Hi, I'm Simon. I'm a Canadian artist living in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The year 2020 has been a difficult year for many of us, especially because of the coronavirus. In order to stay positive, I decided to create a visual gratitude journal on my Instagram page. For a hundred days, I drew an experience that made me happy.
I posted my first illustration on March 1st, 2020. There are a lot of drawings of me and my partner traveling between Stockholm, Sweden where he currently lives, and Copenhagen, Denmark. From cooking together to eating a bowl of ramen and cozying up with a good book, this project helped me to stay grounded and mindful.
Throughout my art journey, my style evolved and so did my storytelling. I received a lot of positive messages and support for showcasing an interracial same-sex couple, enjoying simple and everyday moments.
More info: Instagram
#21 Day 18:
I love going on walks with @patricws while respecting social distancing from other passersby. The best thing is when we listen to music together sharing AirPods.
11points
#22 Day 29:
Having fresh flowers in the apartment really brightens up my day. I love working and drawing from home having a fresh spring bouquet on display.
11points
#23 Day 31:
We’ve been pretty disciplined at preparing wholesome meals at home. I love how creative we got in using most of the ingredients in the fridge and cupboards. So far we’ve had sushi, spring rolls, marinated pork bao, and taco nights.
11points
#24 Day 27:
This weekend, @patricws and I were very social while respecting physical distancing. We had video chats and shared a few drinks with friends from Sweden, Denmark, Canada, France, and the UK.
10points
#25 Day 36:
Since the majority of us are confined to our cozy apartments, I decided to be proactive and take on a front split challenge. Every day I need to hold the stretch for at least 90 seconds per side. It’s only the fourth day and it feels like pure torture. However, I always feel a great sense of accomplishment by commuting to the pose.
10points
#26 Day 2:
It’s not summer yet in Copenhagen, however, I got really excited to discuss vacation plans with my better half today. The simple thought of escaping somewhere nice and warm made me very happy.
9points
#27 Day 6:
I usually eat quite healthy during the day, including a strict intermittent fasting regimen from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm. I got very excited doing groceries and bought a bucket of potato salad that I ate behind closed doors at home. Carbs can be good for you... in moderation and mayo.
8points
#28 Day 30:
The other day it snowed in Stockholm. Although we are already in spring, I’m happy to have seen some snow in Scandinavia this year.
7points
#29 Day 33:
We recently received a few masks from a very generous friend. It’s always a good idea to stay safe, but it’s even better if we try to look good doing it.
7points
#30 Day 44:
We were very fortunate to find an awesome French bakery that makes the most amazing sourdough bread, croissants, and baguettes. Thank you @cafepascal for the delicious treats, feels just like when I was in Paris. Social distancing means more cooking at home and @patricws did not disappoint by making a delicious ratatouille to go with the freshly baked levain.
7points
#31 Day 22:
Social distancing doesn’t include people in your household. After all-day online meetings, it’s good to just sit back and relax together.
6points
#32 Day 24:
For Easter in Sweden, you can receive a giant egg filled with candies. I feel like a big kid when I opened it for the first time. It was filled with Swedish sweets and salty licorice.
6points
#33 Day 26:
We’ve been enjoying cooking different types of meals during our confinement. Earlier this week, we made some pork bao, and last night, some sushi rolls.
6points
#34 Day 35:
I have a new favorite snack from Sweden. It’s as simple to make as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. All you need is a fish roe spread (Smörgåskaviar), a boiled egg, and a piece of bread... My preference is for Danish rye bread (rugbrød). Although be warned, the fishy taste might not be for everyone though.
6points
#35 Day 43:
A hundred days ago, I decided to splurge on an iPad Pro in the hopes of picking up drawing again. I’ve been really proud of myself for consistently producing art and starting an Instagram page.
6points
#36 Day 47:
Confinement has encouraged us to read more books. I just finished Jon Ronson’s book on public shaming and bf has picked up Don Quixote.
6points
#37 Day 48:
We’ve been social distancing for so many days that we even have matching bumming-around outfits... Of course, that was not done on purpose.
6points
#38 Day 4:
My friend Luke showed up at my door with a bottle of red wine. Having a drink in the middle of the week is great, but having great friends is even better.
5points
#39 Day 13:
Pre-social distancing, I loved attending my hot yoga classes in the morning. I was also very excited whenever I would have the locker room all to myself because I was the only man in the class.
5points
#40 Day 15:
One of the perks of social distancing is having more time at home to clean and organize your apartment. That includes properly folding your laundry. Maintaining an organized environment is very important for one’s mental well-being.
5points