Yesterday was a new day in the printing studio of Pål Gunnæs. 

I'm slowly getting the hang of the screen printing process, and I'm loving it more every day. The more I work with a new medium, the more I understand it and see it's possibilities and limitations. 

I find it interesting that I like the limitations of a new medium as much as I like the possibilities. In the case of screen printing I love the fact that I can't use the approaches I normally use to build volume in an artwork - the screen print does not invite to use various values and to blend transitions. This makes the process challenging to me, I have to work really hard to make my brain adapt to these new limitations and it makes the process so much fun!  

Yesterday I made two new prints and I'm happy with both of them. The botanical is printed in two different colors - the blueish grey on the photo above and black - and the top photo is also printed in two colors. It's a very appealing aspect of screen print that you can vary the colors as much as you choose. 

Today on Instagram.

I'm working with screen print for the first time these day as some of you may have noticed, and starting to get to know a new medium i so very exciting. Slowly I get a feeling for the silk screen way of thinking and my mind starts to look for motives that may work i this medium. All of these photos are taken with screen print in the back of my mind. 

I like gold.
It's a bit tacky, I know
but I can't help myself
- I simply like gold!

So this is my tree of life in gold foil.
I had this image in my mind
and something special I mean to use it for,
so I tried it out.


And I like it! 

Last friday I had another go at screen printing at the printer in the forest,
this beautiful, peaceful spot on earth
where aesthetic surroundings and professional skill
blend into a perfect mix 
- oh joy!

My first botanical print in the making! 

Art student Erle was home from school this friday and tagged along.
She did not regret!

I really enjoy my morning cup of coffee,
and if I have 5 minutes for a doodle
that makes me so happy!

Have a beautiful day! 

Yesterday we celebrated our national day here in Norway,
and we sure had something to celebrate this year:
the 200th anniversary of our democratic constitution 
as well as our independence.

This constitution represents the ground stone of our common wealth in this country.
We have so much to be happy and thankful for. 

And I am.
Thankfull and happy for living here. 
I try to remind myself and feel grateful every day.

I love our national costumes - they are proofs of a proud tradition of patience and handicraft.

One fine day I saw this still life from my bed.
It was my party dress from the day before
hung up on my closet
and there was nothing new about it,
I just suddenly saw the scene with "new" eyes.

And there it was
a potential motive.
Don't you think this would do nicely as a paining?

We'll see.
For now I've saved the impression in the photo.
Maybe that's enough. 

I had been looking forward to last week's appointment with the artist and printer Pål Gunnæs for a long time. My friend and I contacted him back in january because we wanted to learn how to screen print and we thought maybe Pål could help us, but it took until may before we found a date that suited us all. 

I had not been to Pål's studio in the forest before and was totally blown away by the beauty of the place. 

We started with a cyanotype print of an old, Norwegian broche, blew it up and printed it on transparent film.

This film was then transferred  to the silk screen.

And this was the result of last week's printing. 

We're going back to learn more this week - I can't wait!

The garden is such a joy these days
budding and sprouting all around

Forms, colors, smells and textures
such a delight to the senses
after the cold, white season

Here is a quote from the American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson:

The earth laughs in flowers

Have a floral tuesday!

I like so much things with a story: the picture above is the well worn door of the basement laundry room in the house of my mother-in-law at the industrial site of Rjukan. The house was built by the employer, Norwegian Hydro, and has been used for a hundred years by a number of industrial workers families. So many tales of hardship, hope and disappointment to be traced in this door.

I love a motive like this 
with its pale palette,

calming to the soul.

More spring delight from the garden.