Mary Emma Hawthorne

Here is some serious collage love, by Mary Emma Hawthorne. I enjoy collages, not only because of their intricate quirks, but also because they inspire me, they give me great ideas for graphic elements and pattern - see - stitches, stripes in cirlces, paint splotches, ovals, italic caps... Via Love Made Visible.

Olofsdotter

I love the illustrations of Linn Olofsdotter (Sweden). I am completely drawn in by the delicate line and pretty shading and odd subject matter. Lovely.

When I see sites like this I'm always aching to pull out my own watercolours, ink, brushes and pencils. A career in illustration has always appealed to me ~ I long to get off this keyboard, out of this desk, this office. I wonder if it's in me. It feels good to be wondering out loud. I think it's time to hit the moleskine again.

Exciting news: she's also on Etsy!

Revolt

I do not mesh well with history and politics, and cannot dive into a discussion about France 1968. I do, however, know impact and revolution when I see it. And it inspires me, even if not in the same way it was originally intended. The above posters are bold, fearless, raw, simple, created with true confidence. None of this subtle designy foo foo.

See more posters from the student revolt in Paris 1968 here.

By the way, loose translations of the above: be young and shut up/be quiet/be concealed (left) and he's the shit (right). Funny how these sayings have carried on and changed and become part of everyday language.

Fever Fever Rug

Definite object of desire. I cannot resist this adorable illustration. in rug format! mmm. From HZL at 2 Modern.

By the way, I do not have the funds for such fabulousness, so I'm gonna draw this on my chalkboard!

Idea for Hanging Small Prints

I've been having a long-term love affair with small pieces of art. Gems from Tiny Showcase, Etsy, Art Magazines, Student Art Shows, Postcards, ATCs.... they're everywhere and they're often affordable. So I have this collection. Now what? I want to display some, I want to avoid frames, I want to enhance the textures and rough edges, I see a creative opportunity. So:



Materials: 12x12" sheets of wood, needles, hammer, hooks for back, some small pieces of art. To do: 1. Attach hooks to back of wood. 2. lay small piece of art in center of piece of wood. 3. Using hammer, lightly tap the needles into each corner of artwork and into the wood, just enough to hold it in place. 4. Once all four corners are nailed, lift artwork away from wood so it rests against the head of the needle. Art should rest about an inch away from wood. Voila! Hang on wall and admire your handiwork.

The above artworks are two of my personal favourites. On the left is the amazing Camilla Engman. On the right is a print I found in a little boutique in Paris. Ah memories. Makes my heart skip a little.

YFWD

You fuck. We don't. Well, that's one way of saying it! These guys are subversive, cheeky and totally talented. The collective is made up of Last-R, Drey and Nolenz, three young Art Directors in Paris. This is their avenue for personal projects, research and experimentation.

LKSIR

"Listen to your walls!"

LKSIR (France) has a new project out there in the world. I love how the story develops and changes as you wander through the space. Explore his blog... it is full of gems, like the Eyeliner set. It's amazing; all about life and emotion and the best kind of craaaazy.

If You Could Do Anything

If you could do anything tomorrow, what would it be? I love this theme. I love this publication, which has just released its second issue. I wish I could get my hands on it. It showcases illustrators and designers, new and established, and parallels an exhibit which shows the originals. It includes some of my long-time favourites, like Mario Hugo of Loveworn and new favourites like Marion Deuchars.

And it all begs the question, if you could do anything tomorrow, what would it be? Hmmm....

Espira

Biography: "Espira is a London based visual artist who triumphantly mixes fashion, costume and uniform with the mundane and commonplace of modern life, resulting in a supermarket assault on the senses. Born in the UK, he was raised as a strict Mormon, developing strong visual interpretations of symbolism and iconography. This acclaimed Underground artist creates his work with a computer, using his own photographs of objects and models as reference."

Contemporary, relative, honest, violent, thought provoking, drool-worthy colour combinations... amazing.

Marci Washington

I found out about Marci Washington through her contribution to Tiny Showcase a few weeks ago. I checked out her site and found the above image particularly irresistible. Twould be perfect to fill one of my blank walls. Her inspiration: Currently I am interested in building a fictional narrative with connections to history as well as to the present. It's like I'm illustrating a novel that doesn't exist. If it did, it would probably be a lot like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, or Bleak House- novels which function as social commentary as well as beautiful romantic epics. I love. Love.

You can also find her art on sale at The Beholder, a great site that connects artists with a larger audience, outside of the gallery system.

