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