3rd Go-Card Is Out!

The Danish postcard company Go-Card is currently publishing a new series of my images. The third postcard is now out: Fan Club, pictured above.

The postcard can be picked up for free (between Oct. 15th - Oct 22nd ) in 400 cafes around Denmark, as well as in all McDonald’s fast food restaurants throughout the country (except for Herning).

This is the forth series of my work printed by “Go-Card”. The first one was titled Life of Young Ursula Winter, and the two other ones depicted my Boston Terrier Playdoh: Playdoh the Muse andPlaydoh Greetings.

For more information, or to send an e-card, please visit there their website www.Go-Card.dk

The Guam Gallery of Art

“Visitor”

New small portrait, I made specifically for the show, “Orange Spondylus Night”,

in celebration of the Chamorro culture and in remembrance of the ancestors.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to a meeting in the Guam Gallery of Art, in the Chamorro Village. It was a very memorable night, where I (as well as Moe, a friend of a friend) met the owner of the gallery, Filamore Palomo Alcon. Among many things, we talked about art, the gallery, Chamorro culture, and ways to promote art. Fil mentioned that by the end of October he was going to have a special event, an “Orange Spondylus Night”.

The Spondylus is an orange shellfish, and the central element for this celebration. Therefore the theme color is orange in every shape and form, and Fil invited me to bring a (orange inspired) piece of work for the show. I went home, thought of it, and decided to do a small portrait of a Scandinavian women, a visitor in the Guam culture. I still feel very new here, the culture is different to anything I have ever known, and I do feel like a visitor. So that was a suiting motif to me.

Yesterday I went to the Chemorro Village to bring the small piece, as well as my portfolio for display. Fil was excited about the event tomorrow night. We are planning to stop by - preferable wearing something orange, I was told!... Have to go through my closet, I don’t think that is the domineering color...

The Guam Gallery of Art in the Chamorro Village

The Art Of Finding Art Materials On Guam

On Monday, my husband and I drove South on Guam, to run some errands. At the same time I thought it would be interesting to check out the art supply stores on the Island. I have already started working in my new work space, and I noticed I was getting low on burned umbra, as well as light cadmium red. We stopped in at the first place I was told about, a fairly large arts and craft store. They had craft materials in abundance, yarn, scrap-booking, you name it... But the painting was less than impressive. I found one little lonely tube of lemon yellow, laying there alone in a sea of water mixable oils in all colors. I want acrylics only, and I left the store, crossing my fingers I would have more luck in the next place...

The next attempt was an office supply store(?). I was told that they did at times sell art materials as well. I quickly found the art section. Not much luck here either. They had gallons of children's‘ arts and crafts paint with and without glitter... Hmmmm. Still not exactly what I was after. The canvas section offered three small canvas boards, dangerously overpriced. That was it.

My enthusiasm was getting pretty low, as we stepped into the third shop, another office supply store. In my mind I was thinking I probably had to order online instead - always a hassle when it comes to these matters... But I was pleasantly surprised. This third store actually had a very nice art area. Quality art pads, charcoal, pastels and just about everything else you may need. I fund a shelf full of small acrylic paints only. I went a little overboard - almost emptied the section, thinking I may not be that lucky next time. So far been my experience here is that, with any item it is a hit or miss. The grocery store may have mangos one week - but the next you can only get pomegranates. So I filled up on acrylics in all the colors of the rainbow and went to pay. By the cash register I was told that I can in fact special order any art supply I need, and I was given the name of the person in charge. I went home happy and quite hopeful. And with a missing thought on my regular art store in NJ, “Pearl” - That was indeed a true cornucopia of art supplies... Guess I didn’t really appreciate until now. Had I thought ahead, I would probably have filled up before leaving.

But, maybe there’s still hope as I may be able to order supplies. I’ll start a list of things I need to continue my way of painting...

2nd Go-Card is out!

The Danish postcard company Go-Card is currently publishing a new series of my images. The second postcard is out: Birds, pictured above.

The postcard can be picked up for free (between Oct. 15th - Oct 22nd ) in 400 cafes around Denmark, as well as in all McDonald’s fast food restaurants throughout the country (except for Herning).

This is the forth series of my work printed by “Go-Card”. The first one was titled Life of Young Ursula Winter, and the two other ones depicted my Boston Terrier Playdoh: Playdoh the Muse andPlaydoh Greetings.

For more information, or to send an e-card, please visit there their website www.Go-Card.dk

Photos from Galleri Saltum

On September 23rd., I wrote a piece about an Art Exhibit in Denmark that I am participating in. I just received these photos from the opening, which I unfortunately couldn’t go to.

