another of my images for the scavenger project: alphabet soap. Ok - it was supposed to be alphabet soup, but I thought this was more fun. My contribution to the project was posted last Friday so now I can concentrate on something else: my artistic statement...

the scavenger project's flickr group
beate höing via dear ada

yellow, orange ... mustard

but afterwards I decided mustard would be better.

How to travel around the world by train - always in seat 61

in my backyard

There is a lot of neglect in London. Alleys and backyards where people just dump garbage - and houses falling into pieces. It's amazing when you think about how high the rents are here. I've been irritated over this until now. But today I decided to embrace it and take advantage of it. It very often looks great on photo.

(these photos are from my backyard)

chicken

for the scavenger project

urban sketchers
a plate a week
banksy you know of course, but anyway

independence

"Having just been dumped, I had a big decision: drink all day or buy something extravagant? I spent $ 5 325 on two antique heart lockets from a jeweller on Madison Avenue. I don't need a man to buy me jewellery!" she declares

my lulu order

My little book - or should I say portfolio - from Lulu came in the post today. Voilà!

this one you can see bigger - click on it.


This is actually my second version. I got kind of disappointed with the first one. The colours were like they had a milky layer over them - and especially some colours got weird; yellow got more green and some blue got the opposite as milky - super strong and artificial. I knew it wasn't the digital images themselves as I have developped them before on paper. Anyhow - I did some photoshop "corrections" to the files; stronger contrast, warmer yellow, more subtle blue - or what was appropriate for that specific painting.

So today I was very curious when I opened the parcel. And It was actually ok - not like photos - but it will do. It has of course also to do with the paper quality. So now I will order some more. My advice to you who are thinking about ordering from Lulu is:
- Don't expect too much from pictures where exact colour is important (my screen prints were ok)
- Order ONE first "test version" - not several without having seen them. (I luckily resisted the temptation to order several - which I need kind of soon)

Though I must say the moo cards do my paintings more justice even if they are small.

plastic fantastic

What a girl gotta do do when she has little money?
Make credit cards! (as you might have figured out)

Again there is of course this thing with photos; they make things seem flatter. I've been putting some time on making first thick flat "cards" in white acrylics - then painting the specific colours and shapes. In real this gives the impression of actual cards (the same thickness) - more or less. I chose not to write the actual texts as I do not want too much focus on the cards.

I call the painting Plastic Fantastic. (click image for bigger)

Do you know iNeed by Mantis?
LV Child by Beejoir?
...good work!
Somehow also related to this post: wooster collective (how do I think?)

adding darker blue

Soon I'm getting there. What am I up to? Stay tuned to find out - latest by Monday.

how to: disappointment

In today's "how to" we are going to discuss how to deal with disappointments. Like when you for example don't get a job you thought you would get.

make figures symbolizing your disappointment - or that stupid xxxxx who didn't appreciate you or even gave you a fair chance.

make a world for your disappointments (or that idiot) - and turn it on fire!

BURN!

BURN BURN YOU M----f---r!

When you now have dealt with your disappointment in a mature way - put the feeling away in a little box (that is - the ashes.) - and do not open it again. It is OK to look at the photos though.

|for anyone worried about me and how I handle disappointments in life:these photos are for the scavenger project. It is how I interpret Fear and The end of the world. Though I must admit that burning things make you feel better when you're disappointed and angry.|

Tomorrow I'll be back to my squares. They dry so slowly.
Oh - I almost forgot: Mankind Mag's new Issue Handmade is out!

tricky squares

white squares

research

7 random facts - about me

1. 171 cm
2. shoe size 38
3. I break rules if I think they are stupid - or could be better.
4. I wanted to become an artist already at age 5
5. Favorite transport: biking
6. I’ve been to Singapore 4 times, Paris 10 times and Jordan once. (but not biking more than once to get there– to Paris)
7. I do not like to put photos of myself on my blog

(of course the facts can not be random when I chose them myself) I was tagged by Famapa. I tag Asphalt and Air and Veja Cecilia (I was supposed to tag 7 people)

busy now

Want to make your own magazine? check MagCloud
Give away alert at design for mankind

Hunt & Gather - contemporary art blog
Vinyl Killers - what to do with those old Vinyls?
Nelly Duff - gallery
smashingmagazine on moleskin sketches

saatchi online showdown

So - as I've taken the time to put some of my works on Saatchi online gallery I decided to submit one of my works to their "showdown" (the painting above from last year). I 've done it before, but without telling anyone. (Smart) But ... these showdowns are based on that you have a big network to vote for you. And that you tell them. So now I tell. To vote for me (preferably giving me the highest vote) click here. Feel free to let other people know. It will be interesting to see if it will make any difference.

I see Saatchi Online Gallery mostly as an interesting phenomena; there are "art works" of varying quality. So far I've gotten one person "interested in your work" - another similar online gallery in Germany! These online galleries are popping up everywhere. But do they help artists to sell their work? And what about quality? What are your experiences?