Chicago-again...Shedd Aquarium Visit

I took another trip to Chicago this past weekend, and I really enjoyed visiting the Shedd Aquarium.  I hadn't been there since I was in grade school with my girl scout troop.  I sketched a good deal, and some of the creatures were easier to capture than others, so there are quite a few from the tanks that are not represented in my pages.  Sometimes after I draw for a bit, I just like to look and take it in.  So, besides these critters, I also saw (and loved) jellyfish, otters, a sea lion, dolphins, beluga whales, and a rehabilitated sea turtle to name a few.  Besides the jellies and the turtle, these guys were in a section based on the climate and environment of the Pacific NW.  Just another reminder of how wonderful Seattle is...I used to see sea lions on a regular basis, just chilling in the Puget Sound.  Kinda wish the guy in the Shedd was also that free...I'm not sure if he had a specific need that made him appropriate for captivity.  I'm always torn when I visit zoos and aquariums because I love to see and draw the animals, but a big part of me is sad for them.

Kensington Farm Center

I love Kensington Metro Park!  I walk there a few times a week on their nature trails.  I decided to visit a different part of the park yesterday.  I hadn't been to the Farm Center since maybe High School, so I packed up my sketchbook and my Ipod and walked around, trying to avoid the screaming children that scared away my drawing subjects ;)

Here are two of my faves from the visit.

Chicago

Recently I took a trip to Chicago.  I had a job interview for a textile artist position, and I'm pretty positive I didn't get the job because I never heard back from the interviewer after my follow up email.  However, the trip was not a complete loss because I stayed for almost a week in my cousin's apartment in the South Loop and did plenty of exploring around the city.

I had been to Chicago countless times before; my hometown is only about 5 hours away.  I have also been to the Art Institute of Chicago countless times, but I always see something new when I visit.  This time, they were featuring a show called Windows on the War, a collection of Soviet war posters by Soviet Union’s news agency, TASS.  Since I recently finished an MFA program in illustration, the posters were right up my alley.  Mainly satirical, they featured anthropomorphic images of Hitler as several different animals, ie. a rat, dog.  They were meant to bolster support for the WWII Soviet war effort and many featured symbols of the Allies working together against Hitler.  The metaphors used were biting and clever, and the culled collection of posters showed how art was successfully used as a weapon.  The work was such influential propaganda that FDR called for similar work to be advertised in the US.

Here is one picture I took with my phone:

I loved the graphic quality, the simple color use, and the way the artist took liberties with the portraits, but they are still recognizable likenesses of Mussolini and Hitler.

See more of the posters at this link: /http://tass-posters.tumblr.com/

Also while I was there, I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art.  The collection was small, though there were some nice Albers' Homages hanging.  I walked around, trying to drop off my postcards to art directors, and I stopped into a cool Jazz record store and a used bookstore.  I also sketched.  Here is a sketch of Millenium Park.

Canning Jams, Sauces, and Salsas

Recently, I was "up north"-as it is commonly referred to by Michiganders-at my cottage in Wolverine, MI.  I enjoyed the end of summer by biking along Lake Michigan, visiting Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula, then seeing Lake Superior, and doing lots of canning with my mom and family friends.  We made marinara sauce, different kinds of salsas, pickles, dilly beans, and peach and blackberry jam (from blackberries on our property).  I decided to sketch a still life of our accomplishments.

Arts Du Jour/Arts, Beats, & Eats

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Last Thursday, I attended "Arts Du Jour" in Royal Oak.  It was a preview of this weekend's Arts, Beats & Eats festival, but the ticket proceeds went towards a charity of your choice.  Basically, Arts Du Jour consisted of two large tents filled with tapas from local restaurants, with bands and circus jugglers in the background.  This sketch was of one of the main bands.

Tonight I will attend Arts, Beats, & Eats, also in Royal Oak, with some friends.  Similarly to its preview, there will be lots of food, drink, and music, but there will also be artist booths.

