Groovy French Stockings company: Les Queues de Sardines

Pieces de Boucherie

Bonny

wow.
Both the stockings and the photography + styling on the Les Queues de Sardines website is a real knock out. So fun, graphic and original - and so french!

New technique with watercolor

New sample introducing watercolour and a more limited palette

Sketches for a map of Toronto

More sketches

I am working on changing my style abit by combining loose watercolour washes with my marker drawings.
The contrast of the two mediums keeps it fresh looking.
This technique is very influenced by Miroslav Sasek and the recently mentioned Mr. Steinberg!

I'm also moving toward a more limited colour palette to give my work a cohesive and more retro look. A limited palette also works better for surface design applications - like wallpaper!

Inspiration: Saul Steinberg wallpaper!

Steinberg's Aviary print

Here it is used in the Soho Grand bathroom in New York!
Looks so great!

Colour version of Aviary

View of Paris

I'm beginning to work on some pattern samples and while researching found these totally inspiring wallpapers by Saul Steinberg. Five designs were originally printed in the 1940's and 1950s and have recently been reissued by Schumacher.
I love how squiggly, loose and dense they are. What a wonderful riot for a wall.
Here's a link to Saul Steinberg's page on Artsy.

Illustrations: A burst of Spring

Final colour version
The colours were inspired by the Fauves

Butterfly sketch

Quotes Take 3

I took this from Jonathan Adler's Manifesto which appears on his website. I also love his quotes
"We believe in the innate chicness of red and brown" and "We believe Minimalism is a bummer". His sense of humour is very welcome in a field that often takes itself too seriously. (I'm talking to you Interior Design)

Field trip: Anthropologie

Wall treatment on 2nd floor

Wall by Vanessa Bell of the Bloomsbury group

Astrid chair Yum.

Took a field trip to the new Anthropologie store here in Toronto to get inspired for a new project I'm working on. (I look at the displays - not the clothes!) I particularly liked some of their wall treatments which looked very Bloomsbury inspired to me. The one included reminded me a lot of one of the walls that Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant painted in their famous Charleston farmhouse.
(fyi if you like these I recommend the book Charleston: A Bloomsbury House and Gardens written by Quentin Bell..
A great read.
I was also taken by the shop's Astrid chair with it's high back and super happy giant scarlet dahlias! As I mentioned before... how could someone feel sad sitting in this chair?

Sketches

Sketches from my favorite magazine Elle Decor UK.

Olive Green slipper chair

This is an illustration for an identity I'm working on for an interior designer.

Stitch and Bitch at the Workroom

Karyn being helpful as usual. :-)

My "Flea Market Fancy" fabric by the very inspiring Denyse Schmidt.

The final result.
Tonight was Stitch and Bitch at the Workroom and I finished the pillow which I started in the sewing essentials class. For anyone wanting to sew out there - I heartily recommend this intro class. Karyn is an excellent and most patient teacher!

Inky Tuesday: Screening my teapot print

Visiting the lovely and talented Yasmine Louis who sometimes helps me make my screens.

Screens of some of Yasmine's new designs.

Putting ink on my screen

And lift - Ta da!

This is the inverse version - White teapot.

Production!

Interiors note: Note the kilmn underneath the prints. One of my favorite things.

Today I completed the 2 prints which I'll be donating to the Steven Lewis Foundation.
I screened smaller versions of my white and red japanese teapots.

Quotes for Creative People: Take Two

Love this quote.
Helpful for those of us who wrestle with perfectionist tendencies.

Dare you not to cry: Google's Parisian Love

This is Google's Parisian Love commercial which played on the Super bowl last night. Very simple and effective although as one Youtube user commented it is begging to parodied.
Made me cry all 4 times I watched it. (Douglas Coupland always said good commercials are like emotional crack!)
Does anyone know the name of the director?

Jessica Hische's Invoice for Day Ruining

Graphic Designer Jessica Hische has designed an invoice for clients that ruin her day
Fantastic.
Wish I thought of it. :-)

Uppercase Magazine Issue 4!

Uppercase cover

My article on Martin

Off to Martin's studio

Holding up one of his favorite books

Working on some textures

Showing me his portfolio

Just some of Martin's books

Holding up one of his favorite Penguin covers
(A title he was asked to redesign)

The latest issue of Uppercase Magazine is hot off the press! It contains my interview with Illustrator Martin Haake who I interviewed last summer in Berlin. Below are a few pics from my wonderful visit with him in his studio.
This 4th issue is packed with lots of great articles including one on quirky paper collections. Really gorgeous stuff. FYI In Toronto you can find the magazine at Good Egg, The Workroom and TYPE books. (Three of my favorite places!)

Hollace Cluny Window

The black and red versions of my Brooks Brothers suit print are currently on display in the Hollace Cluny window. I love how they are paired with two beautiful Knoll MR chairs for a very MO-DERN MAN look.
To see: 1070 Yonge St. Toronto.

Quotes for Creative People: Take one

I am beginning work on my Quotes series.
After watching Michael Bierut's Creative morning lecture (i know... I talk about him alot) I was inspired to create Quote 1.
I've shown it in it's original form from my sketch book and then reversed out in black.
Please leave a comment and let me know which you prefer.

Heartbeats for Africa

I'm working on a print to donate to the Heartbeats for Africa art auction/benefit which is taking place on February 13th. All proceeds will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

This is the February page of the calendar which I illustrated for Workopolis.