Mary Lundquist Illustration

wake up and smell the...

2012-01-20T17:17:00.001Z

I first saw a reusable coffee filter at my older sister's house before I even drank coffee, so the idea has been in my mind for many years, maybe 10 or so. When I began drinking coffee the normalcy of paper filters was enough to make me not consider an alternative, although I hadn't forgotten about the cloth ones I'd seen. Then, after moving from England and to LA, I bought my first sewing machine and I now have a special power that I didn't before! Things I used to feel were beyond my ability to make can now be made, and that gives me so much joy.

And so, the coffee filters. We make coffee everyday and the idea came to me slowly and then all at once. I had the cotton because I had bought it for another purpose (eye pillow bags, though it turned out to be too stiff) and so things just came together. I am selling these on my Etsy Shop and hopefully in some local Los Angeles cafes. (Please get in touch if you are interested in selling them).

I've made these coffee filters out of 100% unbleached cotton (which was made in the USA).You can use these just like ordinary filters and your coffee will taste great without the environmental impact of using a new paper filter every time you brew. Plus you will never have to buy the paper kind again!

Instructions are as easy as pie:

-Place filter in coffee maker basket and brew as you normally do.
-After coffee is made, take grounds out of filter and dispose of them (I compost them).
-Rinse filter in cold water, squeeze out excess water and hang to dry.

Happy Coffee Brewing!

lovely lavender

2012-01-14T03:42:00.000Z

Okay, I love to sew. And I love to sleep...

These eye pillows were inspired by my sister-in-law, Katie, who wanted me to make one for a Christmas present. I was excited by the idea and went about finding the right cloth and filling. The pattern is incredibly simple, but the end product is versatile and something to be cherished. I chose organic cotton for the front and an extra soft reclaimed flannel for the underside of the pillow. The inside is filled with dried buckwheat, giving it just the right weight, and lavender which is a sleep aid and can sooth an anxious mind. These are great for getting rid of stress and headaches, or for your yoga practice during calm and meditative moments. They can also be placed under the pillow on your bed or try putting it in your clothing drawer to give your clothes a subtle smell of lavender. So many ways to enjoy such a simple thing!

The bag, such a good idea! I have made these cute drawstring bags for carrying the eye pillows, which keeps them clean while they travel in your purse or yoga bag.

You can find these for sale in my Etsy shop!

Find out more about Katie (yoga teacher and journalist) by checking out her blog: lightonbalance.blogspot.com/

summer paintings

2012-01-08T00:15:00.000Z

Eve after the fall, based on the sculpture by August Rodin

Nels and Eline's apartment in Rotterdam.

River

Waves

I painted these this past summer while in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Jesse and I had just moved out of England and were spending the summer in Europe doing fun things and visiting friends. My color palette grew into shades of turquoise contrasted with warm oranges and reds. I posted some of these in the summer but I wanted share them again after I scanned them with a higher quality scanner (it makes all the difference!).

oh tannenbaum!

2011-11-27T16:46:00.001Z

I am keeping the tradition of designing a new Christmas card every year and this is the third and newest one. It was inspired by one of my favorite carols and drawn in pencil with watercolor. I was listening to Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas and it was during the Tannenbaum song when it hit me to draw the tree, and I love it!

You can see the previous two years' cards and purchase any of them on my esty shop.

turkey day!

2011-11-06T16:40:00.000Z

For the first time in three years, Jesse and I will be in the USA for Thanksgiving and we are really happy about it. It's just not the same when you're out of the country...So this year, in the spirit of the holiday, I have made these little place cards for all of those around the dinner table.

I am selling them on my esty shop, which has re-opened its doors. You can either purchase the file to download and print it out yourself, or buy the printed pages which I've printed on beautiful Fabriano paper (acid-free, 100% recycled, made with wind-power in Italy). I've also added an option have all your guests' names handwritten on the cards!

above: The page, each one makes 2 place cards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ps. I've also been working on making yoga mat bags to sell, which I'll post about as soon as I get some good photos taken. They are awesome!

this'n that

2011-10-28T22:08:00.000+01:00

bottles, wires and coffee

2011-10-04T18:57:00.002+01:00

Here are some new illustrations I've been working on (scanned with a new scanner!):

Bottle and a ship.

New study shows that women who drink coffee are less likely to become depressed.

Summer reading!

Connections.

boat

2011-09-09T19:45:00.001+01:00

the midnight ramble

2011-08-28T15:21:00.005+01:00

Here is it! This is the cd cover I designed and illustrated for The Midnight Ramble, a rock/soul/blues band from Liverpool, UK. They commissioned me early in the summer and I was able to complete the design by the time I left England, which was July 10th. I even got to visit them in the studio during their first day of recording and was very impressed by the guys as well as their music.

