Henry - The Baguette Beard

I've been trying to figure out what I want to draw, for some time now. After a hilarious weekend with my mom and two furry costume hats, I thought of something.

And with a pen, a page of Bristol paper, and my old, dusty art supply box from college, out came "Henry - The Baguette Beard".



He's still a work in progress, but he just wanted to say, "Hello".

Katie Daisy - The Wheatfield

Feminine florals, hand-drawn illustrations, bright colors, and encouraging words, oh my! Each refreshing design offers something completely different but clearly shows her personal style. I love it! Keep up the beautiful work, Katie!

Visit The Wheatfield shop on Etsy:here
and Katie's website: here

Susanne Engman

I came across the works of Susanne Engman today while doing my daily web-hunt for inspiration.
I couldn't stop looking at her bright color combinations and funny characters.

Copyright Susanne Engman

Copyright Susanne Engman

Copyright Susanne Engman

Copyright Susanne Engman

Susanne works as an illustrator and designer in Stockholm, Sweden.
All images are from Susanne's website. Check it out, here.

Berkley Illustration

I've always loved portraits of people with animal heads. Or maybe these are just animals dressed as people? It's hard to tell, but either way, I love seeing animals doing people things and especially animals dressing in people suits! Reading that over, it sounds like a Dr. Seuss rhyme or something...

Check out these prints by Berkley Illustration:

Blog: click here
Etsy Shop: click here

Fatal Sweets

Pocket mirrors and pin-back buttons with doe-eyed portraits on them by Fatal Sweets.
Aren't they lovely? There's even one wearing a fascinator! Or a "hair pretty", as some might say. ;)

Website: click here
Etsy Shop: click here

Sunny Champagne

I love the way Pascal Champagne (his etsy shop is called "Sunny Champagne") layers different colors and textures, but in a very subtle way. Sometimes design can be so obvious that it's abrasive. I love his style. It's so very mellow and comforting.

Visit his site, here.
And his etsy shop, here.
Oh! And his photography etsy shop, here.

Grace Hester Designs

I think these designs for children by Grace Hester, would look wonderful on fabric!
Ooooooh some sheets with these animals all over them?
Too cute!

*Grace let me know that the icons are from stock photography.
Thanks for your honesty, Grace!

Shop Grace Hester Designs, here.

Farouche

Simply sweet and adorable.
Handmade meets digital, in a way.

Follow the Farouche blog, here.
Shop Farouche, here.

Another Flashback

As I've talked about previously, I used to design ladies' accessories. Some days I miss it, then I remind myself that I can apply design to anything. A color palette for handbags, could still work for stationary. A geometric design used for apparel, could still be applied to home decor. It's pretty endless if you have an eye for what works and are flexible enough to try something else when it doesn't.

Oh, ya! And you don't have to get paid by someone else to do what you love. That just has to be the case if you want to make a living from it. If I feel like sewing, I have the tools for it at home. If I want to design handbags again, I have the resources and what I don't have, I can find. Sometimes it's hard to shake the mindset that you can only do what someone pays you to do. Maybe that's a drawback from working in a creative field, but as soon as I remind myself that in my free-time, the sky's the limit, it's on!

Here are some sketches from 3 or 4 years ago when I was designing wallets. And one illustration thrown in of a handbag I was working on.

Kind of neat to look back at them and remember what projects I was working on...

Remember that one time?

...when I worked as a graphic designer at that licensing company in Texas, and I wanted to do a collection of hand-drawn artwork for handbags? I'm pretty sure they never made it more than a few feet from my cubicle (and that you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about), but I found them in my good ol' photobucket and decided they deserved their own little face-time, too. Sorry, Chloe, you can't hog it all...

Disclaimer: I drew the logo by hand and placed the Jimi Hendrix silhouette (existing artwork) on top of it. I only 'designed' the drawings around his head and drew the logo as I saw it. Just so there's no confusion.

With this illustration, I drew the logo as I saw it and added the swirl design.

When it comes to licensing, you can't mess around. Therefore, please take special note of the disclaimers. (And please don't be offended by the obviousness.)

Hand Job

I'm really excited about a purchase I made today! I bought Hand Job: A Catalog of Type by Michael Perry from Amazon.

I ordered a $25 gift certificate to Amazon with my Chase Rewards points and it came in today. I have a three page wish list forming on their site with tons of books on illustration and typography. I'm really trying to build a collection of books that inspire me and this will be the first for typography. And what could be better than starting my mini resource library with a free starter book?! I'm sooooo excited. I can't wait for it to come in!

A Happy Little Tree Pattern

I'm too embarrassed to admit how long it has been since I've worked on my portfolio, but I can say it was way overdue. Recently, I dusted off my fashion design portfolio from 2004, and replaced each and every sleeve with my most recent graphic design and illustration work. I decided to scan some of the drawings from my sketchbook and work on some new patterns.

I like to call this guy the "Happy Little Tree" pattern.

I hope you like him. :)

Balloon Fever!

I keep seeing balloon illustrations on Etsy, too! Some have even made it to the front page! Everyone's got balloon fever. :)


blancucha


Sascalia


shirae


LilyMoon

Happy Monday everyone!
Kelli

Anke Weckmann

It's quite possibly true that I have a new favorite Illustrator every week, but I'm okay with that. If this illustration by Anke Weckmann had glasses, I'd swear it looks just like me. I must've met her in a past life or something? heh

Anke Weckmann has worked as a freelance Illustrator since she graduated from Camberwell College of Art and Kingston University in 2005. With only 3 professional years experience, she has already been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, including Adorn and Bust!

To buy her artwork online, visit her Etsy site here. And check out her blog here and her portfolio here.

Happy Friday,
Kelli

I Love Myself

A little illustration I found on flickr by Camilla Engman to remind everyone that it is just as important, if not more, to love yourself, then to love someone else. I have found that it actually helps you find the love you've always searched for, after you've learned to love yourself.

Valentine's Day is coming up, too, so get yourself some pretty chocolates! :)

There's a deep thought for your lovely Friday! heh

Happy Loving,
Kelli

Vote for Me at Karmaloop.com!

I just submitted my artwork to a design contest on Karmaloop.com. Karmaloop is a streetwear online retailer offering styles from over 45 classic and underground labels. I love designing 80's style artwork and when I saw that The Cool Kids needed a t-shirt design, I jumped on the opportunity!



I'm desperately needing your help to win. There are hundreds of great entries so it's very competitive. Please click here or on the artwork above to vote for me!

Thanks so much for your help!!
Kelli

New Etsy Banners!

I'm working on adding etsy banners for sale in my shop. I added a couple low-key designs tonight and will work on more detailed designs this week. I started a very electro, 80's banner tonight but I think I'm finally worn out from the past few days and have to save it for tomorrow. It just hit me when I was about to draw lighting bolts, yes, lightning bolts. Etsians won't know what they're getting themselves into when they check out my shop... :)






Happy Shopping and/or Sleeping,
Kelli

New Illustration!

Yes, I should be sleeping or out partying... but I'm a happy hermit and I can't stop creating. Here's a new illustration I just finished. It took about an hour and I love it! After I hit "Publish Post", I'm going to bed, I swear!

.

I used Adobe Illustrator.

Happy sleeping,
Kelli