In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty I first laid my eyes on sweet Molly Malone As she wheeled her wheelbarrow through the streets broad and narrow Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O! A-live a-live O! A-live a-live O! Crying cockles and mussels alive a-live O! She was a fishmonger and…
Category: China Marker Portraits
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain… Birds, metaphors, graphic novel, experiments
— Central to my graphic novel is the intensity of anxiety and severe depression while drowning in circumstance, highlighted through the metaphor of birds. — — Here are some experiments from the past weekend: I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro… – Emily Dickinson
What can I learn from the little mouse in the house…
T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. – Clement Clarke Moore Well, maybe a few mice were. Since my beautiful cat, Violet, passed away, the mice have been showing up here and there. It makes sense in this 1929 building, a block from…
Lessons from Pippi- strength, generosity and gentleness…
Being Swedish,Pippi Longstocking has been an icon to me all my life. Yes, there are troubling racist elements in the books and, my God, as a child I would lay awake at night worrying about Pippi living alone, but Pippi’s character is glorious and hopeful. She’s ahead of her time- a give-no-fucks attitude combined with curiosity…
“Here, at the age of 39, I began to be old…”
I revisited Brideshead Revisited last night and was struck, more deeply than usual, by Waugh’s opening line: “Here, at the age of 39, I began to be old…” Why did this opening line stand out? I’ve been trying to find the right quote, the right words to help me reflect on my current dip into…
And so, the vulnerability shakes set in…
Hi. As you may know, I’ve been fully immersed in process in the last month or so- working on my book presentation for my agent to shop around, and I have LOVED the process, trying to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s. Exciting to be at the next stage. Ready to share. So ready….
I write of what I cannot speak- the truth.
I write it over and over wherever we find shelter. I write of what I cannot speak- the truth. I write all I know of it and then I throw the pages to the wind. Maybe the birds can read it. – Moira Buffini Ah, Molly is speaking. Sitting here with me. What an incredible time…
I robbed your grave. I revealed you.
Sometimes you find that one right quote that makes you throw the book across the room because the words are that damn good. You wish you wrote it. It seems written for you. The author just fucking gets you. I robbed your grave. I revealed you. I showed you in shameful moments. I learned things about…
Evolution of a portrait: “Calavera Kim”
Hope is like a harebell, trembling from its birth, Love is like a rose, the joy of all the earth, Faith is like a lily, lifted high and white, Love is like a lovely rose, the world’s delight. Harebells and sweet lilies show a thornless growth, But the rose with all its thorns excels…
Portrait of the artist as a sugar skull: @julianlawrence
Julian Lawrence TO ORDER YOUR CUSTOM PORTRAIT VISIT MY ETSY SHOP: YOUR PURCHASE HELPS ME PROVIDE SOCK MONKEY THERAPY FOR AT RISK YOUTH ON THE LOWER MAINLAND, BC, CANADA! Original art by Katarina Thorsen 18×24″ on newsprint in china marker Once you have placed your order, EMAIL YOUR PHOTOS TO britakatarina@gmail.com or on ETSY…
A certain preface this way comes.
Writing for me often happens in stolen moments. It is easy for me to plan time for and execute illustrations. It is easy for me to plan for and to execute mind-maps as well as write down structural and technical details. It is TOO easy for me to plan and execute and get lost in RESEARCH….
Time to order custom sugarskull portraits!
It’s that time again! Time to order custom sugarskull portraits! Anna T Fabulous of by post street and Jenn Mickey of 1181 Lounge at by post street launch party, April 2013. Photo by Viranlly Aix Liemena To order visit MY ETSY SHOP: YOUR PURCHASE HELPS ME PROVIDE SOCK MONKEY THERAPY FOR AT RISK YOUTH ON…
Stick to the facts in the text, avoid assumptions, yet draw conclusions.
In my current project, Molly, I use mainly primary sources and secondary sources such as news articles, as well as well-vetted research in order to build the story around the cold case. The drawings are then freely inspired from the research, i.e. they are an artistic interpretation. I can combine my research to build portraits….
“Write the f*!king book.” The importance of mentors in creative projects.
