Béatrice Coron's Papercuts.

When I'm on the subway I am usually reading. Or watching people. Or listening to 20 year-olds who think they are the next Chris Brown belt out song lyrics with their headphones on for the ENTIRETY of my trip to work this morning. Just an example. Anyhow, another thing that I do is look at the art and the ads. Arts for Transit is a division through the Metropolitan Transit Authority that promotes local visual and performing artists in the subway and rail system.

One of my favorite series are the horizontal posters that they have in the subway cars. About once a year, I notice a new one and after checking out their website, I see they have a new one every year featuring a different artist. The one I saw most recently was a papercut print of Béatrice Coron which was pretty spectacular (first image shown above). This of course led me to some Googling and checking out the rest of her papercut work. All so intricate and with great contrast, here are a few samples above from this French-born artist who has been living in NYC for over 25 years.

Tobie Giddio: Illustrator

Ahhh, if I could be a gal in this amazing illustrator's, Tobie Giddio, paintings I would be so purposefully decorated. Alerted to her incredible portfolio from our art buyer at work I immediately fell in love with these paintings – the colors, the energy, the silo-ed background. It's all fabulous and something I would love to have on my walls. Checking out her biography, I see she has a beyond well-respected client list (Bergdorf's, Apple, Tiffany's, Neiman Marcus, Amy Sedaris' hysterical and helpful book "I Like You, Hospitality Under the Influence") and actually sort of looks like the ladies she is painting. As they say, there is a piece of yourself in all of your art.

I wonder if she sells prints...

And I think she has inspired me to do double-time on my Mac-based work tonight so I can break out the paintbrushes tomorrow night.

Olivia!

Oh how I wish this cute lil' pig was around when I was a kid. Who am I kidding?! I love reading the Olivia books now, at the almost ripe age of 30. With the cleanliness of a graphic designer who loves their white space, the eye of a skilled illustrator and humor of a fantastic writer, Ian Falconer, took the love and inspiration he found in his newborn niece (named what else, but Olivia!) and started a whole series of books for kids. They are funny, smart, and clean. Just how I like my kids' books.

I had so much fun picking out one of them for Matt's youngest niece this year for Christmas. Hopefully she won't groan when she opens up one of her gifts and sees a book. I vaguely remember not always loving getting books as gifts when I was a kid. Now? Seriously, just take me to Barnes & Noble for a field trip and I am happy as a clam. And hopefully she remembers one of our gifts to her and her sister last year was Olivia Helps with Christmas. Luckily she doesn't read my blog (or even READ yet...she's only 3) so I know she won't have the surprise of one of her gifts spoiled. She loves all things having to do with making music so I thought Falconer's latest Olivia Forms a Band would be perfect for her! I of course had to flip through it a few times before wrapping it last night. Perhaps next year (or next birthday) will bring her the Olivia Counts book (last image above).

As someone who has been wanting to write, illustrate and actually publish their own children's book since the age of 8, when I wrote about and drew some frogs, Falconer is an inspiration!

Partners & Spade.

Is it me or are sketches sometimes more fun to look at than the final artwork or actual photos? There is something raw and wonderful about hand-drawing. In fact, my sketchbook from senior year in college was one of the pieces that I used to bring out to my first interviews post-graduation. It was one of the last things I showed and used to get great feedback from my interviewees. So many people in this day and age (even people who graduated when I did from design school though not Syracuse) just jump straight to the computer when they get a new assignment. To this day, as it has been since the day I started graphic designing, I MUST start all projects with paper and pen in hand. It's an integral step for me. Throw me right on the computer and I am borderline lost. Because of this love of sketching, I love to look at OTHER people's sketches. Most artist showcases in museums have a small section of their sketches. I think you can tell so much about the artist through them. It's their first ideas! It's the less perfect but sometimes better thoughts coming through. I know in the case of design, its usually the best ideas. It's before marketing has had their hands in it, sales has thrown in their two cents and also printing logistics.

In honor of sketches, here is a fantastic grouping of them from Partners & Spade's website. In order to share with possible customers their store's collection, they have sketched out all of the pieces in black and white under "store inventory". Online it's actually a horizontal scroll through (I have cut it into segments so you can see it all). Definitely click on each image above to get a larger view!

Dallas Shaw: Illustrator.

Being part of the Pingg Designer Series is something that I love, though something I need to work on adding more work to. It is a unique way to get my designs and illustrations out to the masses in hopes of one day getting some commissioned illustrated pieces. Just another item to add to my ever-growing personal "creative to do". You all will be happy to know that I have now used my shiny new liquid watercolors and set to work about once a week (for the past two weeks) playing with some painting. Yeah! Hopefully will have some art to share in the next couple of weeks. I am LITERALLY just playing and getting used to using brushes and paints again (its been over a year).

