loud flowers...

I'm not against understated... or neutral... or monotone... or even muted and calm, but these do not cure boredom or yell at your retinas... and that's why the new patter is so loud... so bright... so SPRING!

today...

Today is dedicate at large to the administrative work I dread so so much (but it needs to be done and gone).  The silver lining, however, is that I decided to read 'Desing as Art' book by Bruno Munari (in between all the boring monotonous paper organizing). 

Very interesting so far:) I wish I had this book 10 years ago...

strength in numbers...

New square print! An excuse to draw numbers (that's right letters... you had your day in the sun... step aside and let others enjoy the spotlight) and fun characters. 

I keep waiting for the day when I get bored with bright colors. It hasn't come yet. There must be some connection between bright colors and serotonin in your (my) brain.

good to see you!

I've been on a pattern kick lately. Relaxes the mind. Some people take a bath... I make patterns. Wish I could combine those two:)

high hopes...

For me, any winter is a long winter... (although, this winter was pretty mild by Canadian standards). I start waiting for spring in the autumn and I don't stop until mid April ('cause that's how long it takes for it to get itself together and grace this frozen land with its presence). But, this year seems to be a little different. We just stepped into March - and... boom! - 3 days of sunny spring like weather! 

Editorial illustration for Today's Parent magazine on how to help your child develop internal motivation.

Found while in line at the grocery store:) Good times:)

Rrrring...

New pattern... that's what's new:) 

fried roaches and elvish bread...

Sometimes... you get to draw things you never thought you would:)

Above are the 2 spot illustrations I did for Carleton College Magazine (tripple holiday celebration and fantasy feast).

old friend...

Fell off the 'no coffee' wagon a while ago... February, you know... it's not easy to stay awake during this 'exiting' month:)

nordic garden

competing in the winter pattern olympics:)

very bossy...

A bit of  a 'hit & run' of a post today. Just dropping in to show you the newest member of my toy collection (yes, I'm refusing to give this up).... Bossy Bear! Ta Da!

12" vinyl figure by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim... that has traveled to my office all the way from GIANT ROBOT store.

Oh... and I'll have a brand new pattern to show you sometime tomorrow... so, see you then.

Rrrrrrrrr...

I'm sharpening my claws and practicing my growl... 

ATL...

Are you wondering were have I been? Well, let me tell you:

I've been attending the Art Forum at SCAD-Atlanta (the Atlanta campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design)... and having the bestest time while at it... sharing my illustration world with some fabulously talented students.

Despite the snow and the fact that Jon Foster's (the other artist speaker) flight got cancelled, everything went fantastically.

Well... I didn't get to review the portfolios on the third day (thank you Mr. Snow)... but I did get to spend some time with one of my favorite illustrators - Mike Lowery, hear  Bill Mayer talk about his experiences as an illustrator and share my working process with a gifted group.

Many thanks go to Rick Lovell (Illustration Program Coordinator), Renee Rivas and Pat Bolling for taking such fabulous care of me:)

for the love of coffee...

new pattern to share with you...

random facts...

I've been too extremely busy to do anything aside from what is due... but... time stretched a bit today, so I can play around with some photographs. I turned them into mini stories:)

bright side of February...

It is hard to love February.  It is hard to live through February (here at the north side of things)... but, it has one thing going for it - a little love fest! Hope that thought keeps you warm:)

large prints & window shades...

For a while now I have been thinking about a bigger house. Swooshing that thought from cheek to cheek... tasting the possibilities. Mmmm... a second bathroom... a larger office... a functional kitchen... the thought alone is delicious. Daydreaming... for now... and working hard towards making it happen... because it has to, and it will!

Oh... and... when I get my dream house - I would most definitely make some custom window shades for my kids rooms - via orangepiel... 'cause I can:)... and you can too (especially if you already have your dream house and all it's missing is large prints and window shades:)

Above: my artwork and artwork of fabulous Jenn Ski and Hsinping Pan that's available on orangepiel right now...

back that stitch up...

It's been a while since I had a needle in my hand. Once in a while I get the urge to doodle on fabric and then pock it with a needle for hours... leaving colorful silky marks behind. Very relaxing...