Ten Paces & Draw

Here's to blogging again--I'm gonna do it, really! My big life update from my summer absence is that I am now a totally employed graphic artist, designing in Kohl's kid's department. In just a few months my first pieces will be rolling out in stores... more on that come summer.

This week, however, was Teen Movies week on the kick ass blog Ten Paces and Draw. If you're not familiar with the site, it's a blog where illustrators sketch on a specific theme each week, swap sketches, and then finalize another artist's sketch. Quite brilliant.

I had a big 'ol list of teen movies I wanted to pay tribute to (or rather, I wanted some other illustrator to pay tribute to) but I ended up sketching the Maitlands from Beetleguise, because they're just sexy like that.

 And here's the final piece, finished by the awesome-sauce illustrator Victor Melendez. I am in love with the final.  In love!

Hus & Hem

I am in absolute love with these geo patterns at Hus & Hem.  How can something so simple be so spectacular?  I especially love that last green one, it reminds me of some sort of modern Zelda fabric. 

(Also, I just updated the look of my blog- what do you think?)

Sven and Sylvia Sketches

Here are a couple more sketches from my senior thesis. First up is Sylvia the snake (who also happens to sport a lovely beard). Drawing just her tattoos alone took me well over an hour, and there are some special things hidden in there if you look close enough. Below Syl is Sven the flamingo sword swallower, complete with a cocktail sword and shrimp.

I also helped with the Friday Favorites over on my friend Marisa's super-duper blog Good Good, so go and take a look!

I'm A Weiner!

I just got my package from Amy from A is for Ampersand including the cutest wonky kitty (who I have named Vivi) and a matching little journal. I was lucky enough to win a giveaway from her last week and it was a great surprise to see the package waiting for me when I came home tonight. Yay!

Jared Schorr

Valentine's Day might be gone, but it's still February! I just ran into these great cut paper valentines by Jared Schorr that feature some amazing puns that really remind me of the stuff they'd stick on vintage valentines. I'm already inspired for next year!

More great stuff here.

We Say Meow

I just ran across this phenomenal blog where two crafty ladies, Mary Kilvert and Anke Weckmann, feature artists who have kitties in their art (and the kitty helpers that help them make their art). I don't know how I didn't come across it earlier... especially since both their etsy shops are in my favorites! Here's some of the stuff you can find there:

The great shapes illustrator Matte Stephens creates,

this spectacular kitty pattern by Jessica Swift,

and these upcycled crayons made by KittyBabyLove, whose cute faces my cousin Tamie actually just introduced me to last week. :)