{per diem}

{ inspiration :: coralie bickford-smith }

2009-10-30T16:11:00.004-05:00

i have always thought that being a book cover designer would be one of the most fun realms of graphic design. it is extremely concept driven, by nature it has to be concise and communicate really well, plus it combines my two loves: reading and design.

one of the most inspiring book cover designers out there is coralie bickford-smith. she is a book cover designer at penguin {dream job!} and has been getting raves over her cloth bound books {which are now available for purchase in the good old usa}. but i am really loving these gothic horror covers she designed. all of her book covers are worth checking out, but i thought these were particularly striking, plus they are very timely for halloween!

{ inspiration :: flora fauna collection }

2009-10-27T08:32:00.007-05:00

i am loving these flora fauna prints from lumadessa. this collection is josh brills' take on classic field guide drawings. my dad has always had a copy birds of north america laying around the house, so this kind of art has a soft spot for me. i love the modern geometry and color scheme of these pieces.

{what timing! design*sponge just posted this article about james audubon today too. everyone's got birds on the mind...}

{ inspiration :: nautilus sink }

2009-10-27T08:22:00.004-05:00

found this on fffound.

{ inspiration :: jessica hische }

2009-10-25T20:42:00.003-05:00

jessica hische is an extremely talented typographer, illustrator and designer. i spent a good hour looking through all of her great work. it has a quirky retro style with a distinct feminine perspective which is really refreshing to see. she has even worked for louise fili ltd. for the past couple years.

{ inspiration :: dustin feider }

2009-10-25T20:21:00.009-05:00

wisconsin native, dustin feider in this month's wired magazine. he is an industrial who creates these amazing sustainable tree houses. they are my childhood fantasy come to life and when i have my own home i think i will need to build one.

{ hang me up to dry }

2009-06-09T23:14:00.001-05:00

just a little hand drawn typography.

{ inspiration :: richard colman }

2009-06-09T22:44:00.009-05:00

so, booooooom! just posted about richard colman, but i had to as well because i think his work is so rad. plus, i saw his work in a small gallery in brooklyn 2 years ago and it has really resonated with me ever since. the colors, pattern and symmetry of his work reminds me of hindu art. rainbows, pattern, castles and bears...what more could you as for?

inspiration :: jan von holleben

2009-04-13T21:47:00.008-05:00

i can't help but love these photos by jan von holleben, part of his series called dreams of flying. very whimsical yet completely real, i remember playing around like this when i was a kid.

inspiration :: more new math

2009-04-13T21:35:00.005-05:00

all so true...love the wisdom and the website design, you can read more here. by craig damrauer.

{ inspiration :: marimekko }

2009-03-17T20:39:00.005-05:00

i love the new patterns from marimekko, escpecially sanna annukka's bold collection. her illustrative style and use of color definitely reminds me of one of my favorite designer's to be fearured on booooom! - janine rewell.

also, i want to wear that dress all summer.

{ its finally spring! }

2009-03-17T19:58:00.003-05:00

i am working on this illustration for a client right now, but it just fits this day so perfectly. it is warm and sunny here in wisconsin...the days are getting longer and everyone has a little bounce in their step, its lovely.

{ every moment }

2009-03-17T19:48:00.004-05:00

this is a piece i created for the eisner museum of advertising's annual fundraising event. everyone was given a 12" x 12" board to do with what they wanted...i cut out letterforms on sticker paper, which i then adhered to the board and spray painted gold. the effect was kind of interesting.

{my new website is finally up!}

2009-03-05T10:52:00.004-06:00

well, i finally updated my website with new work and a little bit of a new look. so, if anyone is bored they should check it out and let me know what you think. hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

{nope, i haven't fallen off the face of the earth}

2009-03-02T22:53:00.004-06:00

so, i haven't been posting lately because i am working furiously at updating my website. my old school server finally took down my files, so i should have my new website up-and-running later this week.

also, i am super excited to be an alumni presenter at the 5th annual nowHERE design conference. if anyone is in the stevens point, wi area you should check it out. it is always really fun and there are some great presenters.

in the meantime i thought i would post about some of the fun things i have been working on besides my website ::

{home brew: nikol-aye ale}

2009-03-02T22:51:00.002-06:00

mikey and i brewed our first beer together, its an amber ale and should be delicious. we are calling it nikol-aye ale...its named after our cat, nikolai, but with a pirate-themed twist. hopefully it tastes good, we will find out next weekend!

{bottle label designs to be coming soon}

{diy chalkboard}

2009-03-02T21:48:00.011-06:00

i have also been obsessed with chalkboards lately thanks to design*sponge. so i decided to make my own...

i owe my brother for finding these frames for me; they are a set of 2 matching mirrors from the 70's, i think. the ornate frames are made of plastic, so i didn't feel bad painting them white. unfortunately, i didn't think to get before and after pictures in time so the frame in the before picture is still being used with the mirror, and in the after picture i painted the mirror with chalkboard paint. it was really easy and fun...amazing what a coat of paint can do!

