Have you ever done something, just for you, that you really needed to do bit you weren't sure you could?! Something big. Something threatening. Scary!

Spring is on our doorstep. Soon, very soon she is here. So much to look forward to. Light and love.

Undulat / Budgerigar is my first official artwork in 2015. The painting was a customized artwork made for Gitte in Denmark inspired by her birds; she has two budgerigars, one yellow and one blue.
My wish with the image was to depict Gitte's relationship with her friends and put an emphasis on the inner life (a theme that is coming up a lot in my work). Devotion and dedication. Her eyes closed, holding a hand to her heart feeling truly this connection.

This is where all relationships begin. In the heart. 


For the image I used many different materials. My main materials were watercolour and colour pencils. But also using a white candle and making marks into the surface of the paper, makes the paint peel off where the markings are and creates an interesting texture in the final image.

And golden paint. Oh, golden paint!

Gold is my favourite "colour" at the moment. It has so much power, depth and meaning for me right now. I am even painting it in our house!

Mixed media on paper 

The final image is a starry night, a night full of movement, different shades of blue, green and purple. And a still girl in her pajamas with her two special birds!

If you would like your own copy of "Undulat" I have made it available as canvas, art print and greeting card in my shop. In that way we can all have a bit of Gitte's special magic!

Yes! Let's be creative!

Making an illustration is in many ways similar to going on a shamanic journey; I have an idea about where I'm going but what happens when I draw, only time will tell. Magic unfolds; characters appear, they want to be in the picture. I am excited because I don't know what happens next! What will appear suddenly in a minute!? I laugh! A cat! Hah! It is so funny and whimsical.

With this years' Christmas card I wanted to show a certain madness of cozy "hygge" time. The scene is set in a cozy cottage with the two main figures going beserk over creating christmas decorations! Magic happens when we just let go and let ourselves be creative. I find that the winter and especially Christmas time is perfect for that.

A Scandinavian childhood

I have friends who live in south and in north of Sweden and when I made the scenery for outside the window, I thought about these warm homes and the view from their windows. I like round carpets like the one under the table. I also had a round carpet under the Christmas tree. I recall this tradition from my Christmases in Denmark.
I know the feeling I want to create with my card. It comes from childhood books and illustrations of Nordic landscapes and indoor life. I think people from all over Scandinavia recognize this feeling. That part of me is familiar, where I grew up and had my Christmases as a child. It is this familiarity that I try to explain in this year's Christmas artwork. The windows are familiar, the chairs, the people. That's what I want to give with my art: a familiar cozy welcome-ness.

How did I make the illustration? 

First I draw what's in the centre of the picture where all the action happens from. In this case it was a round table. Everything else is added on from there.
I have 2 main sketches of the scene; one in my head and one on paper, and together they create the final image. But I don't know everything. I often ask the picture itself what it wants to do next when I am stuck.
It takes two full days to create a detailed illustration such as this one. I don't worry too much about being correct in my lines, but I want the viewer to be able to understand what is happening in the picture even though it's busy.
I like to draw things that are a little impossible. That gets the imagination going. When you draw you can make up solutions that wouldn't work in reality. And it makes it even more fun!


I hope you enjoy the cards! I wish you a joyous wonder-full Christmas!

With love,

MOON AND ME

Taking the time
To Calm Down
To Watch The Moon
Behind her veil

Dangling from a World Beyond
Watching the World
Go by


---

I am being asked by the Universe to Sing the Song of me.

I am very inspired by the people I walk amongst. The normal people. All the ordinary people. My cards are about these people. The dreamers, the mums, the dads, sisters and friends. We all have a little bit of something special inside. And I find it so unique and so interesting.

Recently a woman came to me, and asked me if I could make a card design for her to give to her newborn granddaughter. I thought this was a very special and powerful request. Because what are the gifts that we want to give to a new born child? A girl coming into this world, all new, all blessed.

As ever so often (thank you Universe!) the images that I create do not come from hours of thinking and drawing and creating. Most commonly they come from an inside place, and they stand out, they shine. When I see this picture inside I KNOW this is the right image. I see it and I can feel the image.

