Why would an unassuming straight white lady need to leave the country? I mean, you could totally keep sacrificing your own autonomy and body and just be seen and not heard like how they tried to raise you. Right? NOPE. Fuuuuuck this. And we all saw it coming. www.npr.org/2025/08/07/n...

Hej friends! I left Trump’s America behind to start anew in Sweden. And when I say anew, I mean I am starting completely over. But I’ve started a Patreon dedicated to my adventures and adjustments, & also to keep me in art supplies! Please support Letters from Sweden at patreon.com/fridamelander

I’ve been back in my birth country for less than a month, but the minute I landed here once again, I immediately felt the baseline of sanity. Tack så hemskt mycket, Sverige. 🙏🕊️

There is no prescription strong enough to help the American reality see it is in need of serious prescription lenses.

Seems like it’s more important than ever to embody the coexist bumper sticker.

If men stopped worshipping Star Wars and started worshipping Organic Gardening I have a hunch Yoda would gladly show up for a photo op.

Historical Tumult looks so much more romantic in film than it is to live through. And if you are not feeling the current pain of the world, you are a probably a very well-off person extremely disconnected from the beauty of a baby dew drop in the early morning light.

I want my energetic sphere / environment to be at the frequency of “normal.” I realize that’s a lot to ask. I’ll keep my take on what normal is to myself, except to say that it is a lovely existence for everyone who doesn’t want shit to keep going off the rails.

Watching the Great Moose Migration live streaming from my birth country. A little late to the party on this one, but I was out all day enjoying nature up close so maybe I was perfectly aligned! Anyways, no moose yet but plenty of nature and birds and beauty and calm. The créme de la créme. 🥰✨🌳🦢🫎

Life finds a way—this tree pushed through pavement and even wrapped itself around a stop sign in L.A. #Nature doesn’t ask for permission. [Marika Sparrow]

My response to Trump in regards to the ridiculous proposed takeover of that little Penguin Island 🐧 🛑😑 @chroniclebooks #havealittlepun #fridaclements

Breathe in peace 🕊️

Knitting and painting 🧶🖼️

Illustrated this kid’s print after Hillary was let down by the voters of America. I had started it before the election, full of hope for womankind, humankind, & working together for the planet. Also inspired by Greta Thunberg’s activism for future gens. Sending love & strength to pristine Greenland.

Happy Spring and way to go Mother Earth for still blooming and giving me hope.

Suns out, puns out ✨

Ignore the stupid drama. Make art instead. #wip #bookproject

PSA: You should never ever feel any guilt about protecting your Peace. 🕊️

Growing through it

Breathe & repeat

The quiet life is the good life.

Fun illustration day 🪶

Giving it up to Canada AND giving the middle finger to AI artists all in one go. I like multitasking. 😊🖌️🇨🇦

The struggle is real 🍵🖌️

Spring has sprung! 🌸✨

If we want Peace, we have to focus on Peace. Simple math.

As we collectively deal with anger on pretty much every possible level, we must also focus on the future, particularly what we want to preserve and want more of. Energy flows where attention goes.

It’s not always easy being green, but when the country goes THIS red, it’s one of the easiest things you can do to protect your energy from the herd. Especially food wise (I know, I know. I’m a foodie too. And it can be hard… but not as difficult as being mired in hypocrisy.)

Here’s to projects that keep us in a higher stratosphere. Thank you, @mtnbooks #workinprogress

Bird book continues. So nice to have a work related excuse to keep my chin up!

Beats the news…

Making hopeful goals and having artistic deadlines are positive markers that pull us through - and by “us” I mean more than just our individual selves. I mean the collective “us” of creators of every ilk that live in a different stratosphere where the air is lighter. Keep going. We matter.

Some treasures found on the ground today… work in progress. 🖌️🐚

I still have a strange hopeful feeling that sanity will prevail. (After all the ding dong lemmings jump off the cliff.) It could take a while… or what feels like a while. Holding it down for people who enjoy a mild sailing excursion as opposed to kayaking Niagara Falls. Metaphorically speaking.

Last season’s tiny butterfly clusters of hydrangeas done two ways. I still only see beautiful delicate loveliness. ✏️🥰🖌️✨

Makes the world go round. 💚

Hey buds 🌱

I hope you turned away from the dumpster fire and found some enjoyment in your precious life today. 🌸

A little levity from my previous career as dry comedienne - and also love to the caretakers of Dolly, the oldest living Rhino in the U.S., who passed away at the age of 56. Take it easy, Dolly. 🦏 ⛅️✨ From “The Snuggle Is Real” on @chroniclebooks #havealittlepun

Reposting this from Instagram: The Wailin’ Jenny’s “One Voice” was used without permission for the horrific inauguration. They do not support this nonsense at all - nor do I, as their poster designer - nor does the genre of Americana / Bluegrass. Kermit, staunch democrat, played the banjo. Fact. 💚

A message that probably didn’t make it past the meta algorithm: I really love countries / people that don’t feel like they need to rule the entire world. And that care about the earth. These are my favorite countries / people.

23 years ago my body was a vessel for the second time, bringing this lovely soul to this bonkers world. You are so beloved, lady. Happy Birthday, Sage! 🌱💛🥰

Finishing up this delicate creature while watching the Grammys and feeling like this choice I’ve made tonight is the absolute definition of cognitive dissonance. A whole city just burned down due to climate change, yet no one has talked about that glaring fact. WTF.

I honestly believe our most powerful position in a toxic time that feeds on cynicism, apathy,& despair is to genuinely care and act for a better world. Cynicism is our enemy. We should check it, incl. on the left. It’s not intellectually superior. It’s the virus they’re trying to infect us with. NO

A good explanation to have in one’s back pocket as an artist for the hyper literal concrete thinkers among us. It may or may not help, but at least you’ll have tried.

I don’t actually play the piano, unless I happen to have extended time hanging around with one. Which has been the case recently & an absolute treat. Wrote a little ode to Swedish forests, and perhaps to the arrival of spring. Don’t know what it’s called yet. Or if it’s done. Painting: Elsa Beskow.

Here it is now, your moment of zen. ✨

Even though my kids are now in their 20’s, as a mother, I’m still feeling like the role of artist parents is to protect artist children (and one’s self) from bullshit you can’t control, encourage going within and protecting yourself in the ways you must without guilt in order to keep on creating.

Art helps.

First Bluesky Post! Hi! Working on a new book project about birds (as illustrator only) Needed a reference photo of a little hummer and remembered I found this sweet mama on a walk a few years ago. Wandering and pondering and taking photos pays off. 😊💕 Happy 2025 to those in the clear blue!