Buying spree

New Magasinet editorial illustration. Yes, its that time of year again, and the serial buyers are out there, terrorising the more reluctant of us off peak shoppers. Which reminds me what on earth should I get for my nearest and dearest for Christmas?

Adulthood

New BTBatt illustration. This time its about adulthood from the perspective of a 14 year old. Leaving the secure existence of youth and venturing into the adult world, where you have to rely yourself, and no one else but you are responsible for your actions.

Consulting

New magazine illustration for Haymarket. Part of set of five images on consulting in the regeneration and renewal sector.

Fortress BI

Illustration for Universitas depicting the BI school in Nydalen outside Oslo. Apparently the headmaster and staff has turned this private institution into a fortress. Impenetrable to governmental pressure and regulations. Not everyone is happy with the situation.

I can do it

New 'Oss i mellom' illustration on how parents support and encourage their children to succeed in life. Do parents only encourage their children when they have mastered a new skill or got a good mark at school. Or do they still encourage them even if they didn't get the mark they wanted or weren't picked for the football team?

Box illustrations

Part of a set of four visual teasers for a conference at the University of Oslo. This particular box represents climate issues.

Julebord

Illustration for Magasinet. Julebord (The annual Christmas Work doo) Yes, its that time of year again. Need I say more...

Catwoman

BTBatt illustration for Bergens Tidende. Image about true and inner happiness, disregarding what people around you think. Focusing on marriage, and the reasons why people get married today. Is it because we want to, or because its expected of us?

The Boxing Match

Illustration for Sykepleien, describing the 'fight' between unions over memberships. Represented here by the two biggest unions fighting over nurses and health care workers to join their ranks.

It takes two to tango

Illustration for Magasinet, depicting the harmonious 'everyday-dance' a couple develops over time. Its like a ballet. Carefully orchestrated movements of shores and rituals which often takes place from dusk till dawn.

Out in the cold

New Bergens Tidende illustration. Local schools closing down, and students are often are left with inadequate alternatives regarding place of study.

Alternative education

News illustration for Universitas. A critical eye on Norway's many alternative schools. These institutions are based on a very different educational values than those of the more traditional Universities.

Nagging

New illustration for The Sunday Times. Image depicting the fundamental difference of opinions on housework (between husband and wife) in the modern marriage. A controversial look on nagging, its cause and effects.

Can't hurry love

Illustration for Bergens Tidende - Accompanying a very moving article on love. The text sets out to analyse and tackle the 'really big matter' in life, love. Don't hurry love, was the verdict:)
PS! I also want to say thanks to the good people who have decided to follow this humble blog. I salute you!

Gambling problem, moi?

New illustration for Bergens Tidende. Its online gambling and its a problem. This 'hidden' way of gambling is fast becoming responsible for many a ruined marriage and relationship. Grief and devastation follows its relentless onslaught on the modern gambler. Beware!!!

Brand new work for Universitas

Two illustrations I just did for the new issue of Universitas. Top one is about bad lecturers and the bottom one depicts the upcoming 'Sceptic Conference' in Oslo.

New ways of Dating

Dating feature for Time Out Magazine, which lists new ways of dating in the city. Pirate parties, romantic wrestling, and martial arts lessons amongst the unusual suggestions.

Get a grip!

Norwegian Newspaper BT, is campaigning fir safer roads. Again, the young drivers are at risk. The numbers of deaths from speeding are soaring. That has to stop.

Cool parents

Is it better to be a 'cool', relaxed and 'hip' parent rather than strict? This illustration accompanied an article that clearly said NO. In the long run the child benefits from having 'no- nonsense' parents who sets clear limits. The hipster parents often ends up being fooled and manipulated by the child, who has learned from an early age that there are no repercussions and effects of his or her behaviour.

Academic capitalism

Illustration for Universitas, describing the forced academic research going on in modern universities. Ranking high on academic research lists in respected newspapers is more important than the research itself.

Cabaret!

As a direct result of there being too few nursing students, new attempts are being made to reverse this trend. I envisioned an old fashion cabaret put on by nurses to attract new students

They know where you live!

An editorial piece on how much information Facebook has on us, and how much more they will know in the future. FB is launching new apps that will track your physical movements, something which scares a lot of people.

The Lefties

A certain Norwegian political party is called naive by its opponents, to the huge dismay of its party members. Illustration aims to show this party's multitude of members.

Passive smoking

Illustration accompanying a newspaper article for BT about the dangers of passive smoking, especially for children.

Roadkill!

New illustration for BT magasinet. Alcohol, cars and motorcycles don't not mix well. Still lots of young people die every year of just this lethal mixture of foolhardiness and plain ignorance. Not only do they put their own life at risk but also others. A tragic and pointless way of exiting this life. Don't drink and drive!

Behaving badly online

This illustration for BT is about online verbal abuse. Its a bad, bad trend. Girls and boys bullying fellow online surfers. Hiding behind the mask which is anonymity of the web, they get their outlets in chat rooms, youtube and on various blogs (in the comment sections etc).

