And life feels good....

Hey! Sorry for being very random in my presence here at DeviantART! I have a soon to be 9 months old baby girl and so my online presence is pretty limited (which is probably kinda good for me haha) --- Lately I've noticed I get more and more me-time which is really nice too even though Juni is my sun and my moon But it's really nice to draw and write, I'm currently writing a book (no pictures! gasp!) and also working on a couple of illustrated books, some for children, some for adults.

I no longer have facebook or Instagram but I do have a Tumblr page : [link]

See ya around sweetiepies

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

Its 3:30 in the morning here and my sinuses are trying to kill me. Might as well write a little journal.

Next month I'll be on my toes, a Chinese magazine that reaches out to 8 million (!!) people featured me in it with some of my work and an interview. I did my best to answer the questions, but since I suffer from the imposter phenomenon I was freaking out thinking "omg omg they will find out I'm actually not deserving this and everyone will go boo! how could you?? we gave you all this exposure and wasted space in our lovely magazine - SHAME_ ON _ YOU!"

It's true! The phenomenon that has been like a cold ghost pressed against my back whispering: you're unworthy! and has been taunting me for years was dragged out in the light by the fabulous Hannah Kent who did a TED-talk about it [link]

I was sitting in front of the screen with the same intensity as when I first saw the movie "Legend" starring a glitter covered Tom Cruise before he fixed his teeth.

She was thinking like ME! I'm NOT CRAZY! Also... I may be worthy?

Now, it's not like I've kept it completely under the lid, occassionally when talking to other artist friends this subject comes up. I kind of had to talk about it because I felt so silly, yet I couldn't make it go away. And just because I know it's a widely known and shared phenomenon (often creative women- whaddyaknow?) doesn't make the feeling of me being here and working as an artist is just due to some fluke -- any minute people will find out I'm actually no good and a bunch of people will stand outside my door, judge me, and say; shame on you!! And then there will be articles spread around the internet about me, telling everybody how I pretended to be intelligent and a good artist. Even writing this gives me the creeps. It's SILLY! I know! My mom would kill me if she knew I'm wasting time thinking like this, not enjoying fully what has been awarded to me since I started freelancing six years ago.

I fight hard to get paid like a man in this business, and I do stick up for myself - but this little voice in my head I can't fight. Do you have it too?

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

I'll update. Soon.

For now I just wanted to say Im not dead. And I'm drawing and painting a little bit, whenever I get some time off.

Thank you for all your sweet comments and well wishes I read them, but find no time to reply

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

So I'm just a week from nine months pregnant now! I'm in week 35, meaning in about two weeks my baby is considered to be ready for birth - but sometimes one have to wait up until week 42.

I really wanted to draw and paint a lot, but I didn't realise I'd be so tired. Oh, and I also got married on the 17th of May - and although we tried to keep the wedding small(ish)  it did involve some planning! So now I finally get to relax Until she arrives that is hee hee - our little muppit as we call her. Our daughter. Can't believe it.

Anyway, I'm writing to say I'm terribly sorry for the silence. I hope I'll be back painting and drawing and bugging you here soon

Luv luv
/A

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

EDIT!

Update! ♥ First day of "Pretty Shameful" mini show has passed and I've sold 2 artworks! Yay! ♥

If you want to own an original by me you can buy it online from Hellion Gallery ♥ Prices vary from $125 to $225 (sizes are around A4-A3)

Check it out: [link]



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I'm currently having a mini soloshow at Hellion Gallery in USA.

Read all about it here: [link]

Visit Hellion Gallery: [link]

    

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

Meet my daughter She is due on 4th of July 2012

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

I've been a bit silent last couple of months. Actually I've been more or less dead asleep, but with a solo show coming up I need to wake up for a little. Read more to find out what's been up!




1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
- I got pregnant! Baby Olander Berglund is due sometime around beginning of July
- I got to work with apps. I've always wanted to work with games so it was interesting.
- I got my first designer bag (that has a tail! Also a first!) an evening bag by Alberta Ferretti)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
-I don't do new years' resolutions, however every new year I feel inspired to start fresh, be more healthy and listen to my body more carefully.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
-Yes, cousin and friends

4. Did anyone close to you die?
-All of a sudden I can't remember if my uncle died by the end of 2010 or if it was in 2011, because I remember it still as though it was yesterday. I think it was in 2010, so that means no, thank God last year was a no death year.

