tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13836863588000519362024-03-09T17:17:22.043+01:00nancy.gronholm Painting, comics and illustration.Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-12408593279471527382024-03-09T17:16:00.001+01:002024-03-09T17:16:43.134+01:00Overcast Caturday.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqPnt4vImN_OQpiz8GrF0_2LDNHqDrvdpEBcNAgFDlfw6ePtQa5j3Xy7MCCQNih3ZnXHZ1WldqbM5Rl4R0fvQdcvC0HVIfnbkmtlnoAJx7UxvJ-nNfvwfdnou_D95I5LvCZmOxC_QXwxht-Mn-aumKyyZda31SOUedBjTM1tdBvRCNrzZloggLRyhxjo/s800/Jaguar%20gul%20ny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqPnt4vImN_OQpiz8GrF0_2LDNHqDrvdpEBcNAgFDlfw6ePtQa5j3Xy7MCCQNih3ZnXHZ1WldqbM5Rl4R0fvQdcvC0HVIfnbkmtlnoAJx7UxvJ-nNfvwfdnou_D95I5LvCZmOxC_QXwxht-Mn-aumKyyZda31SOUedBjTM1tdBvRCNrzZloggLRyhxjo/w640-h452/Jaguar%20gul%20ny.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> There's something so personal about pencil sketches, even though they don't always fit the job, they still have a special place in my heart. Is it the murkiness, the sharp lines, the soft layers? Possibly.<p></p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-48854844698524553612024-03-05T15:09:00.006+01:002024-03-05T15:09:50.313+01:00No squares please.<p>My next illustrated story will be titled something along the lines of "The Delta Tiger". The more I think about it, the more unsure I become. But I can't stop thinking so here we are.</p><p style="text-align: left;">How many storyboard drafts do you go through before the whole story is finished? I'm on my third, and it's getting cluttered again. But I think this will be the last version and from now on it's to be used strictly for note-keeping.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SzZ2Kal2IuWAZa2dqFNsVCx9xg90RplHK4lSH7rXNmYPGzhf-dDDRmNC6d7ti90k2k2zBjAPgKNkzPbtZBuk9k_6ZYqO5bsNiYIT7EB2UMJrmLzBui4Bf7ogaVtGBp1solX_ZlvmOKc5ACNLFy1B2LiTKpTB1s4FJ4aH1IwzWoNCYJUGf1MihiGa_3w/s800/uytu57u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SzZ2Kal2IuWAZa2dqFNsVCx9xg90RplHK4lSH7rXNmYPGzhf-dDDRmNC6d7ti90k2k2zBjAPgKNkzPbtZBuk9k_6ZYqO5bsNiYIT7EB2UMJrmLzBui4Bf7ogaVtGBp1solX_ZlvmOKc5ACNLFy1B2LiTKpTB1s4FJ4aH1IwzWoNCYJUGf1MihiGa_3w/w640-h452/uytu57u.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>But what I really wanted to write about were some of those little setbacks and mistakes you often fall for even though you always tell yourself you're definitely not doing it this time!</p><p>My annoying little habit is that I get stuck with the idea of the traditional comic book layout, with lots of structured frames and fractured pages. I love it when other people do it but it's all kinds of wrong for me.</p><p>Here's an example:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50fUdg6qnHoUJX4oxhVLua0AGZwYqJrM6cMJvNwuU7r1IPWm9jXGiYMG8n-MsYyWuiqjafk7SI-rAXlduSEouV72CJMkEOeQI6uG3oNRPnvgQwyRyKevhD5qV3RZXlmOQ_vmTI8h8T6I6CNlor4cs6g6-7Rs0bnDBoWWjXRJXZ2DG2rsLUwKgRBE8EPk/s800/gdrtwa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50fUdg6qnHoUJX4oxhVLua0AGZwYqJrM6cMJvNwuU7r1IPWm9jXGiYMG8n-MsYyWuiqjafk7SI-rAXlduSEouV72CJMkEOeQI6uG3oNRPnvgQwyRyKevhD5qV3RZXlmOQ_vmTI8h8T6I6CNlor4cs6g6-7Rs0bnDBoWWjXRJXZ2DG2rsLUwKgRBE8EPk/w640-h452/gdrtwa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>It's got squares, the wrong colour scheme, and it lacks life.<div><br /></div><div>This one however ...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrGzH1OSfi7uv3URhYnCi5GV2qUAJpMGscCnI2cP2PPcDcSehM4kvbsvg3V4omWwCMd1gzmTp-Xms_Ymv_FmJF4oyKqudvBxwVa077DCJ1Kg54jNgl16OImUJvhZAXQdQ7S4bSjBJFjmoiP2hQF1MNaFREcLeaPlHcHklD4xB39pVp9jmGvNY3QF4atA/s800/jkjkjk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrGzH1OSfi7uv3URhYnCi5GV2qUAJpMGscCnI2cP2PPcDcSehM4kvbsvg3V4omWwCMd1gzmTp-Xms_Ymv_FmJF4oyKqudvBxwVa077DCJ1Kg54jNgl16OImUJvhZAXQdQ7S4bSjBJFjmoiP2hQF1MNaFREcLeaPlHcHklD4xB39pVp9jmGvNY3QF4atA/w640-h452/jkjkjk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is a lot looser, has a palette that fits the story, and has much more character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then there's this one; although needing some cleaning up, I find it delightful with its sketchy lines:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wVHnlOtLk12Gm2bVJ86pYM-XdaNcWR1v4WCut9cCR8ROHVewC1gjSC2wdmTz7lOb1r6oHBOX-cyCDfGt1tnFGlgp3RVtMCX3D-T_yTuXrmMuqzwB5gORjQuZeJh7wDglfjJ8i78lvsqhCHJ6wK8K_PaMtzNuuSjcvkLKrIrRj0RTgnXG4wxAsL1MN-I/s800/7878yughj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wVHnlOtLk12Gm2bVJ86pYM-XdaNcWR1v4WCut9cCR8ROHVewC1gjSC2wdmTz7lOb1r6oHBOX-cyCDfGt1tnFGlgp3RVtMCX3D-T_yTuXrmMuqzwB5gORjQuZeJh7wDglfjJ8i78lvsqhCHJ6wK8K_PaMtzNuuSjcvkLKrIrRj0RTgnXG4wxAsL1MN-I/w640-h452/7878yughj.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Just a few details to bring the last two images together into the same story and I'll be happy with it!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-61825836019975580062023-08-27T22:12:00.001+02:002024-02-03T11:03:31.820+01:00Sketching on a Sunday.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrHFyuXfZ0eYkHkySGTIybeQ3XZBCJyvhB0o6MT7UxSDppOxMJYdpIDHxfV4z6JhVb4tbGF8lQ1Oi1l_5uOrvfdQk70QCdFofGc1Xi_OK4vXIcyczVSAARcLAxDf2dYQzombmfsIHePYjUFMGxDwiugzG7NeH6mtsfst2SCErtcm4fkMwSSjNhA7LEg/s640/yiuuk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GrHFyuXfZ0eYkHkySGTIybeQ3XZBCJyvhB0o6MT7UxSDppOxMJYdpIDHxfV4z6JhVb4tbGF8lQ1Oi1l_5uOrvfdQk70QCdFofGc1Xi_OK4vXIcyczVSAARcLAxDf2dYQzombmfsIHePYjUFMGxDwiugzG7NeH6mtsfst2SCErtcm4fkMwSSjNhA7LEg/s16000/yiuuk.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been trying to keep my weekends free to do other things but ... it's art, is it even possible to resist for ever?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week I haven't had any gardening projects to distract myself with so I decided to tackle my unwillingness to decide on a style for my next story. I so do enjoy pencil but it's not the style I want. So I'm trying all sorts and not falling for any.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The obvious answer would be to just pick one and go for it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But going for the obvious is harder than one might think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Digital is quick, convenient and fun:</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOueNG_PslbRhX5Er5d5N3X3VAU5iCNHWWbfZP0leBHSY7W_kz34X6NYc83o2qXzk_evbLk1aV_N0-WVj7sF5C91qdAozREeGEwHqGDKqWZ93rFuk1pHUHU504b6DXHOV0CcSC7XnwzEWWyrC75wKQWi8N6n6giTtyfW_coBd-HMyFfJMMS6pnPC8lyY/s640/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOueNG_PslbRhX5Er5d5N3X3VAU5iCNHWWbfZP0leBHSY7W_kz34X6NYc83o2qXzk_evbLk1aV_N0-WVj7sF5C91qdAozREeGEwHqGDKqWZ93rFuk1pHUHU504b6DXHOV0CcSC7XnwzEWWyrC75wKQWi8N6n6giTtyfW_coBd-HMyFfJMMS6pnPC8lyY/s16000/1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DNBl3dTFNPJky6r-cUh-zDpCjFfBf9RRScyObgtKK1HDtueg_ffuh0xZ7Jf827FZjvE_3VZ8aZkX8kZBehmMR9uTsrtxfVchGsr8UxGqPi3ai3swhwDiqjLTcsN-OSGo4iN-XOCLhBOZEZfexz-P4eXobGb97-0HKcY-zxgq-7ApRZl220aiN2DPIe4/s640/uiuiui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DNBl3dTFNPJky6r-cUh-zDpCjFfBf9RRScyObgtKK1HDtueg_ffuh0xZ7Jf827FZjvE_3VZ8aZkX8kZBehmMR9uTsrtxfVchGsr8UxGqPi3ai3swhwDiqjLTcsN-OSGo4iN-XOCLhBOZEZfexz-P4eXobGb97-0HKcY-zxgq-7ApRZl220aiN2DPIe4/s16000/uiuiui.