Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Oldie


Went drawing with a friend (actually, I draw and she takes photos) day before yesterday, and we both wanted to take a closer look at this church, Botkyrka kyrka, on the edge of the Southern suburbs of Stockholm. The largest part of this old building is from the 12th century, which is kind of overwhelming when you start to think of it. Just imagine all the people who visited this place through almost ninehundred years...

15 x 18, Copic Multiliner SP and watercolours on sketchbook page.

16 comments:

owenswain said...

The window, oh how I love that window.

SarahGaunt said...

I love this drawing. It's so beatuifully bright and summery.

Kate (Cathy Johnson) said...

Nina, how wonderful. I can just imagine the scent of the ages inside that lovely building. SO glad you got out!

Dan Kent said...

I just love this. I am a bit fascinated by what elements you choose to paint and what you choose to draw. No flat washes here - all kind of interest. As a "ninajohansson groupie", I just got my Lamy Safari pen in the mail and figured out how to fill it with Noodlers ink (love it, by the way). That was the easy part. Now I'll have to learn to properly use watercolor! Thank you for your inspiration.

Jonathan said...

This is my favorite illustration style and you do it so well. Great job on your little church. Stunning as usual.

Margaret Ann said...

Beautiful light Nina! :)

Jeff said...

This is just fantastic. Your colors are so VIBRANT! How exactly do you manage that?

Leslie said...

This is beautiful! I love the sun on one side and the shade on the other- it's so nicely done. You are so talented!

iHanna said...

Vacker teckning Nina! jag hade velat att det skulle vara ett gult hus dock, hehe, då hade vi kunnat köpa den av dig sen... :-)

vivien said...

absolutely gorgeous and yes that window is just perfect!

There is something about such old buildings as though the stone itself holds memories

Nina Johansson said...

Thank you, thank you!
@Jeff: I don´t know, I guess I try not to blend too many colours in each mix, preferably only two, and then I try not to add too many paint layers on top of each other. Two or three, maybe, after that they just start covering the paper up completely and you get less clarity in the colours. But I´m not sticking to any specific hard rules about this, I just try to think about these things in general. Sometimes I add more layers and mix colours like crazy...
@iHanna: men det gula huset står väl kvar ett tag så man kan teckna det en annan gång? :)

Nothing to See said...

Lovely work. I really like this.

nanke's stuff said...

It's lovely - I especially like the way you rendered the stone walls. It really amazing to think of all the people who entered that building. nancy

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Love the contrast of light on the walls and the querky feel to the architecture of your church. Scanned down posts I had missed and found the delightful flower sketch from your student's bouquet.

Anita Davies said...

The light on the side of the building is simply delicious!

caseytoussaint said...

The composition on this one is perfect.