It's here!

Art with Heart has just released it's latest publication, 'Magnificent Marvelous Me' and it's chock full of engaging activities and amazing illustrations to benefit children who have a sibling with a disability or serious illness. I'm honored to be a contributor to the project. Learn more here.

Texture 101

When I'm working on an illustration, I try to include handmade and organic elements so that the illustration doesn't feel entirely created in the computer. I think it gives it a more unique, more imperfect feeling. That could mean drawing or painting and then scanning it in to use, or perhaps scanning fabrics, paper or other found objects. This example is an illustration I did that needed some texture to it so I took the left over coffee grounds and dropped them around on a piece of paper, then left it out in the sun to dry. The next step was to scan it in and adjust the contrast, then take that file into Adobe Illustrator which is my absolute favorite program for drawing. In Illustrator the texture was then colorized and layered into the background of the snail party which gives it more depth and interest.

The top image is the texture I made and the bottom image is the finished illustration.

From the archives

Last year I designed this invitation for a fundraising event to support Children's Hospital. It needed to be friendly, but elegant and print in two colors to be cost effective. I used the Eames Furniture Weave Finish in Pacific Blue which was also used to create custom mailing envelopes.

Mark your calendars!

Even though the weather here in the NW sure doesn't feel like it, I'm pretty sure Summer is right around the corner. That means flowers will be popping up in full bloom and I'll be sporting my dirt manicure. It also means that the Georgetown Art & Garden Walk is coming up! That's right, before you know it, folks will be oohing and ahhing over all of the fabulous gardens and studios in the Gtown neighborhood. I've done my second poster design for the walk and due to popular demand, the chicken has returned. This time she's roosting on a nest of flowers and straw. So mark your calendars for the walk, Sunday July 13th, 10 to 5. Free maps are available the day of the event at the Bank of America parking lot.

Sightline

I recently created some web banners for my client Sightline to use for their spring fund drive. I kept them simple, but included fun spring graphics that complimented their existing branding. If you would like to have a part in creating healthy, lasting prosperity in the Northwest, visit their website.

My lucky day

I found out that the Revival identity and business papers I designed just won silver in Neenah Paper's Paperworks First Quarter Letterhead Contest. How exciting! In addition to the recognition, I won a $300 MasterCard gift card. Hmmm, now to decide what to spend it on...