Long story short, I was on the Pingg website and was looking through the other designers/illustrators galleries and came upon Dallas Shaw. Her watercolor work is great! Check it all out here (and some samples above).

Kwiat and Holly Houk.

LOVE these ads for jewelry company Kwiat made possible by talented artist and illustrator, Holly Houk. I love the clever juxtaposition of art and jewelry. Some of my favorites above, but they can all be seen from the Kwiat site.

Chocolate: A Love Story.

I wish I could share more illustrations/graphics with you from this book, Chocolate: A Love Story (65 Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner). Here is a better description from the good ole Strand Book Store. I flipped through it Barnes and Noble during lunch today and came close to walking out of the store with it in a bag (paid for, of course) along with about 8 other cookbooks I wanted. Each spread of Brenner's book had a deliciously designed illustration from Yonatan Factor (whose personal website I am totally unable to find. Google, I need your help here!). Please go on your lunch break tomorrow and check it out!

The Toledos + Lexus = Someday.

After seeing this ad in October's W magazine the other day, I decided to go online and see if I could find it in a digital version. I wanted to send it to my design/artist BFFs-in-crime, CM Illustration and A Design Affair, who are huge fans of Isabel & Ruben Toledo. Though I didn't find it online anywhere (and had to scan it), I did find out some interesting information about it. Turns out companies are now turning to the magazines they advertise in to create the ads; afterall, they know their readers the best and know how to reach them. So when Lexus wanted to advertise to Conde Nast and Hearst fashion readers, they turned to the artist and fashion designer couple and EXTREMELY talented duo, Isabel and Ruben Toledo to help them with the ad above. Enjoy!

I definitely recommend clicking on the images to see the fabulous details in the painting and use of fabrics (this appears as a double-page ad but I scanned them separately to show more of it)!


*PS. A Design Affair warned me that if I didn't post about this ad, then she would!

Jessica Hische: Initial Cap Project!

I know a lot of her work for this project has popped up all over the design blogosphere, but I couldn't help but make a little collection of my own of her new project. What a great way to type/design/illustrate/challenge yourself?! I could use a project like this myself. What oh what would it be? Something that is the opposite of what I do in my day-to-day and will keep me fresh and arty! While I think that up, I will gaze longingly at Jessica's fabulous work. See it all here.

Maira Kalman & The City of NY.

Always something I look forward to seeing on the NY Times homepage the latest from artist Maira Kalman. Some of my favorites from her illustrated story "For Goodness' Sake" are above. The story is about her visit to various city offices and departments. Definitely read and see the whole piece here.

Nora Thompson: Illustrator.

It's almost that time of year for the Society of Illustrator's Children's Book Show. Almost. In eager preparation I found a fantastically fun children's illustrator, Nora Thompson, whose work I wanted to share with you. One thing about her site that I loved is that she shows her sketches and then the final art. There is something wonderful about seeing the bare bones of a piece of art. I have posted them next to each other so you can see.

Caitlin's Illustrations: A New Site!

I couldn't help myself and have to blog about my EXTRAORDINARILY talented bff, Caitlin, and her new website (hot off the HTML press as of yesterday) that showcases her work in a most perfect light. I am proud to say that I know of almost all of Caitlin's work as we met before the first day of school when we were in all of the same freshman foundation art classes at Syracuse. Since then, I have watched her amazing watercolor paintings flourish in the apartment we all (with Kathy) shared post-college for almost 5 years. Some of my favorites are above but I highly recommend checking them ALL out.

The Smells of New York.

Okay, to some of you, that subject conjures up lots of quite disgusting scents (aka the dingy subway must) and perhaps some more quite tasty odors (boiled hot dogs). However, all areas of this great island of Manhattan have their own distinct scent on various street corners (some of which I will not talk about now for not wanting to gross anyone out). You could, in fact, write a book about the strange smells. Well, someone has done one better! Jason Logan (for the NY Times) made a fabulous illustration of our fair city with a "scent key" for each neighborhood and listed out what you are likely to smell where. Perhaps this could go into the next Lonely Planet New York next to the subway map for out-of-towners? Either way, its sure to entertain locals and tourists alike. The interactivity is a lot of fun to scroll through, so smell away!

Little Pea.

Looking in a remarkably edited children's toy store in the village last week, I immediately found myself drawn to the cover of this book, Little Pea, illustrated by Jen Corace. After flipping through it and actually reading some of it I was in love. Plus call me weak, but I just love illustrations that personify produce.