I am all about creative process. I am not worried about that. I have creative process down to a science. No worries. It’s a habit embedded so deep that it literally is part of my every breath and heartbeat. I got this. Yep. And if you want help to do the same- believe me… I…
Owl wisdom
Taking a somewhat silent retreat today to regroup and prepare for transitions. Picked up an old sweater (80% merino wool, 20% cashmere) and created these little one inch plus tall baby owls. Perfect for holding in the palm while figuring stuff out. I have always found that sewing and drawing owls is a powerful experience. Stay…
Mindmap Tutorial Week Part 6: Addressing
I have been diving into a much-needed new mindmap this week, so I thought I’d create a tutorial during my process! Tutorial so far: Introductory blog post- mindmap tutorial week Part 1: What is a mindmap? Part 2: the Big Vision Part 3: Stream of consciousness mapping Part 4: Prioritizing/consolidating/connecting Part 5: Enhancing TODAY: PART 6…
Autopsy and the somewhat autobiographical nature of my graphic novel
I have been on a bit of blog-haitus of late. Just experienced an amazing pull back into the past as a dear friend spent 9 days here visiting from Sweden. We dove deep. Real deep. Drenched in Swedish. Endless necessary exhilarating conversation. Fully open and torn open- finding old wounds long hidden- releasing them. Reflecting…
Lilla My #fanart custom made composition books.
I love customizing composition books. Prepping a new one for today. I am particularly in love with this one so I’m making this version available to you! Lilla My fan art custom made composition books: Ready to contain your hopes, wishes, dreams, ramblings, musings, to-do’s, purges, goals etc. A safe place to vent as you…
10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Frida No.10: Moomin Frida.
I’ve been celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I have been creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo (plus some additional posts here and there) in some form/medium or another. It may be a…
10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Frida No. 9: Frida and the magpie portrait
I’ve been celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I have been creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo (plus some additional posts here and there) in some form/medium or another. It may be a…
Frida Kahlo, muere el 13 de Julio de 1954
Frida Kahlo July 6, 1907- July 13, 1954
Limited edition hand-embroidered print sale #graphicnovel
— I am making available 10 hand-embroidered prints entitled Who is it that can tell me who I am? featuring an original image from my graphic novel, Molly. — — The print captures the moment a crow, the magician of the forest, adorned by a child’s skull as a crown, looks, with intense curiosity, into Lost Lagoon…
One day super sale! Hand-drawn portraits in the spirit of the Calavera
To raise immediate funds for art supplies as well as for coffee and snacks, I am offering hand-drawn Calavera inspired portraits for only $55 CAD [$43.40 USD] (includes shipping) 18″ x 24″ china marker, dry pastel, felt pen, acrylic paint on newsprint until Midnight PT July 13, 2015. I will email you photos of the portrait before and…
Update- SOLD: Art sale to celebrate Frida’s birthday! One of a kind package.
FRIDA KAHLO BORN JULY 6, 1907 To celebrate the woman who inspires me everyday- I want to spread the love, so I am releasing these 4 original interpretive portraits of Frida as a package deal for only $135 CAD ($106 USD) includes shipping. First come first serve. Email me to purchase. UPDATE July 7, 2015: SOLD…
Pay attention to the birds: Part 6- Starling
Ah, the birds— and their delightful ways— this time of year in particular. I just LOVE watching them! And I love when I feel something extra special in a particular moment that makes me stop and pay attention. The other day, I observed a flock of starlings. I know many people call them rats, greasy…
“Dear me…” Write a letter to your younger self.
What would you write to younger you today? There is so much I want to write to that little anxious girl. I haven’t written my letter yet, but it will come. For now, I give that little girl a knowing nod and whisper- you are perfect as you are. We have outgrown our container and…
Conversation about art, artists, creativity w. Tharp, Miller, Walker, Petit
I love that I can have a sit down with my heroes on a warm Saturday night and just shoot the shit. Tonight we contemplated creativity, the artist and the why. Here are some highlights: I believe that we all have strands of creative code hard-wired into our imaginations. These strands are as solidly imprinted in us as…
10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Frida No. 5: “I have wings to fly…” coloring page
I’m celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I am creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo in some form/medium or another. It may be a drawing, an object, a doll, whatever… A surprise. I…
IXQUEL: interpretation through drawing and embroidery. Deeper portraits.
Certain people in your life– even though you may not have met them in person- only through the ether- get right into your heart. Ixquel is one such person. What a pleasure to dig a little deeper and to interpret her exquisite beauty and spirit through drawing, embroidery and symbolism. To let the process unfold…
10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Frida No. 4: Frida and her Magic Cone of Truth
I’m celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I am creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo in some form/medium or another. It may be a drawing, an object, a doll, whatever… A surprise. I…