yo la tengo.

This is a little experiment. Sit down, preferably alone. Think about nothing. Then play this song. Look at everything around you, take your time. Then, when the song stops, write down or draw whatever comes to your mind.

self-assessment and things that helps.

I'm currently doing a bit of self-assessment by going through what I've actually learnt during the last year of supposed "freedom" from academic torture. It's actually very interesting, rather amusing and potentially essential to the progression of my career. My list of advice for graduates (which I blogged about a while back) can possibly be extented with another 40 things, and then be reduced again when I realise it's absolute bull crap. There are simply no easy ways of doing things and I don't know if any advice will ever help. It helps drawing stuff like this in your sketchbook though. It really does. Getting paid helps also. The drawing is obviously for those jobs of the opposite kind.

random answers.

Where were you 3 hours ago?
Right here, watching The Proposal.

Have you ever eaten a crayon?
No, but I once ate a lip balm by accident while using it as teeth protection when I was boxing. I was 5.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?
Yes, my blanket on my bed and my walls are pink. I like to collect pink things in photographs also.

When is the last time you ran?
It feels like I'm running all the time.

Can you touch your nose with your tongue?
No.

Your dream vacation?
I've been almost everywhere. The only place I consider vacation is going to my parents house back home in Sweden.

Worst injury you've ever had?
Concussion in 6th grade.

Are you the kind of friend that you would want to have as a friend?
Probably, yeah. We'd have the same taste in music.

What song always makes you happy when you hear it?
MMMBop by Hanson

What music are you listening to right now?
Band of Sculls - Friends

Does your pet do any good tricks?
My cat back home is really good at pretending to faint in front of my feet, just to get attention.

What's the farthest-away place you've been?
Here.

Think fast, what do you like right now?
Time.

What do you do most when you are bored?
Watch stupid stuff on youtube and drink instant coffee.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
First I wanted to be a seamstress, then a trumpet player, then an animator at Disney, then a photographer, now I hope I can be a graphic designer without growing up.

Do you have a tan?
Hell no. I think I have a backwards tan, sort of transparent almost. Good thing vampires are so in right now...

guided meditation for sleep.

Sorry, mate. Ain't working. It was fun though, you beatiful, shiny being.

australia, this is for you.

This song pretty much sums up my feelings for you.

wolfboy.

Not cheesy Twilight werewolf bullshit. Wolfboy. A boy who is a wolf.

the hippie stole the cookie from the cookie jar.

the boardgame got chewed on by an acid cloud.

the worst thing that can happen...

...will happen. Yep, two days ago I was faced with the horrific fact that my dear, sweet Macie had died. And in his death he took with him everything I had worked on and had forgot to save elsewhere, as well as a massive library of fonts, some handy programs and about 20G's of life-saving music. I was devistated. Crushed. Heartbroken. Angry. My sweet, sweet Macie... it really hurt when you left like that. So I went to the Apple Store and got myself a new hard drive. It's not the same of course. I still cry myself to sleep. But I'll be alright. One day I will be alright. I hope you're free and happy, wherever you are, Macie. Rest in peace.

nostalgia my ass.

Sometimes I get overwelming feelings of nostalgia. Usually connected with maple syrup and associations to pancakes in New York, or when it rains on Collin Street it reminds me of when I went to Paris and it rained the entire time I was there. There is also a massive amount of things that brings my thoughts back to England. Not so strange perhaps, after all I lived there for 3 years. But I guess these types of nostalgia separate themselves from the other kind in the sense that I absolutely don't wish I could go back there. Carlisle was aweful. Uni sucked. Just have a look at these photos from a night out in July last year. Half-naked teenage mums and dodgy, desperate men. And this was one of the best nightclubs in town.

hero of the day.

Dad, you're totally awesome for looking through my entire room and the attic to find a stupid sketchbook. You're the best!

arcade fire.

Unlike Sia, Arcade Fire knows how to evolve with computers and hip crowds. Their latest album "The Suburbs" is big and powerful and they rock without selling out. Each of the album's 16 tracks feel different from each other but still beautifully combined and fresh. There's electronic influences as well as more organic vibes. There are big sceneries, hopes and dreams, simple everyday stuff and a lot of heart. Usually I associate Arcade Fire with chills. Chills in the sense that they create a rather hollow space of sound that makes me shiver, literally. I'd say it's a little like walking home in cold rain in November in Sweden or possibly scooping ice cream in a cold basement. For this reason I was contemplating switching from this album to something else on my ride to work this morning. Today was an exceptionally cold day. But after giving "The Suburbs" a fair chance, it turned out to have a reverse effect; it provided a warm feeling and sense that I had been in those songs before, a sense of home and familiarity. It worked more like a blanket than a scoop of ice cream. This song "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" is my favourite track.

about a boy.

just chillaxing.

just hanging out.

grrr.

the unthreatening velociraptor.

the dead lion.

