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On the Blog

How I Paint Auroras

By Yolandie Horak / 15th October 2019

My husband is pretty much obsessed with the northern lights, or aurora borealis. He's one of those people who will...

Book Reviews

Fawkes – Book Review

By Yolandie Horak / 11th October 2019

I've heard only good things about Nadine Brandes's writing, so I bought a copy of Fawkes when I found it...

Photo Diary

Exploring Lake Minnewanka

By Yolandie Horak / 8th October 2019

As with most of the well-known tourist spots, we've visited Lake Minnewanka before. Just a quick stop, though, as the...

Personal

Losing Sunshine

By Yolandie Horak / 1st October 2019

In Johannesburg, where I grew up, the seasons turn in such a predictable manner. You know that the sun will...

Quick Watercolour Lightning Tutorial

By Yolandie Horak / 27th September 2019

It's been pretty much forever since I've last done a watercolour tutorial. Aside from the wrist injury that has kept...

Book Reviews

Rise – Book Review

By Yolandie Horak / 24th September 2019

This was probably one of my most anticipated sequels of 2019. I picked up Rule from the library earlier this...

Yolandie’s Favourites

ALL

I’m Yolandie – Revisited

Personal

A few years ago, I had an epiphany–I’m not done […]

Personal

Calgary

Toronto is a city of skyscrapers. Steel and glass. Grey. […]

Personal

A Tribute

This morning, my grandmother passed away. It was a long […]

Still want more? Have a random post

ALL

Rome – Day 2

Photo Diary

In an unfortunate turn of events, we seem to have […]

Book Reviews

Rise – Book Review

This was probably one of my most anticipated sequels of […]

Writing

Meet the Characters

I don’t know if you know this, but A Study […]

Before you Share…

Art

It’s a normal Tuesday and you’re scrolling Facebook. Everything has […]

Writing

To Say or Not to Say

So you’re a writer. Welcome to the club, please pick […]

Photo Diary

Neuschwanstein Trip

We’ve been ogling this castle for a looooong time. You know […]

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MINI-MONDAY⁠
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Are you, like me, one of those people who gets so out of whack after a public holiday?⁠
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Today is Tuesday, but my brain refuses to accept that as the truth. Yesterday was obviously Sunday, because it was the last day of the weekend. Only not.⁠
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It usually takes me about two days to adjust to this short week, then it's weekend again.⁠
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Anyway. I got this copy of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell from my epic #sabookswap partner, @cristellefourie. I've heard only good things about this book, but haven't started reading yet. My TBR is insane ATM.⁠
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What are you reading this week?⁠
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#jonathanstrange #jonathanstrange&mrnorrell #susannaclarke #bookstagram #southafricanbookstagram #southafricanbookstagrammer #tbr #toberead #speculativefiction #booksandblooms #bookish #becauseofreading #fullybooked #orange #tigerseyes #tigerseyestones #rockcollector

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and loads to be thankful for. These days, with the insane state of the world and all the associated anxiety, it's sometimes difficult to find things to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for a wonderful, loving and supportive family, cousins like sisters, friends who care, and the people we've met on this crazy journey of ours. I'm thankful that the coffee is still strong, thankful that apple pie is delicious, and thankful that we're given a chance to make tomorrow better.

I'm also thankful for filters. 🤣 Have a good one!

#thanksgiving #thankful #thankyou #canada #canadianthanksgiving #selfie #filters #shorthair #glasses #geek #southafricanauthor #southafricanwriter #southafricanlivingabroad #bookstagrammer #butfirstaselfie

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PUT A SOCK IN IT⁠
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I recently got these woollen boot socks and I'm in love. They're so soft and deliciously warm. Plus, grey. You know how I feel about grey. :P⁠
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What's your favourite colour?⁠
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#socksunday #socks #bootsocks #socksandbooks #booksandblooms #orange #turtlesallthewaydown #johngreen #mentalhealth #ocd #youngadult #ya #yalover #bookphotography #booklover #becauseofreading #booksbooksbooks #southafricanbookstagrammer #bookie #bibliophile

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GORGEOUS⁠
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I sincerely have no idea what this book is about. This was purely a cover-based/sale-price buy. Holy crap, this illustration makes me happy.⁠
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I'm also a huge fan of crows, ravens and magpies. We have loads of them here in Calgary, and their cawing appeals to me. Don't ask me why, it's just one of those weird things.⁠
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Do you love or hate birds?⁠
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#anenchantementofravens #margaretrogerson #coverlove #gorgeouscover #coverart #illustration #art #artlover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bibliophole #southafricanbookstagrammer #tbr #toberead #lovereading #ya #youngadult #yalover #booksandblooms #orange #scentedcandles

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*INSERT CAPTION HERE*⁠
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I'm not particularly good with captions most days, but I have zero inspiration today. My kid is sick, I'm coming down with something, and who has time to think up captions anyway. :P⁠
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Okay, rant over. Honestly, as I'm sitting here typing out this post, I'm just procrastinating. I have a hundred million things to do, but just feel so meh about it all.⁠
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I'm really excited to begin reading this book. I seriously love the cover, and have heard good things about it.⁠
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What do you do to procrastinate?⁠
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#toberead #tbr #werulethenight #claireelizabartlett #youngadult #ya #yalove #bookstagram #southafricanbookstagrammer #bookphotography #booksandblooms #orange #scentedcandles #tigerseyes #grandmascrochet #bibliophile #booknerd #wordnerd #booklover #booksbooksbooks #libraryfind #booked