Check out their website and myspace!

When they gave me their ideas about an image for the cover and it involved a lion boxing a man out at sea I must admit that I wasn't sure what to make of it, although I knew that I could do it. They were certain that they wanted my style and so I set to work and came up with a few rounds of sketches. Paul Dunbar, the lead singer, did a great job as art director for the project and told me exactly what he was looking for and gave constructive feedback. Drawing a boxing lion on two feet was by far the biggest challenge, but the whole thing was a joy to work on. The style of waves I developed has captured my imagination and I think I will continue to use it for work in the future. You can even see it in my previous post!

Above: Second round sketch of cover. A little bit closer...

Above: Earliest sketch of cover. And my, how it changed!

moon

2011-08-20T02:29:00.000+01:00

Summer is so sweet.

water and waves

2011-07-21T08:12:00.003+01:00

Here are some simple watercolors I made a few days ago. Jesse and I are travelling a bit before we head back to the US and currently we find ourselves in the Netherlands. He is doing a summer course at the University of Leiden and I am going between there and Rotterdam where we have friends. It's always good to be in this country, even if the weather is sadly similar to the UK!

I just finished up a CD cover for a band based in Liverpool and waves were a big part of the imagry. I've begun to really like drawing them and so they found there way into this piece. I'll be posting about the cover at some point in the future...

coloring kits!

2011-07-07T10:36:00.008+01:00

About a month ago I was at The Sunday Market and got talking with Diana Heredia who also had a stall there. She makes beautiful prints, cards, pillows, bags, as well as children's clothes and much more. Her business is called Léon and Coco and you can find her website here. After seeing my work she asked me if I would be interested in drawing something for her coloring kits and I was immediately interested.

My original idea was to draw a set of birds but when I did some initial sketches it turned out to be pretty boring for coloring in, not much detail and the like. Then I was reminded by some drawing I had done a couple of years ago when I was interested in bird houses and children's books. I've always loved to imagine the homes of animals and to see them in cartoons like Tom and Jerry (mice in the wall).

Here are three of the final 6 designs:

above: Bird Dwelling

above: Worm Dwelling

above: Fox Dwelling

Diana's Coloring Kit with trucks etc.

My designs are not currently available but when they are I will let eveyone know! In the mean time, check out the site and esty shop....

Léon and Coco website

Léon and Coco etsy shop

denizen: third culture kids

2011-06-01T08:10:00.005+01:00

It's June! The year is flying by at the speed of light and it's exciting. We are preparing ourselves for leaving Manchester at the end of the month, doing some travelling, then going home to Massachusetts for a few weeks, and finally moving to Los Angeles in September. I'm not looking forward to the goodbyes here, England has been a wonderful place to live for three years and the people we've become friends with will be missed...the weather on the other hand, will not be.

I've recently done some illustrations for the online magazine Denizen, which features articles by 'Third Culture Kids', and if you are like me and had never heard that term before, this is how they define it:

Formally defined, TCKs are people who have spent a portion of their formative childhood years (0-18) in a culture different than their parents’. Most TCKs will return to their parents’ home country at some point in their lives, undergoing repatriation. TCKs tend to develop their identities while living abroad, thus blending their “home” culture with the culture of the world around them. People who have attended international schools, who are children of diplomats, “military brats,” or children of missionaries are just a few examples of TCKs.

It's a interesting site full of stories and ideas. My three years in England gives me a sliver of understanding, though I myself and not a TCK. I'm very happy to be a part of it and hope to do more work for them in the future. Editorial illustration is more and more attractive to me because I love making pictures that accompany something, that speak for themselves though also compliment a piece of writing.

http://www.denizenmag.com

ps. Doing another SUNDAY MARKET at Islington Mills this weekend. The last one was great, lots of people, good music, and a relaxed Sunday atmosphere.

the sunday market

2011-05-26T09:10:00.008+01:00

This Sunday I'll have a stall at the weekly SUNDAY MARKET at Islington Mills, Salford. It'll be my third time doing the market and I'll be selling my handmade cards and books, original prints, screen-printed tote bags and also some very good homemade whiskey marmalade!

So, if you are in the Manchester area be sure to check it out!!

Website

Facebook

above: my hand made journals with screen-printed covers.

show at unicorn

2011-05-18T11:36:00.002+01:00

This is a show of work, mostly prints, at Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 0BN. (Between the olive oils and rice: it's in the hallway towards the toilets).

I am moving to Los Angeles at the end of the summer so would love to find homes for my prints and watercolors!