New Universitas illustration

Illustration accompanying article on the 'importance of good studying techniques'. The eureka moment! Went a bit rockabilly on this one:)

Cry wolves wo-hooooooo!

This weekend's 'Oss i mellom' illustration. Cuts are made in the Norwegian social services leaving the young, who needs help the most, unprotected against the wolves of this world.

Illustration for Quill & Quire Magazine

This illustration depicts the departure of the travelling book rep. Scores of book reps are forced into retirement due to the internet making them superfluous.

Cool to be radical?

New illustration for Universitas. Topic: As a result of there being to few female students, some people turn to desperate and extreme measures to balance the numbers, without realising what the repercussions might be.

Call centre illustration

I tried to describe a BT reader's frustration from dealing with the Norwegian Tax office. According to this reader: they respond extremely late, if at all, and they were hardly ever available on the phone or online.

Optimist Extraordinaire

New illustration For BT Magasinet. Image accompanying an article giving tips on how to be optimistic and say yes to life!

Brand new Sykepleien illustration

The new issue of Sykepleien is out and I can therefore present to you the illustration I did for them. Times are hard for nurses in Norway due to low pay and slow recruitment in the health sector. They still have the weight of high society on their shoulders. Super rich people will ultimately be affected by their extravagant lifestyle and the underpaid nurses will be there to look after them when they do.

New BTBatt illustration

The Norwegian ministry of education ignoring criticism and pressure from the public to make important changes to the educational system. Hope you like it!

Battle of the Student TV channels

Oslo Student TV (OSTV) is threatened by the larger and more powerful NOVA TV. Who will survive the battle? Anyway, a fun illustration to do for Universitas.

Safe driving advertising campaign

Online and print advertising campaign for Mediehuset Bergens Tidende. Campaign aims to target young drivers, especially men, and change their lax attitude towards speeding and drunk driving. The statistics for driving related deaths in Norway are very gloomy.

Hidden gambling

New BT Magasinet illustration. This time tackling the danger of gambling, and the emerging problem of hidden gambling: online gambling etc. Beware.....

BTBatt is back - New illustration

BTBatt (a youth debate panel in Bergens Tidende) is back from their summer holiday, and I'm excitedly looking forward to lots of interesting texts to illustrate. Happy days! This particular piece is about the H1N1 scare in Norway, fueled by the media.

Munch inspired illustration for Magasinet

Hi everyone! Topic for illustration was jealousy and inner torment, so who better to turn to for inspiration than my fellow countryman and artist supreme, Edward Munch! Hope you like it, although its not a very comfortable image....

Oivind Hovland Illustration moves to England!

Just to let you good folks know that from 1 of September, Oivind Hovland Illustration will be based in Bristol, England. Canada has been great, but its time to go. Blighty here we come:)

New 'Oss i Mellom' illustration

Illustration describing the effect beauty-and-diet crazed parent can have on their children.

Illustration for Universitas

Image for an article about 'Snaasamannen': a seemingly harmless, elderly Norwegian healer who has for some reason received a lot of media attention in Norway. Doctors and men of science has taken this new 'threat' very seriously indeed. Oh well...

New illustration for Bergens Tidende, 'Oss I Mellom'

This is the latest editorial illustrations for Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende. The theme is conquering your fears, and exorcising your demons.

Another book idea

Brand new image from a book I'm working on. Long way to go yet. I'm combining my interest in old rowing boats and storytelling:)

New illustration for Bergens Tidende

This is the brand new double page illustration for Bergens Tidende, Magasinet. The weekly column (well its over two pages) is called Oss i Mellom. And the topic for this illustration was the 'importance of good communication between children and parents'. Hope you like it!

Charango! A book idea is born.

This is the first image from an idea I have for an illustrated book. It has been a good few years since I last attempted to write and illustrate a book. I guess I feel its time to try again. The book is far from being finished, but the cobwebs have been blown away and the old machinery is ticking:)

My work featured on Love + Water International

Alexis Fedor, creator of Love + Water International, a lovely art and design hub from New york, kindly featured some of my work on her blog. Thanks Alexis! Check out the feature by clicking on link below.

Link: http://www.loveandwaterinternational.com/2010/07/artist-spotlight-ivind-hovland.html

The Holiday Dream

New work in today's edition of Bergens Tidende. Double page illustration. Theme: various dream holidays and destinations. Some achievable, some not so much...

A Wedding

An unofficial card illustration I recently did for Eivind and Katharina's wedding. Hipp hipp hurra!

Panic

Another piece I just did for Ikon. Financial crisis scenario, stock market crash resulting in panic in the streets. Businessmen sticking their head in holes in the ground. Lots of symbolism here, hopefully not too much....:)

Insurance illustration

New insurance-themed illustration for Ikon. Lots of creative freedom here. Have used the colour black even more than I have done before, if that's indeed possible.