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SHE'S A SPY⁠
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The character in question is an all-round favourite. She's also the only she-spy in A Study of Ash & Smoke--at least the only *beloved* one.⁠
⁠
In A Trial of Sparks & Kindling (why did I choose these LOOONG titles?!) the beta readers all still agree, this she-spy is the best.⁠
⁠
Because you all know I'm talking about Nita, I can openly tell you she's based on a real person. Someone who is equally open, just as mothering, and also tells things just like it is.⁠
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Do you have a Nita-type person in your life?⁠
⁠
#atrialofsparksandkindling #atrialofsparks&kindling #atosak #fallofthemantle #book2 #comingsoon #sequel #onelinewed #onelinewednesday #spy #strongfemalecharacter #indieauthor #independentauthor #southafricanauthor #writer #indiewriter #writersofinstagram #writersoninstagram #booksandblooms #notebook #bookphotography #bookstagram #wordnerd #excerpt #iwrotethis #upcomingnovel #newadult #na #newadultfantasy #na

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WAY BACK WHEN⁠
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I got this hardcover of Eragon from my #sabookswap partner. I read this series way back when, and have always loved the cover art of these books. I owned all of them back in the day.⁠
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So, for this map Monday, allow me to transport you to Alagaësia. I really love that this map was printed in blue. For some reason, that really appeals to me.⁠
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#eragon #cristopherpaolini #dragons #blue #bookstagram #booksandblooms #oldies #oldbooks #secondhandbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #southafricanbookstagrammer #booklover #bibliophile #wordnerd #bookish #becauseofreading⁠

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DAY 15

Better late than never, right? Ive been having trouble with my wrist, which means lower art productivity than usual.

I'm glad to be back at it with my skull chart. Once this one is done, I'm moving on to the kidney. Please send me requests for after that!

#inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday15 #day15 #skull #humanskull #medicalchart #medicalsketches #medicalsketch #medical #artnerd #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #art #ink #uniballpen #blackandwhite #bicpen #ballpointpen

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VIRIDIAN
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Because I love me some green. This is a throwback to one of my older pieces, and this gloriously green duo is actually available for purchase in my Etsy store (link in the bio).
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Green scapes are just so soothing. I love painting them, and I love the calmness they bring to a room.
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What's your favourite colour?
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#green #viridian #mountains #trees #forest #landscape #watercolour #watercolor #watercolourpainting #watercolorpainting #throwback #tbt #throwbackthursday #artist #artistsofig #artlover #artsy #orange #grandmascrochet #greatgrandmascrochet #imadethis #indieartist #southafricanartist #artistic

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FIN

I don't have it in me to draw something for Inktober today, but I did take some time to finish my brain chart.

I'm really happy with how this one came out. I'm thinking I can maybe give this a vintage feel and sell prints, if anyone is interested? What do you think?

#brain #humanbrain #medicalsketch #medicalchart #medicalsketches #inktober2019 #inktober #inkdrawing #uniballpen #ballpointpen #bicpen #fineliner #art #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #artistsofig #indieartist #southafricanartist #imadethis

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DAY 8

My new medical page is filling up nicely. It's a miserable snowy day here in Calgary, so I plan on adding more to this sketch today while binging Gilmore Girls.

What are you up to today?

#inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday8 #day8 #inkdrawing #uniballpen #ballpointpen #bicpen #artist #indieartist #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #southafricanartist #skull #humanskull #medicalchart #medicalsketches #medicalsketch #medical #artnerd

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DAY 7

Starting a new medical chart today, all about the human skull.

My wrist is acting up again, so I'm starting small for this chart. Just a zoomed in jawbone.

Because I sincerely don't want to end up back on medication to keep my wrist functional, I might not be able to keep up posting Inktober stuff every day. I'll keep you updated.

#inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday7 #day7 #ink #inkdrawing #skull #humanskull #jawbone #medicalsketch #medical #medicalsketches #artist #artistsofig #independentartist #indieartist #artistsofinstagram #art

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DAY 6

As promised, the zoomed in cerebellum. I'm so excited about how this turned out!

I'm planning to add the text digitally, so keep a look out for that.

Meanwhile, I've taken some pics of some of my old artworks, and plan to share them with you from this week. Please let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to see!

#art #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #artistsofig #inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday6 #day6 #brain #humanbrain #medicalsketch #medical #medicalsketches #cerebellum #ink #inkdrawing #uniballpen #ballpointpen #bicpen

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DAY 5
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I've added another small brain to the mix. Let me tell you, drawing brains isn't as easy as you'd think.
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Tomorrow, I'll add a zoomed-in shot of the cerebellum, and I plan to add some notes scribbled on the sides.
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I might go with digitally adding the notes, though. I don't know that I want to commit my HORRIBLE handwriting to this piece that I'm actually pretty proud of.
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I'm so sorry I didn't draw the heart and lungs on watercolour paper. I might have to redo.
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#inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday5 #day5 #brain #humanbrain #medicalsketches #medical #medicalsketch #diagram #ink #inkdrawing #uniballpen #ballpointpen #bicpen #artist #indieartist #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistsofig #instaart #igart

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Home

News

On the Blog

How I Paint Auroras

Fawkes – Book Review

Exploring Lake Minnewanka

Losing Sunshine

Quick Watercolour Lightning Tutorial

Rise – Book Review

Yolandie’s Favourites

I’m Yolandie – Revisited

Calgary

A Tribute

Still want more? Have a random post

Rome – Day 2

Rise – Book Review

Meet the Characters

Before you Share…

To Say or Not to Say

Neuschwanstein Trip

yolandie_horak

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