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpE24M4AYXcluF_fdq02Wo88q-Bpqy98GcrLqUh6LfDYZgUnvmney9vXpAP0zadjBvtADagUfshzZJdd0znAn-CVbpI209siXzA-5B99LdBxQCL7qTwx5BPLD6NK8Z-bvTBpnZQ80Oph4zqq3dHi8O97n1QOVN5cvRpAX8WP-BfVvcAFjAmK_vqWPXKo/s640/uy78yg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpE24M4AYXcluF_fdq02Wo88q-Bpqy98GcrLqUh6LfDYZgUnvmney9vXpAP0zadjBvtADagUfshzZJdd0znAn-CVbpI209siXzA-5B99LdBxQCL7qTwx5BPLD6NK8Z-bvTBpnZQ80Oph4zqq3dHi8O97n1QOVN5cvRpAX8WP-BfVvcAFjAmK_vqWPXKo/s16000/uy78yg.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oil crayons are buttery and so nice to use:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCiJsC52IZN8RVCFZsEzbWmYN_1QYoPrdNyuUwbKXFumC4ERpE3cn1goU3vfNjDDSe956SGSxLb9hzapqeVPwPiqYpoYFDfeooDRRbG6fvpaxzCX7oAK8XM3yWGy9SudRp_HLO-wJRIa2rS40m7jknMAQ0AfnJQ0kzBtb4zwC3D0EY8nwsKGrtQsdtWo/s640/P1020472.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCiJsC52IZN8RVCFZsEzbWmYN_1QYoPrdNyuUwbKXFumC4ERpE3cn1goU3vfNjDDSe956SGSxLb9hzapqeVPwPiqYpoYFDfeooDRRbG6fvpaxzCX7oAK8XM3yWGy9SudRp_HLO-wJRIa2rS40m7jknMAQ0AfnJQ0kzBtb4zwC3D0EY8nwsKGrtQsdtWo/s16000/P1020472.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ink is such a favourite,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlDi4caIpgxOHDJwQGf8KUCi_KaHy8z77ecmeHaYzTmMCV-EJXlFZa8ok4gGGi8BJCtidYmiuwvc83iirAFkQ0xH0lBDywXWTh9_UZP5z-qfAO4g9uQ_ckpa3G4f_2boeEgyfG0fwxgVczKPQG1fVl_epZpgNUyIt_jOgL3kY1qZC1J5N_bunz9Fq3e8/s640/P1020474.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlDi4caIpgxOHDJwQGf8KUCi_KaHy8z77ecmeHaYzTmMCV-EJXlFZa8ok4gGGi8BJCtidYmiuwvc83iirAFkQ0xH0lBDywXWTh9_UZP5z-qfAO4g9uQ_ckpa3G4f_2boeEgyfG0fwxgVczKPQG1fVl_epZpgNUyIt_jOgL3kY1qZC1J5N_bunz9Fq3e8/s16000/P1020474.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">less for the result, and so much for the enjoyment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfeDBvUrRTAoQ5uALwDvS_pc0_hTR8m2QdjlLSrDH17YZbdE6VtLBM99WOy9hJhJZMNSC7U-vJT53XRzFNXyW9vfRYxYv9enXllufCeQGLqvAXYxzv4n4RqkBjc75Vbjd0hvszq-dfIxuAGCntdpPACJqnpWEqMNkboDLsbQkO4Z-EWP3HvCdcFQTfI4/s640/P1020473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfeDBvUrRTAoQ5uALwDvS_pc0_hTR8m2QdjlLSrDH17YZbdE6VtLBM99WOy9hJhJZMNSC7U-vJT53XRzFNXyW9vfRYxYv9enXllufCeQGLqvAXYxzv4n4RqkBjc75Vbjd0hvszq-dfIxuAGCntdpPACJqnpWEqMNkboDLsbQkO4Z-EWP3HvCdcFQTfI4/s16000/P1020473.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here are some charcoal sketches:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5r69afFaedQ" width="481" youtube-src-id="5r69afFaedQ"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had glimpses of a bright autumn sun today, so that's the self-portrait for this week.💙</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP95DIDBc3P15k1QG0Z4oMjrcwmeB_un5sf8WLjcUv1nPc2ZzneRVmziWbMlolVj9uIznZzgfJiYbKJY1JAu12xt5vxQR772EgMzUFAAypfE3zTU30_aGNqSz32EapL3YKSWx6UodHpa39lc02qJFTnd3NFQy2_OU_xgKgWikABygWJS36sYC09JkJctc/s640/Mediespelare%202023-08-27%2021_16_12%20(1).png.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP95DIDBc3P15k1QG0Z4oMjrcwmeB_un5sf8WLjcUv1nPc2ZzneRVmziWbMlolVj9uIznZzgfJiYbKJY1JAu12xt5vxQR772EgMzUFAAypfE3zTU30_aGNqSz32EapL3YKSWx6UodHpa39lc02qJFTnd3NFQy2_OU_xgKgWikABygWJS36sYC09JkJctc/s16000/Mediespelare%202023-08-27%2021_16_12%20(1).png.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-62431818762297844312023-08-20T22:08:00.001+02:002023-08-27T22:13:25.514+02:00Summer night arting.<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you, like me, live closer to the earth's poles than you do to the middle, you'll know the feeling and despair of our short summers. Over the past few years, I've taken to spending my evenings in the garden, doing various crafts; slow things that may take a summer to finish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And today, in what could very well be the last throes of summer, I got the camera out to document this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Two years ago, I made a cat out of a few leftover pieces of timber. He now sits atop a wooden post, forever reaching to jump off.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi6fI7ZCiLph78-KsYLT1P2EaJcChL5I-nKVkzhD_Ap1xe09MKn5PatuH02p3uuZCzWtq1JcLFNSKs6WmxZpXzMIyWpv4sENI6Yg9x4veitPtv0c0Em_97RQf17PzVLpV3P68kRCsbMvWj21zy_Nj7h8FRBbBy2s620FmNcxkJp3tNdJhwMoso0xQI_U/w300-h400/P1020232.jpg" width="300" /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The year after, I made a raven. I still had some pieces left from the stash I used for the cat and, again, I cut out the shapes, glued them into a larger figure, and painted it black. The drilled eye is painted light green, and his eye twinkles when the sun shines through it. </div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div> <img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8OcG_hf7IsObGHVJifQSVVEHS0K_Rx_qLikqosi_iZ7nL98CvCW8F9kzKD_C0mbjTsrSQK4jfRjRVo7Ov_lD6a8sgrmvszF8YC9O77ftvqtFZbk2_ik4eDtH4CLucwd4GoHe5ZQlorRANRfa2r5UXDR8vmzg-TvW6q7rNaIQK2g-4rfw9sD_fyvlkDk/w300-h400/P1020222.JPG" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">This summer I was out of the thick planks I'd used previously, so this one had to get a separate base to stand on. I sawed a little piece off a bamboo stick and painted it white. It's not the most elegant of solutions but at a distance, it's barely visible. Perhaps I'll paint it sky coloured next year. </div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">All these creatures move like wind vanes. I like that.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvLYZgBCP_iS255y_lKwYDRXulPvz_SzmnAxc8H0pVnY-bEEavpZ1rB_4XjKKZ2283pEnYCb4hmca1lTdbJuAFWC7YITx28oHS14vTxYtEPtT2BDGnWREFK97S-uBZNksXWGFBmJgLL1w25Qli9IJE91kTtkV0GQ4wgHNQh2pJ__wqzCv9OKlvSmpssk/w300-h400/P1020243.jpg" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One late evening earlier this year, I got the impulse to use up the leftover acrylic paint on my palette. So I spent that warm summer night painting squiggles on some wooden posts. It took me a few evenings and more than just some leftover paint to finish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwVS8F8J-vR6rOuBRIXhkGboRHuPHsH6AY2jyyWFPfNWMGkzEjYiFUtvU1vWUGHZegM3cSZYmYtw0yHe9jtUdpXCzVVViLERo6m4Y3OPb1cd9J6Su126mfhyL89KdqeuSpWEmQuca9BiNg2MlpONk3-Fbl-QyemYmepRMvLVQkVp9X6sUavbqsk8iaXE/s640/P1020250.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwVS8F8J-vR6rOuBRIXhkGboRHuPHsH6AY2jyyWFPfNWMGkzEjYiFUtvU1vWUGHZegM3cSZYmYtw0yHe9jtUdpXCzVVViLERo6m4Y3OPb1cd9J6Su126mfhyL89KdqeuSpWEmQuca9BiNg2MlpONk3-Fbl-QyemYmepRMvLVQkVp9X6sUavbqsk8iaXE/s16000/P1020250.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs1VlEa4ejXEtSQqSOS9yyfCRnVitONHapQJhtPWijtt-STGnn3Sz7zpoaKaKZVegLkre8W4sPGmwJ--sUCQLgBhL8hGfqV7xxYNTp-m4u1DW7IWd12O4BG7MzPf7uA7TVtkt7cqMaXsTo-4rJZuE5pEmYjun1DXUd0tJ6yX0JmS0niYAM4UXokYy1cs/s640/P1020254.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs1VlEa4ejXEtSQqSOS9yyfCRnVitONHapQJhtPWijtt-STGnn3Sz7zpoaKaKZVegLkre8W4sPGmwJ--sUCQLgBhL8hGfqV7xxYNTp-m4u1DW7IWd12O4BG7MzPf7uA7TVtkt7cqMaXsTo-4rJZuE5pEmYjun1DXUd0tJ6yX0JmS0niYAM4UXokYy1cs/s16000/P1020254.jpg" /></a>These posts give support to the plants, and the one closest to the camera is the one the cat sits on. It's still unpainted, but I'm leaving that for another year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And I'm leaving this week with a Sunday selfie. I look so serious, but I feel even stranger smiling for the camera.