5. What countries did you visit?
-I didn't go abroad at all. We moved in the summer during vacation time and decided to rest, enjoy the new place, and play tourists in our own city – good for the enviroment

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
-More time to paint and draw. And more energy hahaha

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
-Errrr…. dates……….. got no dates, I don't remember things by dates, they are all timeless fuzzy glowing memories to me. Getting a positive pregnancy test, twice, since I couldn't belive the first one haha – that was awesome. And that was in October.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
-I made up my mind regarding lots of things. For me, that's big. And now I feel very at peace.

9. What was your biggest failure?
-Oh come now. I fail with things every day, I wouldn't be so stupid that I count them and rank them! Almost loosing myself in stress was a bit of fail, but I managed to crawl back to life… sort of. And a lot thanks to my decision to work part time for a company, and part time for me Instead of 200%.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
-I visited the doctor a couple of times because of my stomach, I had a beginning ulzer which needed some attention. Besides that, which set me back for several months, I was doing OK.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
-I bought a planner/diary full of Yoshitomo Nara doodles. It makes me happy. Also I found a faux-fur coat, great for winter, in the thriftshop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
-Who didn't? This was not an easy year! My parents went through a great deal, with flying colors; my sweet cousins too and my brothers too, Patrik, Naomi, Nora… I wish I could send sparkling cakes to all of them!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
-I'd rather not waste any time mentioning them here – it's water under the bridge. And for this year I won't waste my time on people like this.

14. Where did most of your money go?
-Organic food. For sure.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
-My pregnancy (duh!)
-My iPad!! READING COMICS FOREVER!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
-Skrillex : Scary monsters and nice sprites

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? a little happier
b) thinner or fatter? fatter
c) richer or poorer? uhhh… beginning of last year was gooood, I think I'm slightly poorer now

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
-More painting and doing comics (Ghostly Melody is waiting for me!!)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
-Working for another company

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
-I spent it like this
24th of December: with Patrik and his family and extended family in Stockholm
25th of December: with Patrik at my parents place with my younger brother in Söderlänna
26th of December: with Patrik at my older brother's house in Katrineholm (along with the rest of the family)

(I was so tired after this haha)

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
-in love with the same man, again and again ♥ Patrik forever ♥

22. How many one-night stands?
-none

23. What was your favourite TV program?
-What not to wear on BBC – it's easy and fun and requires zero braincells to watch

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
-haha hate is such a strong word! not really, but I've grown to known some people aren't what I thought they would be

25. What was the best book you read?
-I read too little books and too many comics. I devour comics. Best one though is hard to say. "Silver" was really sticking out, about the heartbroken fat girl who becomes a monster beauty.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
-I rediscovered electronica and techno, imagine that.

27. What did you want and get?
-An iPad!!

28. What did you want and did not get?
- I don't usually ask for things… and I don't know if there is anything out there that I "need".

29. What was your favourite film of this year?
-The Aviator

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
-I turned 30, I was dressed in a sloppy lumberjack shirt, had Patrik's parents and my parents and brothers and family over for hot dogs and cake. Very glam haha

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
- Money; so I could sleep more and work less, same goes for Patrik. We need some time off

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
-Nerdy librarian with Cyndi Lauper dreams

33. What kept you sane?
-Patrik and my "working-part-time-time out"

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
-Woody Allen. But I have to admit I'm not a person who gets very star struck, but he really caught my attention in 2011. Brilliant awkward man.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
-Food and consumerism. I'm so upset we basically eat poison if we don't make careful and consious decisions on what to eat… and consume as though our lives depended on it.

36. Who did you miss?
-My grandma, so I had to visit her. I'm usually very patient (and a bit of a hermit!), and time flies anyways so all of a sudden your lovely friends or family are all together again! So I seldom REALLY miss anyone, but it's not because I don't like them, my inner watch is very very slow.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
-A lot of lovely people… I'm thinking about the artist LOK and his wife, lovely people and very fun to meet an older, wiser more established artist… and someone who knows what I'm talking about!!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
-It was more a confirmation of something I first heard in 2008, or was it 2009? I was in San Fran, had left after meeting some new lovely artist friends in LA, and I had a bit of a worry… Then the phone rang and the artist Gary Baseman was shouting in my ear; YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! NEVER FORGET!! And this year, 2011, I started to live as I preach, after hearing it from Gary. I dared to be different, work differently, and take destiny into my own hands. Leaving me happier, more rested, and more sure of what I wanted!

