Eat your vegetables! - illustration

I decided to have some fun with my fantasy art and not paint my usual warrior women and sorcerers. I wanted to paint something homey and cozy with a touch of humor. I've had this idea in my head for a while and it was a relief to finally have it on paper so I can think of other images.

The piece is titled "Eat your vegetables" and it came about because I was contemplating whether or not kids have always shied away from eating greens or if it is a relatively modern phenomenon. if we go far enough back in time I don't think they had much choice though, eat your veggies or starve seems to be a more than likely scenario in my mind.

(c) Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk

I chose to let the use of color in my image be inspired by Vermeer, his use of color and light is amazing, and I bow down low to his skill.

Until next time,
Anita Night
a.k.a Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk

An introverts thoughts on art and contemplation

"[C]ontemplation became a school for asocial behavior"
- Walter Benjamin

I can't begin to tell you exactly what Walter Benjamin meant when he wrote these words, but they hit me when I read them. I knew I had to write something before the feelings that they stirred to life inside of me got lost by other distractions. As a generally quiet and introverted person who prefers staying at home with a good book or a piece of art to work on I have been called asocial more than once. In the past I have been urged by teachers to be more social and more outgoing, and I really tried to follow their advice. I felt as if there had to be something wrong with me since they pointed it out. It is only in later years that I have come to realize and truly be at peace with the fact that I am just a little bit different. I'm an introvert and that's okay. I like to think or contemplate things if you will. I love to read and write and draw things. My interests are usually solitary exercises because I like quiet and peace of mind, just being alone with myself inside my own head.

(c) Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk 

I don't want you all getting the idea that I am some kind of hermit because I'm not. I like hanging out with friends and family, and usually I am quite capable of having a good time with others. I am a highly functioning introvert. That sometimes means pretending like you are okay when you are surrounded by people even if you are not. Luckily I don't have to do that very often anymore. I'm surrounded by friends who are also introverts or at least who have introverted tendencies, and it makes life so much easier and more comfortable.

Society today almost demands that you are social and available at all times and I don't like it. That's one of the reasons why I never use the internet on my cellphone and limit my own use of social media as much as possible. We can't all be extroverts and we shouldn't try to be either. It's not healthy. I have to admit that I have felt exhausted more than once just by going to the local grocery store and back home again. It all just becomes too much for me to handle and the minute I am inside again I feel like slamming my back against the wall, sliding down to the floor and curling up into fetal position like a leading lady in a cheesy drama flick. It sounds very whiny even to me as I'm typing this, but it's the truth. Whenever this happens I am so grateful for having art in my life. It almost doesn't matter that I have a hard time getting jobs as an illustrator because even though it is not something I can make a living of (yet) it still gives me the chance to escape into my own little fortress of solitude. When I draw or paint I am free to contemplate things, to shrug of the stresses of life and figure out what may have triggered the feelings of being overwhelmed. I can do this in a personal space that is mine and mine alone because even my husband tries not to disturb me when I'm in the zone.

So I guess what I'm trying to say in this post without having a clear plan of action or planned moral to preach about is that it's not necessary to give in to the expectations of modern day life. You don't have to be little miss(or mister) Extrovert. It's okay to prefer solitude and even if people tell you that you have to do this or you have to be that it doesn't mean that they are right. And if you are like me then I hope that you have also found something that gives you peace of mind and helps you deal with things like art does for me.

Sincerely,
Anita Night
a.k.a Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk
 

Art of Drawing Anatomy by David Sanmiguel - book review

I recently purchased a new anatomy book, and since I am usually on a tight budget I had to find something that was very affordable but of good quality. I bough this specific book on www.play.com for 12 euros or something like that which I thought was quite the steal. I bought it because the only anatomy book I had in my possession was not very good and filled with mostly exaggerated super hero like images. It was not very helpful to be quite honest. This book however was infinitely better. Is it one of the best ones out there? I haven't got the faintest idea as my experience with anatomy books is somewhat limited. I will say however that I personally like it a lot. It has all the basics covered like the concept of ideal anatomy, but also goes into detail, naming the bones and the muscles of the body and showing you how to foreshorten limbs and things like that. I found it immensely helpful and realized that I should have bought a new anatomy book a loong long time ago.

I would recommend this book to beginners and intermediate artists. It is easy to read and has lots of illustrations in it that explains the text and concepts of drawing the human body. I think it has a lovely production quality. I wish it had come as a hardback instead of paperback, but that is just me being picky. In general this is a beautiful book of good quality.

Below you can see some simple photos that I have taken of my copy of the book.

Until next time,
Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk

Contact:
anitaolsen.illustration@gmail.com

Website:
www.anitaolsen.daportfolio.com

On/Off - new poem!

Well the purpose of this blog is to share, share art, geekyness and thoughts and opinions. Today I wanted to share a recent poem with you. I've also shared it on my book blog www.theliterarypirate.blogspot.com, but I thought I'd share it with my old and faithful followers here on Anita Night too!

Hope you find some pleasure in it!

On/Off

I can be charming like Cleopatra
brave like Joan of Arc
passionate like Marie Curie
and my smile can break your heart

And as if that was not enough
there are a million things you
still don't know about me..yes
I'm a tasty little cream puff
made up of all the right stuff

I can be artistic like Marie Antoinette
free like Amelia Earhart
dedicated like Florence Nightingale
my personality is state of the art

Oh, and did I mention my
consuming mental illness?
I'm sorry dear was that too much
forget my indiscretion we wouldn't
want you to get the wrong impression...

(c) Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk


Until next time,
Anita K. Olsen Stoebakk