10/8 – 12/7/24

Monthly illustration roundup for 10/8 to 12/7, 2024

Hi everyone, happy December! I have an art-heavy newsletter for you with lots of illustration and quilt works. Who would have guessed that when you’re not running 55 miles a week, you have more time and energy for artmaking? Also, please bear with me as I workshop my newsletter release schedule. Every two months might be where I’m settling.

ILLUSTRATION

I was commissioned twice recently by AARP for their publication, Sisters’ Letter. This first piece accompanies a list of fall freebies, otherwise known as free or heavily discounted items, promotions, and gifts offered by retailers. In this illustration, a woman kneels in a pumpkin patch, reaching for a gift. The pumpkin patch is strewn with flyers, coupons, and presents. This is one of my favorite commissioned pieces to date: I’m really proud of the composition and color palette, and the way the background recedes and fades, making the character pop.

The second AARP-commissioned illustration was for an article titled, “Which Noodles are Best for Weight Loss?” Hands hold forks spearing pasta or twirling tape measures or noodles, as various pastas dance across a dark magenta background (Colorpedia calls this color “Séance”). I enjoyed creating the texture for the background, as well as experimenting with different color palettes. With so many of the colors fixed (the hands, the pastas, the forks), the challenge was finding colors for the nails, tape measures, and background that were harmonious and fun, but not overpowering.

Sometimes you have an idea that will not dissipate until it is brought into the world. This was the case for this snippet of a lyric video, for Charly Bliss’s song “Waiting for You.” I was riding the subway in late October and had my first “vision” in many months: a composition notebook plastered with 2000s-era stickers, surrounded by food erasers and gel pens (dreaming of the Y2K Scholastic Book Fair), while the lyrics as stickers pop up. Eva Hendricks, the lead singer of Charly Bliss, wrote the song for her bandmates as a celebration of friendship. The song choice felt especially fitting as I’ve been tending to my friendships post-marathon. Making a glitter effect, messing around with Gaussian blur (is there a better effect than Gaussian blur?), using super saturated colors, playing with type, and returning to After Effects (incredibly simple animation, but still: movement!)… this piece had me blissfully in the flow state for days.

I’ve found myself drawn to portraits and film stills with a dreamy, soft glow and was wondering if and how I could recreate it with my illustration style. (With photography: reportedly Vaseline on the lens.) I drew Nilüfer Yanya, a talented British singer-songwriter whose music I love, in my regular style and then applied some adjustment layers, Gaussian blur, and outer glow effects. I’m excited to experiment more with this look. A still life next, perhaps?

QUILTING

I went through a quilting phase during November and made one patchwork and seven pillows (all are available for purchase).

Here is an improvised patchwork or quilt top. For my readers unacquainted with quilting terminology, this just means the quilt is not finished yet. A patchwork is the top part of a quilt, sans batting (the middle layer, usually a soft, warm stuffing) and backing (the backside of the quilt). This piece came from a desire to try hand-tying. Instead of stitching the three layers (patchwork, batting, backing) together by hand or by machine, the maker ties individual knots, peppering them across the quilt. I cut four fabrics (three thrifted, one gifted—a green quilt if you will) into five sizes of rectangles, then sewed everything into 3x3 or 3x4 patch blocks. From there, I pieced together the blocks; sections gradually increased in size. It wasn’t until I had about ten big sections that I set them on the floor and made a construction plan. Luckily I found places for most everything and only had to rip apart two seams! I love how this patchwork came out and I can’t wait to hand tie it.

I’ve been nervous to cut into patchwork (cutting into something you’ve spent hours meticulously piecing and quilting together is perverse) but my desire to make a shaped pillow was stronger than my trepidation. I first randomly pieced together all my yellow and cream scraps, quilted the patchworks, and then cut out star shapes. Neither scrappy patchwork or patterned fabric is my style, but I’m pleased with the shape and it was a good lesson in letting go. These two stars would look so cute with a white duvet and grey or yellow gingham sheets. Almost makes me want to redo my apartment… ($125 each, email to purchase)

Occasionally a name attaches itself to a pattern immediately and other times, the informal name I use for clarification purposes ends up sticking. Hence, the Circus pillows. The stripes remind me of a big top tent??? I had originally planned for the pink and white stripes to extend to the vertical edges but a mathematical error resulted in a navy frame on all sides. I think the frame works better; now we can fully appreciate the center stripes. Each pillowcase is roughly 17” x 17” to fit an 18” x 18” pillow form and features an envelope closure in the back. ($150 each, email to purchase)

Where are the final four pillows you might be asking? I haven’t had time to photograph them so they will be a part of the next newsletter. If you’re desperate to see them (they are really cute, I must admit), you can follow my quilting Instagram, @as.well.as.studio, where I will certainly be posting them soon.

INSPIRATION

Mixed pattern use, metal made delicate, Nordic country homes, theater sets, Yves Klein blue and vermillion, draped or ruffled fabric. My Pinterest, here.

MUSIC

Again, I haven’t been listening to much music lately, preferring to have an audiobook on at all times. I’m currently listening to David Miller’s Appalachian Trail memoir and George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. I’ve read the series at least seven times—dare I call it a comfort read? At least our government isn’t as bad as Joffrey’s.

Albums I’ve been loving:

Every Bad — Porridge Radio

Titanic Rising — Weyes Blood

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately — Perfume Genius

I Told You Everything — Sharon Von Etten

That’s all for now! Thank you for reading, perusing, hopefully enjoying. Wishing you a warm, happy holiday season and end to the year. All my love! xx