website updated!

POW! 43 x 61 cm, hand coloured screen print. limited edition of 10

I've updated my website with my colouring pages series. Why don't you have a look?
[if any one wonders; yes, my art is for sale - even though I've chosen no to promote it on internet. Just contact me if you are interested; you can pay via pay pal]

looking for ideas: amazing light

I've been walking around today trying to find some inspiration for my wall at the school. By the library this morning I was struck back by this amazing light effect; the strong sunlight reflected in the window glass created extra windows of light on the wall across the street (the concert hall).

The funny thing is that no one around me noticed. Some became aware of it when they saw me taking photos.

This time of the year I am always absolutely fascinated by the light and the long shadows. Could I use it for my suggestion for the school?

- did you see that Camilla has been involved in two great book projects lately?

too much

too much cake?

I wish.
But no, I'm in the middle of figuring out how to squeeze 3 months of work into 2 months. 

reality check

I visited the construction site -  for the school I'll make the Public Art piece for - on Friday last week and realized the building wasn't exactly like in the papers I got from the architects.

Sorry for being super boring here at my blog at the moment; I'm just overloaded with work and I'm right now trying to finish off some projects which mean a lot of administration (or rather make sure I can leave them for the moment; that everything is going in the right direction) etc. Hopefully I'll be able to concentrate on my Public Commission later in the week.

clueless and confused

I haven't had any genial ideas yet when it comes to my commissioned art piece. I've been looking through some Art Council catalogues checking the art they commissioned the last years, (the Persian carpet is in painted cast bronze!) but I just feel blank. Tried to work anyway but that didn't help.

The catalogues from the Swedish National Public Art Council are fairly cheap (7 €) and worth ordering if you are interested in Public Art. Or you could check some street Art instead at Wooster Collective. I especially enjoyed the interview with Takashi Murakami - I love that he is exhibiting at Versaille!

I think I have too much other things on my mind; I'm responsible for coordinating some seminars on the quality concept within Fine Art (Beyond Words) as well as being a project leader for a lecture and networking day within a month.

Focus - and one thing at a time!

Lego Art?

No, I just had to take photos of the son's lego installation again. He will not clean up his stuff unless we take photos to save it for the after world. It's big constructions and with very important details  - like one man missing a hand. I have a folder in the computer called "constructions" and he wants to check his photos there now and then ... Secretly delete some photos? No, won't work. He's got an elephant's memory.

I was interviewed By Char at We Blog Artists

painting the house

Today was the first day for me working on my sketch for the Public Commissioned Art Piece. I made a drawing in 1:10 and painted it with the right NCS colours. The wall is approx 8 meters high and 23 meters broad and is the end part of a longer school building under construction.

Then I looked. The wall is green and kind of dark.  The building is very, very squarish.

I want to break it up, to make something that is not just on the surface, but that changes the way you perceive the building. Hm... (and naked Snow Whites and blood and ... No. It's a school for children age 6-11. I  would never get that approved.)

[The post Networking with Artists II in my series Art as Business is under construction and will be posted next Sunday.]

Nina Bondeson's exhibition

Nina Bondeson's exhibition

On Thursday, after some meetings, I saw some of the ongoing exhibitions in town. Nina Bondesson's exhibition at Galleri 1 was just so worth seeing. Her art is truly genuine, capturing, intimate and original. The small painting are like icons - and seeing her art in reality is so much better than on photos as there is a certain texture and material feeling that you lose in photos.(I interviewed Nina for the blogg for Equality within the Arts - only in Swedish though)

Today I was supposed to go to the Opening of the Louise Bourgeois Exhibition at the Watercolour Museum in Skärhamn, but I was just too tired feeling a bit overworked. I will have to see that exhibition later; her art is great.

ready for a new project

for working: the wall

for looking; the chair

Tomorrow I have a meeting about the Public Commissioned Art Piece and will get to know the details. After that I can start sketching. I've moved around everything in the studio trying to find the best way  for working on this project. But there is always a problem wall where I have tons of things... I need an extra room!

everything else

candy colour

Trying to make some more space in my studio and to get some visual order. Today hiding disturbing elements and getting rid of unnecessary stuff . The acrylics look like candy.
Craig Kanarick takes photos of candy.

snailmail delight

She had checked that I still had the same post address - so I had a tiny suspicion there might be something coming my way. But I still got happily surprised when I opened the parcel from Thereza this afternoon. I just love her colourful fresh style - and so does my son. Thereza had heard of his envy the other times ... and sent the Chickens especially for Max.

anna the red's bento gallery - food for the child within. I especially love the one's with Totoro!

Art as Business: Networking with other artists

 I paid a visit to a couple of galleries in Copenhagen some years ago. One of the interesting galleries had an artist on their list that I had been on a selection jury with. I called him and chatted a bit and ok:d that I could refer to knowing him when talking to the gallery owner. She agreed to see me and half a year later I participated in a group exhibition at the gallery.