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgX07O1vvFAWbW6L97eLEuAW5hpes7PMPolMrsWhXQyubpg0xRhywaLjZm89RB4zyqWmNJIBX8OA34JuiyROlmmnod0LjtgezQCxyoocxAkGy4ivJ3uUVB46jd7Jj5YqBR6SOjx4DY697faA0hPLAUdRBDmzg40rrYzf8csuKJMII1JBcb7o551axmjA/s640/P1020174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgX07O1vvFAWbW6L97eLEuAW5hpes7PMPolMrsWhXQyubpg0xRhywaLjZm89RB4zyqWmNJIBX8OA34JuiyROlmmnod0LjtgezQCxyoocxAkGy4ivJ3uUVB46jd7Jj5YqBR6SOjx4DY697faA0hPLAUdRBDmzg40rrYzf8csuKJMII1JBcb7o551axmjA/s16000/P1020174.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-30671834029938169432023-04-23T15:06:00.001+02:002023-04-23T15:07:23.168+02:00A dinosaur pop-up card!<p>Now that there's a brand new nephew in the family, I have an obvious destination for some of my more cute crafts, and since his birthday is coming up, I made him a fun little pop-up, featuring one of his favourite obsessions, a dinosaur.</p><p>Now, I'm one of those people who don't read instructions, I simply find it more fun to figure it out for myself, if possible. So this isn't so much a tutorial as a quick demonstration of how I made this fun little card.</p><p>I started out by cutting the shapes I wanted to use: one dinosaur (in his favorite colour), one dark green background in a leafy sort of shape, one leafy leaf in a lighter green and one spiky in lime. The dinosaur and the dark background got a base for standing on.</p><p>Once I had all the parts of the pop-up, I cut a piece large enough to act as the main card for the pop-up to sit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXWcresvl8kqMAlnjxafm791SSLFAGFDsbYyKwDxdEBsCnz6dd8VX_-_P6m_eqAXaohX-VCB71hstXwFl744lh7IuLiQx0jdYXmhHPaCdFKNF7BgFGwKYreiGmFQ4snVZMd5pt0tbKTOvOqDxEVCZag8yHPyGHcgQfC45Z6aYg1bBwuQaWE3rK8a_/s800/P1010190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXWcresvl8kqMAlnjxafm791SSLFAGFDsbYyKwDxdEBsCnz6dd8VX_-_P6m_eqAXaohX-VCB71hstXwFl744lh7IuLiQx0jdYXmhHPaCdFKNF7BgFGwKYreiGmFQ4snVZMd5pt0tbKTOvOqDxEVCZag8yHPyGHcgQfC45Z6aYg1bBwuQaWE3rK8a_/s320/P1010190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxZ_dI6iNwDTmhFPggvAm-QzDuC4bE5ETJo5VAIACP5GRxVVyKwHZmjZq7rszDnIeCn37dYBG4Yai07-TJORdx-tqhIJPxLwLyltsu1lVNuICR_l_D2BCE-C_0-z1eCC5qUiZRW4ZRSdY_mUZByci58HxsqSbvZW7WdQNBSPbv51gk535N8kp2Pm_/s788/P1010193.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="788" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxZ_dI6iNwDTmhFPggvAm-QzDuC4bE5ETJo5VAIACP5GRxVVyKwHZmjZq7rszDnIeCn37dYBG4Yai07-TJORdx-tqhIJPxLwLyltsu1lVNuICR_l_D2BCE-C_0-z1eCC5qUiZRW4ZRSdY_mUZByci58HxsqSbvZW7WdQNBSPbv51gk535N8kp2Pm_/s320/P1010193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The reason I didn't make the bases of equal sizes was because I wanted the dinosaur to stand a fair bit in front of the background. Since I didn't know the exact angles, I left enough paper to have it butt up against the green so it could act as a guide. I'll show you in a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once I'd folded the base, I marked and cut it down the middle. I also folded the pop-ups along the same line. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP6q7OJk3hUuF243lLxrX43786t-HSiYTsuWkchvCs9RJedq5ZwtXenMIEs724dEeYwmmVoTO1ETLzJ-gODug1ACoOFG8H6r_XFlqwQhcYOQUWScYeljrOd4n-HjFdKeIF7jfpCL2_JgCaWa66vz5uuvH0SJEYoMsnacGXxE0drfXFcdGumQNIXYS/s800/FJIMG_20230420_160955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP6q7OJk3hUuF243lLxrX43786t-HSiYTsuWkchvCs9RJedq5ZwtXenMIEs724dEeYwmmVoTO1ETLzJ-gODug1ACoOFG8H6r_XFlqwQhcYOQUWScYeljrOd4n-HjFdKeIF7jfpCL2_JgCaWa66vz5uuvH0SJEYoMsnacGXxE0drfXFcdGumQNIXYS/w320-h200/FJIMG_20230420_160955.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">The photo shows the fold inwards but since the pop-up is going to fold </span><i style="text-align: center;">into</i><span style="text-align: center;"> the card, hiding inside it, make sure to fold it the other way around. Imagine the v-shape of this photo below, turned into an "A" or a mountain shape instead. (You'll see what I mean further down).</span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk8ZW_Vp3MvD7lWq2bMFlMw6uBmaQKfXZL0-iNsTnh5MHgZdYM5DGyJU2lh-VqNu-zLep5etX_kjZ2MoOcgu7tL_bn74gJ0sjjB4GelBwaQx7yxovoWILqD1q0CWCSwz43PBOoAKEnEzQSWloS8l3t3IRj_Md-kxhBlHW7RokNaDcKQHAcZtvxCfo/s800/FJIMG_20230420_161336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk8ZW_Vp3MvD7lWq2bMFlMw6uBmaQKfXZL0-iNsTnh5MHgZdYM5DGyJU2lh-VqNu-zLep5etX_kjZ2MoOcgu7tL_bn74gJ0sjjB4GelBwaQx7yxovoWILqD1q0CWCSwz43PBOoAKEnEzQSWloS8l3t3IRj_Md-kxhBlHW7RokNaDcKQHAcZtvxCfo/w320-h178/FJIMG_20230420_161336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before moving on to the assemblage, I added details using coloured pencils and glued the leaves onto the background (I used double-sided tape because that's what I had available). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBASYith_evRC7Q4r-V7s9MjEsNoVI9_TehcI15gcQFeEvoR7DFtZz9W-i8WCygbnkLFKUJat6kYGGmgzl-DoLP6e_fQfbxPX6VfMDUWLQmi5gWUmM6gzDRkuh3pBi5NGtHKN2LzCElz3zWvZvD0tbnHKCV3hTJBFooYt1G6qsefEgte5h2of3nf8/s800/P1010191.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBASYith_evRC7Q4r-V7s9MjEsNoVI9_TehcI15gcQFeEvoR7DFtZz9W-i8WCygbnkLFKUJat6kYGGmgzl-DoLP6e_fQfbxPX6VfMDUWLQmi5gWUmM6gzDRkuh3pBi5NGtHKN2LzCElz3zWvZvD0tbnHKCV3hTJBFooYt1G6qsefEgte5h2of3nf8/s320/P1010191.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuGXnL9rvG1WMrTj9yBveKV46JEUDlZH2HnJW5rv_UXaiwOt69X9vokJCStGwjbL1rskbfmyPQzCqH1POWGnWCLnxZLiLWzfVg5GMFw8WL9x0WCMr54MZ4Riv4gJu7753fLOdlghd91C_TAC-gh46ySnryXviVnpkIMN8avndwrOwIjPQK4T5YZxS/s800/P1010192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuGXnL9rvG1WMrTj9yBveKV46JEUDlZH2HnJW5rv_UXaiwOt69X9vokJCStGwjbL1rskbfmyPQzCqH1POWGnWCLnxZLiLWzfVg5GMFw8WL9x0WCMr54MZ4Riv4gJu7753fLOdlghd91C_TAC-gh46ySnryXviVnpkIMN8avndwrOwIjPQK4T5YZxS/s320/P1010192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now comes the tricky part!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since I wanted space in front of the pop-up to add extra decoration, I placed the base of the background at the very top of the paper I was using as the main card. The fold (and cut) of the base goes right in the middle of the card, just where the card itself folds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By folding the two sides of the base and letting them overlap in the middle (where I made the cut), I could make the paper stand up on its own without flopping over. I adjusted it until I found an angle I thought would work. Then I cut off the bits sticking out of the card's edges.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGvSXGp2dsIOV-yXxJSaqYSlisOURr233kX_d3-RWTu6GwOvdKcb2uZjKgh5dlv6B8fcER9G_MO8Wi1Wcfha-hwHV3GqnACJXmNvT0yKyjtpkBHCfif54caXqONtO4vmODs7TqKMlUo-BoTovL3iaIfoS4qH5U66Qzg62MfDdMEkvZ5ty028R6Wfl/s800/FJIMG_20230420_165532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGvSXGp2dsIOV-yXxJSaqYSlisOURr233kX_d3-RWTu6GwOvdKcb2uZjKgh5dlv6B8fcER9G_MO8Wi1Wcfha-hwHV3GqnACJXmNvT0yKyjtpkBHCfif54caXqONtO4vmODs7TqKMlUo-BoTovL3iaIfoS4qH5U66Qzg62MfDdMEkvZ5ty028R6Wfl/w320-h230/FJIMG_20230420_165532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I took the dinosaur and overlapped its base the same way I did the background. And by pushing it up against the background, I knew that the angle would be exactly the same and there would be no risk of the folds not fitting into each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ma222YQ8WaqAGce1UC7PvKt4LMBFacA7Fc4wPe5ID6GLQu6X-zw7XrgCaZrbUUf0VLp5a5agYWNnFeW3kvIZb7RQLM7OXOz62PqrDuJquT5wQHXNgmJIYdvB4pWPITkNlL-yGR9h9pknBbHldSYTb3CZT-6PI81lk6uIVG1da4roq3r_x8ql35Y1/s800/FJIMG_20230420_170238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ma222YQ8WaqAGce1UC7PvKt4LMBFacA7Fc4wPe5ID6GLQu6X-zw7XrgCaZrbUUf0VLp5a5agYWNnFeW3kvIZb7RQLM7OXOz62PqrDuJquT5wQHXNgmJIYdvB4pWPITkNlL-yGR9h9pknBbHldSYTb3CZT-6PI81lk6uIVG1da4roq3r_x8ql35Y1/s320/FJIMG_20230420_170238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here you can also see what I mean about the folds going outwards rather than inwards. