2013 Recap

And thus (pretty much) concludes the madness that was 2013!

I forgot to mention this, which happened while I was in Paris the second time:

(That's the current French Prime Minister and we were in the backyard of Matignon, FYI.)

In 2014, on the personal art front, I plan on continuing drawing Master of Survival and writing Noémie, aller-retour/hin und zurück. I will also be traveling a lot for various things, which will lead to new travel journals, postcards and more exclusive art goodies to get your hands on! More will be announced in the next couple of months as travel plans unfold, so keep your eagle eyes open.

Also, as is my wont, I've compiled a small recap of the year in entertainment, visible below this cut. May 2014 bring new obsessions and hefty doses of doodling, the latter to rejoice over, the former to your possible dismay.

[ #3 Song of the Year  
#2 Song of the Year
#1 Song of the Year ]

Mixtape Monday: Car Drive 2013

A personal fact I have mentioned before: in addition to writing and drawing squiggly figures in my journal, I have also been making mixes since the dawn of time -- well, since I attended junior high and came into possession of a tape player. Being a storyteller at heart, I always strive to compose some kind of sense into the ordering of the songs - a sort of soundtrack, if you will. I find I have achieved success when the mix either gets my narrative point across or makes someone happy. (If both happen, it is doubly awesome!)

I will use the occasional Mixtape Monday post to present to you some of the mixes I am particularly proud of, and the artwork that inevitably goes with it. I open this category with the most recent edition of Car Drive, a yearly mix I force my family to listen to in the car when we drive out to the Swedish countryside. (My sister ended up "quite liking it" however, so I have reached my above-mentioned goal.)

Car Drive serves to round up (mostly) new music that either caught my attention or defined a particular moment in the eponymous year. As such, this is is truly an aural personal recap of 2013. (The comic recap is coming tomorrow!)

If you so desire, you can wrap your ears around this mix on Spotify.

 

Hanging Loose: Mellandagsrea

*Mellandagsrea is a sale that happens between Christmas and New Year's (the "days in the middle").

[ Theophilus London feat. Sara Quin - Why Even Try ]

Hanging Loose: Role Reversal

Hey guys! I'm putting my comics time this month towards drawing Master of Survival and writing Noémie, so to tide you over I've got some comics drawn over the holidays in my trusty journal. I call these "Hanging Loose".

I am also doing a recap of 2013 that will be up within a week. Happy New Year!

P.S. Click on the picture for a bonus sibling interaction GIF!

[ Alkaline Trio - Time To Waste ]

Winter is here

Whew! That's my last post before my own personal getaway to the sunny climes of Sweden for some holiday cheer and familial watching of television. While I'm there I'll be wrapping up the daily Little Tiny Adventstüren posts I've been doing (and which you can follow on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook)!

In the New Year we'll be having a big ole recap of the madness that was 2013. Until then, I advise you to get thee hence to a place that sells Glühwein and get toasted in my honor (I'm turning a year older at some point too).

I've failed thus far to actually get toasted on Glühwein myself, which may be for the best as I've been alternating between wrapping up work and sitting in front of TV shows with tea and a cold. Deliverance is nigh, though! Catch you on the flip side.

[ Linkin Park x Steve Aoki - A Light That Never Comes ]

The things that one tames

This weekend I was at a retreat with other musicians from my church, the same kind as last year's but in a different, quite remote little place in the woods (no cell reception!). Part of Sunday's Advent service was the reading of an excerpt from The Little Prince, namely the conversation between the little prince and the fox. I've read the book many times, but I still find the scene very touching.

The fox here is a nod to Foxy, the main character of the many comic strips I  drew as a kid.

[ Manic Street Preachers - You Stole The Sun From My Heart ]

Thin Ice

Doodle time! Meeting a deadline. (*fist pump*)

The Clairikine Christmas Sale is still going until December 15! My minicomics are all on sale with free stickers with each purchase. Feed me? (Heh.)

[ AFI - A Deep Slow Panic ]

S.A.D.

I'm all for snow, lights and quiet and cozy nights in with a book or a drawing table, but other than that I mostly just hate what winter does to my brain. That is why I moved to a city where the sun sets at 4PM by mid-November.

[ JD Samson & MEN - I Don't Care ]

Weekend Warmup: Well you couldn't get much closer

Pencilled my way through the weekend on a commissioned one-pager due at the end of the month. Warmed up by drawing Noémie, Anaé and a random guy. Noémie is a joy for me because she gives me license to draw a grumpy character, which I always default to out of laziness.

[ Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone ]

Grief

[ The Naked and Famous - Waltz ]

***

Hey, did you know that all my minicomics are currently on sale, and that you can even bundle them with a print or a personalized holiday season greeting card?

Did you know you can also order a personalized greeting card separately until Dec. 1 and that there are only seven of them to go around?

Did you know?????