I got myself a tumblr to use for an artblog. Feel free to check it out: http://bluephoria.tumblr.com/

I will definitely keep this livejournal but for a more personal use, I think.

So, I came back from London. Living there with Kajsa, Verena, Tiggy, James (and for a while Viktoria) was a great experience. It also made it possible for me to both get some work experience and to apply for University courses there and attend interviews. I did miss my family terribly though and at times I wondered what the hell I was doing. But it is definitely a time of my life I will remember fondly because of the friends I made there. <3




Things that have been occupying my mind lately but that I have had a hard time writing about:

- I got accepted to an Illustration BA (Hons) course in Bristol, United Kingdom. It starts in mid-September. I am feeling really excited, nervous and anxious about this. It means that the next three years of my life are planned after all... and that most of them will be spent away from my family. But I am really happy that I got in, it feels like it was a feat!

- I have been thinking about getting an art journal/blog. But I don't know with what site. Tumblr looks kind of nice, also it has no ads. But I don't know how easy it is to navigate. There's like a million choices (blogger, blogspot, blogg.se, blog.com) and all I really know anything about is livejournal. What does the cool kids use? Which one is the most user and viewer friendly? Where do you get the most views? Can you follow people as easily as on livejournal with these other blogs? Or should I install one on my own website... but how do I do that?

- I have started to distance myself from the username "Mirre". I don't know... it feels like I can't identify myself with it any more. It is also very Swedish and difficult for non- Swedes to pronounce. I have absolutely NO idea what I'd pick for a new one though. My real name isn't really that easy to make into a cool username and all variants I have tried that sound decent are already in use by people online. Can someone give me a cool and unique nickname, please? (j/k)

- I need a new website design... badly. I have been working on one but judging by the results I think my webdesigning skills might be outdated. I have forgotten alot as well. I don't know what to do about this. I don't have enough money to hire a professional webdesigner. Does anyone know a good one who'd work for art? Or is anyone reading this a webdesigner.

I'm putting this thing behind a cut because it is sooo loooong.


( CLICK FOR THE 25 PORTRAITS! )


01) Jem's Porter
02) Amy's Daaniel
03) Monni's Ulf Bertil
04) Sarah P.'s Roman
05) Apis' Wist
06) Rachel's Rupal
07) Molly N.'s Rhiys
08) haius' Erythor
09) Lindsay's Blue-Ring
10) jupiterburst's Careme
11) Angela's Ithan
12) Heidi's Nimbus
13) Madeline-Marie's Madeline
14) Sarah G.'s Anthurian
15) Kajsa's Pink Party Crocodile
16) Scott's Deklyn
17) Eri's Amara
18) Molly B.'s Claris
19) Weja's Creaturemonster
20) Laura's Hero
21) Steph's Stella
22) Jenny's Tarreint
23) Jessica's Sven
24) oddensesantly's Kelsey - requested by skiffles
25) Sam's Lenore

Hope you all like them! <3 I had a great 25th Birthday, got so many birthday wishes, sweet gifts, ate large amounts of tasty food, had good company, and did art. What more can I ask for?

Wassupp you guys? I'll be 25 years old on Feb 5th. WHOA, big number!

I thought I'd celebrate it by giving you guys something! Namely portraits! I'm going to make 25 portraits of your original characters - and try to have them all done before the 5th! I say TRY, because I'm not a 100% sure I'll be able to make it by then...

I have 25 slots here for you to claim (only one per person) - one for each lap I've made around the sun. First come first serve!

P.S.: This will be crossposted on deviantART as well.


PORTRAIT SLOTS:
01) Jem
02) Amy
03) Monni
04) Sarah P.
05) Apis
06) Rachel
07) Molly N.
08) haius
09) Lindsay
10) JupiterBurst
11) Angela
12) Heidi
13) Madeline-Marie
14) Sarah G.
15) Kajsa
16) Scott
17) Eri
18) Molly B.
19) Weja
20) Laura
21) Steph
22) Jenny
23) Jessica
24) Skiffles
25) Sam


P.P.S.: I need a LJ-icon with a cake or something... Birthday-y?!

One sketch exchange for Sarah, one PE LR Exchange, six illustrations for Irregular Magazine.


( CLICKITY-CLICK, HERE! )

I have not updated my journal in a million years because I am a DERP. Also I have not had the time or energy to do it! So there. :P


So, what happened since?
Well, I went to London with Viktoria and Kajsa. We spent a month in a really small studio apartment in Willesden Green. We had a great time together (they were - are - wonderful company).

Uh-huh. And what about the job-hunt?
After about 2-3 semi-fruitless weeks I got some interviews. Two were pretty crappy - but then I got called to an interview with The Body Shop Covent Garden (only I misheard it as Camden on the phone so I turned up at the wrong location first and was really late... >_>). I did a shop floor trial, and was offered a Christmas-temp position as a Customer Consultant! I started the very next day.

Do you like it?
I love it. I really do!