If you are in the area, please check it out (and then you can do your food shopping too)

x mary

new

2011-05-08T19:05:00.007+01:00

I took a bit of time today to apply watercolor to some recent sketches. It's been a goal of mine to draw more from my imagination and memory as well as try to tell a story. Sometimes the most interesting images come from an open mind, unconcerned with recording an object from life. I had a lot of fun coloring them in, it was a bit like a coloring book!

Through the next few months I'll be travelling quite a bit and in September Jesse and I will be moving to Los Angeles! It's a very exciting time and I plan to keep a sketchbook journal throughout the summer to record these funny little illustrations.

sale!

2011-04-12T09:51:00.002+01:00

I am having a sale on my Etsy shop, two for one bags (owl and snail). Jesse and I are moving at the end of the summer and I can't take them along, so get them while they're here!

world recipes and refugees

2011-04-06T15:48:00.004+01:00

I'm currently doing illustrations for another recipe book although this one is being put together by Unicorn Grocery and a Manchester refugee project. The book will feature recipes from the women involved with the project who are from many different parts of the world and who are now living in and around Manchester. It's a wonderful thing to be a part of. Instead of drawing the final dishes, I've decided on just the ingredients. Here are some of the illustrations I have done so far:

When the book is done I'll post more about it. It will be for sale at Unicorn and hopefully I can sell some online as well.

etsy shop

2011-03-16T10:55:00.004Z

Hope everyone is well, thawing out after a long winter. Today here in Manchester I didn't have to wear a jacket!

I've updated my etsy shop, putting up new photos of my hand screenprinted bags and designing a new banner. I gotta say that it's looking alright and I think light green is my new favorite color.

etsy shop!

teddy

2011-03-01T16:57:00.001Z

1369 coffee house cup

2011-02-20T14:59:00.006Z

My most recent commission was to redesign a brand-spanking new paper cup for 1369 Coffee House (in Cambridge, Massachusetts). The owner, Josh Gerber, wanted a cup that was distinct and represented the brand, showed the two locations, and incorporated community. Another important aspect would be that the cup is identifiable with a sleeve on it as well.

Both shops, Central Square and Inman Square, are situated in interesting buildings and I found that drawing them was fun, though coloring them in a way that was interesting and used two colors proved to be a bit of a challenge. Once I found the right style it came together quite nicely, using a layered effect which looks like an off-register print. For anyone living in the area, they are very recognizable as the two buildings (I have lived in both squares and worked at 1369 Central for 3 years!)

I added details to the outside of both shops, like the umbrella and chairs and the street sign and bicycle, to represent the people who congregate there. These items are pretty much fixtures outside either location (the table and chairs mostly in New England's not-freezing months!). I remember many-a-time sitting outside under the umbrellas or locking my bike up outside of the Inman store, and my experience is shared by so much of the community that I thought they were the perfect details to include.

Above: The final design! I warped it and was able to print out a version which can be wrapped around a cup for making the prototype. It was very helpful in understand how things will look on a cylindrical object.

Below is a selection of process work. In total I made around 35 versions of the cup! It changed (and improved) quite a lot over time and when I considered the composition more and more. Josh wanted to use the two colors of the brand (purple and beige) plus white. In the beginning I also tried using just purple and black, but it didn't go that well!

Above: Playing with the logo, trying to make it interesting and still using all the elements.

I really like how the coffee cup is peeking out from the bottom of the cup. It's a bit too cut off in this version, but the idea remains in the final version. The cropping makes it more dynamic and interesting, as well as using the space which can be seen when the sleeve is on.

Way too much beige!

These early versions are pretty boring and static. I was trying out blocks of color instead of coloring the whole cup purple, which was one of the original ideas. I still like the use of circles to frame and emphasize certain things. You've got to begin somewhere.

The cups have not been printed professionally yet, but I'll post again when I get one of the real-deals!

about food

2011-02-10T14:27:00.005Z

This is my first try at making marmalade, and I think it can fairly be called a success! Making the labels was just as fun as boiling down the organic seville oranges and worring about wether or not the jam would set properly! The flavor is strong and wonderful in the morning with toast and a cup of coffee. The first thing I tried it with was Fig and Aniseed (100% Rye) by the wonderful Handmade Bakery, from which the Unicorn gets bread deliveries twice a week. It was an amazing combination, I must say.

Above: an illustration in support of buying and eating local. I'm learning more and more how important and good it really is! I'm not interested in telling people what to do with slogans, so I added 'please' at the bottom, which is much friendlier!

Even more excitement:

Jennie O'Hara and I have published Easy Dinners for Difficult Dinner Guests online as an ebook and it can now be purchased by following this link!

easy dinners for difficult dinner guests!

2011-02-03T18:48:00.002Z

Our book is done!