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AxFOyCOxGRObB4vEmc-nnouNX8DCE4Q-iPgNMohiwKNBVqtDc3V7-BeFpL4Hr3Ud_mVlw1Ou5S1uG54-cGec8zNy7PffUvmnboSVDCs1fePXa7LL9BBfG5pzPsCVt2txRVVhSofzjl5J0nBP34OX5iqy2HS8U-HtUlpDpWOULicPzLg6M_4AIFrU/s800/FJIMG_20230420_170234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AxFOyCOxGRObB4vEmc-nnouNX8DCE4Q-iPgNMohiwKNBVqtDc3V7-BeFpL4Hr3Ud_mVlw1Ou5S1uG54-cGec8zNy7PffUvmnboSVDCs1fePXa7LL9BBfG5pzPsCVt2txRVVhSofzjl5J0nBP34OX5iqy2HS8U-HtUlpDpWOULicPzLg6M_4AIFrU/s320/FJIMG_20230420_170234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here's the finished card, with added leaves and text glued flat onto the card itself, both inside and on the front of the card.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="362" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V7FXB8gI_jo" width="320" youtube-src-id="V7FXB8gI_jo"></iframe></div><br /></div>Do you think he'll like it? I used all my nephew's favourite colours and subjects so I expect a nice little reaction video sent in return. ;)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div><br />Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-81850547808034037212023-03-19T12:26:00.003+01:002023-04-05T19:59:55.001+02:00Mistakes make the human.<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p>Errare Humanum Est. That was our chosen class motto in upper secondary school. Our class was an art specialisation program (humanistisk linje) and latin seemed the obvious choice. Sure, half the class took it more as an excuse to be silly in the vein of "boys will be boys" but that's teens for you. That shirt still hangs around, even if it's at the bottom of a drawer :</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cXQJmWGxDks7cG389ykeNYMDWfocTwqOsD2XWTRNdfJ9XcUCLgAlOl1pqFoLG0cSotxLIbxtNh32PZIlhu1NK2NSB4n-uGO51WoVa1vRaX0rTQIMGHCxjP-j48x1nuCmifueldNlWMXP6Nh8OPSuLLoFtfvXXI-_pWYXWK8SpxKxq69ev2_WJB4E/s930/Film&TV%202023-04-05%2018_40_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="930" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cXQJmWGxDks7cG389ykeNYMDWfocTwqOsD2XWTRNdfJ9XcUCLgAlOl1pqFoLG0cSotxLIbxtNh32PZIlhu1NK2NSB4n-uGO51WoVa1vRaX0rTQIMGHCxjP-j48x1nuCmifueldNlWMXP6Nh8OPSuLLoFtfvXXI-_pWYXWK8SpxKxq69ev2_WJB4E/s320/Film&TV%202023-04-05%2018_40_08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Because, of course, it </span><i style="text-align: left;">is</i><span style="text-align: left;"> human to make mistakes. Not only human but essential to our very existence, after all, how would a fully conscious infant even work? </span></div><p>If I were to make a list of every character flaw in existence, I'd probably tick most, if not all of them. At the same time, there is an obvious scale between overeating a delicious chocolate cake once, and being a glutton. </p><p>So yes, mistakes are alright, sometimes even desirable, but what do we do when we get stuck, when no matter how many mistakes we make, we don't move forward? </p><p>Move sideways? Backwards? Climb up a roof?</p><p>Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. I've tried every trick I could think of but I'm still stuck in my painting. I enjoy the process no matter what the result but at some point, there has to be a satisfactory end result too, right?</p><p>The thing with feeling silly about your attempts or feeling like you don't even have anything worthwhile to express at all is that your plummeting confidence spills out onto the rest of your life. I'm at a place right now where the moment I go to post my art, it feels superficial and performative, as if I'm fishing for likes. And so I get even more discouraged and the cycle continues. Actually, nowadays I don't even get to the point of posting, I'm just generally disappointed. </p><p>There is a YouTube art channel called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Art2Life" target="_blank">Art2Life</a> and I've done their yearly free workshop a couple of times now. The founder, Nicholas Wilton has a way of pinpointing all those insecurities and inspiring you to search for the art within yourself. I find the workshop and the podcasts genuinely inspirational. </p><p>Unfortunately, as soon as the show ends I always forget all my insights, and my notes look like nothing. For my errors to become useful, I need more intense daily practical work, in an environment that leaves no room in my head for everyday life. <a href="https://www.art2life.com/" target="_blank">The Art2Life program</a> sounds like a dream but it's out of my budget. However, <a href="https://www.lunnevad.se/utbildningar/konst/konstlab-distanskurs/" target="_blank">I found something similar</a>, almost free and closer to home that I'll be applying to soon.</p><p>It's so strange to think that I used to "just do it", when now I feel anxious about sending in crappy work samples, and my first and continuous thought is that I shouldn't even bother because I won't get in anyway. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrKH2XLTAISSDIyAIorM1TIPBWSCdKHqknVye7lVMz1fSml9v4UmP65wIQ2IWpr5JJslHNtD6on6a5EciTwXFgnCqdVRcUIc7OtYHmyw7CGHSqLtTQQ-nuV7j5iz180Xw_MdYHlD2AF4cE7jUxLCuukJGNtvZ4F39_fYl7Z1XX5PNMHg528vd4nLB/s2984/jhjh.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2984" data-original-width="2256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrKH2XLTAISSDIyAIorM1TIPBWSCdKHqknVye7lVMz1fSml9v4UmP65wIQ2IWpr5JJslHNtD6on6a5EciTwXFgnCqdVRcUIc7OtYHmyw7CGHSqLtTQQ-nuV7j5iz180Xw_MdYHlD2AF4cE7jUxLCuukJGNtvZ4F39_fYl7Z1XX5PNMHg528vd4nLB/w242-h320/jhjh.png" width="242" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I've turned into a sad old lady and if I don't fix it soon, before I know it, I'll be snarling at passersby and yelling at the neighbourhood kids for pinching the plums I barely eat anyway. </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-57765284070674754132023-01-25T16:29:00.001+01:002023-01-25T16:29:48.629+01:00Time for an Insta-break.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y00EwjWwgHbwav6AU3duPcQvBW748ejYXVrKFmIgpXeig68VG4vbkoO2D_5E_dbWT1OAilbDzyiSvSqW-i5F4jbaAvPLKUVewvGZsopkKM-yPK1NHpa1qYxI4PrADQX6jrieeZIZ_lgBSby-ZNAlHH2PKWpQxkHo8uX_y1ufFJyf1q4P0V1L8YDj/s1024/FJIMG_20230125_143614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y00EwjWwgHbwav6AU3duPcQvBW748ejYXVrKFmIgpXeig68VG4vbkoO2D_5E_dbWT1OAilbDzyiSvSqW-i5F4jbaAvPLKUVewvGZsopkKM-yPK1NHpa1qYxI4PrADQX6jrieeZIZ_lgBSby-ZNAlHH2PKWpQxkHo8uX_y1ufFJyf1q4P0V1L8YDj/s16000/FJIMG_20230125_143614.jpg" /></a></div><br /> Yes, because I'm exhausted and it's turning me slightly bitter. Posting is a bit of a chore when I just want to share all the pretty things I'm making but feel like I'm fishing for compliments. I don't want to post because I don't want people to feel obliged to respond. Silly but there it is.