What happened when that first month was over?
We were forced to find a new place to stay. Viktoria had decided to go back home to Sweden. But Kajsa had found a job at New Look in Brent Cross so we tried to find a place for the two of us. We had about a week to do that. I seriously thought that we were going to be homeless for a while. Last minute we found a flat-share in South Tottenham. We are sharing a double room... and a double bed, but it is working fine so far. We have a lovely Austrian flatmate called Verena, an awesome landlord called James that lives on the ground floor, and a resident cat that wants to cuddle more than she dares to.

How's... money?
Umm... it's been really tough. I had some issues with the banks over here. I really just want to forget about it now that I finally got it sorted. But in short, I wasn't paid for two months because I couldn't open a British bank account. I finally got paid, but to Kajsa's account. I just got my very own bank account though so that's sorted now.

Health? Been working out any?
NO. Don't even get me started. Argh. We haven't been eating that well all the time because we haven't been able to afford it. Which well... sucks. I want to go running so often but mostly I don't have the time for it. Last week I made an effort to get back on track with at least 3 times running/week. And what do I get for that? THE FLU. :< ASDFDGNsdjGkdm

Miss home?
Yes. ALOT. Especially since it's near Christmas and I'll have to be here over the holidays. Going home would have been too expensive for me, and I wouldn't have gotten more than 4-5 days off anyways (off which 2 would have been devoted to travelling).
Mom came to visit for a couple of days. She had a conference here in London and had a couple of extra days to spend with me as well. It was wonderful to see her but I did break down a little because everything had been so stressful since I came here.

Done any art lately?
Yes. Quite a bit actually. Some of it I haven't shown anywhere online yet. I did six b&w character illustrations for Irregular Magazine. They'll be in an issue soon I think (deadline for our project was today). I'll update you about that. Also got commissioned to do extra animated monster sprites for a little game called The Witch and The Warrior by Eridani Games. And a couple of PE things (one LR, one Winter Icon).

Anything else?
Crazy shit happened. Did some things I never thought I would... buut not gonna go into details about all of that, hahaha. Also, weird, funny and interesting things happen here all the time. I have so many stories to tell now.
I'll tell you if I come to think about anything else! (No for real. I'll really update!)


Cheers! <3

Hello! As you know I will be moving to England very soon. Due to some unforseen expenses I need a bit more money for food, travel expenses, etc. I have been trying to sell some of my belongings to make ends meet, but it has not worked out that well. I very much appreciate any and all commissions I get! And if you can't afford to commission me I'd love it if you would spread the word.


✐ EUR 10 Icons: Full colour (or b&w and in any media from pencil to CG). You get the full 300x300 portrait and a re-sized 100x100 version to be used as an icon.
Examples: [Ex. 1: portrait + icon] [Ex. 2: portrait + icon] [Ex. 3: portrait + icon]

✐ Pixelart: Sprites, portraits, buttons, you name it! Prices start at EUR 10 and are depending on size and complexity.
Examples: [Ex. 1] [Ex. 2] [Ex. 3] [Ex. 4]

✐ EUR 50 Art Nouveau Pictures: One character fullbody, art nouveau/jugend style picture with borders and a plain or patterned background. Inked lineart and CG colours or grayscale.
Examples: [Ex. 1] [Ex. 2]
EUR 10 for each additional character (max. 3 characters/picture).

✐ Other commissions: Please, take a look through my gallery. If there is any other type of art you would like to commission from me just send me an email and we'll work out the details!

✐ Shipping and handling of originals (worldwide) is an additional EUR 8.


PAYMENT: I only accept paypal: mirrew @ gmail . com (remove the blanks). Email me (at that same address) or comment here if you are interested!

PROCESS: Once you receive a slot I will ask for payment upfront before starting your commission. I prefer receiving the full payment beforehand, but if you feel unsure about this I can do 50% before and 50% when the art is completed (only applicable to commissions over EUR 10). First-pay-first-serve!

RIGHTS: These commissions and prices are for non-commercial purposes only. I retain the rights to showcase the artwork, and you the right to use it for private purposes (i.e. the art is not to be resold or marketed in any way).



★ CURRENT WORKLIST: ★

ICON SLOTS
1) OPEN ☆
2) OPEN ☆
3) OPEN ☆
4) OPEN ☆
5) OPEN ☆
6) OPEN ☆
7) OPEN ☆
8) OPEN ☆
9) OPEN ☆
10) OPEN ☆

OTHER SLOTS
1) OPEN ☆
2) OPEN ☆
3) OPEN ☆
4) OPEN ☆
5) OPEN ☆

But I did go out in the forest picking blueberries! And when you do your hands get all blue-reddish from the berry juice. Mm, wild blueberries so yummy.

I usually go and do things like this in fall. My favourite season! I love that you can pick berries and fruit (getting alooot of apples from the apple trees on our yard) and mushrooms. Everything smeels so nice outdoors, the leaves get such pretty colours and it is just cool enough for fall fashion. I love layered clothes, legwarmers, scarves, hoodies, sturdier tights, etc. I also don't mind the rain, since I love rain.

We had guests over a couple of weeks ago, for Surströmming. There is a tradition in Sweden of eating this fermented fish late in the summer. The smell is... special, but you get over it. It tastes completely different from the way it smells though! I am rather fond of this fish, but I never eat it more than once a year - that is enough for me, haha! You usually have alot of liquor together with it too.

