Fore!

Spring is here. At least it is this week, and I'm gonna get it while it's good. Here's a drawing I did for Dave. Little known fact: I played on my high school girls' golf team. I wasn't really good, but now I know the rules of the game.

Yes! We're on board.

Curious about the inner workings of how I create a wedding invitation? Since I never posted what I made for Ashley and Jeff, enjoy this little snapshot of the design process, and the crowning jewel, their invitations!

They were good clients. They picked out a color palette, (peacock blue and chartreuse) and wanted to embrace the theme of subways and New York City (Jeff loves mass transit, and Ashley thinks it has its merits), and they had a good concept of what they liked and didn't like. Originally inspired by the mosaics found in MTA subway stations, I developed this style board and sent to them for review.

Then I drafted up some rough sketches.

Although the mosaic theme didn't make it through the first round of edits, the subway idea stuck. I asked them to take reference photos so I had the right scale, angle, and sign fonts to work from.


From there, I developed this sketch for the invitation, and Ashley and Jeff liked it:

After a few rounds of edits I created these pieces, the invitation:

and the RSVP cards (front):

and back:

you look like a good time

Last weekend was my "coming out" as a wedding invitation designer. Me and my artwork were featured at a super sweet, non-cheesy wedding event. The party was held at a renovated old movie theater in Georgetown. Vendors included aerialistas, letterpress designers, a mobile brick oven pizzeria, a paealla-centric caterer, cupcake bakeries, Adam Smith (my favorite wedding photographer and all-around nice guy), DJs with envieable taste, mixologists... You know the usual suspects, but with way better lighting and way fewer handouts mass printed on neon-colored Kinkos paper (yeah, I'm looking at you Wedding Expo 2010).


I had a great time, and I'm not just saying that to be a good sport. The thought of standing up and shmoozing for 7 hours was frankly daunting. And I haven't featured my art like this since college. Although my assistant Dave totally helped set up, delivered emergency hot chocolate, and hung around for emotional support (or was it the free food and booze?), I didn't know if I'd be twiddling my thumbs after hour 3. I wasn't. The vendors were free to roam around, snack, drink, refresh in the "green room" (really just a storage room with hot pizza and other provisions..but it was my first green room encounter, and therefore utterly cool). There was some sweet band action, too, which made the time fly by.


My day job has helped groom my scmoozing skills. I'm sure working in customer service from '96-'03 doesn't hurt. I like talking to people and I feel good about my work, so interacting with potential clients is no biggie. We'll see what shakes out and even if nothing does, it was nice to get my feet wet.


And for anyone who hasn't planned a wedding, there is an untapped circuit of free parties out there that cater to betrothed couples. Caterers, pastry chefs, and bartenders who want to work your wedding practically throw crostini, bellinis, and macaroons in your face. Dave and I ate like royalty when we were casually "doing research" for our wedding, and this event reminded me of the treasure trove of complimentary food and drink out there for anyone planning an "event".

my own private studio

I've mentioned before that my studio leaves something to be desired. "Studio" is a misnomer. I actually do most of my artwork at my employers' office, because I have a big drawing table, a mayline (a ruler that slides up and down the table so I can draw straight lines), a big flatbed scanner, two computer monitors, and a sweet printer. I usually go into the office on the weekends, crank up my jams, and hang out by myself. It's not so bad. Once in a while a co-worker comes in, we exchange words and they go on their merry way.

However, I've been burning the midnight oil on a few awesome side projects and got burnt out being at the office 8 days a week. After no respite from the daily grind (bus trips, downtown antics, etc) I decided there needs to be a third place: not home, not the office, but a studio. Just like I had in college. I went to my one-stop shop, Craigslist, to scope out my options. My requirements are that it's cheap and close. Since my Good Press business stuff is just a side gig, I can't justify paying more a studio than what I make on artwork.

I found a listing that seemed to fit my criteria: $150/month including utilities, with a month-to-month lease, and just a few stops away on the bus. Plus they have free parking and it's in a legit neighborhood. I checked out the space and it is no bigger than a gumdrop. But it has a window and some (faux) wood floors and tall ceilings. The guy who operates the building (billed as a venue to "help get your business off your kitchen table") showed me all the security features. It felt like a place I could set up shop. And if it doesn't pay for itself, I could easily fold up shop.

While it's kind of frustrating to pay rent for a studio on top rent for an apartment, I think it's the right thing to do at this point. It just seems kinda shady to use my employer's internet and electricity and ink to run Good Press. In an ideal world, we'd own a home that was big enough for my very own studio. Until that time, the rented studio is pretty enticing.

And I have no photos of the space, so enjoy these wintry images I foraged on the internet.

uncommon goods

I created this invite for my friend Annette, an event planner whom I met through the grapevine when planning our wedding last summer. She asked me to create a web-friendly invitation for a Seattle-area wedding vendor event....and she asked me to be a featured wedding invitation vendor. The event is basically the anti-wedding show. The invite concept was completely open, and I got inspired by some well-designed gin bottle labels. Gotta love that Hendrick's.