Tomorrow is Michigan's first football game of the season against Western Michigan.  I am so excited to be inside the big house and see our new scoreboards and our new coach at work!   GO BLUE!  It's gonna be a great weekend :)

Illo Donation for Buster Bash Fundraiser

This is an illustration I just finished for the Buster Bash, an event in SE Michigan to benefit the Buster Foundation, a pit bull rescue and education center.  I am normally a cat lady, but my cousin is the parent of an adoptee from the foundation, and he is a sweetie.  For more info on the event or the foundation, visit: www.busterdogs.com

Summer festivals

Last weekend, I attended two arts/music festivals near my hometown on Friday and Saturday.  This was sketched in the Beer Tent of Milford Memories, an annual summer festival in Milford, MI.  The second festival I attended was in my hometown of Brighton, MI.  It was much smaller and the live music had not started while I was there, so I didn't sketch any there but I saw a lot of familiar faces walking around.  It rained on and off all weekend, but I still had a great time with my friends.

Band sketches from OBX

I drew these in June during my trip to the Outer Banks, but I'm only now posting them.  They were drawn at bars on Ocracoke Island.  I love getting a little buzz on while drawing in a new place-especially by myself.  No one really distracts you except for the occasional question from the waiter/bartender.

Another sketch of Jose :)

Jose fell asleep while we were watching Rango...what a great movie that referenced one of my favorites-author/doctor/Sheriff/crazy-man, Hunter S Thompson, on his drug-addled way from Barstow to Vegas.

Graduation Card

The past few days I have been making customized cards.  It's fun and easy, and I hope to have an excuse to make more.  This image was on one for a family friend of mine who just graduated from high school and is attending Ringling College of Art and Design in the Fall, which is a great art school.  Thus, I added a paintbrush and pencil to her grad cap tassels. 

Wedding Card

I just spent an amazing week in the Outer Banks, NC for my dear friend Katie Dauka's wedding.  She and her husband Eric and I and about 20 other people shared an incredible mansion on the beach called the Hemingway. 
Tonight, I am going to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI for my other great friend and former Michigan roommate, Kristin Buckless' wedding.

I whipped this card up pretty quickly in two different colors for the weddings.  Both couples love to run together, so I thought it would be relevant for them.

Post SCAD fashion show/Rapture night at Hangfire

I went out last night to try to shmooze with some fashionistas that were in town for the annual SCAD fashion show.  I sat near the editor from Elle magazine at Circa.  Then we went to Hangfire and I drew this quick sketch.  Not only were lots of kids out after the fashion show, but many were celebrating the fact that the end of the world did not happen :)  Not that I was worried that it would.

Jose this Sunday

My boy chilling on the windowsill today

Ginsy on a bookshelf

I did this sketch a while ago, but I've been thinking a lot about Seattle and my dear friend, Brittany.  This is her cat, Ginsberg.

Illustration in Motion panel tonight

Tonight at SCAD: featured illustrator/animators Richard Borge, David Cowles, and Ed Binkley, as well as SCAD's new Motion Media chair John Colette (seated from left) gave a talk about the role of illustration in animation

Couple on Bench, Monterey Square Savannah

I'm on Illustration Mundo!

www.illustrationmundo.com

Fashion Model Sketch

Great Weekend

I had a really fun weekend, and I just came across this lino cut print I made last year.  I thought it would be nice to share because it represents the great nights I've had with my fellow SCAD graduate friends, and shows that I am usually sketching them when we're hanging out together.  Pictured here are Mike and Dan playing some Wii video game.

Tom watching TV

Critz Tybee Island Marathon T-Shirt Contest

http://www.critztybeerun.com/
I didn't win, :( but my pelican design is up on the website if you click this link.  Too bad they didn't give runner-up prize money.

Atlanta Magazine..."Why Kids Need Recess"

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/PhotoPages/Photos.aspx?AlbumID=109806

This link features a collection of editorial illustrations created by my classmates and I for the article, "Why Kids Need Recess" for Atlanta Magazine.  Mine is shown above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/designethos/49282371