But here they are, and I think they give a good sense of the atmosphere and of the show as a whole...

1st Go-Card is out!

The Danish postcard company Go-Card is currently publishing a new series of my images. The first postcard is out: Hardcore Innocence, pictured above.

The postcard can be picked up for free (between Sept. 24. - Oct 1st.) in 400 cafes around Denmark, as well as in all McDonald’s fast food restaurants throughout the country (except for Herning).

This is the forth series of my work printed by “Go-Card”. The first one was titled Life of Young Ursula Winter, and the two other ones depicted my Boston Terrier Playdoh: Playdoh the Muse andPlaydoh Greetings.

For more information, or to send an e-card, please visit there their website www.Go-Card.dk

Showing Work at the Galleri Saltum

As I mentioned in my blog just the other day, my summer has been very busy, mostly with thoughts of moving to a completely different part of the world and start over. As well as all the practicalities involved in such a move. But one very exiting thing that did happen while I was in Denmark, is that I got in contact with Galleri Saltum. I went to meet them on a very rainy day in June, brought a few pieces along, and they were interested in showing my work. The gallery is located in the small town of Saltum in the north of Jutland.

This spring I was able to ship quite a few of my larger pieces back to Denmark (with help from some great friends) and I am exited to now be able to show this work in this exhibition. It is all newer work I did while I was living in New Jersey these past four years.

I will participate in a jubilee group show, as the Gallery celebrates it’s 6th birthday. Unfortunately I am far to far away to be there for the open view, but I look forward to hear about the show, as well as hopefully get some photos from the evening.

Among other artists in the show: Anne Risum, Mette Gregersen, Karen T Christensen.

The exhibition will be on show between Saturday September 26th and November 1st. 2009.

Guam at First Glance

A look at my new Guam studio. Still a lot of organizing to do before I am ready to start working. But I like it. A great room with lots of light and windows. The view is beautiful; looking over our backyard jungle, and the silhouette of palm trees against the pink and orange Guam evening sky. What’s not to love?!

It has been a crazy summer. I notice that my last blog was written back in April. Time has gone so fast - and so much has happened. Moving from NJ was exactly as stressful as those things are (and perhaps should be?) We sold the condo, moved into an Extended Stay - I went to Denmark for a few weeks, then back to NJ. Kevin and I then spent two weeks in South Dakota with his family, before we - finally - took the big anticipated step and moved to Guam. We had been excited for so long, but had no real frame of reference. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into - none of us had ever been on a tropical island before. After our share of diver’s ear and food poison, heavy jet lag and two weeks in a fancy hotel - we found our house. And a lovely one that is: big and cosy, in a quiet neighborhood, and with a tropical jungle of a garden.

The heat on Guam is extreme. It is a moist, uncomfortable heat, that it will take some time getting used to. So will all the geckos, poisonous frogs and big colorful spiders. Not to mention the thought that a brown tree snake can show up on your door step any day...

We are basically moved in at this point, and have begun to explore the island. I still haven’t had a chance to check out the art life on Guam, but I look forward to it, and I am excited to see what I find.

I am more than ready to start working again. And talking about work - above is a picture of my new studio, “a work in progress”. It is a perfect art room. And although I still have a lot of organizing to do before I am ready to actually start the painting part, I love it, and can’t wait to spend my days in there. It has been a long spring and summer since I did some work, and many ideas has developed in my mind during that time. I am curious what it will be like to work in there. My rooms, their views and atmospheres have always means a lot to me, as I spend hours in there. They become significant and (I feel) somehow influential to the work I produce. That’s why I do like to change the rooms once in a while. And believe me: this new Guam studio is a huge change from my little room in new Jersey, looking over an urban parking lot...

My First YouTube Movie

As mentioned, my studio has been been very quiet lately, everything in there is hibernating, breathing slowly, just waiting for the big move, for new surroundings and fresh air in the shape of new ideas. The same goes for my inner painter, I don’t have the peace to work at the moment, so many things to remember not to forget before taking off. Restlessness are happening at the moment, so I am saving up for later. I can’t wait to move into a new studio, keep imagining my new place, knowing perfectly well I have no chance of knowing what it will be like...

So for now I have instead worked on a little YouTube movie, showing some of my smaller portraits. It was fun making this little piece, picking the right music, deciding the right order for the paintings. It is a great way to show work, and it feels like it all comes together in a new way, and in the way I truly wanted.

Link to movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN2usOokofU

Studio On Hold

It has been a very long time since I wrote an entry. So much has happened that wasn’t really art related, and I was just too busy and too restless to accomplish anything artwise.

