I met Bob & Dan from Flagstaff in Stockholm

How odd is this. Fun, but whats the odds for this.

For those who dont know, Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, in Europe (Land of the historical vikings) and Flagstaff a nice but smaller town in Arizona, USA. Beutiful landscape, worth a visit. It takes approximatly 20-24 hours with longdistance and changes with domestic airlines, and car from Flagstaff to Phoenix, to go door to door from Falgstaff to Stockholm, Sweden. Thats a long trip.

I just came back after a lunch earlier at a pub. Two americans (USA) came in to have their lunch. Now known as Bob and Dan, two businessmen from Flagstaff, AZ. That is not odd, but whats odd, in the most pleasent way, is that we had a few reference points. Without even knowing each others. They was just sightseing the town, and randomly chose the same restaurant, pub as I had. They stayed at the Scandic Infra City Hotel in Stockholm. At that hotel, in the main entrance, there are three large size oil paintings that I made especially for the hotel in question. Comissioned work. A very pleasent work.
I have been to Flagstaff several times, having made a few trips to Arizona. I mention my favorite café in Arizona: Macy´s in Flagstaff, AZ. Which they know about, and equally seem to like. Anyone passing through Flagstaff should go and have a coffee or tea at Flagstaff. Its a really nice place.

I have even made a painting of the café in question, Macy´s, changed the colours of the facade, but still same café. I have made several paintings after being inspired by Arizona and Flagstaff. I have also made drawings of flagstaff. The one I show here was made in my sketchbook, and around the corner to the right, after the bagels shop, is Macy´s.
I dont know Bob & Dan, but it was nice meeting them. They took the same dish as I for lunch, "Skomakarlåda", in english means "Shoe maker box". A very nice classic swedish dish. (A thin steak, wine sauce with bacon and mashed potatoes.)

Hope you hade a nice and succesful trip in old Stockholm Bob & Dan!

Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator & artist

The new book direct from the printer

Today I received my reference samples of the actual book "Spelet" (The Game). Here placed on a café table, shot with a simple mobile phone camera, earlier today. Sorry for the bad camera. Its always nice to get book samples from the publisher. Like getting a nice chocolate bar from the candy store. This was a very nice book job. A nice publisher, editor and writer. Basically everything was nice.

Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator & artist

New book "The Game", my illustrations

The new book "The game" (Spelet in Swedish) by KG Johansson, published by Hegas publishing have just been released. Click here to be taken directly to the book>>

I made the cover, both layout & design, idea and the illustration itself. As well as the other full page size additional 7 illustrations in B&W inside the book. A total of 8 illustration and cover design. It was a real fun assignment. Thank you Hegas Publishing.

Text & review belowe from the publisher, Hegas.

The book's story line:
John is playing computer games. He can sit for hours, days and nights in front of the computer. One night, he is being called up by an unknown man. With a great drama unraveling John is given a new game. And the game begins to change him. He now no longer recognise himself. An exciting book about mysterious calls, secret meetings and violent car chase´s. But also about computer games that unconsciously alter a human being. Young students at Nyhamnsskolan School in south of Sweden (Europe) got to read the manuscript of the book, and they thought it was one of Hegas absolute best books.

Reviews of the book also highlights the illustrations. Read below:

Musician and author Kjell-Gunnar Johansson has created an exciting book of high-quality, which should fascinate many types of readers. It is about John who one day is given a computer game from a mysterious man. He is drawn into the game and is stucked even though he notice that it is to kill terrorists, and the purpose of the game is to make the player into a racist. Then, the mysterious man likes to get back the game, and a threatening situation is created against John and his friend Sofia. Just as quickly as they are dragged into the game, I am cought by the book. It is well-written and has a great level of detail and clarity, with a large font and other tricks to facilitate the reading. The story is illustrated by the artist and illustrator Stefan Lindblad. It is scary images drawn with black ink technique. The author and illustrator deal with the very hot and always present topic of racism in a magnificent way. -- by Anna-Karin Lindh, Bibliotekstjänst AB (Swedish Library sercive BTJ)

Already on the front page, the text suggests that something exciting enough will be done, which is also the case. It is a dismal story, and unfortunately quite lifelike. John (who attends compulsory school between 11-15 years old) by misstake gets his hand on a computer game, whose content is to take control the player's thoughts, in a creeping way, to make the player into a complete racist, who hate all Muslims. John and his friend Sofia notice how quickly prejudices can be fitted with them, when they test the game, and they reflect on how such a game can control an entire people's thoughts in a certain direction. The book is highly readable with short paragraphs, short sentences and simple choice of words. A few (7) black and white ink illustrations is well suited to the text. A book that gives an exciting reading experience, but also constitutes a great basis for discussions around the subject of prejudice and racism. -- by Lena Franzén, Bibliotekstjänst AB (Swedish Library sercive BTJ)


I hope those who read the book have as much fun as I, who had the opportunity tomake the illustrations and the cover.


Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator & artist

New illustration on my website - Image of War

I´ve read so many articales in the media, like many others, about wars all over. This image was Not made for any specific war, just a war. When the battle is, or seems to be, over. Illustration, Copyright Stefan Lindblad 2008.

How was the image made:

This illustration/drawing is entirely made with Corel Photo-Paint X4, using a Wacom Intuos3 tablet. No reference sketch on paper. Just straight with the Wacom.