Frederick Charles Jones September 12, 1927 – July 9, 2019
Last Wednesday, I was invited by Susan Clements-Vivian to be guest speaker at SFU for the course IAT 208 Introduction to Drawing in SIAT. The course is “an overview of the various forms and languages of drawing as both a critical and creative research tool.” I did two follow-me exercises: 3-D eyes (using charcoal), human…
Imagination, of course, can open any door– turn the key and let the terror walk right in. – Truman Capote No. 1 Richard Hickock: “It was early, not yet nine…” No. 2: “Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time.” No. 3 Truman Capote: “In Cold Blood- a true account of…
Previously on PND: Instalment 1: Introduction Instalment 2: The First Entries Instalment 3: Do Tendu Jetés en Balance Instalment 4: Sex Education Instalment 5: They Don’t Know What It Is Today’s short: © Katarina Thorsen 2018
Previously on PND: Instalment 1: Introduction Today’s instalment: — © Katarina Thorsen 2018
We are like the dreamer who dreams and then lives inside the dream. I process my obsessions through creativity. And there is a lot to process as we have reached “the end” of Twin Peaks: The Return. A Lynch fan since Eraserhead, deeply deeply influenced and inspired by The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet, I…
I had planned to be in New York City on July 28th this summer, sitting at the Rogers Theatre with my daughter celebrating, watching Hamilton, the Musical. We would have just completed two days of sock monkey workshops at Graham Windham with children and families (Eliza Hamilton’s orphanage). I was going to bring my sock…
Introducing Drawn to Pets drawntopets.ca The specific website for ordering my custom pet portraits!
There will be time, there will be time To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet… – TS Eliot — On my way to Williams Lake to co-facilitate forums with youth and program leaders for the viaSPORT YOUTH INCLUSION PROJECT! So excited to spend the week with this extraordinary community! Bringing along…
“210 years later, Eliza Hamilton’s orphanage — now a family services agency called Graham Windham — is still helping kids get their shot. Graham Windham serves over 4,500 kids and families each year. Just like Eliza’s husband, these kids survived a tough start in life. Graham Windham provides services like family counseling and treatment, after…
Special holiday price: $45.00 CAD includes shipping TO ORDER FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Email transfer to britakatarina@gmail.com or PAYPAL Recipient of gift certificate can email their photos of choice along with their mailing address to me at their leisure. GIFT CERTIFICATE PDF: gift-certificate-compressed
SALE ENDS DECEMBER 15, 2016 MIDNIGHT! Your fave subject interpreted in my signature style. How to: Make payment (see below) Email photo plus mailing address I mail you original! (turnaround is usually one week from placing order to me mailing it regular post- if you need express post, we can discuss) Sale until December 15,…
Being age 54 and “single” I am often asked (by people my own age), Are you dating anyone now? When my response is one of raised eyebrows and a cynical laugh, and an adamant, I have no interest, I often get the NEVER SAY NEVER statement. Oh my God. I know I know— who knows what lies…
IT’S BEEN AWHILE! TIME FOR A PORTRAIT SALE! 48 hours only! September 1, 2016 12 noon to September 3, 2016 12 noon Only $48 CAD (approx. $37 USD) per portrait!!! China marker with acrylic highlights on newsprint NOTE: DIMENSION OF PORTRAITS 12″ x 12″ ONCE YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER, SEND PHOTOS OF YOUR SUBJECT CHOICE TO…
To get myself realigned and prepared for diving into writing/drawing/reflection, I check in with my Church that is Frida Kahlo and let the stream of consciousness flow. Head to heart to hand. To prepare for output, there must be some quiet me time, input. Some meditation. And for me that is the private act of…
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights… it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” ― Harvey Milk —
Recall: Preview Part 1: Preparation Part 2: Travel Part 3: Art Camp Day 1 Part 4: Art Camp Day 2 Part 5: Art Camp Day 3 — Part 6: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Summer 2016 Art Camp- the photographer What a treat it was to be joined by photographer Rick Magnell of Magnell Photography on Days…
Recall: Preview Part 1: Preparation Part 2: Travel Part 3: Art Camp Day 1 Part 4: Art Camp Day 2 — Part 5: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Summer 2016 Art Camp Day 3- Celebration — Sitting here in my lovely hotel room organizing supplies and reflecting on this week… — It was the…
I sense it is time to really retreat in between work schedules and ensure cave time to focus on my passion project: Molly, a true crime analysis. Seek solitude, writes Delacroix. I hear you. I am in a fantastic place regarding the project- she feels ripe, ready, eager. Through a tear in the fabric of time…
I don’t consider myself a writer by any means. I am a visual artist inspired by the written word. I love gathering sources, collecting, researching, gathering. I love reading and feeling the creative process of the writer. I enjoy contemplating interpretation- how small changes in presentation and how collaging and mish-mashing can alter meaning and…
I am preparing myself to draw my mother’s “death mask” from the photo my son took after she passed on November 8, 2008. I have been preparing for awhile. I know the process will be an important and necessary one for me personally. I think about it often. It’s not about needing to work on something…
There is no end to the inspiration I get from looking at vintage photographs- through immersion comes awakened imagination. The central characters in my graphic novel are real people but as I am doing an artistic interpretation of real events, I revel in the freedom to flesh out the central characters using old photos as a…