<p></p><p>So I'm going on a mini Insta-vacation.</p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-81514229170691413112022-12-17T15:54:00.005+01:002022-12-24T16:41:08.093+01:00Life without art; Art in space.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmVPEXaRwRjHX1HBxV6JSP-V5mTinkTARc5IAk5nFY6oHG4pOON1mTqowve9M76rTHV_isugamSmG9GOC0stUNFy9jZ0jXuc9OrCi9G6_-odbN55_NCaZNy9Sjm78BtWl5y7F1YiKp8-tVIwpp70RzLsR0SrwYyuLRkqudgy2hTYTP4ZIE_qVTHYm/s600/klkllk32mindre.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmVPEXaRwRjHX1HBxV6JSP-V5mTinkTARc5IAk5nFY6oHG4pOON1mTqowve9M76rTHV_isugamSmG9GOC0stUNFy9jZ0jXuc9OrCi9G6_-odbN55_NCaZNy9Sjm78BtWl5y7F1YiKp8-tVIwpp70RzLsR0SrwYyuLRkqudgy2hTYTP4ZIE_qVTHYm/s16000/klkllk32mindre.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p> ”Where man goes, art should go” said artist Ellery Kurtz, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/22/arts/art-people-ellery-kurtz-paintings-will-orbit-earth.html" target="_blank">this article</a> in the New York Times in 1985 ahead of the experiment that would send four of his paintings into the earth's orbit. Would the old-world medium of oil painting survive the environment of zero gravity?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Apparently, the art supplies as well as the art, came back safely.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The idea was originally sparked by <a href="https://verticalhorizons.biz" target="_blank">Vertical Horizons</a> founded by Ellery Kurtz and environmental psychologist Howard Wishnow.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One of their conversations leading into this adventure had been about what it would be like to travel through space and to <i>live</i> in space without art. What impact would the lack of manmade beauty have on the human psyche?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Is it even possible for humans to exist without art of some kind? Visual art (the only kind we still have evidence of) has been around since the beginning of our species; how does one even imagine a world without it? I wonder if people would start drawing on the walls the way prisoners often have throughout history.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Oh, that went dark.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">But the reason I'm looking into this whole art in space thing now is next year's "<a href="https://dearmoon.earth/" target="_blank">dearMoon</a>" SpaceX mission. Entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa has invited along eight creators to orbit the Moon, with the hope that the experience will spark inspiration. So rather than taking artworks into space, he's giving the artists themselves an opportunity to get first-hand inspiration. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I'm excited to see the result!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Speaking of paints, I wonder if we'll be able to produce paint pigments from matter found in space?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Maybe we'll be able to paint our kitchens in shades of Terracotta Mars.</p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-58261398066748730502022-09-27T13:12:00.002+02:002022-09-27T13:41:52.921+02:00Making a paper fish sculpture!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="359" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zk5n65n5mP0" width="478" youtube-src-id="Zk5n65n5mP0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a bid to organise myself I've decided to concentrate my general crafting to the blog and keep Insta as a place for the finished stuff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the full, non-timelapsed making of the paper fish I used for the animation that was my entry to the endangered species art challenge hosted by @sunshine_inspired_fauna. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fish in question, although not very lifelike, is the Desert Pupfish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The art challenge is a fundraising one, in this case for the Center for Biological Diversity (@centerforbiodiv).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm constantly struggling to slow down, to not stress, and this was one of those projects I very consciously take on as I try to relax. Does anybody else find that it's much easier to relax when doing something? Especially if it's something hands on and fiddly!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-88083665613262950782022-08-08T14:41:00.057+02:002022-09-26T08:19:08.346+02:00Var dag // Each day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I49-OVdQ_no" width="481" youtube-src-id="I49-OVdQ_no"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>Det går så sakta. Men förhoppningsvis åt rätt håll. Jag vill ju helst återgå till att använda bloggningen som en digital dagbok där det inte spelar någon roll om folk ens läser det man postar och för att ta mig dit, tror jag att jag måste skriva på svenska. Det känns som att jag gör mig friare på så sätt, som om jag inte skriver för en publik. </p><p>Därmed inte sagt att jag slutar med engelskan! Google Translate må vara praktiskt för en läsare men jag vinner ju inget på det. </p><p>Nåväl, ett av veckans projekt blir att starta en ny berättelse; ovan syns de första orden.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><b><span style="color: #660000;">It's slow work getting this blogging thing just the way I want it. I'd like to go back to the days when I'd post without much thought to who - if anybody! - was reading it. And part of that journey I think goes through writing primarily in Swedish. Not that I'm giving up on English but it will have to come second just this once.</span></b></i></p><p><i><b><span style="color: #660000;">One of the projects this week will be the start of a new story. Above are the first words.</span></b></i></p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-25413869423200915632022-05-12T14:47:00.001+02:002022-05-12T14:47:12.083+02:00April recap; what have I done?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUNYoNsSkSG102jfYIAEDJi8vrEi75_mEhR2fANuj49tvZ5oPo8cQnqYlyQFG1TCTRzgkXozA7aMOS9RZ7sm78LHE76Mk46XfAIc_FPXPQvDyqs1z4W9IsjsI01szCN4tl0nuAx05kWH4uq31PWBuHXrAj_wgG9qYk6VC1MBcpceWURer7Jx8OWvn/s2160/IMG_0139.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2160" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUNYoNsSkSG102jfYIAEDJi8vrEi75_mEhR2fANuj49tvZ5oPo8cQnqYlyQFG1TCTRzgkXozA7aMOS9RZ7sm78LHE76Mk46XfAIc_FPXPQvDyqs1z4W9IsjsI01szCN4tl0nuAx05kWH4uq31PWBuHXrAj_wgG9qYk6VC1MBcpceWURer7Jx8OWvn/w400-h280/IMG_0139.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Well, not much, really, because I spent way too much time figuring out how to present a digital sketchbook that wasn't just a screen recording of me clicking open every file. In the end it was my newly acquired iPad that offered up a solution - with the Keynote app, a program for doing presentations, like PowerPoint.</p><p>But here's the end result:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yEnnhXtSm0I" width="480" youtube-src-id="yEnnhXtSm0I"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I also used Shotcut, a free, open-source video editing software, to pull it all together. And Procreate for the animations.