Sketch Diary: Light Grey Art Lab Residency And Norway!

Bergen from the top of the hill, the goat's name is Festus

My interpretation of a Huldra, a type of siren in Norweigian folklore

I recently went on Light Grey Art Lab's Norway residency at part of Team Huldra. It was an amazing experience and an excuse to meet a bunch of wonderful creatives.

After the residency, my mom and cousins met me in Bergen for more exploration. 

When I got back, I thought I did not do much sketching until I counted them. I did 32 sketches over 17 days!

Freya and her cat chariot, June 3rd

The spectacular train ride from Oslo to Bergen

Studies from the train, June 4th

Bergen at my Air BnB, June 5th

Bus sketch, June 5th

First nature walk, June 5th

Waterfall sketch, June 6th

Sketch from the Ingebrigt Vik Museum in Øystese

Church and Graveyard in Øystese, June 6th

Marina, June 7th

Waiting for the bus, June 7th

Beautiful waterfall. I was actively rained on while doing this sketch. I think it improved it! June 8th

Rune mat I made when we made our own runes, June 9

Last sketch with the LGAL crew, June 10th

Bergen Week

After the residency we explored Bergen.

Fjord tour, June 11th

The iconic harbor, June 11th

Norges Fiskerimuseum, June 12th

Maria Snyder took this picture of me sketching at the Fisheries Museum

Little boat at the fisheries museum, June 12th

Mom and me 

Dinner at FG, June 12th

 Jens Harald Bratlie Edvard Grieg Museum, June 13th

We got to see a wonderful piano performance at the Edvard Grieg Museum.

The Bryggen, June 13th

St. Mary's, June 13th

Viking boat at Bergen Maritime Museum, June 14th

One of the supercool models at the Maritime Museum, June 14th

Fish Soup at the Zupperia on June 11th

View from our gorgeous Air BnB in Bergen, June 15th

Last sketch in Bergen of one of the Art Museum buildings, June 15th

Bergen was amazing. There was also a music festival going on during our trip. We could hear Robert Plant and Patti Smith performing from our apartment!

Beautiful Bergen sunset!

Our band photo! 

One of my favorite Bergen sketches, June 15th

On to Oslo...

We had a very short time and very quick sketches.

Sketched in Aker Brygge, June 16th

The Folk Art Museum, June 17th

I loved the little houses at the Folk Art Museum. I want to do more studies later.

Adorable houses at the Folk Art Museum!

Mom and me at the Munch Museum

Obligatory Munch The Shriek photo

That was the trip! It was an amazing journey!

May the Fourth Episode IV: A New Hope

Leia on the Death Star

This year's May the Fourth Celebration was a huge success. We had some of the best art ever and our first Kids Art Show at the Cincinnati Public Library.

These are the pieces I have in the show. The Leia piece was a digital demo for my NKU illustration students. It can be purchased here and a portion of the proceeds go to Force for Change. https://www.brewhouse.com/product-page/christina-wald-leia-on-the-death-star

Bea Arthur in Mos Eisley-The Star Wars Holiday Special

I tried out a different painting technique for my Bea Arthur. I have taught along David Michael Beck at the Art Academy for a couple years and designed to try out his mixed media technique for this illustration.

https://www.brewhouse.com/product-page/christina-wald-bea-arthur-in-mos-eisley

Hanging the art show at Brew House

We did at an interview at WVXU to kick off a week of events.

Me, Richard Luchek, and Kevin Necessary

Me and Kevin Necessary in the radio studio at WVXU

Listen here to the interview: https://www.wvxu.org/post/may-fourth-be-you-how-star-wars-has-inspired-artists#stream/0

Here are some shots from the celebration and the judging of the Kid's Art Show.

Amy Bogard, Fluke Skywalker, me, and a Stormtrooper

Me, David Michael Beck, Kevin Necessary, Chris Reiff, and Lisa Soper
with the Best of Show from the Kid's May the Fourth Art Show!

We got over 150 entries to the May the Fourth Kid's Art Show! It was an honor to judge them; so much talent and creativity. Thanks to the Cincinnati Public Library for all their support! The kids' art show will be up until May 11th.

The big kids' show is up at Brew House until June 1st.

Workshop Madness!

I am doing a workshop at PLAZA Artist Materials April 19th kicking off our Urban Sketching Topics series: Simplify the Structure: Quick sketching complex scenes with Christina Wald

Sometimes it is overwhelming to figure out where to start when drawing a complex cityscape, building, or interior. The workshop will have tips and demos for sketching on the go.

20 minute sketch of the clock in Central Park in ballpoint pen

20 minute sketch of the Flatiron building in ballpoint pen

This was sketched  years ago and there are even more SUPER tall buildings here!!

For the kids!!

As part of out May the Fourth annual Star Wars tribute show, we are teaming up with the Cincinnati Public Library not only to do a kids fan art show but to also do a series of How to Draw Star Wars Workshops!

I will be at all three workshops. See you there! All are FREE!!

March 30th: https://www.facebook.com/events/302177517127572/

April 6th: https://www.facebook.com/events/267205434206365/

April 13th: https://www.facebook.com/events/2349967188601128/

My new How to Draw Yoda  and TIE Fighter sheets!At a library in a galaxy near you!!