A Small Drawing

This is an image I clipped out of an art magazine several years ago. (Excuse the strangely splotchy scan.) Everything about this image is unknown, but I love it. It is a 4x6 shot of colour on my wall. I simply mounted it on card stock, and glued a paper clip on the back to hang from a small nail.

It says: there goes my shirt. oops. It's cheeky and it makes me smile.

Wakerly and Barns

Was attempting to find content for a lovely little Easter post (unsuccessfully, I might add). Rose and Radish has a nice Easter section but what really caught my eye was their pic of Erica Wakerly's House Wallpaper. See more of her fabulous patterns here. I'm already trying to imagine where it could go: a feature wall, a side table, a subtle spot like a closet, hanging in a frame as art, wrapped around storage boxes...

Note how some of the houses look like M's!

And... WOW. I want to convert a barn. Found this essential guide on the website of UK's Homes and Gardens Magazine. and some barns here.

Loveworn

Loveworn, I love. It is the work of Mario Hugo, who creates some especially inspiring displays of typography and hand-drawn lettering. Amazing detail.

He also has a great About section:

... I like to think of my work situationally - I don't want to be hampered by media or any particular style. My projects exist as their own entities, and I might work towards a variety of aesthetic, verbal, and conceptual ends.

I am available for freelance, commissions, and collaborations during the daytime, but my nighttime is reserved for artworks, children's books, and dreaming....

Alt Pick Deck

Alt Pick is a great resource of and for commercial artists, from photographers and illustrators to stylists and animators. They have just produced The Alternative Pick Deck of Cards, a fun promo full of talent and inspiration. It includes the work of Alicia Buelow, Jared Eastman, Elliott Golden and Alicia Vergel de Dios. I already placed an order. I just love projects that emphasize the idea of community and working together.

Some other online graphic design communities: Nice to Meet You is my current obsession for its killer design blog, Computer Love is also supplemented by a great blog, Designer ID takes a more professional approach, Die Gestalten is brimming with bookmarkables, Design is Kinky is of course a design star, Lounge 72 is an ezine with a nice pdf calendar that often makes it to my wall, All Maple is Canadian, and Coroflot is another which I often consult. These sites are great because not only do they introduce great artists, they are also perfect for networking, finding jobs, meeting other designers... promotion and inspiration, hand in hand!

Wow, that's a lot of links in just one post... but I couldn't leave any out; I use and like them all!

Never Effect

Love love love the illustrations and design work of Christopher Remy, also known as Never Effect, out of Brussels. He also has a profile up at Computer Love, with some seriously amazing sets like this one. His use of line, colour, contrast and splotches is sublime. Funny, just when I thought I was getting a little tired of this type of imagery.

By the way, the above poster is promoting an exhibit. More on myspace. Wish I was there. Sigh.

Julie Morstad

The amazing Julie Morstad is showing at the Atelier Gallery in Vancouver, opening Feb 24. The exhibit "Milk Teeth" includes thirty ink/watercolour drawings, plus new etchings and aquatints. A Must See.

Julie Morstad has been featured many times for her wallpaper as well as a sweet children's book titled "When You Were Small"

By the way... to enhance links, I've added SNAP. Just rollover any link to see an up-to-date preview of the site. I like to use it for my sidebar of 20 blogs; it's so easy to see if they have been updated. But... Obnoxious? Helpful?

Marian Bantjes

I have been fascinated by Marian Bantjes ever since seeing her work on the cover of Print Magazine. I was thrilled to find out she lives near Vancouver, and even more thrilled to see that she sends valentines! How could February pass without mentioning Valentines day?

Bantjes has an amazing portfolio. She has worked with Sagmeister and Fox River Paper. Most recently, her complex swirls have landed on a vellum poster for Design Matters Live. So Beautiful. I always look forward to seeing what she does next.

Pomme Pomme

I was flipping through some old notes, full of random names and websites, where I came across a link to Pomme Chan's website. Born in Thailand, currently working in London, her illustrations are intricate and careful, with that beautiful, sketchy, almost unfinished feel. I see she has a felt-tip series coming soon. I look forward to seeing it!

Ray Fenwick

I've been hearing a lot of Ray Fenwick lately, fellow Canadian, master of handwritten serifs. The kind that may actually elicit drool.

I was recently reminded of Ray while flipping through the current issue of Print magazine. But, he has long been building an online presence. You can find his wallpaper at You Work for Them, tees at Threadless, and some very inspiring works of graphic design and illustration at Co & Co.

And, drumroll please, he can be constantly admired by way of his flickr account, where there also sits (incredible, lush, throned) pages from the Hall of Best Knowledge. Just take a look. You will be amazed.