Then I start to sketch and draw what I see. And the first sketch is often very powerful. This sketch fixates the composition in the picture, who is in it, and where they are.

In so many ways this newborn girl (who is not yet born - but just getting ready!) is just like so many other girls being born. She has the same nose as most, the same eyes and the same body as most newborn girls. And then, in so many other ways - this girl is special! This girl is so unique with her own story, her own family tree and her own roots. In so many ways, there is none else quite like this girl - and that's what I wanted to express, with my card.

But I also wanted to express the love and support commitment from the Universe around this special girl. Inspired by Disney's Snowwhite and The Seven Dwarfs I found myself drawing an image much like the scene in the woods (if you remember the fim), where the animals stand watching. They are observing - they are watching. They are the witnesses of the birth as well as the human family. Perhaps they too are depictions of Spirit, like the Eagle in the tree, and the tree itself.

In this card I used a little bit stronger, darker colour than what I usually do in my watercolours.

Every girl is special. Every person is unique.

Here are pictures from my photo shoot and the final design.
The artwork A New Life is available in my webshop.

Playing with this drawing at the moment - Girl In Woods. 

I am creating a video about intuitive painting! In the video I am sharing painting techniques, information on how to use colour and it's basically a gentle introduction that takes you by the hand, and helps you take a step towards your first intuitive painting!

Here is a sneak-peak still photo from the video "How To Do Intuitive Painting"!


The idea for this video took off when my friends were here, and we were all painting together!

This is not my first video. If you want to see my other videos, go to The Sunshine Studio YouTube channel :) Enjoy!

Ok, so I am still finding my way with this blog. So bear with me, if posts are flying around your ears (!) I am finding a pace and a content that works for me.

I spent the morning painting and it was soul-full. I needed that. Here are a few shots from the studio this morning.

List of great ideas!

Things I wanna do and get all excited thinking about doing!

1. A spontaneous video class where I share my techniques, thoughts and approach towards painting. And you get to see me paint!
2. A gathering (article) of 10 basic techniques and how-to's to have a fun, exciting painting day!
3. Interviews with artists who's work I love and admire, and share the interview with pictures on the blog!
4. Painting workshop "Painting My Journey" (more to come!)
5. Offer FREE desktop backgrounds and Facebook banners for people who sign up for my newsletter
6. Meditation sounds and songs for healing and creativity

I SAY: MORE OF WHAT YOU LOVE! RIGHT NOW!

Ok so my studio doesn't look exactly tidy today. But hey! What's a little fun if you can't mess about?! ;)

I am so ABSOLUTELY EXCITED to have my cards in Kate and Robert's Radiant Light Retreats yoga studio! Let me share with you my story with this place, and why it is so important for me to have my cards here!
I first met Kate and Robert and visited their beautiful house and the yoga studio in the summer of 2012. I had just graduated with a MA in illustration from Denmark and needed some time off to be myself. So I went to southern France to take some time to recuperate. On this particular day, the weather was beautiful (like on these pictures here), and my first time in the yoga studio was magical. I really felt embraced and loved, and the yoga and meditation we did was pure nourishment for my SOUL. It helped me remind myself of my spirituality, and the importance it has in my life.
I have visited the yoga studio many times since, and always feel a sense of peace and connection there. I have also had many wonderful visions in the room, including the vision of this painting.

I am SO delighted that my cards are allowed in this sacred space, where so much awareness, transformation and healing is taking place. It's such a loving space and so effortless to be in! THANK YOU!

Having my cards here also remind me, that I would like to sell my cards in places of LOVE and appreciation. In this space they can completely shine in the way they were intended without judgement or competition!

Robert Duddell (intuitive homeopathic healer) and Kate Marney (spiritual counsellor and guide) runs Radiant Light Retreats at their home and retreat center in the French Pyrenees, southern France. They offer "the opportunity to journey into the core of your being by stepping out of the stress and chaos of modern life into the peace of nature". Please visit their website for more information!