Looking back and forth - 2011 - 2012 - Revised!

The post is revised, new between the ..... 5 dots!

Soon another year is approaching its end, and thus it is time to think a little over the past year, from a creative perspective and look at plans for 2012.

First I must say that the dayjob was much in the way of my creative endeavors. My wishes and hopes to enhance my creative career, I bring with me in 2012. I searched for new ways to do it, more about it below.

Above and below you see my own favorite artworks and patterndesign from 2011.


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Revised:
New roads with known materials.
At the top. "Madame's Cat". It is a painting I am very happy with. I think the subject is nice (thanks to Madame:)), and I had worked really well with sun and shadow, which is an important part of the composition. I have so far been a purist in my colored pencil-work, but with this picture, I have mixed more media, and like it. Both in the work process and outcome.


"Tender Moments" with the 2 bears are colored pencil only - but for the first time on colored paper. I will certainly use colored paper again. It was a much more enjoyable than I had expected. The coat was time consuming but also very exciting to paint. The picture received an award at UKCPs International show, so I can only be very pleased.


"Koala bear" in pencil, but performed with a new method for me. Where I use to render detail and tones simultaneously, this was drawn with values first. It is also a method I will definitely use again, however, alternated with the other.


"The little one" a pastel painting, where I have placed much emphasis on light in the picture. I hope to get more work in pastel, which I like very much.


"Jar" ​​is a bound task from the course, and although I was a little tired of the subject at first (!) It was quite fun to draw it. Another challenge than fur, and I'm happy with the result.


"Gentle Giant - Irish wolfhounds" was something of a mouthful to draw, and I was very challenged by this breed coat type. It was new for me with so much background in composition, but I like it, and will draw more of it. Belongs to my idea of ​​the new series!


"Fruity Circles" is one of my pattern designs. It's incredibly exciting for me to make designs, and when I go on with the course, I'll have to make many more in 2012. I think especially this pattern is very successful.


Series is once again on my to-do list for the new year and I have chosen several of these inserted pictures to hopefully grow into series.
...Revised Final

I currently have 6 blogs, and I write on each a little uneven, because they are divided. One is the commission blog, and it lies still. I have the Danish and English version of A zoo, which is for drawings and paintings. Recently, I have gathered both realism and abstract with animal motifs on this blog. My blog Images of Imagination is in Danish and English on the same blog, and is now only for pattern design. Tegneriet is with small sketches. The blog “Farveblyanten” (Colored Pencil) is available, but I’m not posting more on it.

Facebook runs with 3 fan pages that follows the A Zoo blogs and Tegneriet and Doggy Shop. They also run into a little uneven pace, depending on what I’m doing.

I love to make contests, and arranged 3 in 2011. First a comp. where the winner could win a print of their favorite animals, drawn in pencil. The winner got his wish sent as print; a koala bear.
Subsequently, another winner of a print of the drawing was drawn.
 And here in December, the winner of my dogcalender was found. I’ll probably continue with competitions, although I’m actually slightly disappointed with the numbers of participants.

In 2011 I joined  a local art group, Stiplet. It’s nice to be in a group with other illustrators and painters. Via Stiplet I have so far exhibited 2 times and been involved in an auction. In addition to a couple of interesting tours focusing on art. I look forward to Easter Fair in 2012 and hope that many will find their way to the exhibition.

I participated in several competitions and was published in a book. My biggest competitive win were UKCPS 10th Annual Exhibition, where “Tender Moment” got an award. The same picture was included in GuestGallerys Top 15 in “3.rd Animal Art Contest”.
My painting “The Little One” was also a couple of places. The drawing “Koala Bear” came with the finalists in London Artcollege’s Student of the Year competition.

The book was a charity cookbook: “The Secret Ingredient” published in Scotland. I’m drawing “Scottish Highland Cow” with.

I will still participate in competitions, and possibly a few that I have not attended before, or have skipped in 1-2 years.

I took a major new step in mid-November, by signing up for an on-line surface pattern design course. A whole new world opened up, and I have had and continue to have great pleasure out of making patterns. In 2012, I continue the courses, and hope it will bring good opportunities. So that’s what I mean in the second paragraph, searching for new ways of business.

I also participate in a course via London ArtCollege, which continues into 2012. I hope in time that I will control the brushes better. The private commissions was not started in 2011, and as my time currently looks, I will probably not for the time being.

In February 2011 I started my newsletters. I do not have many recipients, but hope that more people see them on my blog, where the last 2 can always be read.

After a period where I had closed the print sales, it has now reopened, then I see how it goes in 2012.

I have sold greeting cards, both at the Easter exhibition with Stiplet and afterwards, and hope to continue with it.

I  look forward to a productive 2012, with a good working energy in a combination of realistic drawings and paintings, abstract paintings, and exciting pattern designs. And that my productivity is reflected in a more professional creative path, so I can get some income from what I am passionate about: drawing, painting and creating patterns. And with that income, spend my time creating :)

Happy New Year to you all - See you in 2012!