Map

Map of an Island, loosely (by my standards…) based on an island at the southernmost tip of Norway where I spent my summers as a child. (CC: BY-SA-2.5-SE)

The Pica pica challenge continues, this time with the word “Map”. So far enforced creativity works rather well. I decided to go for a classic fantasy-look, since I had recently procured some new calligraphy pens that I wanted to try out  (also, I rather like that kind of map). I’m very pleased with the result, though of course there are things I would like to change or improve.

The map of an is loosely (by my standards…) based on the island Hidra at the southernmost tip of Norway, where I spent my summers as a child. It’s a lovely place, remarkably lush despite the dramatic geology. One of my absolute favourite places in the world. To the North of the island is a narrow strait; on the opposite side from where the small channel dug at the end of the fiord — effectively dividing the island into two islands — is the most beautiful mountain I know.

As usual, the licence is CC:BY-SA-2.5-SE, so share and enjoy!

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Bandings

“Bandings” Two recently banded Deinonychus sceptically investigate their new adornments. (CC: BY-SA-2.5-SE)

This piece is called “Bandings”. It shows two dinosaurs of the genus Deinonychus that have recently been banded (given bandings) for science — a practice used on modern dinosaurs (aka birds) to keep track of their migratory patterns. The picture is an entry into the newly re-instantiated Pica pica challenge, where, based on a semi-random word, me and my friend Pica pica try to create something (text, picture, whatever — anything goes so long as it can be said to be creative) based on that word in a weeks time. It was a quick work (approximately 42 minutes) and I’m not confident at drawing (especially not with colours), but I’m rather pleased with the result.

As usual, thelicence is CC:BY-SA-2.5-SE, so share and enjoy!

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Thirsty…

Another one from last year’s Pica pica challenge, this time the word was “gulps”. Not much to say about it, except that I am at least semi-fond of it…

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A sonnet

In last year’s Pica pica challenge, one of the words was “heartquake”. It felt natural to write a sonnet on the topic. I dedicate it to Baron Faucon de la Santé, and of course to Sir Patrick.

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Finishes

My dear friend Dr Grijndvar recently shared a thoughtful piece on his view on death, exemplified by a touching account of his relationship with his paternal grandmother.

Inspired by this, I thought I would take his advice of thinking of those dead and gone, and share a short piece of poetry that I wrote as a part of the “word-challenge” I was engaged in with Pica pica this spring. The word under scrutiny this time was “finsihes,” and the result (at long last) was the short piece below. It may not be entirely obvious, but each verse relates to someone dead and missed in my life.

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Eudaemonious

In an attempt to force myself to do some writing, a friend and I started a challenge that we, based on a more or less random word or expression, should create something (not necessarily anything of semi-literary nature, but that’s what’s closest at hand for me) in a short allotted time frame (a couple of days).

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