Jennie O'Hara and I have made an edition of 30 of these beautiful cook books 'Easy Dinners for Difficult Dinner Guests' and we must admit that they have been a success. There are 22 fine recipes which are divided into chapters with specific dietary restrictions. Each chapter has a brief summary of the intolerance, then a complete meal with a starter, main course, and dessert. Wheat-Free is the first chapter and features Beetroot and Orange Salad, Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa, and Best-Ever Brownies (and they are).We are so happy with it that we are thinking of publishing it as an ebook and also doing a second edition!

Here are photos of the finished book:

drawings for the New Tree

2011-01-23T14:13:00.006Z

Here are a few illustrations I've been working on for the children's book, The New Tree, written by Kevin Fitton. It's a story about a girl who moves to a new place and learns to adapt and grow, with the support of her family. I really like the easy, loose pencil lines, and the soft watercolor.

The girl is packing to move.

Stay tuned for more illustration of The New Tree.

cafe verde

2011-01-03T23:04:00.005Z

It is such an honor to have created the logo for one of the most amazing cafes in the world. We just went to Cafe Verde, (on Essex Street in Lawrence) for the first time, to see the space and try the coffee and food. Since I was commissioned to design the logo I've been watching Missy, Pricila, and Austin renovate an old furniture store into a beautiful and eclectic coffee house. They have exceeded our expectations because it is literally one of the best cafes I've ever been to. The food is unbelievable and the coffee is outstanding (roasted in-house so it's always incredibly fresh!). I can't say enough about this place...

Just a few of the many places they have used the logo. I also created a font for them which is being put to good use, such as on the menus and business card.

Jesse and Sherry in front of the cafe.

Jesse trying to make up his mind. Above him is a photograph by the famous David Shannon-Lier, whose work you can find here.

"I think I'll have the Mexican Coffee and the Brazilian Cheese Bread..."

cook book

2010-12-05T16:13:00.008Z

The book is almost done! Easy Recipes for Difficult Dinner Guests is a collection of recipes suitable for a variety of food intolerances and allergies. Jennie and I have been working hard and we are excited to have brought our idea into reality (and fully illustrated at that!). I'm particularly proud of these little watercolors because they are light, simple and pretty, adding a bit of charm to the book.

Book cover.

Measuring Cup!

Fresh Cranberry Sorbet

Suitable for: Wheat-free, Gluten-free, Lactose-free, Shellfish-free, Fat-free, Alcohol-free, Sugar-free, Vegetarian and Vegan diets.

Tom Yum Soup

Suitable for Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, Alcohol-Free, and Fat-free diets.

easy dinners

2010-12-01T20:56:00.012Z

My good friend Jennie O'Hara and I have been working very hard on a little book of delicious recipes called 'Easy Dinners for Difficult Dinner Guests'. The point of the cookbook is to give people ideas of what to make when they are preparing a meal for someone with certain dietary restrictions. (We aren't saying that people with intolerances are being difficult, but rather that it can seem like a challenge to cook according to their needs.) You can find out more about Jennie (and the interesting things that she does) at her website: www.jennieohara.com

We'll be selling the book, so get in touch if you are interested! Here are a few examples:

Amazing Cheesecake

Suitable for: Wheat-free, Lactose-free, Shellfish-free, Fat-free, Alcohol-free, Sugar-free, Vegetarian and Vegan.

Nepalese Daal-Bhaat Taqari

Suitable for: Wheat-free, Gluten-free, Lactose-free, Shellfish-free, Fat-free, Alcohol-free, Sugar-free, Vegetarian and Vegan.

So....

If you live in the Manchester area, check out the Christmas craft fair where I will be selling the book along with my handmade journals, Christmas cards, ornaments, and screen-printed bags!

11 December, Nip and Tipple Bar, 197 Upper Chorlton Road, Manchester M16 0BH

website

map

manchester artists' book fair

2010-11-19T18:18:00.002Z

It was a great day, I'm glad to have been a part of the Manchester Artists' Book Fair for the second year in a row. This time I had my own table and had no trouble filling up the space! I brought along handmade journals, cards, bookmarks, and screenprinted bags. It was a successful day and I had a good time chatting to people and looking at all the beautiful art in the room.

Jesse brought me lunch and helped with the stall! What a guy.

My stall. The bunting was a hit! Very much worth the time and effort it took to arrange. I'm looking forward to next year!

café verde

2010-11-11T13:23:00.005Z

I am extremely proud to post this photo of Café Verde, which has just opened its doors! It was two years ago that the owners commissioned me to design their logo and now it is displayed on the storefront. It looks amazing and I can't wait to go and see it in person this December. The menu is impressive as well as the eclectic decor. They even roast their own coffee beans!

It is located on Essex Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Stop by if you live nearby!

Their coffee beans are fair trade and organic, bought green from cooperatives and roasted daily.

Wonderful!