</p><p>You may have noticed that I'm not doing the voice-over in English and going for subtitles instead. Apart from me feeling rusty because it's been five years since I last spoke to anybody in English, I also feel like I'm losing my Swedish. Whenever I try to talk, it comes out as some kind of Swenglish and that's not the route I want to go. I sound only slightly less awkward speaking Swedish, so you know that's not the reason! </p><p>I'll also be using both languages here on the blog.</p><p>Apart from painting, the biggest project in April was the hand-cranked flipbook-machine I built. I wasn't sure how everything would fit so I did a mockup of the actual paper animation:</p><p><i>Månadens största projekt blev ju den mekaniska blädderbokmaskinen! Eftersom jag inte arbetade efter någon mall, fick jag pröva mig fram - bl.a. gjorde jag en testversion av själva papperanimationen, för att se om den rörde sig som den skulle:</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1CUwJKzAjGIhrIJvhNsRF9c4IyGP5A8Efyqjpv-vkSDjB01F5cNar4kJtDcyBoqscXQQQwWeNIpQ3tCcRgkU0pKs3OoA7VNB-_t_XmuQ3TihBWXeqs29X8XaVRu4mKB6wYIKiZ8xfZ71COwtLFBz9SmPdvOwC8ra1Ij_QIWWD1FooYoRQpfAlvau/s640/IMG_20220313_171106074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1CUwJKzAjGIhrIJvhNsRF9c4IyGP5A8Efyqjpv-vkSDjB01F5cNar4kJtDcyBoqscXQQQwWeNIpQ3tCcRgkU0pKs3OoA7VNB-_t_XmuQ3TihBWXeqs29X8XaVRu4mKB6wYIKiZ8xfZ71COwtLFBz9SmPdvOwC8ra1Ij_QIWWD1FooYoRQpfAlvau/w320-h240/IMG_20220313_171106074.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttknZX1IKnOvrqKrhrHkP1hL0oUljYBlBfutGzAovpciTFW1GbTe_DnipgpFD5JRWarc-O647W5NvxyfiUEpbYb05Ny6LaqrarJ6o4_o3xjRdjyH6BYW56NzpxN_gB1S3vab9OIBtuqFGE3zHuY_IgzVKBd7QEU0X1-RJk9L5wYVmLSiCVMkFUHh1/s420/PicPlayPost_20220512_11_40_53.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttknZX1IKnOvrqKrhrHkP1hL0oUljYBlBfutGzAovpciTFW1GbTe_DnipgpFD5JRWarc-O647W5NvxyfiUEpbYb05Ny6LaqrarJ6o4_o3xjRdjyH6BYW56NzpxN_gB1S3vab9OIBtuqFGE3zHuY_IgzVKBd7QEU0X1-RJk9L5wYVmLSiCVMkFUHh1/w320-h240/PicPlayPost_20220512_11_40_53.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>Now, moving on from last month's projects, does anybody remember me saying that I wanted to focus more on painting flowers this year? <i>I</i> remember and I certainly didn't forget, but I did take the month off doing flowers because, seriously, it was not going well. </p><p>Having said that, summer is approaching and, being very much a season for flowers, I'm ready to give it another try. If I can check my temper, I may even keep some of my failures and present them in next month's video.</p><p><i>Visserligen hade jag som mål att måla blommor i år - väggarna fulla av blomster vore ju magiskt! Men jag blev ju bara tvungen att ta en paus från alla misslyckanden hittills ... </i></p><p><i>Hursomehelst, sommaren är nästan här och jag börjar känna en lust att ta mig an blommorna igen, så vi får väl se om det blir något till nästa månads video.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-10630662530982870272022-01-16T19:03:00.005+01:002022-02-25T16:06:49.618+01:00Oh, I think I'm in love ...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc17fDvVc445y0e7Qayinm9JQ0uFC7DKtu2WU8hGQqtocW_sFKZwYA43M5fFc2jXt1k5275jcS9pTXqXR_C7llQLPCFlUaymLBvJ5VtHi-H80XbfuCzLFKiu-T-IXip5h77iZ74yThTZicH-m2f19052eGH1hSJTwnwZrSzMB_GNw1Th2Gf1I5LqFY=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc17fDvVc445y0e7Qayinm9JQ0uFC7DKtu2WU8hGQqtocW_sFKZwYA43M5fFc2jXt1k5275jcS9pTXqXR_C7llQLPCFlUaymLBvJ5VtHi-H80XbfuCzLFKiu-T-IXip5h77iZ74yThTZicH-m2f19052eGH1hSJTwnwZrSzMB_GNw1Th2Gf1I5LqFY=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>So ... I mentioned that I wanted to paint more flowers and nature, didn't I? Well, it's taken some time but this week I finally made a breakthrough! It's not terribly unique or groundbreaking art but really, does it have to be? All through the painting process, I experienced small bursts of happiness and my smiling face lasted until morning (when I got some unwanted critique - unwanted because sometimes you just want to savour the moment a little before you come back to earth, don't you?). </p><p>Maybe it's the (for me) unusual subject matter that opened up an unexpected perspective, maybe I'm just enjoying the novelty but whatever the reason, I'm walking on low-hanging clouds right now. :)</p><p><br /></p><p>(Less thrilled about the blog layout though, it feels cluttered and I've yet to figure out how to fix it ...)</p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-67807358683294838152021-11-22T12:19:00.002+01:002021-11-22T12:19:46.203+01:00Not convinced yet ...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllbc5JEqepqEkWYDk0pMoHcflmQgNWuI8BCKeIU-NKzRM384m20RC_dkfIpSW9qgpMHImHX1nbe71dHWsde-mb2rrOU5hF8KVV6veU9buYMEJm24GTSoeHFRwFKVjw12Nkd73_gK-CAk/s640/IMG_20211122_114133929+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllbc5JEqepqEkWYDk0pMoHcflmQgNWuI8BCKeIU-NKzRM384m20RC_dkfIpSW9qgpMHImHX1nbe71dHWsde-mb2rrOU5hF8KVV6veU9buYMEJm24GTSoeHFRwFKVjw12Nkd73_gK-CAk/s16000/IMG_20211122_114133929+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm so enjoying the way I can just pick up yesterday's gouache palette, rewet the paint and start painting! What I didn't enjoy was the watercolour paper soaking up all the paint. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I can't decide whether the brushes that came with the paint set are good or bad or just not what I'm used to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's so weird to me that I, who normally enjoy mixing my acrylics, find such joy in using the paint straight from the tube - maybe I'm getting comfy with age ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I had some fun using up the leftover paint on the palette:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXSYa0m1oItxkZGodUNTHaKlNV2HIv78OSPvC49Ak28DdLSs1VsWSotwGX6R5X5qnGW6BO1-O0pG8yheCFJGjuSRkQRM-Jh_iZgA3lqQHWn7AiyiOM2PsbQwl80KxiUHudztSLcUaOH4/s640/IMG_20211122_113414737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXSYa0m1oItxkZGodUNTHaKlNV2HIv78OSPvC49Ak28DdLSs1VsWSotwGX6R5X5qnGW6BO1-O0pG8yheCFJGjuSRkQRM-Jh_iZgA3lqQHWn7AiyiOM2PsbQwl80KxiUHudztSLcUaOH4/w400-h301/IMG_20211122_113414737.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I used a rigger brush for the first time this week. Not on this particular doodle but I'd like to use it re-do this one properly and more detailed. I'm quite enjoying the way I can just keep adding layers, light over dark. <div>But after all that painting, I finished with some coloured pencils and markers:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxqzz6IqkJ4hX5uJmV-f8C_PwDWYHeflLwYq4eFxR8xl5Ik5vksLwPlxJ00a3QBsXr7uME7KhlCJhak_Ml8zRvK_BAWM4K-1QV5PO1TJl4mKr2Bw4WQ2UGpgvZ_kH-7cY_IgL_qRUD70/s640/IMG_20211121_132417-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxqzz6IqkJ4hX5uJmV-f8C_PwDWYHeflLwYq4eFxR8xl5Ik5vksLwPlxJ00a3QBsXr7uME7KhlCJhak_Ml8zRvK_BAWM4K-1QV5PO1TJl4mKr2Bw4WQ2UGpgvZ_kH-7cY_IgL_qRUD70/s16000/IMG_20211121_132417-001.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Painting landscapes and flowers doesn't seem to come easily for me but I'm determined to give it a proper go!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p></div>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-27809234532395038932021-11-14T15:55:00.001+01:002021-11-22T11:33:27.557+01:00Trying a new medium - gouache!