Reindeer Feria - Poroferia

We have this annual Reindeer Feria event in Oulu, where the southern and northern cultures meet. Basically the events of the Feria reflect Sami and Spanish culture, mostly concentrating the reindeer and flamenco traditions.

Last year I was there with Niuniu, this year she couldn't come because of her season, would've driven all the male dogs there nuts. This year a friend asked me along. The beginning of the event I photographed in color, but while photographing a flamenco performance, switched to black and white. The color photos are posted in Niuniu's blog (sort of dog oriented post). Black and white ones are in this post.

The performance of the freelance flamenco dancer, Aylin Bayaz, was beautiful to watch.








Lapponian herder.

Fluffy. (Bichon frise, havanais, bolognese...?)


Food!


He thought he was on the wrong side of the fence.


Rudolphina, the frosty nosed reindeer.


The amateur reindeer races - 2 people from the audience always racing against each other.

"I won?!"

I really admired the confidence with which the "reindeermen" handled the animals.


"Just wait and see, one of them is gonna crash right at where we're standing."

Uh oh.

UH OH!

Hey there, reindeer.

A happy couple that raced against each other. They had a bet. She lost and has to cook a meal for him.






The racers were having loads of fun.



Lapphund! And we were cold. And Niuniu was waiting. Time to go home. It was a fun day.

Kingfishers

Watercolor and Albrecht Dürer water color pencils.

I got a painting assignment to paint a Christmas present. Eventually out of the favorite birds of the person receiving the present I chose the Common Kingfisher.

Since I'd never seen kingfishers in real life, I got to know the bird better from pictures and videos. I did some sketching from the videos - the best substitute available to sketching from live birds (and I love the pause button!). After that I did the first sketch of the birds without reference, then with pictures got the details and patterns in place.

After which I spent a couple of nights just painting.

I really enjoyed getting to know these little birds better. Hopefully it won't be long before I get to see some live.

Christmas card to a friend

I said I didn't send any Christmas cards this year...but I did send one. Albrecht Dürer Watercolor pencils on cardboard.

Some photos of Niuniu

Some photos of Niuniu over the Christmas holidays.

Lesser White-fronted Geese in moonlight

Should've been sleeping. But the inspiration hit me - I felt I just had to go on and make this idea of a painting into a real painting. I used the Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils as both watercolors and pencils on this one.

Detail of the LWfGs. Should've shaded the bottom side of the tail.

Samoyed & Orange Cat

A good friend of mine loves samoyeds. Faber Castell Albrecht Dürers on dark blue cardboard.

And the same friend's friend wanted to see a kitty drawn by me.

Some more quick drawings

"Náhani's Song"

My favorite wolf of all time, Náhani from In the Shadow of a Rainbow (a true story). When the urge to draw Náhani hit me last night, I was suprised by my inability to remember ever having drawn her.

Should not have complained about the amount of the shades of purple in this set of pencils, I ended up using all of them on this quick drawing of a pair of Lesser white-fronted geese at a seashore meadow, in the moonlight, male alert and checking out some suspicious sound. This idea could be developed into a painting. Soma day.