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6 August 2013

Spontaneity

Usually I work quite structured. I'm the list-making-type (including working with categories, an overview on priorities and steps to make to reach a certain goal). I like to make a plan. To put things on paper that are otherwise floating around in my brain. As if, when writing thoughts down, they become manageable. Not that it always helps me out though... But still.

Sometimes however I like doing the complete opposite. I enjoy having no plan at all. I like to just do something and wait and see what happens. It's a bit out of character, and scary too, I think. But that's part of the deal. It's a little adventure on itself...

I notice it often works that way when being creative. You can have something in mind to make (maybe just a vague idea at first). And then gradually while making it, a new idea comes to mind, and the original idea changes. Things are being added, that I probably couldn't have thought of on forehand. It just pops into my mind spontaneously while being in the process... and surprises me.

It happened with this little piece as well. I was only doodling a poppy. No plan. Just a sketch. And then suddenly it felt so alone on the page, and I added the words. And then the words seemed a bit incomplete, and I added green to it. And then there was this space between the flower and the word LIFE. And I added a honeybee. And then this is what came out of it...

I think I should doodle freely more often. It's almost therapeutical for me ;-)

18 July 2013

Gotta keep this in mind...

I really like this quote from Martha Graham (1894 - 1991) American modern dancer and choreographer. It's something I have to try to remind myself every day. So I thought: let's write it down in black ink. That might help!

Next I turned my hand lettered version into a chalkboard one... I'm so in love with the chalkboard art look. I especially love the artwork of the talented Dana Tanamachi. Check out her website for endless chalk inspiration!

21 May 2013

When I fall in love...

A former colleague and friend of mine asked me to illustrate this quote for her mother, as the corresponding song has a special meaning for her parents. I do apologize in advance in case this song will now get stuck in your head for the rest of the day, like it did with me. ;-)

23 April 2013

On repeat

While fooling around with white ink, I repeated, and repeated, and repeated, and repeated these wise words by Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and polymath...

22 April 2013

On the move

My dear friend Frederike and her three blond boys are on the move... From now on her boyfriend Stefan's home will be their home too. Yay! She asked me to make them a personal change of address card. What a fun assignment! Here's how it turned out..

My congratulations to Frederike & her four men :)

Front of the house & card

Back of the house & card

11 April 2013

A gloriumptious Roald Dahl quote

I very much enjoy Roald Dahls stories. They're so full of wit and wisdom. And I just love all the gloriumptious, fantastagorically and swizzfigglingly words he invented... like snozzcumber and jumpsquiffling. :-D

Today I illustrated a lovely quote from his last book The Minpins. It's actually one quote, but I made it into a set of two cards.

Here's my humble collection of Roald Dahl books...