Just look at all those handmade truffles!

Café Verde's website

the new tree

2010-10-27T12:24:00.004+01:00

I've been asked to illustrate another children's book written by a friend. This is a lovely story about a girl who moves from the city to the country when her grandfather becomes too old to keep up his apple orchard alone. I've been using pencil and watercolor, which suits the style of writing and the subject matter. Delicate and simple. The author lives in Vermont and has visited apple orchards to get a better idea of how they work. There is a part of the book that explains how grafting works, which is an interesting aspect of the story. The whole things reminds me of New England -my homeland! More illustrations to come soon...

home for a snail

2010-10-12T08:30:00.004+01:00

A new bag design, complete with snails and whispers of home. I am so intrigued with the creatures and love to draw them, I just can't help it! This one speaks of being homeward bound. Why does a snail always have to live within its shell?

These are for sale on etsy and on my new folksy shop.

le mollusc adventure

2010-10-08T15:12:00.011+01:00

Well, I'm very excited about a recent project I have been working on: a children's book written by Simon Colley and illustrated by me! Simon email me a little while back with a proposal that I draw pictures for a story he had written about a boy who races snails. When I read the story I was inspired by the little world of amusing characters and events which filled my mind with wonderful images. Since last summer, when I spent time at a friend's garden, I have been taken with the simple beauty of snails and their funny ways. Simon found my pen and ink drawing posted to this blog (also my profile image) and that began the collaboration!

Be sure to check out Simon's blog where he reads the stories out loud!

http://molmacha.blogspot.com/

Below are a few of the illustrations I have done so far.

crescent moon tales

2010-09-27T13:46:00.008+01:00

I am currently designing a logo for a lovely person, Sandy Hitchens, who is a storyteller. She wanted a design which looked like a 'goddessy-woman's profile' and a crescent moon, to be used on a business card and eventually a website. I started with pencil sketches and pretty soon I was drawing stars as well! They added more to the image, symbolizing the storytelling aspect and are also in line with the celestial theme.

Sandy picked her favorite of my sketches (the one in the upper left corner and the stars from the one next to it) and I started experimenting with color and shapes.

The ones above are more shape based designs, using blocks of color and simple color palette.

This page of designs use the shaded pencil drawing instead of the blocked shaped. I was working out how to add color. Then Sandy suggested coloring the hair...

Below is the almost final version. Sandy is very pleased with the design and the brown background. I cropped it like that to so how it could be composed on the back of a business card. Now I just need to clean up the image a bit and we're there!

I decided to try my hand a the business card to see what I could do. I am happy with this but may work a bit more on different compositions and such. The font is perfect!

I'll post again with the final logo...

outloud

2010-09-23T10:35:00.005+01:00

"A Little, Aloud" is being published this month! A book by the Reader Organisation, published by Chatto and Widnus (part of Random House). It will be available after the 30th of September and sold at Waterstone's (also to be displayed in the store's windows for three months). I'm very excited to have been involved in this wonderful project, illustrating the stories and poems that will be read aloud to thousands of people. The book looks amazing!

To learn more about it:

The Reader Bookshop

little pictures

2010-08-26T13:22:00.003+01:00

It's been a while!

This summer has been flying by at a remarkable rate. I've done some travelling and have more to do. (Berlin next week to visit Jesse!) Here are some small paintings I made while we were visiting friends in Rotterdam. All I could bring on the plane were the dried watercolor paints which I had prepared in a small travelling palette so I bought some acrylic paints in Rotterdam, but only blue, yellow and white! Then I found some little pieces of wood in the house and painting small still lives of green things...plants and apples.

above and below, watercolor on paper

above, acrylic and pencil on wood

above, watercolor on paper

bees and books

2010-07-13T11:35:00.005+01:00

I heard a radio podcast (NPR's On Point) recently about bee farming in the US and was fascinated. I found some interesting bee websites and quickly painted a few of my favorite images. The more I learn about bees the more interesting they are, and the more noticeable, too!

I also want to share this great video of the living roof above the place where I work, Unicorn Co-op in Chorlton, Manchester, UK. The shop is an amazing organic grocery, owned and operated completely by it's members. It installed a living roof, which I find incredible and inspiring. During our breaks we can go out and sit on the deck, looking at the tiny pond, plants, and the bees!

Check out the video: Living Roof

Film made by Austin Clare, music composed by Sam Eardley.

Also...

In the spring I contributed illustrations to a charity called The Reader Organisation, which promotes reading and bringing people to together to read. Their book is called A Little, Aloud and is being published by Chatto & Windus (a Random House group) with an expected availability date of September 2010. The book is a collection of poetry and excerpts from a variety of authors. Here is a link to the organisation's website and the book's Amazon page. It has been a pleasure to work with The Reader and for such an important cause, and I look forward to seeing the book in a few months!