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realize
Its hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow…"

Sort of from a dark place to a colorful place. And wonderful people.
True Colors by Cyndi Lauper.

I hope you have enjoyed the reading! Now maybe you know why I haven't been very active and writing last couple of months, apparently you get VERY tired when you're pregnant haha so I have been sleeping a lot. But I feel better now, so I hope I will be able to update more often and keep painting and creating comics and doodles

♥ ♥ All my love and happy 2012 ♥ ♥

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

Oh wow I have so much to tell you guys but for now I'll just give you some drawing updates!

Lately I've been trying to kick start the painting - I've been drawing a lot last couple of months but now galleries are asking me what's new.. and here's the thing.. NOTHING IS NEW O_o I need to paint! But I also need to eat! So I'm trying to find that balancing point once again between illustrating to pay rent and then paint to keep my soul happy And there's more to life than the smell of ink! Real life doesn't rest haha

Since I love Vlogging I've been creating a couple of Vlogs since last time I updated here, so please feel free to visit me on YouTube! [link]

On my Vlog channel I also show you how this piece was created, and I show you how my new Wacom Inkling works! I'm very pleased with it, it works better than I thought!

I hope you like my new simplistic journal skin - I figured since everything I draw and paint is all over the place I could need some simplistic framing to it haha

Winter is creeping up on us in Stockholm - now we're stretching down towards below zero degrees. Winter is late, but I don't really long for it anyways so I don't mind a long Fall. I don't mind a long knitted shirt either, damn I was suppose to get it up from the storage room tonight. Maybe I should get going, the clock is ticking and tomorrow is back to work-work-work.

Luv luv
/Anneli

CSS Journal Coded by ~FleX177

is the lucky girl to stumble closest to 200 000 kiriban at 200 001 She thought it was close but no cigar - but since the 200 000'th person didn't contact me I'm giving her the price

She will receive a drawing from me - and to you who tried as well- thank you for stopping by and please come back anytime! Thank you everybody for your support, I appreciate it so much!

So- in other news -

Yesterday I had a conversation with the guys in Asia that, if things go well, will change pretty much everything. The process is already well on it's way, now I can only work hard and keep my fingers crossed. If all goes well I'll be flying to Hong Kong next year I guess on a businesstrip O_o

AND THIS IS JUST AS UNREAL TO ME AS IT IS TO ANYBODY ELSE O_O Wahhhhh Wish I could tell you more but I can't. If all goes well I am sooo updating you guys though!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

....*cough*


Riiiiight. And now. Coffee and go to work.

♥ Darlings!


I have noticed my 200 000'th visitor is coming up - and in celebration of this I am giving away a kiriban drawing to whoever becomes my 200 000'th visitor!

If you hit the 200 000 mark, please take a screen shot of the entire screen including time if possible and upload it to your scraps and post it to me

Of course if you want the drawing sent to you I will need you to write me a note with your address - I send it anywhere in the world -, but if you are a shy one or maybe underaged and your parents tell you that you are not allowed to give out those details I can scan your drawing high resolution for you so you can print it!


With that said, I'll give you some short news. I'm experimenting with new ways of drawing and I just came up with something fun I need to try, it's all traditional but kind of different mediums hee hee Oh wait I don't want to give it away just yet! You'll see!! Next time I have some more time on my hand's I'll try it, I don't even know if it will look good or not but it could be the start of something cool ^_^ Stylewise I mean.

And for today I need to go shopping because my mum turns 50 this weekend. I was the person who ended up shopping the gift that relatives and friends saved up for - I never thought I'd get so nervous picking something up for her - you kind of want EVERYBODY to love what you got. But I guess most important is that SHE loves what I bought/we got for her. And I think I know her taste. I think. God now I'm nervous again haha, not that she would blurt out she hates anything, she's the ever smiley person when she gets a gift haha - I just really genuinly want her to love it!