Dear my body, We shy away from the camera; we always have. We are like the Sasquatch– rare sightings on FB. I am not interested in what you look like. I don’t want to see. I don’t need to see. I prefer the role of the observer, not the observed. I love REALITY and…
Handdrawn custom orders in my signature style at a special price 18″ x 24″ China Marker on Newsprint HUMAN: PETS: SUGAR SKULL PORTRAITS:
I was down and dark in January- been down and dark before- but this time I was dipping down a little too low. I am blessed that I was able to communicate that to my nearest and dearest and have the difficult conversations and be met with love and support. I want to be here. To…
I’ve been obsessing about squirrels of late, knowing that my encounters with them hold a deep meaning- one I haven’t really understood yet. In time. Meanwhile, I am head-over-heels in love with @this_girl_is_a_squirrel . I can’t stop looking at her IG feed. MUST DRAW. So I did. I would encourage you to meditate upon the…
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. James Herriot To honour pets and to celebrate the joy we receive from them, I am offering 18″ x24″ pet portraits for only $57.00 CAD ($40 USD) Chinamarker and acrylic highlights…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Portrait illustrated here of Ixquel Delaluna — ORDER YOUR ART-INTERPRETED PERSONALIZED EMBROIDERED PORTRAIT: ONLY $175 FOR 12″X17″ PORTRAIT (plus $20 shipping when using PayPal) HOW TO PAY: 1. Email transfer to britakatarina@gmail.com (save on shipping costs) 2. PAYPAL EMAIL ME FOR MORE INFO
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…
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 July 6, 1907- July 13, 1954
— 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…
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…
Frida Kahlo b. July 6, 1907 See Frida No. 1-6: LINK
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…
I need a miracle. Don’t we all have that sentence running through our minds at some point? Sometime we need to hold on to SOMETHING. Like a doll. So… what would a miracle doll look like? So… I sew. The result: This Frida Kahlo Tehuana Headdress sock doll becomes a reminder to release and to stay…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. – Oscar Wilde Special HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT (in my style) home art school package- at special price for limited time! LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE! Package includes: 1. Introductory exercise to my drawing technique 2. 3-D…
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…
At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can. – Frida Kahlo — — Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away. – Frida Kahlo —
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 will be posting…
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. (How many of you that know me are right now rolling your eyes and saying, “duh”…!?!? I realize I am a tad obsessed.) For the next 10 Tuesdays, I will be…
UPDATE: May 2, 2015 1:48 PM- DRESS IS SOLD! It will be worn at the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit exhibit! THANK YOU for your patronage- Laura Mack! — ***SOLD!*** It’s truly one of a kind double sided wearable street art/ wall hanging. These are my own interpretations of Frida Kahlo with…
April 28, 2015 What happens when you open yourself up and share some painful truths? Say that you are with a (safe) person and the door opens to have the conversation. What happens first? The heart beats a little faster. And your breath gets more rapid and shallow. Perhaps the bile rises a bit in…
North Vancouver teen finds her passion through arts-based program and launches campaign to raise funds to bring water tank and pipeline to remote village in Nepal: It is such an honor to be facilitating The Inside Out Project at Mountainside Secondary, North Vancouver, with my colleague Ian Powell. Recall posts: INSIDE OUT: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, PEER TO…
On September 30, 2014, I began my collaboration with Ian Powell at Mountainside Secondary on the INSIDE OUT PROJECT- OWN YOUR JOURNEY, inspired by my hero JR: MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer…
Valentine’s Portrait Sale! ONLY $40 CAD per portrait Regular price ranges from $100-$300 ENDS MIDNIGHT PT Feb 8, 2015 Drawn in my signature street art style using Chinamarker approx 18×24 on newsprint The portrait will be mailed by Feb 11, 2015. FREE SHIPPING! NOTE: Drawings are folded and mailed in a large manila envelope. — Let me…
There were many triggers this week, both personally, professionally, and financially, that led to a multitude of emotions- most especially anxiety. Triggers that give rise to deep-rooted memories and default reactions. Anger directed at self. But I was delighted to find that I also defaulted to the “don’t know mind” technique and that I allowed…
Starving Artist Portrait Sale! Yes, I’m hustling! Proceeds go towards bills, groceries, haircut… life! $40 CAD per portrait Regular price ranges from $100-$300 ENDS MIDNIGHT PT Nov 21, 2014 18×24 on newsprint The portrait will be completed Nov 30, 2014. FREE SHIPPING! Drawings are folded and mailed in a large manila envelope. — Let me know…
There are no words that sufficiently describe the enormous, deep-hearted love I feel for my beautiful niece, Emma Varley. Yes, gush, gush, gush, but it’s SO TRUE. Emma– an extraordinary woman and mother of 4. Emma– a brilliant medical anthropologist and humanitarian. I love witnessing her life unfold- sadly mainly from afar, but always, always, close…
Why are we drawn to the human face? What draws us in? Why the need to draw what draws us? Why do we fixate on the stare of an eye meeting an eye? Is the draw of the portrait the silence in the glance, the fastidiousness of the stare? The reflection in a mirror- a…
Custom Portraits 18×24 on newsprint $85.00 USD each (plus shipping) All portraits [unless otherwise specified] will be shared on my instagram. The portrait will be completed about 1-3 weeks after payment. How to pay? 3 options: 1. EMAIL TRANSFER VIA YOUR ONLINE BANKING TO: britakatarina@gmail.com 2. via PAYPAL 3. on ETSY Once you have…