The Reader Organisation

A Little, Aloud

Here are a few of my illustrations...

mmmm...

2010-06-24T09:38:00.003+01:00

Beautiful and delicious. These are what our veg box brought us this week! They are extremely local (grown by the Dig team themselves!) and are actually the best strawberries I've ever eaten. Nothing is better for a warm summer evening dessert and I had to save these two before we ate them last night so that I could paint their portraits.

Tomatoes in a paper wrap. Straight watercolor with no pencil sketch.

Trusty Nalgene (ml vs. oz.)

Coffee components...

faces

2010-06-17T11:46:00.003+01:00

It was the Open Studios weekend at the Bluecoat Print Studio and I was helping out, demonstrating different print techniques for visitors. It was surprising how much I liked some of the results! After all, I don't use mono-printing very often or for serious work. Recently I have been drawing lots of faces, and so I naturally tried some with mono-printing. These are my two favorites and the woman with the red stripe shirt is strangely familiar to me.

My Geranium and a Woman, pencil and watercolor

There is beauty in the detail.

wow!

2010-06-11T11:11:00.006+01:00

I've reprinted my owl design on a bunch of new bags. This batch is a bit different than the first as the lines are clearer and stronger. I've screen-printed them by hand using a beautiful turquoise, which looks great on the natural cotton fabric. There is also a two-toned owl now, printed in two shades of turquoise (see second photo down).

Above: Two-toned Owl Bag

As well as new bags, I've made more little journals. They are A6 (approx. 10.5 x 14.5cm) and are made with Fabriano 100% recycled paper, produced in Italy using wind power. Wow! The paper is wonderful for drawing and writing and is acid free.

Above: Gramophone Journals, grey and brown, size A6

I'm currently selling these items and more at the Pad Gallery and Shop in Preston, UK, as well as on my etsy shop. Be sure to have a look!

My Etsy Shop

Pad Gallery and Shop

snails

2010-06-09T09:52:00.003+01:00

Coupled, acrylic on card

Couple, acrylic on card

Snail, (bamboo) pen and ink on paper

new paintings

2010-06-07T11:25:00.005+01:00

Two new paintings, both acrylic on grey card.

gramo, 4" x 5.5"

bees, 7" x 10"

local

2010-06-01T15:32:00.004+01:00

This week I had a few different sources of local food to draw. Firstly, I volunteered at a nearby community allotment and got to take home some lovely rhubarb, mustard leaves, and loads of herbs. Above is a drawing of sage in a jar, which is blooming! The jerusalem artichoke is from our weekly veg box from DIG. The fennel bulb and the fresh garlic where left over from the cooking project that I helped out at. It was a Cracking Good Food event where two chefs taught participants how to make a stir-fry and then they got to eat it! It's a great project and I look forward to helping at more community events and classes. At the end there was extra produce and I was able to take some home... such as the strange fennel bulb below.

Mushrooms from Cracking Good Food.

Check out these sites:

Dig Food

Cracking Good Food

Chorlton Allotment Project

more food more fun

2010-05-19T19:36:00.004+01:00

radish

2010-05-05T19:58:00.003+01:00

This week's veg box has brought some beautiful things. Locally grown potatoes, lettuce, purple carrots, and radishes! (as well as some funky looking jerusalem artichokes that I attempted to draw) Some of the radishes became my lunch, but those that survived became a still life.

I really love the color and shape of these strange little things. I don't think that I've ever bought radishes before and am so happy that I am getting these surprises every week.

I've also created a portfolio on the Association of Illustrator's website.

To see it click here!

lovely rhubarb

2010-04-30T08:39:00.005+01:00

Coffee

I am using some time to explore the varieties of mark-making as well as strengthening my drawing skills. This week I have been doing a lot of drawing with both pencil and pen and ink, and some painting in gouache. I have been using paper in different shades of grey, green, blue, and brown, which are wonderful colors to paint and draw on. It has been so fun to experiment, to draw whatever comes to mind, and to make closer study of form, color and light.

Seedlings (from imagination)

Carrots/Parsnips (from memory)

Lovely Rhubarb (from veg box)

We have started getting a weekly veg box and I love the surprise of what is inside. This was the first week and we got white sprouting broccoli, beetroot, and rhubarb. How strange! The rhubarb was drawn from observation with pencil and gouache. I have decided to make a weekly task of creating a drawing/painting/representation of our veg box surprise!

(And later today I'm going to make rhubarb and ginger muffins.)

snail

2010-04-25T09:45:00.004+01:00

New painting: Carrier of Houses, watercolor on paper, 25 x 30 cm

also...

Group mural outside our show Proof at the Arena Gallery.