Profile on Illustrator Saturday!

I was profiled on Kathy Temean's Illustrator Saturday. She asked some great questions!

Read it here: https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2019/03/16/illustrator-saturday-17/

Jules Verne Show

Steam Powered by Christina Wald

I recently did a piece for the Jules Verne Expo in London. I chose The Steam House because the lure of illustrating a steam powered mechanical elephant was irresistible.

More info here: https://www.hireanillustrator.com/i/blog/t/jules-verne/

Here is a process video:

Ral Buldhar: A Dungeons and Dragons Art Show

The Justice League Adventuring Party

I am a part of this fun show opening on the 11th!

“At the confluence of The Cascades and the River Eyathyr, three great kingdoms also intersect. Between them all is a towering spire of rock, buttressed by enormous stone monoliths in the form of ancient giants. Atop this spire, creatures of all races meet to trade, negotiate, argue, and find their fortunes. This is Ral Buldhar, the City of Giants.”

In the summer of 2018, twelve writers, performers, and artists, strangers to each other, assembled in Cincinnati to undertake the adventure of a lifetime: a campaign of Dungeons and Dragons. Split evenly into two tables of six, this group of met weekly for three months to roll dice, role play, laugh, and explore Ral Buldhar - where fate had greatness in store for each of them.

On January 11th, we invite you to the opening of an art show made up of work from their experience playing together.

Performances: TBA

The Game Masters: Jeb Brack & Alexa Justice

The Players: Aiesha Little, Anissa Pulcheon, Christina Wald, Gabrielle Lanza, Geoffrey Woolf, Jay B. Kalagayan, John Sebastian, L.D. Nehls, Marcus Donaldson, & Scott Holzman.

https://www.facebook.com/events/364976710715421/

Chase Public
2826 Colerain

We also did a radio play and there is a lot of cool art!

The Displacer Beast!

Happy Holidays!

Kora and Linus from the Cincinnati Zoo!

It has been a crazy but great year in many ways! Looking forward to 2019!

Fiona Ornament art

I also made ornaments, just a fun thing to do for the holidays...

Cao Chong News and Glorious Samples!

Six book series Birds on the Wing

I got a big group of samples at once. Eight Books actually... I think the first was done in 2015 and I finished up in 2017.

These are readers for Heinemann.

Several Spreads

Baby Wood Ducks!

Adorable Mango Tree Book!

This book I worked on partially while in Costa Rica. It was fun to be in a rain forest. My first time! I got a TON of reference.

The Sweet Mango Tree Spreads

Tiger Mango Love

In other news, Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant is on the 2018 Purdue University Engineering Gift Guide!

What an honor!














https://engineering.purdue.edu/INSPIRE/Reviews/books?fbclid=IwAR1ZEuxhlVFU629vqs0vIxMvW4AJpvlmRYCKnxUNE39CCrmVJq8kqPhRz9s

Team Huldra!

I am excited to announce that I will be part of Team Huldra on Light Grey Art Lab's 2019 Norway Artist Residency!

Here is the whole team: http://lightgreyartlab.com/norway-creative-residency-2019-team-huldra

Huldra is the perfect name! In Scandinavian folklore, the huldra (Norwegian, derived from a root meaning “covered,” “hidden,” or “secret”) is a very elusive and seductive creature of the forest... (According to Google)

I hope to get some family to meet me after to check out Oslo.

Coming Soon! Elin Books by Melanie Oesch

Book 1: Elin the Wood Elf Girl

I recently completed illustrations for the awesome book series about an elf girl and her owl best friend. They are written by Melanie Oesch, musician and yodeler.



I will have more art and a link to order the books soon!

Book 2: Elin Makes New Friends

I was lucky enough to go to the Eriz Valley in Switzerland where the books take place, sketch, and shoot a ton of reference photos.

Castle in Thun, Switzerland

The Eriz Valley in person!

Sketching in Thun

Final color sketch in Thun

Sneak peek of one of my favorite images from the book!

The Hidden Shoreline

The Hidden Shoreline is such an unusual and fun book to illustrate. Peter Strandwitz, the author, has written a book with poetry, adventure and heart. He said the idea came to him fully formed in a dream. He often writes poetry about his story, characters and life in almost a Tolkienesque way. He is working on an incredible sequel.

You can get a copy here: http://www.seattlebookcompany.com/the-hidden-shoreline/

My awesome web page designer, Jon from 3Verb, also did the book's page.

http://www.thehiddenshoreline.com/

Always ready to help!

3 Questions with the CBC

I recently did the Children's Book Council's 3 Questions series. They let me make up the questions so I asked around to see what people wanted to know about what I do!

So much fun! 

Here is the link: http://www.cbcbooks.org/3-questions-with-christina-wald/

Profile on Voyage Chicago

Chicago is one of my favorite cities to visit and sketch in so I was thrilled when Voyage Chicago contacted me to do a profile. They mostly write about metro artists, but occasionally cover regional ones. 

I should also mention that my awesome author Songju Ma Daemicke (Cao Chong Weighs and Elephant) lives in Chicago.

http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-christina-wald/

Thanks to my friend Jeb Brack for the referral!