Happy Holidays

Season's Greetings to friends and strangers,

from under the huge, blue skies of Western Australia.
Here the light is blindingly bright and the warm nights made of velvet ... and wine!
: )
Back online early January.

xx IK

I was amazed when I turned my head to look

I know how corny or worn this may sound, but …
Sometimes I can hardly breathe, realising how much beauty there is.
*
I was just walking away from the kitchen to do something else for a while, but turned back to for some reason, and saw the sink. I hadn't even realised while doing the dishes what was in front of me. This is the exact setting, I didn't touch or move anything – just almost started to cry and then got the camera : )

Perhaps this is life's way to compensate for the bad stuff that happens, to give us unlimited, stunning, amazing, breathtaking beauty, everywhere, if we choose to notice it.









- Click on the images for a more detailed (higher resolution) view -

heavinesst

Heavinesst / pencil, ink, digital / sketch c.2001

On a wing and a prayer

I love how the texture on the praying mantis' back is so similar to the pattern of human skin.
Or is it the other way round?
If you click on the image, you can see this in much better detail.

One reason why Finnish people drink

Part of the current introspection of identity and creative work: background.

Des Chansons Pop!

This is gold.
Please note the sublime choreography, and the mysterious sinking man in the beginning.
Enjoy!! : )

More older work: The Book of Changing Things, 2005

This year, and especially lately, I've felt an urge to gather, inspect and mull over the things created in the past. This includes graphic design projects from a good long decade, as well as a few illustration commissions and paintings realised before beginning jewellery studies at RMIT in 2008.

My plan is to collate all this work into a holistic website-archive ... one day ... but I think mostly, it's interesting to reflect on two-dimensional work in retrospect, in order to make mental space and to gain enough courage to finally begin talking about jewellery and silversmithing pieces here.

Venturing into a completely new area of making, after a career in all things flat (as in paper and digital screen), now playing with fire, metal and powertools, is at times daunting and very challenging. But mostly it is exhilarating, totally wonderful and totally addictive. This is it! So, I think of this, looking at past work now, almost as a ritual of moving into a new phase in life and creative thought, welcoming what ever may be around the corner. Mustering belief.

These images are from The Book of Changing Things, a story for children and young adults in Alice in Wonderland-ish way, by Odo Hirsch (aka David Kausmann), Allen & Unwin 2005. The pictures (pen, pencil and ink) are influenced by my memories of books from my own childhood, especially by the tradition of Eastern European story telling.

Click on the images, as per usual, to have a larger and more detailed view.

a thought for late November

Every winter, I forget how many white scars I have, all over.
Every spring, the first sunshine, skin changing colour –
I remember again.

Childhood summers, teenage accidents, work mishaps
and everything else, all written on the body.

I am a map : )

Jewellery before RMIT 1: winter cargo

winter cargo (2003)
oxidised copper, enamel, glass beads, industrial steel netting

This neck piece was inspired by the beach in winter; what washes on the shore, how everything tangles together, the colours … Click on the image for a sharper view.

tiny glimpses of larger work

Regarding my previous post, this is what I'm working on. These are small details
from some of the (as yet unpublished : ) illustrations.

these early domestic animals

Nooo, not chickens!

I'm currently working towards a fast approaching deadline on a book illustration project. It is fun, all encompassing, and just about everything in between. Everything good. Intensive work periods often also make me nocturnal – 4.30 am is the new bedtime (if not black). Being up so early feels strange, given it's years since I witnessed an honest sunrise … but then, I get a glimpse of what happens in the kitchen when they think no-one is looking. This is who I saw.

Sunday sentiment

Like sugar … but a little different

14/11/09

14/11/09

Duende : )

From Tony Gatlif's Latcho Drom, 1993

Warmth

11-11-2009

emery

– click images to inspect –

Hit it, Hal!

Early in the morning, she hitched a ride down to Louisville
Holding onto a hundred dollar bill
Dressed herself like a Cajun Queen in New Orleans, baby
Yeah, she looked good, like a lady
(Do it to me, James)

And the Mississippi River runs like molasses in the summertime
And me, you know, I don't hardly mind …

Sipping on a beer in Bourbon Street and I'm sitting easy
Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot to please me

Have a seat and take a load off your feet, and she said – Yes
So I said, 'I like your dress'
Swamps all around make you feel kind of funny, don't they, honey
She crossed her legs and looked at me funny

Down on the bayou, why, you never know just what you're doing
Down on the bayou, why, you never know just what you're doing
(what you're doing)
Down on the bayou, why, you never know just what you're doing …

(from Mississippi by John "Papa" (!) Phillips, 1970)

Let us be lovers

Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together
I've got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America …



















Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
February 2009

Click on the images for a larger view
(lyrics P. Simon)