Phillip Marsden's excellent addition to the mural: the Liverpool Illustrators!

Thank you to everyone who made it to the pv and to see the exhibition. The last day of the show is the 9th of May, which coincides with an event downstairs at Leaf Tea Bar.

fond of

2010-04-16T10:54:00.003+01:00

This new painting is called Fond Of and will be exhibited in the upcoming Liverpool Illustrators exhibition Proof, at the Arena Gallery in Liverpool.

Private viewing Thursday 22 April 6-8pm (w/ drinks and homemade cakes!)
Open Thursday - Saturday 11am-5pm
Open for 'Make Sundays' along with Arena open studios Sunday 9 May

Check the Arena Gallery site for more info:

Arena Gallery

rent in rotterdam

2010-04-14T12:00:00.002+01:00

a little, aloud

2010-03-21T19:56:00.003Z

Some recent drawings... I have been asked to illustrate a small book of poems and excerpts from novels. The purpose of the book is to encourage adults who don't usually read at all to read out loud. I'm really glad to be a part of this project and will post more illustrations later. There are more and a stories behind them all!

The Lumber Room by Saki

At the End of the Line by Penny Feeny

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

bonjour

2010-03-07T14:07:00.005Z

I have just updated my website, so if you have a minute please check it out. I will continue to edit things over the next few weeks, but the majority of it is finished. New paintings, prints, and books!

www.marylundquist.com

This is a screen print I made a few weeks ago, called 'sound'.

water

2010-03-01T21:53:00.003Z

Botanic Gardens, Oxford

home

2010-02-26T11:39:00.003Z

This is a new piece, acrylic on canvas, entitled "Home". It is for the Liverpool Illustrator's upcoming exhibition at the Arena gallery in Liverpool. The show will be in late April and early May, featuring a year's worth of new work by the six group members. I'm really looking forward to the show and have been happy putting together some new work for it.

woolly yarn and happy books

2010-02-15T16:36:00.005Z

Here are some better photos of the logo I designed for Allen Brook Farm. The yarn is gorgeous and there is even a bit of moss in one of them! I've met the sheep and they are wonderful.

Below is my Christmas present to Jesse. I commissioned our good friend Pete Michelinie to make a pair of bookends for Jesse's growing library. Some day I will ask him for a shelf, but I thought these would be easier to carry back to England. He also carved my treehouse design

onto them, making it a collaboration! Check out Pete's website to see his amazing skill: www.michelinie.com

Well appreciated.

pining and waiting

2010-02-07T18:32:00.003Z

Here's a new piece and the first of a series. I've returned to painting with acrylic and love it so so much. There is more to come!

lots

2010-01-31T08:38:00.005Z

Here are some pictures of my third penguin "Garden Bird". Check out the website and the video, you may just see me.....(skip to 2:00 and then 2:11!)

http://www.gopenguins.co.uk/site/news.php

I designed a logo for Betty Beach a while back. She has 15 or so beautiful sheep on her farm in Maine and is selling the yarn online and in shops. I made a couple of labels to show the yarn with the logo.

Here are is the newest edition of books I have made. It's called 'small drawings' and ha a selection of sketches that I really like. I brought them to the Lancashire Artists' Book fair where I sold a few and had many compliments. It is an edition of 10, digitally printed on Fabriano paper.

Some pictures of my table at the Lancashire Artists' Book and Zine fair in Preston. Lots of fun!

owls on bags

2010-01-25T15:05:00.003Z

Many people have told me that they would like a bag with one of my owls on it. So that is what I have made! Using my new screen (bought in Massachusetts!) I created a photo screen print of my design. The bags are on sale at my etsy store and I will also be selling them at the Lancashire Artists' Book and Multiples Fair in Preston, on Friday and Saturday, 29&30 January. Go if you can!

express to sunday

2010-01-13T22:40:00.006Z

It's only been a few days since I returned from vacation and now I am working on my third penguin for Liverpool's Go Penguins project. I'm really excited because it is my original design, the one that I submitted way back in September. It will be done by this weekend and I will post the photos then so stay tuned!

Also...

I drew these characters a while back for a story that I haven't yet finished illustrating. It was early in the story development and I was just sketching out ideas for the characters. I won't be using it for the book, but it occurred to me that it is a good drawing whether it fits the story or not. The characters and story are written by Jill Tomasetti, who also wrote The Birthday. This is our second/third collaboration and is about two sisters named Thursday and Wednesday who get a letter from their sister Sunday. They take a train to find her!

squeegee

2010-01-01T16:10:00.002Z

Jesse and I have been having a wonderful holiday in Massachusetts. We've loved seeing family and old friends, eating a ton, and driving back and forth from Andover to Cambridge. It's only another week that we have here in the States and we still intend to spend time in Maine and Boston. Too bad New York won't work out, we've just been so busy.