Annette and her compatriots really dig the invite, and asked if we could print it in addition to emailing. I'm blushing!

I have been clocking some serious hours in my studio (which leaves something to be desired, more on the shortcomings later). Today I potentially overcame a major mental road block on Ashley and Jeff's wedding invite. I'll be back tomorrow with fresh eyes and a clear head to clean it up. My Saturday and sanity were saved by Pandora and a stupidly good tofu sandwich from Dahlia Bakery. I didn't know tofu could taste sinful.

between neverland and thirtysomething

I did some sketches on the flight to Denver (while looking out the window and humming to myself This land is your land, this land is my land!). The sketches were originally for an event invitation that I'm working on. Although I don't think we'll use them, I had fun imagining grown-up fairy tale characters. I'm sure it's been done before but I don't care. For some reason, I couldn't help but make them hipsters. Maybe I've been perusing this site too much...

40 hours a week plus bennies

Not sure if you've heard but there's a recession going on? Uh yeah, I guess it's pretty substantial. Sounds like we hit bottom and are swimming back up to the surface with a weight around our collective ankles. Fortunately, I work for a small consulting firm- 15 people, half of whom are partners- and they haven't had to lay off anyone. However, our workload is definitely light and I have clocked some serious hours dicking around with design stuff. Tasks include but are not limited to updating our company's website, developing promotional material, and volunteering for the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. Turns out if you help lay out the organization's monthly newsletter, you are automatically inducted into the Communications Committee. Excuse me while I add that to my resume...

It's been really fun, because my bosses basically say, "Can you make us an ad?" or "Can you make some posters for an interview?". The only real limitations are the page size, otherwise I have free reign (well at least 'till I turn it in for their review, at which point they edit). Unfortunately there's no client to bill, so I wonder how long my whimsical design days will last...Anyway, I think it's cool that there is a place for a designer, for creativity, in the urban planning world, and that I sort of found that out by accident.

I always wonder if I want to go to Planning Grad School. I can argue both ways- on one hand, I'd pay to get a degree to do EXACTLY what I do now. On the other hand, I could fill in some professional and academic blanks and generally be more marketable. A friend gave me great advice: Don't enroll in a grad program unless you are absolutely convinced you should be there. Otherwise you'll be writing term papers at 2am questioning what the hell you're doing.

Obviously, my love affair is with design. Every month I tear into my HOW magazine, but do I devour my PLANNING mag with the same gusto? No way. I often contemplate working 4 days at my real job and doing my artwork on the 5th day. My bosses are flexible, schedule-wise, and our home office is really coming together (we got shelves! glorious shelves!). For some reason the two sides of my coin are advanced degree in Planning or ramp up the art business on the side. At the moment, I veer towards my own art projects. I even opened a "business" bank account and am paying someone to re-do my portfolio website. Maybe the dream isn't such a reach...?

In other news, here's my new favorite neighborhood bar, the Dray. It's where I hang when I'm not working.

from the invitation headquarters

This weekend is one of the first in a looong time that isn't devoted to invitation-making. Throughout May I was hustling to finish Julie and Chris' invitations by deadline. Earlier this month, the three of us spent some quality time in the invitation headquarters to assemble the finished product. The hot mess included laser printers, grommets, exacto knives, fine paper products, and a few beers. The finished piece is a 3-page oblong invitation that I'm seriously proud of and that they love. Everyone wins! Here's the cover page and the initial sketch. I hope to have better photos of the whole enchilada soon.

Julie and Chris are a mellow Southern-bred couple who have been together for 10 years or so. They are getting married at a farm/event space on an island an hour from Seattle. My approach to their invitation was to depict their laid-back vibes and palpable adoration for each other.
In other news, I've finally bit the bullet to hire a designer to re-do my website. My site has served me well but it was my first foray into web design. I've done a lot of work since I created it in 2006 and now it's time to graduate. My new site will be more focused on wedding and event announcements and will reflect the business that I'm developing. I'm excited.

where the sun don't shine

Spring in Seattle looks just like winter, except there is some greenery on the trees and it stays light later. The air smells fresh. However, I am about done with the grey skies and rain. It's Bike to Work month but the weather hasn't really been cooperating. I've ridden twice and had to leave my bike at work both times because I am a fair weather rider. This ain't fair weather.