We knew we would be leaving NJ this summer, but not until mid-March did we know the actual destination. We were dreaming of moving to Europe, Germany perhaps - and I was so deep into my thoughts of being there, living somewhere in the heart of Europe that it hit me like a fist, when I was told we are in fact going to GUAM. It could not be further away, nor more different.

It took me some time (a good couple of weeks actually) to digest the news, I googled info about this truly tiny Island between Australia and Japan, and slowly I got used to the idea and began to look forward to our next assignment. But it took some time, some huge twists and turns of the imagination. In my mind’s eye, I now see palm trees, turquoise water, colorful drinks, (necessary) sun block and straw hats...

On top of this, we are selling our condo, and in order to present the place in the nicest way possible, I have severely cleaned up my studio - taken all unnecessary items out for it to appear larger and tidier. I like it clean and simplified, just waiting for activity and new stories to begin.

I know how much the environments has affected my work in the past - and I am curious to see what Guam will add, change or move. I feel my work is done in New Jersey - my mind and body feels far too uneasy to take up more projects - It will have to wait. So really, my studio is on hold...

First Painting 2009

Looking back, I (subconsciously) seem to change things up in January. I always look over my work in the beginning of a new year: materials, direction, statement etc. and generally think it over. I usually know exactly where I am going with a painting, even before I begin. I am planning ahead, and can almost see the finished piece in my mind.

This painting was different - on purpose. I wanted to work more loosely, and had only decided on the main figure and color scheme, but what else was going to happen in the picture, as well as a title, I did not know.

As I went along, I painted these water lilly-like flowers, very quickly and with runny watery paint. I started to think of the painting as “Water Lilly”. But as the flowers appeared, and also covered the dress, I realized that it was a different painting I was working on; instead of it being “Water Lilly”, it suddenly turned in to “Wallflower” instead. Very interesting I thought - and very unexpected.

I clearly like to be in control of my work, know where I am going and to have (at least some kind of) an idea of the final outcome. But it is also very exciting when the painting leads you.

Another change in this piece (as well as in the next two pieces I am currently working on) is that the canvas is covered in a plain white paper collage, purely for texture, but there is no additional collage involved.

I’ll keep playing, and should perhaps be more open to letting things happen as I go and listen to the painting, instead of just listening to me.

MoMA on a Winter Wednesday

I decided to go to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) this morning - a freezing cold winter day in NYC. I was looking forward, there was an exhibition on that I was very curious to see: Marlene Dumas -Measuring Your Own Grave. The show was intriguing, and I spend a lot of time walking the galleries, looking at her work. The museum was nearly empty - most quiet I ever saw it anyway. I guess a wednesday in the middle of January isn’t exactly high season.

To me, going to the MoMA is a way of seeking peace; the place is so full of good (and naturally very creative) energy. Walking from room to room, seeing and sensing the art is recharging my batteries like nothing else! I am so happy and at peace there, just dreaming of going home to my studio, my own work and get back to it.

It still feels like such an overwhelming luxury to wake up, and any given day be able to decide to go to the city, go to MoMA. When I grew up, NYC was on the top three of places I’d love to visit some day, now I am here, and have lived here for three and a half years. We have been lucky, not being here as tourists, where you need to fit in as much info as possible in a week or two. Instead we have been able to take it in, a bit at a time, digest it and go back a couple of weeks later. I am very grateful for that. I am trying to take as big and memorable a bite of the big apple as possible, but not eat it so fast that I can’t remember the taste. I want to be able to remember the galleries from numerous shows, varies trips with several friends and seeing the city in different seasons.

New Year - New Thoughts

Happy New Year! It is January once again, and the beginning of a new year always inspires me to look over my work, and kind of sum up the year and consider new ideas & thought that have fallen into my mind the past few months (for me, it seems fall is time for thoughtfulness and reflection - much more so than the rest of the year)

I was recently looking through my art books, I have so many of them and I noticed how different the art and artists was. I look at different artists for very different things. Art that may not seem connected, somehow finds a connection for me. Some artists I look at for creativity or spontaneity, some for their use of color or patterns. Some are masters of the craft or amazing collage artists. Or they (literally) have their way with words, visually. So many amazing artists - my personal inspiration list is long and - quite possibly - endless and varies, depending on what I am working on. But, here’s just a few names that popped up, during my recent “curiosity check” in my library as well as some new names I have recently come across - in random order:

● Clayton Brothers

● Frida Kahlo

● Tony Fitzpatrick

● Elizabeth Clayton

● Paula Rego

● John Corrin

● Sabrina Ward Harrison

● Tine Helleshøj

● Kehinde Wiley

● Nicky Hoberman

● Bo Bartlett

● Hung Lui