Oh, just some drawings.

With one month left in this semester I'm probably going to disappear for awhile, but before I do I wanted to post some drawings I've been doing for my Drawing on Location class. We have an end-of-the-semester assignment to choose a city block and do at least nine drawings in three different stores that may relate to each other in some way. I chose to work on 25th street between 6th and 7th avenues; there are a few really great places just on this one block alone and I'm enjoying exploring them. I originally chose this area because of The City Quilter and then also found a Goodwill, an antique shop, and some great window displays that feature mannequins in crazy poses and clothes, I'm looking at you, New York Vintage. So here's what I've done so far, nearly half-way done with the project...

I may add some more detail to these if I have some time but that's a huge maybe considering the amount of work I have ahead of me for Thesis and my Digital Book class. If you don't hear from me for awhile you can pretty much bet that I'm locked in my studio with a sore hand. Yup.

Jersey Shore vs. The Brady Bunch

Before I get into these next two pieces, I'd like to explain my process of working - or more really, the way I like my surroundings while arting it up. When I work at home I always prefer background noise from the TV as opposed to music, I get too picky and indecisive with music and am constantly changing up the tunes instead of focusing on my work. With TV, it may be distracting at first (like when initially choosing a channel) but once I get into working I almost forget that it's on at all. There's usually an awkward moment at some point in the afternoon when I look up and realize that I've been watching (listening to) women giving birth all afternoon. This happens quite frequently when I have TLC on, A Baby Story, much?

Now that you understand, I can admit that I somehow started watching Jersey Shore. This happened the same way as the aforementioned happens, but once I looked up at the TV and realized what was on.. it was too late. I was hooked at first because I was so annoyed, so angry that this is what people think of and expect from my home state. (I was on a trip to Michigan in May and stopped in at the local Starbucks and upon giving the barista my partner numbers she asked where I was from, the usual question, but when I responded "Jersey" her eyes lit up and she asked, "Oh my god! Is it JUST like the show Jersey Shore there?!" Well, I'm sick and tired of this.. because it's not. Not if you're a normal human being as opposed to an MTV celebrity.) So I watched.. and I watched.. and I was hooked in a weird way. I ended up watching the complete series online, cringing through their drunken escapades, counting the times Deena fell down, and turning away every time Sam and Ronnie felt the need to break up and get back together again. I will admit though, there were quite a few times when I laughed out loud. There, I said it.

Moving on, it was sometime during the beginning of season three when I decided I needed to illustrate these guys. It was completely appropriate for two reasons: 1. I'm wasting my time watching the damn show anyway, I might as well use it as reference and 2. I could use a few celebrity portraits in my portfolio, it's about time I get on that. So, the obvious way to go about this is to compare TV now to TV when it was wholesome, a.k.a. The Brady Bunch era. That idea combined with a six word memoir only equals one thing.. exactly what I have for you here today:

The choosing of this memoir was inspired by the fact that the Jersey Shorians often refer to themselves as a family - a rather dysfunctional one, but a family nonetheless, I suppose. Also, maybe I was a bit biased when painting Sammi, this painting was beginning to take shape at the peak of her and Ron's fighting. I do apologize. And it really did work out in the end that Angelina came and went and was replaced by Deena or I never would've been able to fill nine squares. See? Everything happens for a reason.. even Angelina's tears. Enjoy!

Starbucks Holiday 2011, Let's Merry

Today started out with an unfortunate morning, it all went down hill when I realized while arriving at the train station that I forgot my laptop - you know, the one with all my current files on it for my thesis work and such. With an eight hour day ahead of me consisting of nothing but free studio time, I was a lost puppy. Thankfully enough, I remembered that I was supposed to make some holiday drink sampling cards for my Starbucks (Sorry if you're reading this Ginny, nothing like waiting till the last minute, eh?!) And so I put together these three cards for our counter using pre-existing alphabets that I have made + a bit of new script. Gabi Peller, another fantastic barista/artist combo from Preakness Starbucks is making the rest of the cards to display while sampling - Peppermint Mocha, Skinny Peppermint Mocha, and Christmas Blend.

Along with the beverage cards, I made tiny interchangeable pastry signs that will velcro on to pair with the drinks as we see fit...

 Eggnog Latte

Caramel Brulee Latte

 Gingerbread Latte

Cranberry Bliss Bar

Gingerbread Loaf

 Mint Brownie Cake Pop

And so there you have it, a completely wasted day turned into something useful. Now make sure you stop in our store to see these signs in person and to check out my other great talent - drink making!

Scratchabet

Behold, a simple alphabet that I made yesterday afternoon to use in an upcoming project. Looking at it now, I am reminded of Edward Gorey a bit...or maybe it's the brisk weather that has me thinking about the big, glorious overcoats he frequently draws. You decide.

The First of my Thesis Pieces

As our second year in the MFAI program is moving merrily along, I am finally knee deep in thesis work. I didn't explain it in depth in my previous post but my thesis revolves around the idea of the six word memoir. If you're curious about the subject I highly recommend visiting www.smithmag.net, the editor of all the Six Word Memoir books, an awesome website where you can create an account to write, comment on, and favorite as many six word memoirs as your heart desires. They choose pieces from the website to appear in their books so you never know when you might write a winner!

I've been slightly obsessed with these minuscule stories ever since taking a memoir writing class with Betsy Boyd (a lovely and talented Baltimore based writer) at MICA and this seemed like the perfect fit for my thesis here at SVA. I'll be illustrating at least twelve memoirs that I've either chosen from Smith Magazine's database or written on my own, giving me the perfect opportunity to practice hand-lettering paired with imagery. At the end of the year (expect this in April) I will be compiling all these pieces into a book to be shown in our thesis exhibition.

In the last few weeks I've started sketching out numerous memoirs that I'd like to work with, drawing alphabets and words, and I have officially completed my first spread of pieces...

Remember the tiny parasailer? Now you know why he was needed. Anyway, these two pieces will most likely appear in the book with the lettering on the left page and the image on the right. Some spreads may combine the image and text while the rest, like this one, will be separate.

I'm currently about 95% done with my next two pieces so check back in the next few days to see what I've been busy with! It might make you laugh...

Today I drew a tiny parasailer.

The title says it all.

Branch Lettering

I've been quite busy lately beginning my thesis but I took a break this morning to get an alphabet out of my system. A large part of my thesis actually does deal with hand lettering so this isn't totally irrelevant! I'll be illustrating a series of twelve six-word memoirs that will later be combined into a book, lettering on the left hand page and the corresponding image on the right. Keep a look out for this around April of 2012! 

And onto the alphabet...

(some sample text, click for a closer look)