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Solveig Karina Nordwall
AFC
Graphite and Colour Pencils |
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Born in Sweden and raised in Norway and Canada, nature is what I "naturally" began to draw: flowers, birds, frogs I saw, what stayed still long enough. I rarely, even then, drew people. Too complicated.
Mid-twenties I moved from Vancouver to Kyoto, Japan to study ceramics. A one-year venture turned into five, and by then I was (and still am) deeply in love with Japan.
Drawn to warmer oceans, I chose Hawaii and ended up, serendipitously, in Hilo, where I eventually graduated from UH Hilo majoring in Japanese Studies. Then I had my Scandinavian/Japanese/Hawaiian son and chose to raise him solo in Japan, where we lived for an additional 12 years.
I began working with pencils a long time ago. They're portable, clean and don't take up much room, perfect for gypsies and nomads. For years I always drew simply what I saw and liked, with no focus or ulterior motive.
Then in the summer of 2010, as the Gulf of Mexico convulsed with oil, I decided to use my art to help with the education, protection and preservation of my beloved ocean. This journey involved finally relocating from Canada home to Hawaii, a time-consuming process.
In the interim I've been drawing from the sunlight zone - the reef-dwellers and bejeweled shallow-water dancers, as well as doing some jungle-flowers and fauna. I research each and include names and some interesting info. I love the meld of art and science, a perfect full circle back to marine biology, my first intended career.
Now finally authorized to work, I just launched my nature illustration classes I call The Art Dojo. The goal is teach and encourage the art and discipline of nature illustration as not just beautiful pictures, but a powerful conservation and education tool.
What we are learning about the ocean and its inhabitants is almost as much fun as drawing them. New technology has made it possible to add vast amounts of previously unknown data and stunning images from the deep; seeing how little we know about this realm and how fast it's being destroyed is as exciting as it is heartbreaking.
I am also honored to have my work displayed at One Gallery in Hilo, a beautiful space in a beautiful location. Now I can finally promote my work and my message ("Draw nature, lots!"). I will continue to use my fluency in Norwegian, English and Japanese with music to engage and connect as far and wide as I can, to "draw" attention to how much more there is still left to save.
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Support for Conservation:
Solveig's commitment is to the conservation and protection of the ocean, to help fund clean-up operations, buy supplies and equipment, and support research and education.
Hawaii's marine ecosystem is facing threats from several directions. As a small cluster of islands in the middle of the Pacific, its environment, both sea and land, is fragile and embattled. The beautiful yellow tang for example is being rapidly depleted due to harvesting for the aquarium trade, a fate they share with other reef dwellers. Unregulated and lucrative, this trade alone has wrought much damage, yet it is only one of many challenges facing the islands.
The cornerstone of her work is this: far too much has been lost, but there is still so much left to save. "The more I can share my art, the beauty and the data, the more I can use my international background and my languages to spread the word, the happier I'll be!"
Special Achievements:
- 2012 - Artists For Conservation Annual Exhibit
http://www.natureartists.com
Double Dragon, a whimsical mirrored rendition in metallic colour pencils of the leafy sea-dragon, selected to be part of AFC's annual exhibit to be held on Grouse Mountain in Vancouver in October 2012. It was the first to sell...most grateful!
- 2009 - Award for Excellence
http://www.cpsa
One of a pair of colour pencil drawings of the Japanese crane (Grus japonensis), this image was selected to be part of the 15th Annual Color Pencil Society of America's International Exhibition in Bethesda, Maryland.
Collections:
- 2012 - Mr. Yu Ehara
Yu would come to my apartment in Victoria, BC for tutoring. I lived by the water and this was the view he had when we studied. When he returned to Canada he commissioned this drawing, saying this view was one of the best memories he had of Victoria. I called it therefore "Yu's View".
- 2011 - Mr. & Mrs. A. Inoue
Male Leafy Sea-Dragon carrying eggs, usually a camouflaged drifter among the kelp around Southern Australia, now at rest on a globe of water.
Medium: Colour Pencil Size: 24 cm diameter
- 2011 - Christina De Greef
This was Christina's commission: a drawing of favourite hen, now departed. Not well acquainted with live chickens I was afraid it would end up looking like her least favourite one...fortunately, mom and her chicks are happy in their new home.
Medium: Watercolour & Colour Pencil Size: 10"x10"
- 2009 - Mr. & Mrs. A. Inoue
Giant Plumose Sea Anemone (see my gallery), from memory of a scuba dive near Squamish, BC. Now holds a place of honour in the entrance-way of their new home in Kanagawa near Tokyo.
Medium: Colour Pencil Size: 50cm diameter
- 2007 - Edith & Peter De Greef
View from above their home in Victoria, guarded by a Great Blue Heron. The border's flowers move from winter at the bottom, easing into spring on the left, to summer on top, then autumn and back to winter and holly. They were all drawn from the garden. The view is from the roof of my apartment there. I loved it very much. Still do.
Medium: Watercolour Size: 20" x 30"
- 2006 - Mr. Y. Kishimoto
A pair of Japanese cranes in a Hokkaido winter. The one on the right won an Award for Excellence at the Color Pencil Society of America's 15th Annual Exhibition in Bethesda, Maryland.
Medium: Colour Pencil on gold paper Size: 45cmx60cm each
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Direct Correspondence to:
Solveig Nordwall
c/o Solveig Karina Nature Illustrations
339 Kalili Street
Hilo, Hawaii
USA 96720
Tel: 8087470493
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Email: solveigsstudio@gmail.com
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