When exhibiting at a gallery I was asked if I could give them a tip about some interesting artist. I gave them the name and website of a friend and colleague (who I consider to be a very good artist). He got a separate exhibition.

Some years ago someone who had been on the board of an artist organization with me asked, “You do screen print on paper, don’t you? I’m putting together a new program for an art school; could I suggest you as a possible screen printing teacher?” I thus became a guest teacher at Formakademin where I teach since 2008.

Never underestimate knowing other artists; they can warn you about bad galleries and help you with good ones, recommend you for jobs, give you inside information, share technical knowledge, become collaborative partners and supportive friends. But this is a sensitive subject to write about and that is the reason why I got stuck last year when I tried to write about networking with other artists - you don't want anyone to suspect you could be a calculating bastard, would you? Something to keep in mind; you should never do things just to get to a good network, to get things for yourself – you should do it mainly by other reasons. The contacts you gain are just bonus. Dale Carneige said “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you”

The kitchen at KKV, artist run collective workshops, where I've been doing soooo much voluntary work

Let's stop beating around the bush: how/where do you network with other artists?

1. Art School
2. Shared studio space, studio with neighbour artists
3. Art Organizations
4. collective workshops
5. artist run galleries
6. Take a course for artists
7. Participate in group-shows
8. Give workshops for fellow artists
9. Lecture
10. Just approach some artist you would like to know 
11. Internet

Ah, that helped a lot. 

Did it? Wouldn't you like yo know some more? To not just get a list, but some personal REAL experience and stories? 

Thought so. Next Sunday I will share with you what I've done myself + some dos and don'ts

finished hand-colouring!

Strike a Pose, hand-coloured screen print, limited edition of 9

Full moon, hand-coloured screen print, limited edition of 10 the Fairy Godmother, hand-coloured screen print, limited edition of 10

Cinderella, hand-coloured screen print, limited edition of 10

Finally. It wasn't the actual act of hand colouring that took time, but taking decisions. It had to be great, but look spontaneous and effortless.

2 walls 2 exhibitions

This week I am deciding on what to exhibit in my two upcoming separate exhibitions (in October and November). The exhibitions are overlapping and they have therefore to be different.

I use one wall in my studio for the November exhibition red as blood, black as night, white as snow (the title works better in Swedish: Blodrött, Nattsvart, Snövitt) which is going to consist of my Snow Whites (not in the photo), Superheroes and girls with ears (Disney and Japanese style). I use the other wall for seeing how the paintings and enamels for my October exhibition Images of happiness work together. Of course the gallery spaces are bigger than my studio walls - but it is just to get the idea.

I am very happy to be listed no 1 (before for example Design Sponge's Biz Ladies Series) of The Top Five Artist Entrepreneur Blogs on Guide to Online MBA!

Karma

Sometimes, even if I don't want to, I've been feeling envy. I hate the feeling, the "why he/she and not me?" and the "I want that too". [Even worse if it is a friend. Even if I felt the envy just for a short moment I hate myself for that ugly feeling I can't control]

But lately I've been turning into some kind of Buddha; everyone around me (OK, a bit exaggerated - just three friends) got these public commissions and I just felt so happy for them. Not even a split second of envy. I had accepted that public commissioned art wasn't for me - and I was so happy that these really talented people were getting the opportunity. I felt calm and happy about my insight and then it happened; on Thursday last week I got a phone call - I had been chosen to sketch for a public commissioned art piece. The exterior of a school, something big. I will present my suggestion on December 3 and I will really have to fuck up in order not to get the commission - as I am not competing with anyone else.

The only thing I have to do now is to liberate 4 weeks during autumn in order to work on my suggestion...

Art as Business Interview: Jonathan Josefsson [Ollio]

Jonathan Josefsson

How would you describe your art?

I started out as a graffiti artist 15 years ago and my art has been developing from that, some inspiration from the graffiti is still present in my art.

Today I work mainly with paintings in different formats, from small canvases to big murals. I also make hand-tufted rugs. The rugs have been my most popular artworks, maybe because they are quite unique in form and colour.


Jonathan Josefsson

I work a lot with abstract & very colourful landscapes, when I create these I work with a method where I try to disconnect my thoughts from what I’m doing. Sometimes that works, I like that. But in addition to that I also make paintings with a more cartoon figurative style, this is kind of new to me and I feel like I’m still in the first experimental phase. I don’t have a script or story for the whole paintings, but some of the characters do represent different people or feelings.


Jonathan Josefsson

I don’t have any bigger plan with my art; I just do what feels right for the moment. I like beautifully painted things and lots of colours, and that is also what I like to create.

Do you make a living out of your art and related practices – or do you combine it with another job?

I only work with my art, full-time - and that works right now. I can survive and that is my main goal. My plan is to ride this wave as long as it takes me, and I try not to think too much about tomorrow.

How long have you been working professionally as an artist?

I got my Master from HDK here in Gothenburg three years ago and I've been working professionally since then.

