{ inspiration :: coralie bickford-smith }

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 }

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 }

found this on fffound.

{ inspiration :: jessica hische }

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 }

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 }

just a little hand drawn typography.

{ inspiration :: richard colman }

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

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

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

{ inspiration :: marimekko }

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! }

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 }

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!}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

{inspiration: peter callesen}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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

{inspiration: gorgeous colors + collages}

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

{built to spill}

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