{eavesdroppings 3: those were the days}

2009-02-03T21:36:00.003-06:00

overheard an older man talking about the good old days with his friends at a pub downtown.

{the picture is of my grandparents, i love it}

{eavesdroppings 2: swearing}

2009-02-03T20:50:00.006-06:00

it is always funny to hear really quiet, reserved people curse. since i am really quiet and reserved a lot of people make fun of me when i do too. this one came from an elderly woman at the store, i couldn't help giggling to myself when i heard her.

{inspiration: steven harrington}

2009-02-02T22:08:00.004-06:00

it has been a while, but i have some good excuses...work has been crazy and i got engaged : )

so i thought i would start off with some eye candy and steve harrington has to be one of my favorite illustrators. discovered him on booooooom! who has been featuring a ton of great work (not that it isn't usually, but i have really been digging his posts lately).

{eavesdroppings}

2009-01-26T22:35:00.000-06:00

sometimes i just can't help eavesdropping on conversations, usually the bits that i hear are way more interesting and intriguing than the actual conversation. this series is a typographical exploration of those bits of conversation that have always left me wondering or are sometimes so blunt that they need no imagination figuring out what was meant to be said.

this first one is something i heard a ticked off department store customer say to an employee who obviously could have cared less.

{bling}

2009-01-22T23:28:00.000-06:00

{inspiration: peter callesen}

2009-01-22T22:54:00.000-06:00

i have mentioned my love of paper cutting here before, but i think peter callesen is the ultimate paper cut artist. his work often references life and death, nature and is almost always ironic. the scale and craft of his work is amazing.

{war & peace}

2009-01-19T21:27:00.000-06:00

this is an illustration i made a couple of years ago when i was getting fed up with the wars and questioning the intentions of our government. lets hope our new president brings a little more peace, a lot less war & gets everyone home safe!

{i try not to get too political because i'm not very good at it, but with the inauguration tomorrow a person can't help but think about it all.}

{fortune cookie}

2009-01-19T21:20:00.001-06:00

i received the most relevant fortune cookie tonight when i was out to eat with mike at a chinese restaurant (duh). "treasure what you have," i think this is something i always need to remember!

{photo is from a goodwill in hougton, michigan...they had a whole dressing room full of glass jars!}

{inspiration: sam taylor wood}

2009-01-19T21:05:00.000-06:00

i am loving these surreal self portraits by british artist, sam tylor wood. i also love these series of videos she created. she took a dutch baroque-esque still life and videotaped it decaying over several weeks, definitely have to see it in person.

{a joyful little drawing}

2009-01-14T22:57:00.000-06:00

these colors make me happy. definitely inspired by my last post and stina persson's amazing watercolor illustrations.

{inspiration: gorgeous colors + collages}

2009-01-14T21:48:00.000-06:00

i am loving these photo illustrations by xelya. they remind me of summer, which i am desperately missing right now!

{built to spill}

2009-01-13T21:52:00.000-06:00

ok, so i have been slacking lately, but i was recovering from the holidays and work has been busy and i have been sick. are those enough excuses?

anyway, this illustration is a pretty literal translation of a lyric from one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands, built to spill.

song :: i would hurt a fly by built to spill

{happy 2009!}

2009-01-05T22:55:00.000-06:00

so, this is a little late, but i hope everyone had a great christmas and new year's and hanukkah and anything else that you celebrate. also thought i would let everyone know about pantone's official color of 2009: mimosa. very cherry and optimistic and everything a new year should be. cheers!

{spart: 5 of 5}

2009-01-05T22:50:00.000-06:00

the final, and long overdue, installation in the spart series.. since its been a while, this is what spart is: i have been getting a ton of spam lately. a lot of the text is actually pretty interesting and inspired a lot of imagery, so i thought i would re-interpret some of my spam emails. (spam + art = spart)

{spart :: 4 of 5}

2008-12-21T22:01:00.000-06:00

spam art part four.

{inspiration: yulia brodskaya}

2008-12-21T15:41:00.000-06:00

so, her work has been everywhere recently, but i had to post about it because i can't get over how beautiful it is. yulia's paper cuts make we want to grab my scissors and some old school construction paper.

{inspiration: all i want for christmas...}

2008-12-19T12:50:00.000-06:00

...is the perfect pantone colored mug! i have been eying these for a while now : )

{spart :: 3 of 5}

2008-12-17T22:28:00.001-06:00

spart part three.

{inspiration: rune guneriussen}

2008-12-17T22:21:00.000-06:00

wow...rune guneriussen's work has such a fairytale, surreal look to it. beautiful.

{spart :: 2 of 5}

2008-12-16T22:55:00.000-06:00

more spam art goodness.