3 today.

Number of random costumers today that guessed I was Irish: 3.

Fun fact; I've never even been to Ireland.

sia sia sia... how could you?

I got really excited when I heard Sia was releasing a new album. Expected awesome awesome greatness. But a few weeks later I heard the new album "We Are Born" at a party and all of a sudden it felt like the party should be filled with baloons and cake and kids drawing butterflies with crayons on the wall. It's ridiculous! I really wanted to like this album. I mean, I'm not against the upbeat change from her previous melancholic pieces. I think it's good that the girl is happy, because she's a very fun-loving person with the energy to carry some dancable tunes. But it's just not right. It doesn't fit. It's like she's high on mushrooms or something and party all night long with the smurphs. There's no depth at all. Just high pitched noise polluted in autotune. I think I know what she's trying to do, she's trying to be hip with the indie peeps, slapping some bass, grooving away with some killer beats. Because that's what people want these days. People want music that has computer skills and attitude. That's how you get played in stores like Urban Outfitters and General Pants. Sadly enough, Sia is more like New Look or Cotton On; the cheaper version, the less daring alternative. I guess that's what happens when you realise that you're great and can work with whoever you want - you just try to make yourself greater than great and end up being something you're not. I'm sorry Sia, but this is not awesome.

i love kobra.

This is probably the best coulture program on Swedish television and in the world. I've learnt so much from this show and been inspired to stick within my profession so many times. But perhaps more importantly it shows a side of art and coulture that is important, intelligent and educating, and gives tremendous credit to people who devote their lives to this. For all of you who don't understand Swedish, don't worry, a lot of the content is interviews with international artists who speak English. Check out the most recent episode here. It's great!

what everyone wants me to be?

A very naive and trying-to-be-hip pre graduate version of myself, where I was asked to explain what kind of designer I am. Clearly I have no idea.

this is what i do.

I DO: Graphic design, illustration, some animation. I freelance, intern and am always looking for exciting new projects.

I DON'T: Work for free, I'm a human being and my life has value. Exceptions; if you're my best friend, a house mate or a member of the Johansson clan.

(Yes, Scarlett, I probably would work for free for you).

the king is the king.

While browsing away on youtube, I came across this clip of the Swedish king getting cought smoking after the Nobel Price ceremony. Classic. Man, I'm actually really proud to have a king like that. This dude is FUNNY!

the runaways.

I saw this movie a few weeks ago and it actually rocked balls! I usually don't like musician bio pics (such as Walk The Line and Ray and so on), because they're always about drug addiction and depression with a rock 'n roll redemption in the end. Sure, this one has that too. But in a different way. In some ways it reminded a little about this movie. This movie actually makes me wanna know more about the real band and the actors are insanely good. That Dakota Fanning chick (seen from War of the Worlds and a bunch of other movies) is a-maz-ing! The scene in the grocery store is unreal. The fact that she's only 16 or whatever is just jelousy in its true form.

muse.

Muse. Are. Great. Just wanted to make that clear.

more diana.

Yeah, some photos were from Melbourne and St Kilda also. Enjoy.

johanssons.

I just picked up some Diana photos from the Queensland trip. They were all shot on 120mm film and as usual came out in varied quality. The awesomeness of the Johansson clan still shines through though, so I made this little design to highlight just how awesome we are. It's almost too much, I know.

exit through the gift shop.

Okay, I guess I'm sort of waking up from my non-posting coma. Here's one I was meaning to tell you about; an awesome movie with Banksy, called Exit Through The Gift Shop. When I went to see it with a friend a while back I didn't expect anything. Little did I know I was going to walk out of that theatre with a big smile on my face and a lot of contemporary art knowledge in my head. Oh, and additional proof of the fact that many many people in the creative business are complete idiots.

owl.

I just drew this. It took me the entire length of Hot Tub Time Machine to draw, plus some additional Photoshop stuff. Some dude told me that animals are soooo in right now, and especially owls. Well, I don't know... They kind of freak me out. Mainly because I saw this trailer. Freaky stuff.

david thorne.

Luke at work showed me this website about a month ago. My reaction back then was almost embarrassing. I couldn't stop laughing for 20 minutes. As I go through all the stories on David Thorne's brilliant website I still can't stop laughing. This guy is simply the funniest guy of perhaps all time.

oh! billy, take me with you...

I found this on the street on my way from work the other day. It was a fascinating read, rather deep for being so short. I mean, you could interpret a lot of deeper meanings into those few lines. Personally I think Billy's gonna sell the cat to some animal dealing pimp and get loads of money and fortune from it.