My social anxiety is at a great height these days as I navigate all-sorts in my life. So I savour alone time and nature in my “backyard.” Today’s lagoon walk sightings and sounds included: Starlings, Crows, Sparrows, Pigeons, Herons, Wrens, Squirrels, Ducks and ducklings- mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese and goslings, Raccoons, Thrush songs, Robin songs, Eagle songs, Bugs, Dragonflies- so many! Skimmers, darners, damsel flies. Red, white tail,…
Author: Katarina Thorsen
Artist, writer, craftivist, creative engagement facilitator.
What’s the question?
I wrote in my journal this morning- “At the end of the weekend – if I stay quiet – an answer will come.” But I’m not sure what the question is! What we’re really afraid of is to be in life, in step with it and not a step ahead of it, trying to control…
… to thrive as an artist…
From Lucia Joyce- To Dance in the Wake by Carol Loeb Shloss “In short, they were nice women, versions of the angel in the house, that perilously good creature that Virginia Woolf commemorated as Mrs. Ramsay in To the Lighthouse. It is relevant to Lucia’s story to remember that Woolf knew she had to “kill”…
“Stanislaw K. was born in Poland…” Ward notes.
Graphic novel experiments. Pencil crayon, watercolour, ink, coffee, embroidery on newsprint
Bound Heron. (imagined) Part 1
Currently embroidery: Process continues…
Dead Bird Study Part 2
See: Part 1 PART 2: Watercolour, pencil crayon, ink, coffee, beet juice, salt, on newsprint, embroidery. Next up in Part 3 – add writing.
Dead Bird Study Part 1
Watercolour, pencil crayon, ink, coffee, salt on newsprint. Next up: embroidery.
Decomposition study- the mouse. Part 3 of 3
See: Decomposition study Part 1 Decomposition study Part 2 Decomposition study Part 3: Natural watercolours by Caitlin Ffrench, ink, coffee, salt, embroidery thread, vintage beads and fabric.
Decomposition study- the mouse, part 1.
Using embroidery on the drawing to emulate decomposition and nature “taking back”:
Imagined Bird Nest Part 3 of 3 #embroidereddrawing
Check out: Imagined Bird Nest Part 1 Imagined Bird Nest Part 2 IMAGINED BIRD NEST PART 3 of 3:
Imagined Bird Nest Part 2
Check out: Imagined Bird Nest Part 1 Imagined Bird Nest Part 2:
Imagined bird nest: part 1
Pencil crayon, watercolour, ink, coffee, cherry juice on newsprint. Next step: collage, embellish and embroider
Elle Kari Study No. 2
Image reference: the vintage children’s book (with documentary photography) “Elle Kari” by Anna Riwkin-Brick and Elly James, Rabén & Sjögren, Stockholm, 1965 Medium: pencil crayon, ink, coffee, watercolour on newsprint- plus hot iron
Elle Kari Study No. 1
Image reference: the vintage children’s book (with documentary photography) “Elle Kari” by Anna Riwkin-Brick and Elly James, Rabén & Sjögren, Stockholm, 1965 Medium: pencil crayon, ink, coffee, watercolour on newsprint
New journal necessary today
February 10, 2021 New journal necessary today – it was a big day of BIG communication and BIG advocacy for my youth. February 11, 2021 Another big day of honest communication. I am tired, but light. February 13, 2021 Gift of a long weekend and snow. The week ended well and I had a personal…
Dead mouse (Stanley Park)
Rest In Peace little mouse, spotted on the side of the road in Stanley Park the other day.
My personal Covid Crafting Therapy
“Covid Crafting Therapy” is my ongoing personal process for relaxation, a type of journaling, a type of meditation. Every stitch a thought. It’s different from drawing, painting, writing. I’m not trying to find the style, the form, the character. I’m not trying find the perfect color, the perfect brush stroke. The perfect narrative. Crafting just… is. The…
Letters from St. Kevin
This all started because of a family Vacation Summer 1982 with my Dad, Mom, little brother. I am 20 at the time. The route: Nanaimo Campbell River Port Hardy Prince Rupert Hazelton K’san Smithers Houston Burns Lake Fort St. James Prince George Quesnel Williams Lake 108 Ranch 100 Mile House Cache Creek Kamloops Vernon Kelowna…
Entering the New Year with I Am’s and I Release’s
Recycled an old composition book I found in my paper box. Covered it with an old water-colour drawing created earlier this year when the first Covid lockdown made me eager to read Watership Down for some reason. I RELEASE: My saudade My fears The fear that I will lose control over my project…
Journal entry December 1, 2020: I Can’t Write Right
When I can’t write, when I don’t feel right, I feel the black ink of angst/depression well up in my brain. And I pace around and around in there, first splashing in the black ink, then wading in it, then swimming, then oh oh – am I drowning? Ok, ok. Slow down. Use the ink….
My first diary…
My first diary… a gift on my 6th birthday on April 13, 1968 in Grums, Sweden. I remember feeling so secretive when I sketched and wrote in the pages. On October 31, 1968, we moved to Canada. I always marked my own work. “Rotten day for the girl today. Lucky lucky girl’s day. ho ho…
A year ago…
Oh sweet Squeak. Your body gave up one year ago (October 10) after your brave battle. But Reina and I still feel your spirit here in the apartment. My sweet lady.