back and forth

This past weekend I held a two-day bookbinding workshop in Gothenburg, at the School of Design and Crafts. Mostly students from the textile department, a very nice bunch. I'll be back in April to teach them how to make boxes.

Came down with a bad cold the day I arrived, really bad timing... my head felt like one size too small. I managed to do the course, although I was completely exhausted after the two days. Forgot to take photos during the course, but remembered my camera when I saw a piece of street art on my way to visit my brother.

giant cream cake

This is how my large clay bowl (or rather plate?) is progressing. I made a plaster cast in two halves, which I then filled to the brim with plaster. This will dry for one week and then I have a form on which I can make my papier maché. Looks tasty, don't you think?

shaping a form

Last week I started on a big form which I am planning to make papier maché objects on eventually. I have never done this, but with the guidance of art teacher Ulf at Sigtuna Folkhögskola, hopefully I will succeed.

Earlier the very same day, I had coffee with a new acquaintance, Sara, who has recently moved to Sigtuna. It turns out she is a mask-maker (among other things) and knows just about everything there is to know about papier maché! She also happened to be very nice :)

This is the the first step: making a clay form. The next step will be to cover it in plaster to make a plaster cast.

flooded

Sun is flooding our studio! I love the light, but by the window it's steaming hot. Never mind, the promise of spring is here :)





Making small booklets that will be on sale at Kaleido.


There's still a LOT of snow despite the warming sun. If it melts too quickly we'll be flooded in water instead. A family of 3 roedeer have been visiting our back yard in search of something to eat. They have had a tough winter, but at least these three have made it through. They're lovely to watch (although Asta goes crazy when she hears them stepping around outside, she wants to chase them).

last day in Stavanger

Last Sunday, before my returnflight back home, Pia and her family took me for a ride to Hå Gamle Prestegard. A gallery consisting of 3 buildings (an old vicarage) situated by the sea (although one could not see the sea because of the mist). We looked at the exhibitions and had coffee and cakes. A place I very much want to return to (perhaps on a sunny day :))

We also had time to stop by the seashore and see the looong stretch of beach along the coast. This was my first visit to Norway, but definately not my last.

workshop Stavanger

Stavanger, Norway. Friday and Saturday, March 12 – 13.
Most of the photos are taken by my friend Pia Wall, Stavanger illustrator. The workshop took place at the Rogaland Kunstsenter.

The sun shone the day before...



Loaded but happy


Deep concentration


Pia folding away


Punching holes


Creative mess


Attentive listeners


There you go - piece of cake!

speaking easy

Day 1 in Stavanger, Norway.
Thursday March 4th


Stian Hole and myself at Cementen, a club rented by the Grafill association, where we spoke to an audience consisting of designers, illustrators etc. I spoke of my different lines of work and how they merge into one another. Stian spoke of his latest book and of his working method. Really interesting. It all went really well and was very inspiring.
Photos: courtesy Ola Gytri






Small world – a Flickr contact of Mattias' came up afterwards!

petal bowl

This is where I'm at right now with the papier maché. I'm in love with this technique and just want to do more. The bowl is paperthin and yet quite sturdy, the glue making it stable.

I'm off to Stavanger, Norway, early tomorrow morning. Invited by the norwegian Grafill association to speek on Thursday evening and to hold a bookbinding workshop Friday and Saturday. Also speaking on Thursday is the norwegian illustrator and author Stian Hole, an amazing artist that works with collage, illustration and photoshop.
I'm getting nervous...

paper cup

More fun with papier maché. Just trying it out, to see what can be made.

plankton maybe