Aaaanyway! I need to pick out an outfit for the party too.... but gahhh!! I've gained weight!! Everything looks very weird these days that I try out, there's just so much CURVES everywhere! O_o; wahhh! I want to loose like  6-8 kilos, it's not that much but I think it LOOKS a lot when it's on my hips!! A part of me is sniggering; welcome to the era of being 30-something! (I did turn 30 this summer). Another part of me is hissing (age has nothing to do with this! You know hanging out with Chuck, Ben and Jerry is the cause of this!) ...I love the Chuck comedy series, (you know the guy who accidentally get's a computer inside his brain containing lots of secret information haha...) and then I was eating Ben and Jerry's while watching it. And there are many episodes!!

In the midst of the Panic Of the Kilo's, another, very schizofrenic part of me, wants me to enjoy these new curves as well and try to look away from the way media-society tells me I should look. My brain is totally fine with this statement, but my hamster heart isn't.. Maybe this is why I fail to loose those kilos, because that part of me is like; come on! You look greeaaaat! And then I don't think about it until I accidentally pass a mirror in my underwear and go BWAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Oh the joys of being a woman......

Heey dahlings!

So I'm vlogging again - and wanted to make a let's-draw-together-vlog but came down with a bad cold haha.. for now enjoy the one I featured on my website's blog

[link]

I'm so not glamourous these days, forgive me, will make myself pretty for you guys later

Also have so much to talk about but it's always sunday night I remember these things, and I have to find a quick way to cure myself before work tomorrow

Ps. New obsession; cold pressed coconut oil. I use it in my hair, on my skin, and just a spoonfull now and then for my health! OK so I only tried it for a couple of days so far and Im sick already haha but hopefully this will pay off in the long run! At least it makes my hair shiny!

I've started drawing again! And painting! I'll be updating soon!

You can make a doodle wish if you'd like?

UWaaaaaahhhhh!! I've finally done it!! I've updated my website - I've thrown out the old and thrown in some new! Check it out - give me something to blog and vlog about! What can I do for you? Name your topic!
www.anneliolander.com

Wish there where details I could give you but my life is like a sleepy tired blur right now... had some health problems due to being a bit over worked and needed to break HARD! I'm not used to not working besides my day-job, evening feels weird, watching tv feels weird. I hear the siren's song from the ink, the internet, but I just need this little break before I can create again. I'm thinking maybe a month or two, of resting, and then I should be able to slowly start doing more work, more PERSONAL work that is.

Damn a full time job on top of a freelancing career is HARD! I never wanted to put my own work to rest for a while but I really have no choice at this time.

Some sweeties out there asked how things are; I have to say, they are great. Really. I'm just super tired. And thinking of how to work out this so I can be happy and paint yet still have a decent income. Freelancing 100% is hard, I'm not sure I want that just yet, again.

So back to my sleeping, thinking, chilling - or rather my longing for it... for now I'm just slooowly unwinding.

Ps. I made a comic for ya. Cuz you are still here even though I haven't been around much. Love ya!

Omg I've already sold 8 of my work and the gallery show doesn't open until tomorrow!! And I was so worried I wouldn't sell anything, that no one would show up haha

Yaaaay



I'm so tired, worked some overtime but... just wanted to write I'm so happy

Gallery show is called Girls and Ghosts and will open in Sydney Australia at Friends of Leon Gallery

[link]

Darlings I'm back!! Just for another quick word,

The amazing mr Krasenstein has been standing on a wobbly ladder hand painting all these white flowers on the windows for my Girls and Ghosts show coming up on Thursday at Friends of Leon gallery in Sydney! ♥ AND YES! He can ship paintings abroad- so if anyone outside Australia wants to purchase a painting or print from this show you can email him for price and shipping enquires. Dare I say the most of the paintings are never-seen-before pieces from me ^_^




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Dears, darlings, sweethearts and sugahpies!

Oh god I realised as I begun to write what time it is... I'm trying to finish my second cup of coffee and go to work, I SHOULD find a nice piece of clothing too because I'm having dinner at my fiancé's uncle place tonight... but I need to tell you this first!!

