Designed by Dutch architectural studio in cooperation with SeARCH Studio & Christian Muller Architects, the ‘Villa Vals’ built in Sweden blends into the hilly surrounding landscape.

A stunning project.. and just look at those views.

I found this via the amazing design blog LooksLikeGoodDesign.

More images via MAD

Perhaps a better title would have been “Cecilia Levy – Globetrotter, wife, mother, artist”

– Cecilia Levy is an amalgamation of many different things who believes that “In the words of German techno group Scooter: It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

Levy entered this world in 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden. A self-proclaimed nomad, Levy says that “I’ve moved around a lot; we lived in the U.S and Indonesia during my childhood and as an adult I’ve lived in Israel, France and Switzerland. But I’ve always returned to Sweden.” Levy currently resides in a small medieval town of Sigtuna, just north of Stockholm, with her husband Mattias Adolffson (previously featured here!) their two daughters, Olivia and Rosa and a dog named Asta.

So what’s it like living in an artist’s household? According to Levy, it “isn’t glamorous, dramatic or romantic a la Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera – we are both too down-to-earth and practical – Swedish – for that”. Mattias and Levy do, however, share a studio at home so of course there is the inevitable exchange of ideas, inspiration as well as the hardships and pleasures that they experience on a daily basis. Though Levy says that she doesn’t believe they influence each other’s work, that “a good thing about living with another artist is being around someone that understands what you’re doing and why you’re doing it”.

The creative genes of their parents have, without a doubt, been passed down to their two girls. Levy says that both love being creative, albeit in different ways. One “writes extremely long, detailed, fantasy stories” whilst the other has just “discovered the fine art of poetry”. Despite this affinity to their artistic parents, Levy maintains that “it wouldn’t surprise me one bit[...] if they became just the opposite to us”. “They can become whatever they want. As long as they’re happy and content, I’m happy,” says Levy.

Levy gained an MFA in Graphic Design from The School of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, studied bookbinding for a year in addition to study at a number of preparatory art schools. She proudly remarks that she “love[s] being a student – if it was possible I’d be one forever”. Nowadays, she gathers inspiration from a variety of different places and mediums, stating that nature, as well as countless blogs, museums and galleries and the students she teaches in art and design schools provide the greatest source of inspiration for her.

“My style isn’t that obvious, I like to experiment and try out new techniques”. Though Levy admits to having a fondness for self portraits, her “morning exercise”, her personal project, People I never knew I knew is a very special project. “I wanted to draw faces, characters. For inspiration, I took one of my old yearbooks…the faces felt very familiar, as if I actually knew these people.” Levy “became so inspired with all these personalities – what have become of them? Where were they now?” One day, if she acquires enough, Levy says she hopes to assemble them into her own, decidedly different, yearbook.

Like any freelance artist, Levy revels in having the freedom “to do what I want to and when” and is currently working on a hand bound books for a local shop in her town as well as several personal projects.

Check out some of her amazing work here:

http://cecilialevy.blogspot.com (Regularly updated, keep an eye on this blog!)

www.cecilialevy.com

www.flickr.com/photos/cecilia_levy/

Swedish Illustrator, Mattias Adolfsson has kindly allowed us to show some of his impressive work from a series called ‘architecture.’ Adolfsson’s unique style is largely imaginative (though he does traditional works as well) and has the ability to stir memories and emotions like something straight out of a childhood dream. His sketches explore the bizarre and the dreamlike in a beautiful, intricate cartoonish way, infused with care and precision. Adolfsson can also boast one of the most popular sketch blogs on the net and has travelled the world with his work – His last exhibit in downtown Melbourne!

Thanks for agreeing to this interview Mattias, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Mattias Adolfsson I’m a 43 year old Illustrator living in a town called Sigtuna just outside of Stockholm Sweden. I moved here a year ago after living in Gothenburg for 18 years.

At what age did you begin illustrating? And when did it become a profession?
I’ve been Illustrating almost all my life but didn’t take it up as a professions until last year (the same time as I left Gothenburg. I’ve been working with computer games and 3D animation ever since I took my Masters at fine Design.

What people (artist or otherwise), places or things inspire you?
There is a lot of wonderful artists out there, but I tend to try not to be too much inspired by other artists (that takes away parts of the enjoyment in watching them). I get a lot of inspiration while moving about, walking or running, while reading or listening to music.

Are you professionally trained or were you self taught?
I majored in graphic design, in that education there was some tutoring in Illustration but not very much. Most of my drawing skills are self taught, that goes for my skills in 3d Animation as well.

What are your most used ‘tools of the trade’ (i.e markers, pens, etc)
I draw with a fountain pen (a namiki Falcon) and use watercolors for coloring, To be frank this is what I always use.

What are you working on at the moment?
I just started a course in comic creations, I have to start doing much more print. Apart from that I’m working on some children’s books projects and some freelance commision stuff

I’m particularly interested in your ‘architecture’ pieces, what inspired these?
Prior to studying Graphic design I went to an Architecture school (for two years). I always loved classic buildings and have been drawing them since starting studying.

What are your other interests beside art?
I’m very interested in Science, technology and history as part from music and films.

What’s the best and worst parts of being a full time, working artist?
The worst thing of course is the unsecurity and uneven cash flow at times. The best is the freedom, the ability to steer your own time.

Any advice to up and coming artists?
Make the most of your time at art school and take all possibilties you can take to spend some of it abroad (if possible). I often feel I didn’t make the most of my time studying.

Thanks Mattias for taking the time out to answer our questions- It’s much appreciated and an inspiration to us all!

Visit Mattias’ site here: http://www.mattiasadolfsson.se/

and also his blog here: http://mattiasa.blogspot.com/