"There is hope as long as your fishing line is in the water." Det er håp i hengende snøre. (Norweigan Proverb)

The Lofoten is an archipelago  in the county of Nordland, Norway. There is something very magical and timeless about the Lofoten Islands. The islands have been the home of the great cod fisheries for over 1000 years. Nowhere have I been more aware of past traditions and ways of life being continued into the present. Svolvaer is my favourite place of all. The fishing boats still come and go from the harbour, although coloured and shining, no longer the small open wooden boats of the early 1900s. Even though the house interiors are beautifully designed, modern and minimalist, the way of life and traditions are very much ongoing and encompassed, the old and the new, side by side. The cod still drying on the wooden racks in the harbour. The way of life is simple. The flavours, tastes, smells. The sea air still carries the stories and songs of the past. The people are honest and friendly. The sea and the weather are still master here. If you get a chance to listen to Kari Bremnes, she's from Svolvaer and she captures the true spirit of the place, in beautiful song (especially 'coastal trip' and 'Song to a Town'. I found these old photos of  Lofoten fishermen and wanted to capture them in sketch. To me, they are the Lofoten.