summing up 2010

I had 3 separate exhibitions

I participated in several group exhibitions with of Fishes and Birds (new exhibition opens on Monday in Utrecht!)

I sketched for a big commission and got the contract

I gave screen printing workshops for artists and at art schools

I worked with school kids under creative school (painted murals in 3 schools) and gave workshops in connection to my exhibition.

I designed a family for Esti's "We are a happy Family" card game

I draw Nurse Ratched for Postcards to Alphaville  - and designed a coffin for Happy Journey Collective

I coordinated seminars and was editor for a booklet within the projects Beyond Words (about quality concept within fine arts)  I got listed as number One on "Great Blogs from Artists Entrepreneurs" and started a series of Art as Business Interviews here on my blog.

photo session

A month ago my nephew turned one year old. Among other things he got a photo session as a birthday gift - with me as the photographer. We had really fun taking the photos ... it was just later I realized he must be a vampire; there's no one on the photos!

(just kidding)

ginger bread castle

It has got four towers and is made out of 41 pieces. We let the son do most of the decorating. ahhh vacation ....[not like I normally spend hours fiddling with projects just for the fun of it]

Christmas Vacation

I'm going to take two weeks off for Christmas, but I might drop in here now and then anyway.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

slippery day

Suddenly it got warmer and it rained this morning creating water puddles on the ice and snow. Super slippery (running this morning was very tricky). I was supposed to go by bus to the nearby town Borås to discuss dates for a future exhibition ... but all the buses were late because of the weather and road accidents, so after 1,5 hours I gave up. Instead I spent a lot of money on huge rolls of paper and other art supplies.

I tried to keep my balance carrying two 1,5 meter paper rolls, a huge cardboard parcel and 4 bags ... when a woman offered to help me carry, as she thought it looked impossible. I said "thanks, but no thanks" - but I thought it was very sweet of her. (why is it always women who offer to help me?) I twice moved in between studios with a shopping cart - took me several trips ... You have to do these things on your own now and then or you will become too comfortable.

3 things in the mail

Today the postman brought me:

• invitation cards for my exhibition in January
• a press clip about my workshop the other week
• a contract for the public commission

normally I don't get that much interesting. And especially not in a day. How about you? 

lucia

Today for show and tell I brought a photo from this morning: our Lucia celebration!

(otherwise I'm still just working with text for the book project Beyond Words - and haven't got much visually interesting to post from that process. When it comes to content there are some interesting things - but not enough time to translate and explain it right now)

sometimes I'm not working ...

Ok, I am working right now. And this autumn/winter very often too much. Then I forget too see things, to notice.I feel a second new year promise taking shape (the best ones you're not making up the last day of the year): take the time to see what's around me, to do something else.

If you are in Göteborg don't forget to visit the Christmas Market Julform this weekend! Cecilia and friends are arranging it so it' s going to be really good.

For more winter inspiration see Thereza's Christmas' calender of winter drawings

about making books

Yesterday I received a book I had ordered; Books, Boxes and Portfolios - Binding, Construction and Design Step-by-Step by Franz Zeier. It seems even better than I had hoped (very instructional and pedagogic) and is going to be my reward during Christmas. For some time now I've been dreaming about binding books and I've always been crazy about boxes,

This week I'm working 100% on a totally different kind of book and here it is all about content: a 32 pages book for the project Beyond Words [Bortom Orden] - about the quality concept within art. It's my responsibility to put everything together, polish the language and write the introduction. I quite enjoy it (I love writing) - which makes me realize even more how much I have hated all the coordinating and administration I've done for the project. So I've promised myself to not do any coordinating or administration at all in 2011 unless it is for my own art practice. After I made myself that promise I got so happy...

green apples next time?

I don't know what happens with  time - either it flies or I've just managed to get exhibitions kind of close to each other?

Last week I already had to chose image for the invitation card for my next exhibition - and decide the title. I decided to call the exhibition "Under the Surface" (Under Ytan) and picked the painting above for the invitation card. When I took this kitschy photo I didn't think about all the red apples I had on my last opening... But now I saw it - so it will be green ones the next time (not many people will understand why, but I will laugh)

Public Commission Brottkärr - approved

colour samples on aluminium from two different firms working with industrial exterior painting (bridges, vehicles etc)

This morning I presented my sketch for the Public Art Piece (the school in Brottkärr). The group (architects, art consultants, project leaders in construction, school-administration, politicians, the culture department and building maintenance) had no questions - not even the man from maintenance - were very happy with my suggestion and approved it. My colleagues Eric Magassa and Cecilia Pettersson also got their sketches approved today. Yeah! This calls for celebration together ... in one and a half week when all of us have got the time and are not ill (I'm still not well).

Where they spray-paint at one of the firms where I got my colour samples.

the workshop

the text says: "she could do more things than just sleep"

some of the images they made today at my workshop... (I'm feeling so much worse today; fever, pain in my whole body, almost lost my voice etc. Better turn off the computer and go to bed. And - Yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself!)