So, in the midst of stress (or the mist of stress as I'd rather call it) I wrote my solo show is on 4th of April - MY BAD - it's on May 5th! Leon pushed for it to be during Sydney Fashion Week --- aaand ---- not sure what will happen but he says Vogue magazine Australia asked for some of my high resolution images for their magazine. I haven't heard from them myself, he's like the art DJ overthere making sure ends meet and promoting and everything so uhh... if he managed to get Vogue magazine to hear about my work then I should totally send him flowers too haha Doesn't VOGUE magazine makes every girl and woman's heart beat a liiiittle bit faster?

He also told me Absolute Vodka will be official sponsor of the show (along with OceanSpray). Absolute Anneli! Muahaha

I wanted to write more but then I'll be late for my meeting

LOVE YOU GUYS!

SWEET STREETS is hosting a "#PrayForJapan" Art Fundraiser in response to the recent earthquake in Japan.

"#PrayForJapan" exhibits at JapanLA in Los Angeles, March 19 - April 4, 2011. 100% of art sales will be donated to the American Red Cross and those close to us."

For more information ---> [link]

If you live in LA or the surrounding area please drop by and place a bid - help us collect money to help!

I donated my little piece "Scrumptious Bath" for the show. You will also find the donated art of Camilla D'Errico, Joe Ledbetter, Liz Lorini (aka  MISS KIKA!) and Yoskay Yamamoto.

HELLO dahlings! Updating this journal with a BIG edit - the show is'nt April 4th, it's in Sydney Fashion Week on May 5th!!

Sorry I was all overworked and confused, luckily he got all the paintings now in good time haha and all is well

So sorry for confusing you

Love love
/A
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Wah finally!

I just finished painting the last painting that I will send in the beginning of this week to Sydney, Australia.

I'm having a solo-show at Friends of Leon gallery in Sydney during Fashion Week and I'm very excited about it. It's just scary once you send the art - this time I'll use DHL or UPS - no more broken paintings! It will cost more YES but I've been saving up money so I can work things out this way - especially when there's so many paintings to send! I knew I'd make it even though I have a full time job, but I don't recommend it >_<   

I will relax for a bit now, and I've turned down several gigs and book publishing thingies. My experience is that a lot of publishers want your work for free and then they say they will send you a complimentary book as a thanks, however so far I've only received 2 of 5 books the last couple of years. I don't work for free anymore baby. I dont NEED it. There! I said it! I've finally reached the point where work actually knocks on my door and I can be a bit choosy! And I don't have to think "it's good exposure" because I already have a bit of exposure and honestly  - I can't handle more without compromising my other job (which is good pay and illustration/design at a company). I like the financial comfort, not having to struggle every month to pay my bills with my freelance. I'm getting older.

It's been a couple of super tough months, but once the artworks are sent I think about 100 kilos will lift off my shoulders and I have to get used to not working all day AND night AND weekends. Honestly I'm looking more tired and older - even colleagues have been like; wooahh time to chill lady! You look tired!
And they're right, I mean, NO ONE no matter occupation should work more than 40 hours a week - you can do it YES - for a brief period of time - YES. But after a couple of months it starts eating on your body, you look tired, you get sick... for me I've had problems with my heart racing when I'm trying to wind down and sleep, waking up with a tummy ache and weird beating heart, migraine... what have you O_o

So to all you hard working boys and girls out there - please take care of your body and remember- you gain nothing from wearing yourself out and then being out of the game and sick for a couple of years.

Now- how will I compensate this period of time? Well thanks to the hard work I have enough funds to pay the delivery to the gallery and future costs, so there's no headache about money for a while. Also I've booked a spa weekend with my fiancé at a top notch spa in Stockholm - hot springs and massage and delicious food! And the most important thing; I've turned down all future freelance and I don't have a date when I'll start freelancing again, I'll let my body and mind decide See? I'm taking care of myself! One gotta do that!

I still have some projects running along side (it's still a secret but I can leak it's going to be GREAAAT and will help spread my work in Asia and USA). But it's a slow type of project, I'll probably be able to reveal more in 6 months or so...

Today is a day of shopping for me And next week I still have a to-do-list but it will be the last week of to-do-lists. Then I'm a freeee woman!

I just wanted to share these bit of news and glimpses of my life Thanks for sticking around and supporting my work even though I've been so busy and haven't been able to reply much to your lovely comments.

Love love love!!

/Anneli