New series of christmas cards and festive japes

Getting ready for Christmas with a new series of cards featuring Hamish, Scottie and his gang of pals..

17 Mai salute early in the morning

Not sure about the pj's and teddy, but the salute does take place early in the morning before the celebrations for the day start.

Singing viking gets in tune for childrens book plans

Lots of planning work over the past few months  for the childrens book including the storyline and timeline now ready to roll. Based in Oslo, the book will feature a wee Scottish boy who comes to visit his cousin for 17 May, he brings his Scottie dog who chases around the city after a delicious smell of hot dogs. They meet a variety of characters on their way..

Some exciting ideas to feature local landmarks too, including Slottsparken, Astrup Fearnley museum, Akershus castle and the Opera house amongst others.

Oh, and there will be singing vikings, tootling musicians, marching guards and waving tots. Ibsen, Grieg, Amundsen and Munch will be making an appearance as well.

 

Look out for more information as the pages begin to take life. Hamish and Solveig are getting ready to enjoy 17 May fun, while Scottie chases that elusive hot dog and gets into a series of scrapes. Will he make it to the balcony in his top hat or be sidetracked?

Aker Brygge lighthouse, the bear and the kilted laddo ..(and his schnauzer)





Getting there with the colouring in and shading on the new pic, next stage is the tint on the sky and the fjord. Lots of new ideas for characters too, and the sun is shining, doesn't get much better today ..

 

Characters from Aker Brygge for new childs book

Working on a first draft to create some fun wee characters based on the local area for a children's book. These are the initial sketches and will have a crack at getting some colour onto them today.
I'm not sure whether to have the story in English or Norwegian, (and will need some help with that for sure...) or both even. 

New magazine - Nørd Hæftii, features Oslo sketches

Was very happy to receive a copy of Nørd Hæftii magazine in the mailbox this morning, (the girls published some of my sketches on the back cover of their first issue). I had to do a little dance in the street and jump up and down a bit. A bit undignified for an auld gal but never mind.

Loving their magazine, (it's in German so thanks to Google Translate), really like their funky layouts and swooshy format. Wishing them loads of success.

www.noerdhaeftii.com

Good morning Mr Blue Sky

Spring is in the air and the brushes, crayons and paints are out again, yabadabba doo. Trying out some new ideas using pastels to celebrate with a more abstract format and some funky colours. This is a first bash to get going again after the Winter hibernation. 

Ghosty ships in the fjord

Very atmospheric down beside the water yesterday morning and felt like being in a black and white Victorian postcard, so quiet and misty. The boats have their Winter coats on to protect them from the snow and looked almost spooky in the fog. There was a light coating of ice on the fjord which made a lovely crackly pattern, whooshing about..

Swirly words, soldiers and seagulls

Working on a new project today with calligraphy ideas and small line pictures based on some of the photos I've taken recently. 

Really wasn't thinking too logically about the project from the start and went headlong into it. As it's on cartridge paper, the finished picture would go all wibbly-wobbly if I add watercolour paint to it now, but have some lovely bright crayons so will add a spot of colour here and there to brighten it up a bit.


Added some colour to the background and the pictures to lift the picture a bit and now thinking about creating a circle image next time. It might be an idea when the snow comes for a Christmas card... oh the snow, better get the furry boots and gloves looked out for that.

And gin to help keep warm when painting..

Aker Brygge lighthouse (and the dog was there chasing his tail...)

This is one of my favourite places to go for a walk every morning and the old fellow is often there with his collie dug (who likes to look over the side of the quay at the seagulls, sure he would like to have a go at them). Had another shot at the pic again to try to get it lighter than the last version. Lovely sky today with a wee bit of pink going on up there, must have been the traces of last night's storms.

Fresh fish and chatting lads at Aker Brygge quay, Oslo

The wee fishing boats had a good night with their haul and had a large cargo onboard this morning. They were doing a roaring trade with the local restuarant owners and these two lads were having a right chuckle and full of fun in the sunshine in between serving their customers. 

Stilt man at Aker Brygge

This statue is just over the way in the water beside the moorings at Beddingen in Aker Brygge. He looks out down to the fjord and is a big tall chap perched on his stilts. I've noticed when it's really quiet in the mornings, the same seagull likes to perch on his head and do a wee dance.

The sketch started in pencil and then I got a bit carried away with the black pen and a dab of paint. It had got to the point where it was finished, but then took it too far, grrrrrrr..

Just texting in the rain ...

Very quiet this morning along the waterfront, everything was sprinkly-sprankly washed clean after the rain and storms last night. I like the way this laddo is sitting texting among the puddles, with his hood up, and not a care in the world. The lighthouse is a wee fat jaunty one too and reminds me of a liquorice allsort sweet.

Aker Brygge lighthouse, lonely man and an invisible dog

This was a sketch from very early one morning before the quayside became busy with people, it's a popular spot for tourists and is just beside where the local ferry stops to drop off the passengers. There was only one chap wandering about and he was looking out over the water, he had a dog with him at the time but it was scooting around in the background and a nippy little fellow. A bit too quick for me to capture on paper. You can see the dog in the photo though, I think it he after the seagulls...

Rainy day in Aker Brygge

This funky building has offices on the top floors and an art gallery on the ground floor. It provides a great look-out point for the seagulls to check out what's going on. As it was a horrible wet driech morning the sketch was quickly outlined and then a scurry back indoors to hot tea.

By the time I took the photo, the seagull had scooted, as had the man in his big executive office chair. He probably went for a tea too, or maybe a posh coffee, and cake, I bet.

Akershus castle

Lovely sunny morning and did a quick sketch of Akershus castle, its a bit straight and tight though. Might add some colour to doof it up a bit, or have another go tomorrow.

Big bright blue skies and lovely view, but had to give up as the view was blocked when a big cruise ship appeared and docked right in front of it, cheeky thing...