“Vanity is my favorite sin”

Al Pachino

Illustration Friday´s theme this week is Mesmerizing. I made this textile portrait a few years ago, but still find his eyes quite mesmerizing. (I can admit to being proud of my creation, right?)

In any case, I am currently working on another couple of textile portraits, in preparation for my Art& Soul workshop in Portland in just a little more than a week. I think there are still some spots available, if anyone wants to jump on the train last minute Heaps of great workshop with artists from all over the world. Do check it out!

Arthur Koestler

Influence is Illustration Friday´s theme this week. I think Arthur´s quote is a good guideline for so many everyday challenges. The lovely diva in the picture is Gertrude Lawrence, starring in “Oh, Kay!”.

But personally the word influence for me this week is 1926. It is the year of which the new musical “Amanda” is set, and this week has been all about researching the age and era for the costume-design I am working on.  The 1920s were such a graceful age when it came to fashion. So playful, so stylish, so simple in silhouette, so fine in it´s details, so elegant, so beautiful.

Silent movie star, Louise Brooks modeled for this weeks theme at IF: remedy.  I didn´t have my usual colors of paint, so everything intended brown, turned olive, and basically the whole color-scheme evolved by itself, as I played around with the paint.

… using the lyrics from Karen Kamon´s song Manhunt from Flachdance as inspiration.

I’m goin’ on a manhunt, turn it around
Women have been hunted, now they’re huntin’ around
Manhunt, we all got the need
The one that’s been waitin’ has taken the lead

I’m goin’ on a manhunt – I’m out for a kill

My calender/travel-journal/art-journal with workshop-notes and Artfest-trades. (Love my pink pages after the pale pages of winter!)

Not all pages are finished yet, this is a work-in-progress.

Some stamps, some scraps, some tape, some paint…

… some crayons, some lettering, some tickets, some trinkets.

Tea-bags and brochures, business-cards and MOO-cards and stickers.

Websites and addresses…

… textiles and postcards…

dolls and other monsters,

New paint-technique-try-outs…

… and workshop notes.

Enjoying life simply is memories in the making.

And an attempt at Illustration Friday´s theme Duet.  The idea is ok, but I notice that I need practice on painting/drawing by head instead of having something to look at. It´s such a mix of styles that don´t work together, I´m reluctant to post it at all. But there is no failure in practicing, right?

Look at Michelle´s little treasure-painting in my pendant book! How great is that?! A cupcake-girl!

Secrets the comic-books don´t tell you….

Turtleneck sweaters will never be the same again. Neither will she.

Originally I wanted a photo of Marilyn Monroe, one of those taken when she was young, and on the beach. I´m working on costumes for a play about Marilyn, so I thought it would be nice to do a collage with her. I couldn´t find the picture I was looking for though, so I used this one instead. And I know, I´m a week late…

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite quotes. And one of my favorite kids.