Remember this?

That's what I've chosen to call this illustration. It was made for a children's book project I did during the summer, and isn't really a full illustration but it works just fine on it's own. I think it is being published now, or will be very soon. The details have been a bit fuzzy as of late. Looking forward to receiving my copies of the book though. It will be a great thing to bring along to client meetings.



I'll probably post more images from the book as soon as I hear more from the publisher about publishing dates and so on and so forth.

Until next time
Anita Night

The returning predicament of time management..

Yes it is a returning problem. I fear it will be an ever present factor that will irk me to no end.
I started working part time three weeks ago, thinking that I would only be working two days a week, maybe three, but due to the fact that one of my co-workers just became a baby daddy and had to take time off I am feeling like I applied for a full time job instead of a part time job.

It won't last forever, it's only for two weeks, but having found myself in this tricky situation I find myself pondering the mere fact of how easy it is to become lost in what is supposed to be a part time job and forgetting or just not being able to find the time to do my illustration work.

Because I am aware of the problem I can nip it in the bud, and avoid ending up like a lot of students who take up part-time jobs to pay their bills while they struggle to break into the industry. Often it seems like a steady paycheck lures artists away from professional full-time illustration work, and it's kind of sad. I don't have a lot of experience yet, but I'm going through that problem right now and I have to say that I get why people often drown in their part time jobs. Your boss might ask you to work some extra shifts and it is all too easy to say yes because you keep thinking that you need the money. You can't be blamed for doing just that, but it's only a short term solution. It may not pay of right away, but in the long run it might actually be more prudent to turn down some of those extra shifts and focus on your illustration practice or classes or your homework(if you are still in school). That is what I intend to do, as much as possible at least. Because in the end I have to prioritize my dream and not my part time job, no matter how good of a job it is.

I realize that this was a rather lengthy post, but I felt like I needed to get it out of my system. If anyone has any comments or thoughts about the subject feel free to comment as always.

and last but not least here is a little sketch from our first drink and draw session:





Until next time
Anita Night

A little early, but hey Happy Halloween

Let me start by saying I love Halloween!! I do the whole dressing thing. So much fun and this year I'm going as poison Ivy, well I will if my wig arrives in time that is.

I have for the fourth year in a row been able to keep my promise to myself and make a Halloween card. They are never quite the same, but for some reason I always end up painting witches and vampires. This year it is no different.

There is a witch this year too, the only big difference is that I have chosen to use the Blood elves from World of Warcraft as inspiration for my little yearly "spoof". So here it is, my sexy, wicked blood elf witch (it should totally be a new class).

(To read the text please press image for larger view)

To anyone reading this blog, I challenge you to make your own Halloween card!!!

If you do make one then send me a link as I'd love to see some more Halloween works.

Until next time
Anita Night

update time...

A tiny little update..

I've been busy trying to find a part time job and working on my illustration projects as of late,

and so there has been radio silence from this blog for a long time. I'm planning to give more updates soon. When I have the time to sketch a bit. I will also start attending business courses and that may interest people so I'll probably try to write a bit about that too.

In other news, I finally got a job. I'm not entirely sure of when I start, but it will be soon. It'll be nice to actually have some structure back in my life again. I don't like drifting around in uncertainty, leeching of family and friends.

And last but not least, a little sketch from a drink and draw session I attended:

Until next time
Anita Night

Updating the neglected

Unwise words from the skull...

It feels a bit like falling of the map, moving away I mean.
you are forced out of your daily routines, you have to improvise certain things and you don't have the time to do all the things you want to do. You just have to focus on cleaning, packing, logistics, paperwork and money.

When you move you rip your roots out of the ground, you throw away all the unwanted things you have in your life and the things you want to keep you take with you. Things both physical, mental and emotional.

When you move you leave something known and venture into the unknown, usually that is. In my case I left something I had just gotten to know and came back to familiar ground. I have to admit that moving to England was a bit scary. I didn't really know what I was going to and the things I thought I new weren't necessarily right. Moving back to Norway again wasn't as hard, but it's still a bit scary.

I've come back to what I consider to be home, I've come back with a degree and new perspectives on life. Which is great, but I've also come back not really knowing how my future is going to turn out. I don't have a job so I need to find one. We don't have any place to live so we're staying with family until we find a decent apartment and on the side I still have illustration projects and the founding of my own business to work on. It's a lot, my plate is quite full.

It's a bit stressful to be honest, but it also feels kind of nice. I have a lot of work ahead of me true, but because I have a goal, because I know what I want it feels more like an exciting challenge than a heavy load weighing me down.

Hopefully I'll be able to know within the week whether I have a job or if I need to keep looking. As soon as the job is secured pieces will start to fall into place a lot more easily. I'm looking forward to having all my pressing affairs settled, but I think it's important to enjoy and take in the process of getting there. A prize is always sweeter when you've had to work for it after all.

Until next time
Anita Night

I graduated!

Yes I did.

I wasn't going to write a long essay about this. I wrote a long one on my Norwegian blog and it was so emotional that I am left feeling a little drained, but it seems like my brain decided that I need to do just that. It was such a big day for me. It was the completion and the end of a dream that I have been carrying in my heart for years. I always dreamed of becoming some kind of artist, studying abroad, getting a degree. And now I have done it. I have officially graduated with the award Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Second class, first division in illustration.

I couldn't be more proud of myself and my accomplishments, I've worked so hard for so long, and it finally paid of.

Yesterday went by so fast so I didn't really have the time to take in the gravity of the moment, but now I do. I cried when I realized that my dream had finally come true. I cried because I was happy, and I cried because it was over.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow"
-Shakespear

I have that feeling now. I am letting go of a part of my life. I am not a student anymore, I am not striving for a degree, I have it. I am an artist. I get to make a living doing what I love doing the most. I get to draw and paint and illustrate every day. I can't really ask for more right now.

Sure a house to live in is a necessity, but things have a way of working themselves out. I am just grateful that I have been given the chance to follow my dreams, and that I knew what it was I wanted to do with my life from an early age.

On a final note I would just like to tell everyone how much my moms support has meant to me over the years. She never pushed me, but always supported me. She never once told me I couldn't do something and I give her full credit for me getting to where I am today. The past 4 years my dear Ole has also been an invaluable support and my rock. He left all he knew just to be with me when I decided to move first to Oslo and then to England. No man I have ever known gives up almost his entire life for the woman he loves, but he did and I don't know if I could have made it without him.

Until next time
Anita Night

Light as air

Another image in my new illustration series about love. I felt like flying the last time I fell in love. I guess that's what this image is about. If you have ever had that feeling, like your heart could burst from your chest and like your feet could lift from the ground if you just jumped, well, then you probably understand what I'm talking about ^^

That feeling was a good sign as it turns out. The guy I had these feelings for (and still do) is going to be my husband as of December next year.

Have you ever felt this way?

(P.S. also published on artflakes.com)

Until next time
AnitaNight