Honey, Loving You is the Greatest Thing

Been really enjoying Spotify recently...I'm kinda overwhelmed with all this music suddenly available to me!! First thing I did was make one giant Belle & Sebastian playlist and started listening through the whole thing...it's been a while since I listened to all their albums. They are probably my favorite band of all time...

I started drawing this while listening and then suddenly heard the lyrics "honey, loving you is the greatest thing" and it seemed very fitting for the drawing...so I added that in. The music video to the song is below.

Urban Outfitters Moodiness

This is a mixed media collage...using goache, acrylic ink, printed type, and cut out photos from Urban Outfitters most recent catalog. Somehow I got onto their mailing list and they sent me one in the mail...and it inspired me to create this moody hipster collage.

Dapper Man

This was done with goache and painted on neon orange paper.

I've been thinking a lot of men's suits recently and fantasizing about being able to create really funky colorful ones (which a woman could wear and would be flattering on). Sadly, I don't know anything about sewing or clothing-making, so I resorted to painting one.

Even though I'm a woman, I'm far more obsessed with men's fashion and always wish I could wear most of the men's clothing I see. I don't just because I enjoy wearing well-fitted clothing and obviously none of it comes in my size. Although, I have to admit, I love the women's clothing that I saw in the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met (I went twice). In particular I loved the body suits/armors and jackets he created. Below are a couple of my favorites (pictures taken from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website). I WISH I could wear this stuff...and I wish this kinda stuff was available to regular people like me.

I realized what I love about how McQueen dressed women was that he did not sexualize them or try to make them beautiful. The women who wore his clothing looked powerful and sometimes even ugly...I couldn't help but view them as a real people (as opposed to a beautiful object, to be lusted after).

I felt very emotional looking at his clothing..and incredibly sad, thinking about how he is no longer here to make anymore.

First day in my new studio!

Spent some time in my new studio yesterday...it was really relaxing! It's nice cause I don't have my computer there so there are really no distractions...I love being able to hang up multiple pieces at once and go back and forth between working on them. And not having to worry at all about making a mess. Or cleaning up!

Vivian Girls Mixtape Design

I designed a mixtape cover and interior for a mix tape by the Vivian Girls released by a music magazine. It was really awesome to get to design for a tape...never thought I'd get to do that! My approach to this was to use only type and somehow convery summer fun (which isn't hard considering I usually use really bright colors anyway, haha).

Hopefully I'll get a copy of the tape and then I'll take some photos and post those as well.

PERSIST

I don't usually post things on my blog that isn't something I created, but I read this letter this morning and just felt like I had to share it! It is by Austin Madison, a Pixar animator (he animated Rex, the green dinosaur in the Toy Story series). It is definitely worth a read, even if you are not an artist, I think his words apply to life in general.

You by Carol Ann Duffy

A friend shared this poem with me a while ago, and I absolutely loved it. I found out about Carol Ann Duffy's poetry several years ago and became a big fan. I think the simplicity of the words she uses and what she says is so beautiful and perfect.

I've been fixated on writing recently and incorporating that into my artwork, both my own words and the words of others. There is something really therapeutic about it.

Arm Wrestling

Listening to Ellie Goulding's cover of Your Song and this image came to mind. Did this real quick but I like it.

Nylon GUYS

Here's a portrait I did of Michael Rappaport, the director of the new documentary/film on A Tribe Called Quest. This was probably the most awesome art direction I ever had on a job....I was told just do what I do and don't even bother sending a sketch. I wish more art directors were bold enough to do that! I always believe the best work is done with the least art direction/meddling possible.

I tried to keep the colors masculine and tied them into the colors that A Tribe Called Quest often used (black/red/green). I enjoyed working in texture with my linework in this piece...it is something I will definitely do in the future again.

Hand Lettering

Doing some experimental hand-writing...and writing. Listening to music and catching bits and pieces of what I hear...change it a bit...mix it up.

Roots n' Blues n' BBQ

I'm proud to finally present the poster I completed for the 2011 Roots n' Blues n BBQ Festival, which will take place on September 10th and 11th in Columbia, MO. I not only got to design and illustrate this poster, but I was invited to actually attend the festival itself, along with a bunch of friends. I'm really looking forward to going and getting to listen to all the bands I listened to as I drew this poster (as well as eat delicious BBQ food).

There is no job I love more than doing a concert poster...especially when the people I get to work with are super nice. If you're interested, they did a little feature/write-up about me on their website...click here to read it.

new painting

goache + collage

Summer Myth

I submitted this to Jillian Tamaki's competition (theme: summer myth)...and ended up being a runner-up! Not bad.

Build me up...

Some lyrics from my favorite song, Earthquake, off of SSION's new album...available for free download here.