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCLXRaifuvuvIU0VrIywmzqkBczz38YZu4WN9ODZ2lLwZxOAIzmBGVrKgN_AJXXHvWmGpkApGzGfFUDfBjbSdw8ukoFW5vSqxypVsp4WPosRZKxQ07GGGctZ2NdrGy8jhxYJhEb2FjsA/s1788/gouache.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1788" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCLXRaifuvuvIU0VrIywmzqkBczz38YZu4WN9ODZ2lLwZxOAIzmBGVrKgN_AJXXHvWmGpkApGzGfFUDfBjbSdw8ukoFW5vSqxypVsp4WPosRZKxQ07GGGctZ2NdrGy8jhxYJhEb2FjsA/w640-h430/gouache.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Sure, I'm always purposefully trying to find a new perspective or another way of doing things but this time it was by accident! <p></p><p>Recently, when it's been really cold in the house, I've avoided going down to the basement (where my studio is) to paint, so when my mum went and ordered a set of gouache paints for herself, I realised that this was my opportunity to paint without freezing my fingers off! Gouache is a medium completely new to me and so far I've not been entirely happy with the results. However, I can see the potential for use in my cuter illustrations; the sketch on the right would make for a rather lovely background/foreground in a story; the one on the left feels like something I could enjoy doing in acrylics on a much larger scale (these are very small, not even ten cm tall). </p><p>I can see myself doing preliminary sketches up in the warm house and then actual canvas paintings sometime in spring/summer when the coolness of the basement is something to look forward to. ;)</p><p>Another thing I like about gouache is that I don't have to worry about ruining my brushes! I'm always in dread of accidentally forgetting to clean my good brushes when doing acrylics lol. </p><p>Now all that's left is to figure out how to use these paints; I've tried mixing with pens, crayons and pastels and have still to try watercolour. Ooh, and ink! That could be fun.<br /> </p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-60359125883146415982021-10-31T11:53:00.005+01:002022-02-24T18:52:17.047+01:00En hemlig trädgård; a secret garden.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_EqNd9QAf2dKu9Vb0o4SVpT9lhQWANs94miqw8JmObp7mAuzH5-li4_ot1fsID44Qfo_e0kCFn05jOooeCW9W6EfeVUTnfi63XKklmTw9amBADWKRIOdoxNPTccqXmRNp9vd5m14KiE/s640/IMG_20211031_113722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_EqNd9QAf2dKu9Vb0o4SVpT9lhQWANs94miqw8JmObp7mAuzH5-li4_ot1fsID44Qfo_e0kCFn05jOooeCW9W6EfeVUTnfi63XKklmTw9amBADWKRIOdoxNPTccqXmRNp9vd5m14KiE/s16000/IMG_20211031_113722.jpg" /></a></div><i><br /><span style="background-color: #fffdfb; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 16px;">Vad brukar du göra när du är trött och oinspirerad men ändå vill rita? Jag brukar skissa av en vy jag har framför mig eller leta upp ett foto på nätet att kopiera. Man kan ta det lugnt utan att behöva tänka på kompositioner eller färgval eller att det skall se ens någorlunda intressant ut, för ingen behöver se det! Tvärtom kan det nog vara ganska skönt att inte visa upp allt man gör; en del av ens kreationer kan nog leva goda liv även utanför rampljuset. Eller?</span></i><br /><div><br /></div><div>Want a super simple quick tip for when you're feeling tired or uninspired, but still want to draw? Find an object around you or a pic online and copy it. You won't have to think about composition or shading or have it be in any way interesting enough to be used for actual work - nobody ever even has to see it! In fact, I think that keeping some of your art just for yourself can be beneficial - it doesn't have to be a secret in any way, just something that doesn't need views and likes, something that can simply be.<p></p></div>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-50060181533758489802021-10-24T15:15:00.006+02:002022-02-24T18:49:45.395+01:00Återanvända konsten; repurposed art!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR1fpIUnahS4hmLEGM4m6wVvjy4wKpDN_MIOjuPIZCRn9ovxaQwVW-DPJmNcinza6o9Rb5zwbRtkPheDmTiWS2J1Ro9JJEroN1BAq8-dmeB2WKSmXLDbeHQXbCSFms1BJFykoGy7Hymg/s640/Untitled+collage+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR1fpIUnahS4hmLEGM4m6wVvjy4wKpDN_MIOjuPIZCRn9ovxaQwVW-DPJmNcinza6o9Rb5zwbRtkPheDmTiWS2J1Ro9JJEroN1BAq8-dmeB2WKSmXLDbeHQXbCSFms1BJFykoGy7Hymg/s16000/Untitled+collage+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: #fffdfb; font-family: Lora, serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Brukar du slänga ut dina gamla skisser eller behåller du allt bara utifall?</i></span></div><div style="background-color: #fffdfb; font-family: Lora, serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Jag brukar spara eller skanna.<br />Här är ett exempel på hur jag började med en bläck-teckning gjord för Inktober 2015 (överst), som några år sedan blev ett lino-tryck (mitten).<br />Just nu väntar jag bara på en leverans från tryckeriet …</i></span></div><div style="background-color: #fffdfb; font-family: Lora, serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Och längst ned en digital version jag färdigställde i år, som omslag till min senaste illustrerade bok!</i></span></div><div style="background-color: #fffdfb; font-family: Lora, serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Medan vi väntar funderar jag på att starta ett nyhetsbrev – allt är nästan klart, jag måste bara uppbåda lite mod att sätta bollen i rullning!</i></span></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you throw away your old drawings?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least scan them before you do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's an example of how I've repurposed an old ink and watercolour illustration I made for the Inktober challenge back in 2015 (top image) before turning it into a lino and digital print a few years later (middle). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we have the (almost) entirely digital version I made this year ... can you guess how I used it? Well, did you notice the cut away part of some sort of text underneath the sleeping figure? Yup, you guessed it - or maybe you didn't, that's alright haha - that's the front cover of my newest illustrated story! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm waiting for the printed copies to arrive so I can show it off a little, but until then, let's go over something else happening on the blog:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm thinking about doing a mailing list/newsletter, or rather, I've decided I <i>will </i>do that, I'm just overthinking things right now. I'm sure it'll all be just fine once I get the ball rolling. Isn't that the way it usually goes? :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyways, the template is up and ready, now all that's left is some courage ... :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-41093661561198493582021-10-17T15:46:00.002+02:002021-10-17T19:57:29.526+02:00The order of things. Turn your art world upside down!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgshFQnvHZmDSADr6QaBBPyjL0NcNs5EE3J4YuKYO8HR22pF0stJHKSwRKUYZ0AUxT41QBE2zUJs15jRqka5FaFEL86ZX5N7k-KoWDY-QIda3xWtAMxK5MVma_DL5TsAwkGfmr0Wxmm_Y/s640/1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgshFQnvHZmDSADr6QaBBPyjL0NcNs5EE3J4YuKYO8HR22pF0stJHKSwRKUYZ0AUxT41QBE2zUJs15jRqka5FaFEL86ZX5N7k-KoWDY-QIda3xWtAMxK5MVma_DL5TsAwkGfmr0Wxmm_Y/s16000/1d.