Jonsi Project Production Diary, part 1

I have begun a project which is extremely personal and dear to my heart (and other bits, possibly) that I am currently calling The Jónsi Project. It's going to be a series of 9 paintings, based on the music from the album Go, the new solo album by Jónsi Birgisson, lead singer of Sígur Rós.

I'm fully documenting the process as a journaling experiment, for various reasons. Here's the first painting, which I was working on today.

It only occurs to me now that I should have taken a photo for every step of the process. But I was so hung up on not having a computer with which to scan my work, that it never occurred to me. Hopefully this hindsight helps me become more solution-oriented!

Fortunately now I've borrowed a computer, so I have some visual aids for my notes. This is going to be long and image-heavy, so I've put it behind a cut. Read on if you're curious about the process.

don't go by the woods, my darling

Bic biro on Muji notebook paper.

The Bodhisattva of Space

Something I painted for my mum a while back. Watercolour and pen, rubber stamps and embossing materials.

Photos: Mount Kanlaon (active), Negros Occidental, Philippines

I've made this flight more times than I can remember, but somehow we went by a slightly different route. I don't know why, but I'm glad. This is the first time I've looked down a volcano's throat.

This mountain range has lurked in the background of my hometown my whole life, with its looming crocodile shape. I've seen it from above quite often, but I've never had this spectacular a view of it before. I'll never think of it the same way again.

How lucky to have a camera at hand just when this view passed under my window!



The above photo is my favourite shot, although it's not as carefully composed. Staaaaaaaaaaare into the Pit...it yawns.

Clouds pouring over the ridge...I love the variations in texture.

Sometimes even a lifelong routine can become an unexpected adventure. What a lovely surprise! And just right for Earth Day--which was when these pictures were taken.

(I do realise I've practically foursquared myself with this post, but hopefully none of my stalkers are in the area. j/k)

long time no see...

Sorry for the radio silence... my computer had a run-in with a PC-based hard drive and came off the worse for the scrap. Actually I did--my Applecare expired on the 12th (when the MacBook was still perfectly fine!) and now I have to pay 7K Philippine pesos (US$162) to get the hard disk replaced. Sigh.

Anyway, am borrowing a nice person's computer and camera to show you my latest painting in progress.


Venezia, acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20". I like working in a bigger format; I can stand up when I paint. Would like to try a canvas size on the scale of my London paintings, but where would I put it?

A Public Service Announcement

This is a SERIOUS PROBLEM OK, do you even know how many pictures I have of...ok, non-disclosure policy has kicked in. Phew.

Sorry about the scan quality and the ugly word balloons, my computer is in the shop and I'm using Windows editing software. About the only thing I can do to my satisfaction is resize.

Here's what the strip looks like without any word balloons.

Pentel brush pen, Prang watercolours, Berkeley watercolour pad.

In related news, I used spray mount for the first time since leaving art school. It's just as horrible as I remember, but it does magically turn ordinary paper into Post-Its, which is almost worth the stink and the sticky fingers.