( A FEW PHOTOS... )

Hay guys!

Lately I've been a bit silent on here. Alot of things have been going on, and I thought I should share some things.

Something pretty big is coming up soon for me. At the end of this month (the 28th) I will go to London, England and stay there. For how long is not decided, but I have a place to stay for a month from that date.
I will be going there with Viktoria and Kajsa (sweetwonderings), and we will be living together. It's going to be so awesome, truly an adventure!
We will of course be applying for jobs there. I hope to get something like bar staff, game store attendant, café staff, starbucks staff, or along those lines part-time. And then I got myself the necessary papers and everything to freelance as an artist. So I have my own company for that now! @ _ @ Whoa.

Why am I doing this?
1)Well, I have always been in love with the United Kingdom. Going there twice already this year just made it more apparent to me. And London = <3
2) I really need to move out. I love my parents, I really do. But the time is well due to move out. I know living with Kajsa and Viktoria will be great too. Viktoria and I have already tried living together (in Japan). And if we could do it there without any problems (when I was sleeping under her bed and all) we definitely should be able to do it in an apartment with our own rooms, haha! Kajsa is such a sweet girl too, I know it will work out well.
3) To live on your own you need money. To get money you need a job. Jobs are not easily found in my hometown at the moment. Looking for them just becomes depressing. Apparantly it is easier in England, and Swedish girls have a really good reputation there so I'll wing it and hope some opportunity opens itelf up to me.
4) Because.


So, while planning for this move I have been busy saving money and stuff. I have also been painting things around the house for my parents almost every day. I owe them alot of money (really expensive dentist bill, late bill from my school, yadda yadda) and I pay it back like this.


I have also gotten back on track with my health! It had been going really well until sometime around March, when I started getting stressed over art and school things... and when I am stressed it is extremely difficult for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Also going to Scotland and stuff in the summer didn't help because I kept on stuffing my face while not working out. I learnt something from this though, and now it is going very well with health related things.
About 5-6 weeks ago I started the Couch to 5k program. And it is going really well! I have never been good at running, my stamina has never been good. But I find myself impressed by my own achievements the last weeks. And I have started to really look forward to running(!).
I am going to keep this up in England too. But not running on my own, mind you. I'll have my girls with me. Safety in numbers!

I am going out for a run with Åsa in a little while too. The weather has been great the last few days and I really want to take advantage of that.

Me being slow with updates on livejournal isn't really surprising anymore, haha.

I wanted to write a little bit about what happened after my awesome trip to Scotland. Molly came with me to Sweden for about two and a half weeks after that and we had such a great time! It was soo much fun to get to show her what it is like here during the summer - as in contrast to Yule-times when she visited here first!

I live pretty far up north, and we're almost in the area of "the midnight sun" = 24 hours of sun during the summer. This is a pretty strong contrast to in the winter when we have almost 24 hours of darkness, hahaha. I guess Molly was lucky she had a room in the basement where it's dark all hours. Me, I am used to the bright summer nights and can sleep no matter what! :D

So, what we did in Sweden hmm. Well first of all we celebrated my Uncle's 50th Birthday in my grandmother's summer cottage by the sea, not too far from Umeå. I had brought him some Scottish whiskey and whiskey fudge for presents. We feasted on cake and other delicious things and spent the night in the cottage. It's beautiful out there! Me and Molly took a couple of walks and enjoyed the views.

After that we spent a few days in town, then went to our other summer cottage which is considerably further away (5 hours by car). The trip wasn't so bad. In our new car we have a built-in DVD player so we watched a movie during the ride!
We did make a stop by "Mannaminne" which is sort of an art/museum-village. Each house has a theme and also serves as a small museum for said theme. There are houses from all over the world, and some really nice art to look at!

While in the cottage we did a bit of chilling. We went fishing one evening (and caught some tasty fishies), went swimming among waterlilies and went on a shorter trip to a goat farm. I love goats, I was ecstatic to get to pet some, haha.

Well back in Umeå a few days later Kajsa and Viktoria came to stay with us. I had put together a potluck BBQ at our house and I was very pleased with how many people came. We had a moustache theme, but in the end almost everyone forgot to put their moustaches on until later in the evening. /fail ...well, the food was good and the company was even better. We played Brännboll (Umeå is like the Brännboll Capital, haha) and Kubb - both games that fun to introduce to Molly.

The days after that we spent around town. Having fika, visiting the sculpture park, going to the sea, shopping, making an awesome collab picture, watching video clips and movies and so on. Viktoria and Kajsa went home eventually, and the last day I and Molly went to Åsa's summer cottage by the sea.

Molly had to go back to Scotland (unfortunately - I'd like to keep her). And her year there is almost over soon! I hope you had a great time, sweetie. And I also hope that we can see each other again in a not-too-distant future!


( PHOTOS HERE! )


>HERE< is the friggin' EPIC collab we (me, Molly, Kajsa, and Viktoria) worked on! Colourful frenzy with plenty of inside jokes and game references!



Awesome masks that are in a drawer in our summer cottage.