Here are two of the butterfly paintings on display in Björneborg this weekend. It is a very relaxed local exhibition in which anyone could participate. If you're in the neighborhood, swing by and take a coffee at Borgen and watch what the ladies down the street have painted. 

How great isn't it when your friends have the same taste in music as you do? This is one of the songs we listened to in London. Love the original too, but there's something special about deep house <3

Last week I didn't post any TBT since I was away, sorry about that but now I'm back at it!

Here comes a flashback from back in the days. I was 19 and had just started university. In the picture, I'm back in my home town at some kind of pre-party. I'm so glad I'm not 19 anymore. Ok, I'm not thrilled about aging but I wouldn't change the experience I've gained for youth, not a chance. I feel like I'm becoming more of the person I want to be as the years pass by. I'm still learning and making mistakes, but I'm not that restless 20-something girl anymore.

Still can't wear hoop earrings or halter-neck tops as I did all the time back then. Overdose deluxe :)

Decided to do the most classical bathroom art: lipstick on a mirror.  I had the lipstick the cabinet and the kisses are made on the cabinet mirror. 

I think I'll keep them on the mirror for a while :)

Here comes the third oil painting in my butterfly series inspired by the butterfly exhibition I went to in London in May. First the sketch:

The second layer of oil (forgot to take a picture of the first layer):

Second layer of oil, signed and done! I've tried to google the name of this butterfly but I can't seem to find it, probably because it is so rare. At least it is a long-winged butterfly so I might just call the painting that. 

Now there is only one small painting left in this series I haven't showed you. Then there's only the framing left and that will be done tomorrow! 

On Friday I'll bring the paintings to Björneborg for a small exhibition this weekend.  

First night, I met up with a friend from university and we went to Côte followed by the Botanist at Sloane Square. Can't believe they close that early though, at 23:20 they didn't let anyone else in, how about that!

Second night, I ate tapas with the gang (pimientos de padrón, bacalao & verduras a la parilla, albariño etc etc), and then we went to this bar/lounge/DJ place in Chelsea. There was this group of people in masquerade outfits and they had just been to the Box. I've heard so many crazy stories about that place (naked people, absurd performances on stage) I have to go there next time..:)  

Turner was self-taught and he was very interested in history and he loved landscapes. At that time, art could be divided according to its importance. Most important was history painting while landscape painting was the least important. Turner is very known for his landscapes but he did both and in his history paintings he often made references between the present and the past, the old and the new.

 In this painting of Rusia for example, you can see a subtle historical reference to Hannibal conquering Rome on his elephant in the background. Further, at this time, there was no TV but Turner had this capability to create drama and draw people into his paintings. Just look at how he captures the weather! 

Do you see the elephant in the horizon?

Turner travelled every summer and made 57 journeys in Europe; to Germany and Italy amongst other places. In wintertime he came back to his studio to paint.  Turner had this incredible visual memory for color, which came into great use since he couldn’t paint outside due to the absence of color tubes. Instead, his father helped him to grind the colors back in the studio.
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I have much more curiosa about Turner, but I decided to divide the post in two. It really is worth going to guided tours, having someone telling you the stories behind the artists and their paintings. It makes it so much more interesting!

The train home was pretty late and I'm just going to get ready for bed. I have a post about Turner in store, but Ill share that tomorrow.

This is basically the only things Ive had time to do; Tate Britain, coffee, eating and drinks in the evening. I might also have a picture in my camera from the Chelsea night life, but I will have to transfer it to the computer first :)

One of my fav places; Le pain Quotidien (used to go there in Madrid too). We tried their quinoa and spelt scones with ricotta and jam - a hit!

Thank you London for this weekend :) two days wasn't enough!!

This is my absolute favorite painting from one of the tours I went to yesterday which was about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. One of the members of the brotherhood was John Everett Millais and he made this painting of Ophelia in 1851-2.

At that time, oil paint in tubes was quite new and it opened up many more possibilities when it came to painting outside. It took Millais four months to sit outside and paint all the green parts in the painting. Then he went back to the studio and hired a model for Ophelia. He bought the model an old wedding dress and put her in water. He tried to heat the water but it didn't always work, and she caught a really nasty cold. Her dad and Millais had some serious arguments about who should pay for her medical bills. 

The painting is filled with symbols. Ophelia has a pink rose behind her ear, which is a symbol for virginity. The poppies stand for sleep, death and remembrance. The violets around her means love.

By the way, Ophelia is one of the characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet :)