Ida Stoervold is an artist from Norway. She attended the College of Arts and Architecture at UNCC, USA where she completed a BA in Fine Arts with a graphic design concentration. She was taught fundamental skills in school and continued to explore and learn on her own once she graduated. The artist wanted to improve her photoshop skills and decided to do daily challenges to improve her work speed.
"Inviting people to submit photos seemed like a good idea, as the photo quality and subject matter would be unpredictable (which makes for a good challenge). So far I had primarily photoshopped my own cat, and people seemed eager to find out how I could “improve” their pets."
Animals as a subject matter attract Ida naturally as she always had a strong interest in mythology and fantastical creatures. "My work is a bit like gaff taxidermy, except no one has to die."
The artist revealed that she tries to determine a personality or mood when she considers a photo. She also alters or adds elements accordingly to express or exaggerate this. "I love creating absurd and meaningless figures that are presented in an environment that is still very much recognizable, and the overall effect can be slightly surreal or even unnerving."
When some of Ida's pieces went viral, she received hundreds of daily requests, but due to a demanding work/life balance, she became less active on social media and the requests ebbed out.
She is currently in the process of designing journals and notebooks that will be published under her pen name "White Cat Black Wardrobe". The Mermaid Journal is already up for sale. The artist also does some painting. The results are posted every now and then on Instagram.
These fun creatures are not everyone's cup of tea and sometimes they evoke a certain degree of anger or disgust in some people, according to the artist. However, the majority of the attention is positive and Ida is happy that people are often thrilled when they see their photoshopped pet show up unexpectedly somewhere on social media.
