Happy Holidays, Deer!

Happy Holidays!

 

Here is a cute new postcard design just in time for the holidays…A Kawaii little dear deer!

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Custom Wedding Chalkboards: Process

I am so excited to share these new custom pieces for a wedding with you!

I was recently asked to make chalkboards for a wedding. Each chalkboard was hand-drawn by Yours Truly. I am quite pleased with how these have turned out! These were a joy to make and are something that I look forward to making for other happy couples in the future.

 

Some people have asked “How did you do it?” Well, loads of practice, a T-Square, Chalk, and chalk markers. Here are some progress shots showing the beginning sketches and the final pieces.

Bar menu work in progress

In-progress shot of the Julia Child piece. Here you can see my super-cool crafting gloves that help keep my hands warm and keeps them from leaving marks on the chalkboard. And my favorite markers. :-)

 

Julia Child Quote: work in progress

 

The chalk works, well, a lot like the layers function in photoshop…unfortunately there’s not “undo” button here. A steady hand and reliable preliminary sketches are quite important.

Nearly done…but still a ways to go! :-)

Here you can see the sketches made in chalk on the left and the final drawing on the right. Throughout the lettering process, I made some slight changes to the size and shapes of the letters. Before I got to this phase, I did several measured layouts on graph paper. Once I got the design just the way I wanted it, I drew it on the actual chalkboard.

Julia Child Quote: work in progress

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year with a fun new postcard design! This is part of a new set of postcards I recently made available in my Etsy Shop! Cards are glossy on the front and matte on the back for easy writing. Just add postage and drop in the mail…they also make fun artwork for your home or office…and fit perfectly in a 4x6inch frame. 

Today Will be a Good Day: Illustration

Hello Friday!

 

Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend? I hope to go to the park and sketch in the sunshine for a while. I started out the day with a delicious iced coffee (with whipped cream and sprinkles, of course) AND an illustration.

Today will be a good day, indeed.

 

This typographic  illustration was hand lettered with pen and ink. I used Copic Markers, Prismacolors, gold Sharpie, and chalk markers.

Chalkbard A-Frame Artwork: BUTCHER SHOP

I was recently asked to make a Chalkboard A-Frame for our Kosher for Passover meat products. The butcher shop has undergone a big re-branding lately, and we wanted to bring attention to these special holiday products.

I was inspired by old-fashioned butcher shop signage.

The A-Frames we use measure 2 x 3 feet. They are sturdy, durable, and reusable. I generally use mostly white chalk and white chalk pens to do the lettering and, depending on the board, add additional colors to highlight aspects of the design.

I had fun making this sign! This back side is simple foam core!

For this sign, I made a back that was inspired by the price flags and old-timey window signs from neighborhood markets. This highlights the prices (literally) making it easy for customers to compare the price-per-pound for the different cuts of meats.

Inspirational Quote: You’re a Lion

I have recently started re-watching the show 30 Rock. I think it is a well-written show with some very funny moments. When my playlist just won’t do, I put it on while I am working on projects.

I made this “inspirational” illustration while watching an episode last night where Jack is psyching himself up for a big presentation. This was one of the things that he said to himself in the mirror: “You’re a lion, take what’s yours.” I thought it was sound advice.

 

This drawing was made using pen and ink, Prismacolor grey markers ranging from 20 %to 80%

“You’re a lion, take what’s yours” Jack Donaghy

My Funny Valentine

I’m always looking for fun, unique greeting card ideas. I came up with this one a while ago, but thought this was as good a time as any to share it with you! It is inspired by the TV show Arrested Development.

This design was styled to look like embroideries of days gone by.

 

This is a fun, silly card to give to a VALENTINE, GAL-entine, or someone who loves Arrested Development.  It is available in my etsy shop, printed on white or craft paper.

The Fearless Flyer

This illustration was made this week to be used in some printed signage and decorations for our Fearless Flyer. I sketched this fine flying fellow using pencil and my trusty Papermate Flair. (My favorite affordable felt-tip pen for inking detailed black and white drawings.)

I love his iconic Steampunk vibe.

He will  be colored and printed in black and white.

Typography Illustration: Do Your Best

Hand-Lettering is a BIIIG part of my life. It seems like every day I have a new lettering project that I am working on. Some projects are client-driven, while others are ones that I take on myself. This illustration was an exercise in not only doing the work, but documenting it and photographing the steps.

I chose the phrase “do your best” for this illustration because I want to encourage others to strive to do the best they can do with their art.

I wanted to show my followers on Instagram the steps I take in completing the inking of a typographic piece. I always start with a pencil sketch. I generally use mechanical pencils for their precise line and easy erasing.

Once the lines are finalized, I go over them with ink. I use a variety of pen sizes and types.

Start to finish: counter-clockwise from top left.

I wait a short while for the ink to dry and then use a soft, white eraser to erase the pencil lines. This is sometimes the hardest part! Be careful to let the ink dry, though, as it can smear and ruin your drawing!

I added stippling after adding the bold ink outline.

After the ink has dried, you can add other embellishments like hatching, cross hatching, or stippling to add contrast. I think I will color this piece, but I will leave that for another time!

 

RIP Starman

 

“The stars look very different today…”

 

If you know anything about me (or have ever taken a road trip with me) you’ll know that I LOVE  David Bowie. He has been a favorite of mine ever since I saw the film Labyrinth as a young girl.

 

I remember one of the first items I ever borrowed from the library by myself was an audio cassette of Let’s Dance. I listened to that tape for hours. I had been raised on a wholesome mix of Motown and The Beatles. This Bowie fellow really rocked my world. The next day,  I rode my bike to the library and checked out all the other Bowie albums they had available. From then on, I’ve been a huge fan.

I was so excited for with the news of Black Star this weekend.

 

Tattoo-inspired illustrations in memory of David Bowie.

 

Today, I am heartbroken over the news of David Bowie’s passing. My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and his fans. A small tribute to one of my heroes.