{spart :: 1 of 5}

2008-12-15T23:58:00.000-06:00

i have been getting a lot of spam lately, and after all of the viagra offers some of the text is actually pretty interesting. so i thought i would re-interpret it. this is the first in a series of five. (spam + art = spart, very clever, i know)

photos: nasa

{inspiration: northern lights}

2008-12-15T23:22:00.000-06:00

amazing images of the northern lights at cnn.

{mmmsg photo shoot}

2008-12-12T16:02:00.000-06:00

yes, the restaurant's name is msg, actually mason street grill, but seriously. the food is amazing though and the shoot turned out pretty great, although i am sure most people aren't that excited by photos of food.

photos: troye fox
food stylist: jennefer janz
agency: z2
art director: me : )

{life is.}

2008-12-11T21:59:00.000-06:00

...short, pretty, fun, dull, fill in the blank.

{inspiration: look book}

2008-12-11T21:56:00.000-06:00

i love love love this site. i wish i had half their style.

{dandelion}

2008-12-09T21:33:00.000-06:00

just playing around with gif animations, plus i love dandelions
*you have to click on the picture for the animation to work*

{optical illusion}

2008-12-08T21:17:00.000-06:00

fun with black and white

{flock of seagulls}

2008-12-07T21:38:00.001-06:00

well, they are cranes, but you know what i mean.

{photos of food!}

2008-12-07T19:13:00.000-06:00

so, this week has been crazy at work and it didn't stop for the weekend.. on saturday i got to art direct my first photo shoot! and to make it even better, the shoot was of food. everyone was great and the day went on without a hitch. i will be posting pictures soon...

{inspiration: cursive design}

2008-12-05T17:19:00.000-06:00

ah, work has been so crazy this week, i have worked many long hours and haven't had any time to post. but looking at cursive design's work makes me relax a bit. i love how sarah combines materials and the delicate nature of her work. i was able to see her work and meet her in person at art vs. craft this past weekend, which was amazing. the talent there was overwhelming.

{all wrapped up}

2008-12-02T21:44:00.000-06:00

its very easy to get wrapped up in the little things and sometimes i just need a friendly reminder to look at the big picture...also, i'm a huge fan of all things herb lubalin, hence the avant garde.

{inspiration: klim type foundry}

2008-12-02T14:43:00.000-06:00

i am loving klim type foundry. my favorite typeface is serrano. i also love that he has a section dedicated to his sketchbooks. not only that, but there is a section titled why type? which he answers with a simple (and beautifully hand drawn) love. not only is the type beautiful, but his website showcases everything wonderfully.

{i heart grid paper}

2008-11-30T20:01:00.001-06:00

some grid paper patterns.

{birds}

2008-11-30T18:12:00.000-06:00

another image inspired by a vintage science book.

{inspiration: patrick leger}

2008-11-28T11:56:00.000-06:00

i ran into patrick leger's illustrations on boooooom! i love the vintage style and color pallatte.

{inspiration: west side story}

2008-11-28T09:37:00.000-06:00

first of all: happy thanksgiving! i hope that everyone's was as wonderful as mine was. also, this is my first inspiration post and i thought i would start it off with a classic movie that i saw for the first time when i was home for the holiday. i was struck by the fashion and styling in the movie, the typography in the closing sequence, and the dancing of course!

{pattern}

2008-11-25T23:17:00.000-06:00

{winter fun}

2008-11-24T21:46:00.000-06:00

so we had the first major snowfall of the season. it was so pretty outside, it reminded me of the fun i used to have playing in the snow with my dad.

{sit quietly}

2008-11-23T21:02:00.000-06:00

i love old grade school science books.

{farewell autumn}

2008-11-21T13:39:00.001-06:00

goodbye fall! the days are getting colder and that means that all of the beautiful fall colors have almost disappeared.

{houghton}

2008-11-19T22:09:00.000-06:00

some fond memories from a trip to houghton, mi.

{thin ice}

2008-11-18T21:11:00.000-06:00

I knew a girl who tried to walk across the lake,
course it was winter when all this was ice.
Thats a hell of a thing to do, you know.
They say the lake is as big as the ocean.
I wonder if she knew about it?

-walking on thin ice

{nothing's better...}

2008-11-17T21:50:00.000-06:00

...than a warm cup of coffee on a chilly, snowy day. i love coffee, but i especially appreciated it today since it snowed here for the first time this winter. it was quite chilly and my little coffee cup warmed me right up.

{pride & prejudice}

2008-11-16T18:24:00.000-06:00

i just finished reading pride & prejudice and have been infatuated with elizabeth and darcy's story ever since. one of my new all-time favorite novels.

{universal}

2008-11-15T18:53:00.001-06:00

my version of the universe isn't quite as cool as the real thing, but i still like it. {photos: nasa}

{gramma}

2008-11-15T18:17:00.000-06:00

my gramma gave me a bunch of her old photos from when she traveled the states in her 20's. isn't she glamorous?

{hello}

2008-11-13T22:13:00.000-06:00

so, this is my first post of many - hopefully.
just thought i would say hi!