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I'm always seeing artists doing warm-up sketches as a way to start the day. I've tried that. And it never works. Why? Because if I'm already working on a particular project, I'll only spend the whole time thinking about the project - I just want to get on with it! </p><p>The idea of doing quick practice pieces is a sound one though, so what I do instead is to use them as a way to wind down after a day of hard concentration.</p><p>These two pieces I'm posting today, are examples of such sketches. I set my timer to five minutes, pick a background colour and then just draw until the bell chimes. I usually do two or three in one go and pieces that follow a theme, that way I don't have to think too much about what I'm doing, I can just let my hand and instinct work.</p><p>There are as many ways to approach one's work as there are artists, so don't be discouraged if the advice you're getting isn't working for you; a lot of times it's about trying something out for yourself and then either adjust or reject.</p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1383686358800051936.post-31148945793564694842021-10-05T12:56:00.003+02:002021-10-05T16:19:52.448+02:00Instagram Under My Skin ...<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">No, I'm not quitting Instagram but ... Oh, I'll start from the beginning, shall I?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instagram came into my life at a time
when IRL stress was causing my art practice to suffer, and I was happy to use the app as a way to keep doing art without the pressure of
working seriously - I thought I could just post doodles for a while
until I got myself together and that would be that.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But that short respite I was looking
for, kept dragging on and before I knew it, years had passed without
my situation improving. And in that time, Instagram changed.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What used to be a fun in-the-moment
photo app, turned into a brand building career must with experts
constantly telling you that if you’re not on Instagram - and
successfully so - you’ll never “make it”.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are obviously things I like about
Instagram; it is great for finding stuff, people, artists, it’s a
great gallery portfolio and a way to record your own progress. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that I can see the world through it,
I can meet people and see places - and art pieces - I never would
otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the trick is to not let it take over
your life and work. And that’s where it went wrong for me - and
many others. Without even noticing, I was now creating for the grid;
there was no depth to my work, no bigger picture or direction, just
something to post that day. I feel like the whole Instagram experience has turned art into background noise.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the mental stress I was hoping to
“cure”, only grew.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Earlier this year I started to do
online searches for others who might be in a similar situation. Right
away I found several artists who brought up the issues with social
media and Instagram in particular - issues I instantly recognised;
like the stress of keeping up, the pressure to have an aesthetic and
the need to constantly increase engagement.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These artists were pointing out the
negative impact Instagram has on creativity and the art scene in a
way that I had until now only vaguely, intuitively felt. And some of them
were talking about leaving social media altogether.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, over the last few years, I’d
already been experimenting with taking short breaks in my
Instagramming, never more than a week, usually less; at the end of
last year, I decided to take the weekends off. It helped a little but
I’d still be thinking about having something ready to post on
Monday.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had an inkling that I needed more
than a temporary fix.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I still hadn’t taken the time to
think the problem through properly, I was still hoping that a bit of
rest would solve everything.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What turned out to be the final straw,
was actually just a silly little detail; I realised that I was
refraining from taking photos that wouldn’t fit the grid. It sounds
like nothing but was an earth-shattering moment for me. I was losing
out on memories because I couldn’t post them online. That actually
made me angry. Angry enough to uninstall the app from my phone.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been off Instagram for almost
two months now and I’m starting to find balance again.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won’t be deleting my account
because there are too many things I like about my online life, but I
will make an effort to be aware of how<i> I use </i>Instagram and not
the other way around.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">To keep my focus, I made a list of points to try and stick to:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won’t post every day.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will post things<i> I </i>like.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won't post everything.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won’t do challenges.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will share joy honestly.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will create.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And hope it lasts.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, like I said, it's been two months now and do I have anything to show for it? I mean, apart from time to think and breathe and enjoy being alive and well? Yes, apart from all that, I finished another graphic novel story! I just sent it off for printing and am now impatiently waiting for the physical books to arrive.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Here's s a sample:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUc0qSvxrTzxxW0yGOosLnbCsyzFgUn9ikbnz0DH6Y-r19S6DDNFj54Q1UfTAnD_BNygpYBMWjhDMlLRDnChVShgDDcuE4KlQ5WARQr2tBNFoK4twbAeVQ3vjkjuPXxT38NeK7TEDWE/s640/33b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUc0qSvxrTzxxW0yGOosLnbCsyzFgUn9ikbnz0DH6Y-r19S6DDNFj54Q1UfTAnD_BNygpYBMWjhDMlLRDnChVShgDDcuE4KlQ5WARQr2tBNFoK4twbAeVQ3vjkjuPXxT38NeK7TEDWE/s16000/33b.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">As I'm looking at this drawing now, it suddenly hits me how very very long it's been since I've stood in a queue - never mind the pandemic and practically empty shops, but now that there aren't any post offices or banks anymore and everything is done online rather than in line, I'd forgotten I used to actually enjoy just waiting.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Oh, and I'm re-starting the blog again, hello. :)</p>Nancy Grönholmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01618580316237144473noreply@blogger.com0