Art opening at Think Round Art Gallery!

This Saturday, Think Round Gallery presents Shapeshifters: Myth & Magic of the North.

Reception March 11, 2023
4-6pm

2140 Bush Street, Suite 1
San Francisco, CA

Statement
Transformation, both unexpected and inexplicable, is the essence of magic.  Like the mythologies of all cultures, the Nordic cultures are rich with this kind of surprise, from the creation of the cosmos—the clash of fire and ice forming the giant Ymir, whose body parts are then transmuted into the stuff of this world—to the gender-bending Loki, whose antics confounded even the gods. These tales, less familiar to most of us than the Greek myths, stimulate the imagination and challenge the spirit.

The artists of Nordic 5 Arts share heritage and/or an interest in the nature and culture of the five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.  Together we have created this exhibit to express our personal representations of the ways in which the folklore and mythologies of the Nordic countries have affected our lives.  As art-makers, metaphor and metamorphosis are the tools of our trade. They impel a drive to deepen our consciousness of the worlds within and around us. We tease out threads of ancient lore still resonant for us and weave them into plausible alternatives.  Societal and planetary upheaval are looming; perhaps the wisdom of the past can help reshape our thought patterns in ingenious and fruitful ways.

“Shapeshifters are beings who metaphorically change into a new shape, form or even desire.
Belonging; our inner-self and the outer world have shapeshifting moments. When society
changes, we change with it to fit for our own survival. We are redefining ourselves constantly, with social media, round-the-clock news, how we “should” look, think, feel, behave and live out our lives.
Images like 1617 #2 and #46 define some of these shapeshifting moments where I have felt the need of change within myself.

– Pernilla

New work in progress

This summer and early fall I started to work on my figure study series again. It is so much fun to be back in my studio working and collaborating with models and real people!

Here are 2 samples of my latest work. Each study is printed as “one of a kind” 4×5 inches metal print. Small and delicate they are inviting you to an intimate viewing.

Photography, 4×5 inches, Figure Study #188 and Figure Study #73 ©Pernilla Persson 2022

Just a little bit of October fun…

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It all happens at Hunters point shipyard (naval shipyard) in San Francisco, follow the driving directions to 451 Galvez Ave, SF 94124.

I would love to see you and show you my new work! It’s fun and I am really enjoying creating these new pieces. I am here between 11am and 6pm both Sat and Sun, or PM me to set up an appointment with a smaller group.
Thanks and see you soon! 🙂

Series; Figure Study

Trying out a new background for my figure study series that I started a few years ago. I have now begun to photograph this work again with new models and it is so much fun!

Things we once took for granted was to work with people indoors and in smaller spaces (as my studio). This kind of luxury is now coming back where artists once again can collaborate with each other.

Here I am preparing a photoshoot with some new ideas, see images below.

Image 1. The look in my studio when I’m gluing newspaper into a background for some new ideas.
Image 2. Pernilla (me) testing out how the background looks when hanging on the wall.
Image 3. A studio set up before a photo shoot.

Sunlight beaming through the branches off an oak …

My inspiration and creative process.

Inspiration and the creative process comes in many shapes and forms. There are many parts involved and it is definitely not a straight line that I follow, many ideas come in short brief aha-moments when I’m present in the moment. It can be a beautiful beam of light or a shiny surface reflection that catches my eye, who creates the most fantastic ideas or inspiration. These are the moments that I collect and sort through before a photography session or start a new series of work.

I have notebooks with text and sketches laying around that I can go back to when I feel I’m running out of ideas or need to reflect over how to move forward with a project.

The images below indicates my love to photograph outdoors in nature. It’s freeing and very relaxed, at times I have to patiently wait for the light or moment to “be just right”. The light is the key for my imagery, how it falls and shapes the object is what creates a photograph. 

Every so often there are very little photo editing involved. This is where my vision and the image comes together at the same time as I click the shutter. On the other hand some series need additional work before my original idea is captured. This is when I take a seat in front of my computer to start the second part of the creative process, photo editing.

When I feel it all looks right it is time to select what paper or material to print the photograph on. This is as crucial and important as any of the other parts of my creative process. I love to experiment and try new ways to display my work. The print process can also be a bit tricky as you move from idea, to captured image through the camera, to the computer and finally to ink. 

To finalize the idea photograph is the fist step in my creative process.
To finalize the idea photograph is the fist step in my creative process.
Photography “Magical Light” from series Landscape Others |
©PernillaPersson.com
Photograph “Woodlands” from series Landscape Others |
©PernillaPersson.com

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Thank you so much for coming out celebrating spring with us!

Our Open Studio was fantastic thanks to you!
Personally I had a lot of fun talking about art for two full days and to see both familiar faces as well as new.
Stay in contact and check out my blog for updates during the year. Here I post small adventures, in-process work and new artwork that I create.

Dreamscape Beach by ©PernillaPersson.com 2022