“Never-ending” winter: challenging but yet surprisingly inspiring

The winter has been really long this time. It started snowing in the last days of September and winter still holds us in it’s icy grip. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a winter person, but it’s almost May. The icy wind will come through all layers of clothing if you are poorly prepared. This is coming from a person that has experienced freezing temperatures of over -40 degrees Celsius and is used to living in arctic and subarctic conditions, so when I say the weather has been freezing, the weather really has been freezing. Every time we think the snowing will stop and spring is coming, the weather turns cold again. Groundhog Day-version of winter : )

But from the abyss of this long-lasting period new directions for life have unexpectedly emerged. Sometimes it hasn’t been easy, but hopefully persistence will be rewarded. This feeling is well described by the following quote from Albert Camus:

“In the depth of Winter, I finally learned that within methere lay an invincible summer.”

Albert Camus

I’ve been tinkering with several art projects and among them there are a couple of projects that have somehow risen above the others. First came the idea of trying to make a series of mixed media postcards, where the subject would be self care and environmental awareness. The first “prototype” for these cards is called Restore balance (pictured below in the gallery). I made it on A3-watercolor paper using watercolors and a white gel pen. I’m still percolating the other subjects, but I was thinking of making a series of either 3 or 4 of these.

Another bigger and unexpectedly surfaced project is a graphic short story called “The cease-fire”. It is partly autobiographical and is about the treatment that we get as special needs parents when we demand better things for our neurodivergent child. I’ll probably publish it in some form but I’m not sure of the details yet. I will keep you updated on the matter.

I’m also currently editing a longer video for YouTube, where I present the vibes of the past winter. I will publish the video here on the blog as well, as soon as I get it ready for publication.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who has liked my posts. I hope you will be inspired by what I try to achieve with my art. Your likes certainly encourages me to continue on this journey.

I’m wishing you all a beautiful spring season! Happy Earth Day!

Content of the photo gallery:

  1. First light after polar night.
  2. The Blue Moment
  3. Restore Balance” postcard prototype
  4. Drawing the first page of my graphic short story, under supervision of my “Boss” : ) (a piece of wallpaper on my drawing table)
  5. Earth Day at the studio, seedlings emerging from the soil
  6. More snow….
  7. Atmospheric photo from the studio
  8. At work
  9. They are finally coming!!!

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