The good news is that I've been in the studio- and by studio I mean my office- on the weekends. Amazingly, the sun has been making an appearance on Saturdays as if on cue. Which is when I tend to be behind a computer screen. But whatever, beggers can't be choosers. Part of the wedding suite I'm doing for Julie and Chris includes an invite for their Pig n' a Pod party.
Chris is a crazy good cook, and my friends are hosting a pre-wedding throwdown on their property in Central Washington (where the sun does shine). The 'pod' is a wooden structure they built on their regulation frisbee golf course (seriously). In July we will trek over the Cascade Mountains and watch Chris roast a pig, engage in a multi-day frisbee golf tournament, and drink to our hearts' content. I can't wait!

I've made a point not to indulge in my bridal obsessions on this blog but I would like to share the invitation I made for our upcoming wedding. For weeks I had a hard time focusing on what to do. There are so many invitation designers whose style I love- and one too many who rely on the standard issue floral letterpress bullshit- and so many sources of inspiration. I was like my own worst client. My friend Keita helped me define my theme (old timey ass dance party!). Once I nailed down a theme for the whole wedding, the invitation concept fell into place, and I had a lot of fun making them. Dave provided invaluable critiques. For a non-artist, he sure has some good gut feelings about design. Here she is:

a girl's gotta eat

When I'm not hanging out in tropical paradise, I find some time to work on freelance projects. Here are some recent ones. (Copywrite Shawna M, 2009!)

A Save the Date for my friends who are tyin' the knot. I'm also going to create their jack n' jill and wedding invites.


A business card for my dear pastry chef friend.

Yo man!

Sometimes I throw party just so I can make an invitation.

the city that never sleeps

I realize I've been negligent to my blog. The ID theft stuff made me realize how easily someone with ill intentions could abuse my personal info, and even though this blog does not divulge too much, broadcasting on the internet doesn't help keep a low profile.

Anyway, here's one of my latest artworks. I created this for Michelle and Jay's New England wedding in November. They wanted to go with a fall-harvest theme. First, the original sketch:



They liked it but wanted a farm scene to replace the apples at the bottom and more formal with the names. Here's a photo I found in my work library to help draw one:



This is the refined sketch:



And here's the finish!

faux axl rose

Dave thinks we sat next to Axl Rose on the plane back from NY. The guy was a total imposter. First of all, Axl is like 50 lbs overweight. Secondly, last I knew, he had dreadlocks. (Nothin' worse than a white guy rockin' dreads).



Faux Axl turned to me early in the trip and said, "I'm so high". What do you say to that? Give him the bullhorns? Daps? I just smiled. I swear he ate candy the whole 5 hour trip.

rocker chic fairy queen

This is the poster I've been working on for my friend Teddy. He's directing the play at a children's theater in North Carolina.

I used gouache on illustration board to emulate a silkscreen print (the studio wasn't open this weekend). I'm happy with the results. Sometimes I love not touching the computer. Teddy set the Shakespearean play to Beatles music. Therefore, she's a rocker chic fairy queen. It's funny- she looks just like the girls I was drawing in high school. Marge and I were especially into fairies.

p.s. I secretly love tight deadlines. The make me haul ass and produce.


Kinkos employees leave something to be desired, such as the bottom of the artwork and my signature.

boot camp clic

I realized this week that boot camp makes me feel like a nerd. My work-out clothes aren't cool, plus I don't have the killer tight ass or abs that I would've hoped for at this point. Whatevs. I try hard and do well, plus I have fun doing it. I enjoy boot camp but I equally enjoy life i.e. socializing. I mean, I saw this one girl from boot camp at El Chupacabra, my neighborhood burrito joint that Dave and I frequent once a week. She is a really fast runner and has a body to reflect that. I was drinking a margarita, with a carne asada burrito on the way. She went up to the bar and ordered a Diet Coke. I thought, if that's the difference between being stick-skinny and having fun, I'd rather have fun. Waitress, another margarita? Extra salt.

just a drawing

harmonica

Here are some CD illustration sketches I've been working on for my Uncle Shawn's harmonica-based blues band, Junior Krauss & the Shakes. Will post the finish soon.

Communique

Here's the final artwork I did for the Greg Mayo Band's album, Universal Communication. Stay tuned, they're dropping it soon!

be my baby always

A good friend of mine asked me to do some sketches for his band's upcoming CD. I did lots of show fliers for the Greg Mayo Band while in NYC. Their music has a lot of soul and r&b influences. They are really fun to see live, especially because Matt is so nasty on the horn! I did these sketches and will develop the one of the guy walking across two cities. The band is producing the CD next weekend and needs the artwork ASAP so that will be my biggest challenge. Check it!

from start to finish

I was contracted to create a t-shirt design based on an interview with an Iraqi orphan for the organization Take Pride. My idea was to show her optimism among the seemingly hopeless chaos. Here's my first sketch:
They thought the scene was too war-torn (well...?). They asked me to dull down the conflict and make her look younger (they were right on that, she looks like a teenager. The one way I know how to make people look younger is to draw their eyes and head bigger). This is my revised sketch:
The final is limited to four colors. It is way more inoffensive than my initial sketch. Here it is: