I recently came across this graphic artist’s work and I thought her stuff was rather cool. Admittedly it’s a bit girly – but hey, nothing wrong with that right? Brenda’s from the US originally, although she’s now based in Halden. Which gave me a perfect excuse to feature her on this blog 
Brenda, how did you become a graphic artist?
I’ve been drawing since I can remember. It’s something that I just always did and I’ve had no schooling. It still surprises me to date that anyone would buy something that I do every day for my own sanity.
Your drawings are very original, where do you get your inspiration from?
Seeing Disney films was my first spark of real interest and amazement. The art in Sleeping Beauty most of all. Jamie Hewlett (English comic book artist and designer, best known as the co-creator of the Tank Girl comic strip and band Gorillaz) is my favorite artist. Other than that everything I see, read and touch inspires me.
You’re from Michigan originally, what made you move to Norway?
I met a boy. Ha ha. Truthfully I met my now husband in a club in Detroit, Michigan and after years of friendship we got married and I decided to move here about 5 years ago with him.
How do you like it here, and what were the best/worst things about moving to Norway?
My opinion on that varies from day to day. Being a foreigner here is not easy. Either people are scared to death to talk to you or expect to be your best friend instantly. It’s very different from my hometown. However, I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my daughter in Norway. I know she is safer and I have had the opportunity to stay home with her for 3 years and that is something that rarely happens where I’m from.
What do you like best about Østfold?
I love Gamlebyen. The market in the summer time and I love the summers here. I have lived in Sarpsborg and worked in Fredrikstad but I really feel at home in Halden. It’s hard to explain why.
Best kept secret about Halden?
There is this graveyard I live by in Os Alle kirke. It’s stunning if you like that sort of thing. Which I do. I have a blog that has a lot of graveyard pictures and I try in the summer to go to different graveyards in Norway when I can to take photographs.
Why the Boo name?
Well, I love Halloween and when I first saw Monsters, Inc and heard him call the little girl Boo, I fell in love with it. I call my daughter Boo in real life. It’s my nickname for her and it is also my business name.
Any new year’s resolutions for 2010?
Draw more. That is pretty much my daily resolution that never gets fulfilled unfortunately.
More about Brenda Boo here http://www.thebootique.com/Gifts%20Shop/Gift_Shop.html