Have you had a big break? If not; any turning point?

Not yet, I think, I’m still waiting. But there have been several small uplifting happenings. One is that a gallery called Nordhems Konst Invited me almost a year ago, and we have been working together since then. Every time a gallery or museum contact me I find it very nice. And I’ve been lucky to get two big scholarships, which was a very positive kick in the ass.


Jonathan Josefsson

What is your primary client base?

I combine selling my artwork with making commissioned work and exhibitions as well as workshops and rehearsals.

Describe your work environment. Do you work alone or with others? In a studio or at home? Does this arrangement work for you, and if not, what would your ideal work environment look like?

I have a studio, which I right now share with my girlfriend who also works with art, we have lots of space and the plan is to expand and invite more artists to share the studio. I make most of my work there, but I also spend some time working on place specific works such as wall paintings and sometimes the studio feels more like a storage of colours and equipment than a studio.
When I work with screen print and the tufted rugs I work at KKV (konstnärernas kollektivverkstad) where I rent the workshop. Right now I also have an assistant who helps me with everything, that is awesome!


Jonathan Josefsson

Do you have a typical workday? How much time do you spend creating and how much on business related activities?

Yeah, we have two kids so we have to plan our working hours. I work mon-fri 8 am-4 pm. I think it’s a really good thing to have my planned working hours; otherwise it would be easy for me to work too much.

I try to do computer work (email, blog etc) one day a week and the other four days creating. That changes from week to week though, but it’s a good plan. I don’t like the computer work; it drains my energy and devours my time.

Which marketing strategies have/have not been successful in advancing your career?

Internet is the only one I’ve tried and I think it works fine. I have a blog which contains mostly photos, Facebook, Flickr, Myspace, Streetfiles, etc. No ordinary webpage though, which I often think is very overrated. Internet is easy to use and I reach lots of people in no time.

Can you share any tips on business organization or financial planning that have worked well for you?

Work with second hand materials. Make art out of crap, old machine parts, clothes or whatever inspires you at your local garbage container. I use a lot of second hand paint that I find at recycling centres. And I have contact with carpenters who get a lot of paint leftovers, and they are happy to give to me instead of throwing it away.

And use Internet for promotion, free sites where you make professional contacts as well as friends such as on Flickr!

Do you have any advice on how to rebound emotionally from rejection or difficult client situations?

Just ignore it and move on and beyond. Find a way to work creative even if you don’t feel for it, as a start platform for you creativity. Cause when the creative energies start to flow good feelings will come along, and new plans have already started.


Jonathan Josefsson

Based on your experience, what suggestions or lessons learned would you give to someone starting out as an artist?

Just find a way to work that suits you. That suits your situation in life. THEN DO IT! Don’t wait for inspiration; create inspiration.

If you work with pictures, get a sketchbook where you can collect everything from sketches, doodles, pictures, photos and cut outs. AND KEEP EVERYTHING.


Jonathan Josefsson

What would you like to accomplish in 2010?

Just continue my evolution in painting; I’m very curious where this will lead me both as a career and the development of my own art.

What are your long-term career goals as an artist?

My goal is to have making art as my job, which I love, and at the same time manage to survive (pay the rent and give my family food). If I get to choose I would like to do more public art, outside on big walls!


Jonathan Josefsson

Finally: Can you share something inspiring?

Once again I must say Flickr! It’s a fantastic source with everything from photos to crafting and graffiti. It’s also a fun community where you can comment and share art, make friends and take part in projects. Here you have some of my favourites: 3KTA, elmac.net, Andrea Posada Escobar, dain, remed art and erosie erosie.


Jonathan Josefsson

dripping

Sometimes little good things happen, it's like raindrops: a municipal buying some of my screen prints one week, then an art consultant buying some other screen prints for the region the following week . I'm happy about it, of course, but yesterday I said to a friend I didn't just want small drops.

And then just an hour later a big drop fell.

I'll let you in on Monday. Until then: another Art as Business Interview to enjoy on Sunday.

torn

I have these two overlapping separate exhibitions coming up in October and November. The themes will be different and I feel confused right now. The Snow Whites (still not finished with the hand-colouring) will be for exhibition no 2 and the first exhibition will be about images of happiness. I tried to work on both today, but that didn't really work. One thing at a time, one thing at a time.

Tommy Hilding is a painter.

I have an intern

No, my intern is not Snow White. And my intern isn't helping me out in my studio or with my paperwork. He is my intern at the Equality Project within the Swedish Artists National Organisation (KRO). (yes, I am doing mostly unpaid work for an artist organisation again, but this one is good for networking - and for a good cause. I will get back to this when writing about networking in the art world in my series Art as Business).

Ah, I'm an important person now - I can boss him around (don't worry I won't). First time I met him he said he wanted to ask me a question and that I should answer directly and without reflecting about it.

he asked: What do you consider to be the meaning with life?
I answered: To have fun.

I surprised myself.