Going to the Chapel

About a month ago I was commissioned to create a customized save the date by a bride-to-be who was looking for something unique. The illo. was a blast to develop because I recreated the location of their wedding and then placed the bride and groom in the scene. We went through a few sketches and changes before finally settling on the cut paper image below. I've included a few process pieces to give you a better idea of how I develop a cut paper illustration.

First Sketch...this was a little too informal so we began

to work more with photos of the wedding location.

Wedding Location

Second Sketch

Third Sketch

Final sketch. After working through a few options we combined elements from each sketch to come up with this image.

Once the final sketch is approved I create patterns of my

basic shapes and develop a color palette to work from.

After all of the details and the papers are glued down I use cardboard to raise figures and objects in the foreground. The type in the image is hand lettered and the type at the top and bottom was applied digitally after scanning the finished illo.

Accepted into SILA!!!

2011 started out at full speed and I've neglected the blog for a few weeks but I'm returning with some exciting news. My illustration, Oil Island was accepted into the 49th annual Society of Illustrators West (SILA) competition! The original is currently on display at Gallery Nucleus (http://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibition/293) in LA and can also be found on the SILA website, http://www.si-la.org/49/unpublished.html.

In addition to the SILA show I am happy to announce that some of my illustrations are now being sold through Oopsy Daisy as stretched canvas wall art for kids! To view the first set of illustrations that will be available online and in stores nationwide please visit http://www.oopsydaisy.com/search.aspx?manufacturer=211.

A look back

Everywhere you look this week in the papers, on news shows, and the radio there are recaps of 2010. At the risk of being cliche I thought I would give you a quick look back at a few of my favorite projects over the past year. Here we go...

This year I create a series of covers for the Eugene Weekly's quarterly food guide. Todd Cooper, the art director at EW was great to work and I had a lot of freedom to develop some fun ideas.

The Southern Foodways Alliance commissioned me to create this unique illo. for stickers used at their 13th annual symposium in Oxford, Mississippi.

At the beginning of the year I created a set of illos. for the Science Factory Children's Museum. These sea creatures from the Pacific were reproduced as large cut out wall graphics and the rectangular piece is a 4'X10' mural.

In February of 2010 I won Strathmore's illustration competition, 'How Do You See Green'. These drawing pads displaying my winning illo. are out in stores nationwide.

Happy Holidays

After a chaotic week of work and a (temporarily) lost bag in the process of flying coast to coast I am happy to be back in North Carolina for a few weeks with my family and friends. Before I left OR I finally finished up and sent out this holiday promo. Who knew peacocks had so much holiday spirit.

Quack Quack Quack

A few weeks ago I participated in the two day 'Tools of the Trade' Show at the University of Oregon student stores. The Creative Duck at the UofO is heaven for a paper junkie, such as myself! They keep an amazing stock of hundreds of handmade and beautifully crafted papers, so I was beyond excited to have the chance to be a part of this annual event. At the show I had the opportunity to hang out with the Strathmore reps while demoing my cut paper technique, showing off my Strathmore drawing pad, and meeting a ton of local artists and students! It was a great event that I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this year.

I have to throw in a little GO DUCKS! after Saturday's game. Don't worry Tar Heels...I still bleed Carolina blue!

Louise and Claire Run With the Bulls

Good morning friends. I told you I would be back soon! I wanted to take a few steps back today and share a project that represents another first for me. Over the past year I have been working in my spare time on a dummy for a picture book (unpublished) that I wrote and illustrated. The story involves two young explorers, a moped, and the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. All things that logically go together, right?

Some of these books spreads are completed in cut paper, some are still black and white line drawings, and the storyboard will give you an idea of the overall story. Hopefully one day you can read the whole book in print!

A Day of Firsts

December 2, 2010 has been a day of firsts for me. I met a potential client for the first time this morning. I finally opened my Etsy store! And this, my friends is my first blog post. I don't really know why it has taken me this long to hop on the blogging bandwagon, but I hope that now that I'm here I can give you a glimpse into my world of exacto knives, rubber cement balls and of course paper!

So wander around my Store and check back in soon for a look at some works in progress.