things are better with a parrott

Playing with Watercolors

One of my resolutions for this year was to draw more.  I would like to expand upon that, or perhaps generalize, & say "create more art with pen, paper, & paint."  Steping away from the computer & letterpress for an hour the other day, I happily played with my watercolors {watercolors made for an elementary schooler, but that is what I had!}.

I am the type of person who is overwhelmed by the possibilites of a blank page & a pen, pencil, or a paintbrush.  It is not that I do not know what to do.  It is that I have too many ideas, cannot pick one to focus on, & walk away with a blank piece of paper.   I work much better with a set of parameters & actually find much more freedom in having some sort of boundary.  I went into the project only allowing myself to use red & orange & a very loose Valentine's day theme.  I told myself there was no point in what I was doing, meaning I was going to create for the sake of creating.  I was not creating something for a client or to eventually sell.  Often times I find myself not allowing myself to do anything unless I can figure out how I can use it for a future, profitable project.  Not this time...though I did take the hearts & create a new banner in my shop {I could not help myself!}.

p.s. Happy 1.11.11!

Keep Calm Gallery

Some days you just need a little affirmation.  I was trying to track down the "Stars" quote by Van Gogh & landed in the Keep Calm Gallery.  I had not been there since I purchased the ubiquitous "Keep Calm & Carry On" poster a few years ago.  I still love that poster, but I am loving all of their other prints as well.

The last one reminds me of growing up in Maine.

I heard birds!

This morning as I walked out of the house I was greeted to the most lovely sound - birds chirping!  There are always little chirps here & there, especially when we refill the bird feeder, but this morning it sounded like spring.  It made me think of the amazing birdhouses I saw while visiting Magpie. 

Ryan O'Rourke is an illustrator residing in Connecticut.  In 2004, Ryan & his grandfather, David Howard, started teaming up to create decorative, hand-crafted, hand-painted birdhouses. You may view more of the birdhouse here.  They are all fantastic!  I  love them all.   I think if I had one I would have to keep it inside for decoration...which defeats the purpose of a birdhouse.  Oh well!

Little Paper Planes

Have you checked out Little Paper Planes?  Probably.  Because you are hip & in the know.   Kelly Lynn Jones began LPP as "a place where she and her friends could show and sell their handmade goodies!"  The site features clothing, accesories, artwork, zines & papergoods, jewlery, & bags.  Kelly is a super talented artist - check out her gallery - truly inspirational. 

There are so many amazing artists featured on the site & I can barely put into words how excited & honored I am to now be a part of LPP.  You can check out two of my prints - hummingbird & swallow.  I also have a little bio I wrote under "Artists" {!!!}.  It is a pretty funny bio that pretty much captures who I am & how I got here {in 4 sentences}. 

Kelly also introduced my work on  the LPP blog, along with Alana Hennessey, who is so talented too!!  {I cannot say enough good things today, really}.  I love this scarf so very much.  Her paintings of birds, bunnies, & deer are beautiful.

I am feeling so inspired & motivated today.  I cannot wait to get home & begin sketches of a new bird for the Vintage Aviary Series.  I already have a few ideas...

Pineapples & Print Design

Happy 25th Birthday to Deb!  She is the artist & illustrator behind Pineapple Buffalo, sister of Rich, and, of course, friend of mine!  Above is just a sampling of her work, which you may view on her website & and you may even purchase some of her other paintings here!  I couldn't possibly put all of my favorites on this post, because it would basically be all of her paintings, however, these are four of my absolute favorites!  The second painting of the green and blue landscape {titled Landscape Three} is at Rich's house and it is gorgeous!  Deb & her boyfriend Dom, who is also an artist are headed out to the sunshiney & artsy goodness of California in a few months.  I will miss them like so, however, it gives Rich & I place to stay in Cali now! 

Below is a little sneak peek for Deb {and for you!} of her birthday present I am working on that will hopefully be finished tonight!  The fabric immediately made me think of her and it has been neatly folded for a few months waiting to be used. 

Deb is also my partner in crime in our Adobe InDesign class, which is going so well.  The first class was sort of a review for me, & confirmed that I did, indeed, teach myself the basics.  However, the second class was a lot of new things & I learned some great tricks that make will such things as newsletters, even simpler to execute.  Now that I am taking this class I have decided to go full speed ahead!  Back in March, I was struggling with the idea of how to translate my creative desires into my everyday working life.  Did I want to I want to go back to school for Museum Studies?  Did I want to actually DO art & study Drawing & Painting?  Or...did I want to go into Graphic Design? 

I had not really considered Graph Design & I think the only reason was because I always equated it with Advertising.  Advertising was a career I thought I was headed straight for after college.  I interviewed at few firms and was completely turned-off by the whole process and the attitude of these firms {i.e. We are the greatest.}.  After an interview that consisted of developing an on the spot PR campaign for Willow Tree Chicken Salad {apparently THE greatest chicken salad in all of Rhode Island, nevermind the World...something I will never experience being vegetarian & all} then being called back to conduct my own 10 minute interview with the IT guy of the firm, followed by 10 minutes to write an article all about some wacky software I did not understand, I decide Me + Advertising = No love.  Plus this world consumes too much.  Consume!  Consume!  Consume!  I do not need to be encouraging that. 

Alas, I have completely digressed from my point.  My point being, I submitted an application for the Print Design Process & Production certificate degree at Rhode Island School of Design {RISD} & I am .:SO:. excited!  I have been so inspired by such blogs as Print & Pattern, Oh Joy!, & Kirin Notebook to go for Graphic Design and design beautiful stationary, paper, fabric...any surface I can design on!  It seems so obvious, but I just never thought of Graphic Design outside of Advertising...that is my flighty little mind for you...my head is usually in the clouds. 

Hey!  It is sunny and 76 degrees in RI today, I am going to finish up work & go enjoy it!  Peace!

p.s. I am finally breaking out the gocco printer.  It has been sitting in its little box for far too long!  Hopefully I will have something to show after this weekend.