TRAVEL RECAP ILLUSTRATIONS

For 2014, I'd like to start sharing more short trip recaps with a few photos and illustrations after I travel. Wanderlust has hit me hard and I want to go everywhere. I was terrible about this last year and would like to focus more time on reflecting and drawing during and after travel.

Here are a few illustrations I created for my Vancouver and Seattle recaps I posted on my tumblr after my trip home for Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since there's been an update around here. The main reason is that I created a tumblr a few months back and got a little bit sucked into that. I'm still trying to figure out how to balance that with this blog or whether I should just pick one over the other. I think there are definite advantages to both. We'll see how this plays out.

Just wanted to mostly say hi and also post this little grapefruit doodle. I love grapefruit season.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS RETURNS!

It's October! Which means.....time to start thinking about Christmas gifts right? Well, it is if you would like to give someone a custom illustration this year! I had a lot of fun creating custom building illustrations for folks last year so I decided to bring this project back again this year. I love drawing buildings and would love to illustrate one that is meaningful to you or someone you know. Whether it be a home, a summer cottage, winter cabin, historical landmark, travel destination, garden shed, or whatever other structure your heart desires. Submit a photo and you will have an 8x8 or 8x10 illustration on your doorstep by Christmas!

HOW IT WORKS

There is a limited number of spaces available (50) for this so head on over to my shop to secure your spot. Once you have purchased your spot, you can email a photo of your desired building to me at seguin.marisa@gmail.com.

How much does it cost?
$50 + shipping.

What do I get?
You will receive an 8"x8" or 8"x10" print that has been reproduced digitally on archival quality watercolour paper. If you want to see some examples you can see some of the homes I've illustrated for the project already right here.

What buildings will you draw?
House, condo, cabin, cottage, castle, Versailles.....as long as it has some semblance of a dwelling (i.e. I will not draw the Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, etc) then I would like to illustrate it for you!

When will I get my print?
I will be sending them out as I finish in the order that they are received. The last shipment will be made no later than December 13. If you need your print sooner than this please include a note in your email. I will do whatever possible to accommodate requests for prints to be mailed by a certain date but make no guarantees that they will be mailed earlier than Friday December 13.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes! You can find a list of shipping prices right here in the shop when you order.

Can I see my illustration before you ship it?
Unfortunately not. The elimination of the usual back and forth makes it possible for me to offer these at a flat rate.

Can I request certain colours?
Unfortunately not. Again, for the same reason as above, the elimination of the usual back and forth allows me to offer these illustrations at a flat rate.

Can you ship it to someone else for me?
Yes I can! I'll even include a note if you'd like.

Do you offer refunds?
Once you have sent me your photo your sale will be considered final.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions!

STATION ZERO

I was  psyched when Light Grey Art Lab announced the call for artists for their Station Zero show. They had been working on amassing a collection of old sci-fi books from the 50s through the 70s and were looking for artists to reinterpret the covers.

I definitely wouldn't call myself a sci-fi buff. More a sci-fi admirer. When I opened up the package containing my book from Light Grey, I was excited to find the beauty pictured on the top left. Such a great cover already!

When I thought about what I like in great cover design, more often than not it is pretty clear, graphic and slightly quirky design. I liked the fun line of shapes under Leiber's name on the original cover and thought that creating vignettes on my cover using similar shapes could be a fun homage to the original design.

This cover turned into one of those cases where I work on it and keep adding things only to undo everything because it starts looking too cluttered. The book is actually comprised of four short stories. I thought four of the shaped vignettes would be an interesting concept to work with, one alluding to each of the stories. In the end, I simplified it down to two. One with the radar to hint at the government/technological aspects involved in the stories and one to hint at the barren landscape that permeates the book.

You can see photos from the show's opening last Friday on the Light Grey Art Lab blog. The show will be up for another few weeks so if you live in the Twin Cities area you should check it out! If not, the rest of the artwork can be viewed in their online gallery and prints are available from the shop. Thanks to the awesome folks at Light Grey Art Lab for including me in another one of their amazing shows!

CAKE!

I snuck a few new(ish) prints into the shop over the weekend. They were originally in the Hot Party show at Light Grey Art Lab back in February. If you want to pick one up you can check them out right here!

SMARTY PLANTS

Light Grey Art Lab in Minneapolis have another great show opening this Friday that has been curated by Amy Ng of Pikaland! SMART featured a call for art that is clever, subtle, and thoughtful. Only a slightly daunting task....

I decided to apply figuring it would be a good challenge if I was accepted into the show (and also because Amy is awesome). I then proceeded to agonize over what I'd illustrate for weeks after being accepted into the show. Everything I thought of just seemed so contrived because I was thinking about it so hard. After flipping through some old sketchbooks I was finally inspired by a doodle I had done years ago. 

If you live in/near the Twin Cities, the opening reception is this Friday at 7! Prints are now available in their online shop.

I have to thank Lilly for the clever title of this illustration. Pun master.

Also, here is a silly doodle of how I imagine most participants in this show to have felt when they heard they made the cut...

FEBRUARY MIX

Whipped up this illustration the other night to accompany my February mix on my other blog. You can listen right here if you feel so inclined.