A little Christmas present to myself... a screen and squeegee! The screen is 17x22 in. and the squeegee is 14 inches. I'm so excited to have found these at my favorite art store, Artist & Craftsman Supply in Cambridge, MA. I can just fit the screen into my suitcase! I can't wait to get back home and into the studio at the Bluecoat. There are many prints to be made....

winterland

2009-12-08T08:16:00.003Z

I've been invited to show some of my work at this wonderful event at the Bridewell Gallery in Liverpool. There will be a performance of Eliza and the Bear, by Eleanor Rees, an exhibtion of foresty, wintery themed artwork, mulled wine and an open fire! The gallery is in an old police station and is a listed building. It'll be a great night, although Jesse and I can't attend because we leave for Boston the day before! The date of the event is December 19th.

winter

2009-12-02T20:49:00.002Z

Here's another card I've made for this cold season. It's a pencil drawing printed on ivory card stock. I'm selling these and the Christmas cards in packs of four, with envelopes, for $15 on etsy. I'll also have them at the craft this Saturday (and next) in Liverpool.

christmas card

2009-11-30T20:31:00.004Z

My newest painting with a Christmas theme. This is a watercolor on hot press watercolor paper. It doesn't have the rough texture of cold press, which I am getting used to and beginning to like. The purpose of this is for printing Christmas cards, which I will be selling at the Christmas fair at the Bluecoat in Liverpool, along with books and bags. The Liverpool Illustrators have a table both Saturdays, Dec 5th and Dec 12th, so come by if you can!

Christmas contemporary craft and art fair

on the streets of liverpool

2009-11-25T12:59:00.004Z

The penguins are out on the trail in Liverpool City Centre. It's really neat to see them here and there. I saw two in Lime Street Station just a minute after getting off the train from Manchester! I found my Dry New World penguin on Albert Dock and took a few photos. (Amazingly, it wasn't raining.) The Innovation Park penguin is next to town hall, and I found this photo of it online. (I don't know that kid) Next time I'm in Liverpool I will head over to find it in person.

for sale!

2009-11-19T13:20:00.006Z

Yes! I now have a store on etsy where people can purchase my wares.

Like this new hand screen printed bag!

Here are a few shots of the address books I've made. The tabs are typewriter written!

to see more:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/marylundquist

go penguins

2009-11-12T22:03:00.003Z

I painted two penguins for Liverpool's Go Penguin public art project. There over a hundred beautifully painted five foot tall penguins which will be in city centre this winter.

My first penguin was sponsored by Liverpool Innovation Park, which is which was also the HQ for the project and the studio were most of them were painted. The photo on the left is of my first penguin still in progress, and the photo on the right is the back of it when completed.

My second penguin was sponsored by the Environment Agency. This is my interpretation of their concept and basic design: Liverpool under a burning sun and a dry cracked landscape. Don't ask me why they wanted penguins aimlessly walking around, but it does look pretty cool. This was almost the opposite landscape to my first penguin, very warm colors (no green at all!), but they seem to match anyway.

Check out the project's website to find out more about it. I'll post pictures of them once they are on the trail! http://www.gopenguins.co.uk/site/

hurrah!

2009-11-05T11:57:00.004Z

Manchester Artists' Book Fair! This Saturday!

I'm busy getting ready, making lots of little journals and assembling editions of The Birthday. I'm also making paperback books of my drawings, which I'm very pleased with.

It'll be an exciting day and I'll certainly post photos early next week. Come by if you are in the area!

Also, I have put new work on my website and added a book arts section, which will soon be filled up with photos of my recent book works. Check it out! www.marylundquist.com

more and more

2009-10-18T20:37:00.003+01:00

New bags! And my first attempt at photo exposure screen printing. I'm very pleased with my American Sign Language alphabet design, even if they are off register. (Each one is unique!) I plan to set up an 'etsy' shop very soon, so if anyone is interested in purchasing a lovely tote please stay tuned!

tv and cheerios

2009-10-15T19:29:00.002+01:00

At long last, I have painted again! This is a small watercolor, just to keep it up and to add another editorial illustration to my portfolio. This image was in sketch stage for a long time but when I came across it recently and had a clear vision of the finished piece. Isn't it nice when it all seems so simple?

treehouse bags

2009-10-05T21:32:00.006+01:00

I began drawing treehouses a few years ago. I did a lot of pen and ink drawings in this style, but I don't seem to have any real record of that work, which is too bad. The image keeps coming back, and working its way into my new methods of art making. Here is a screen print: a new bag design. I used paper stencils and a borrowed screen (thanks, Jane!).

alpha bag

2009-09-23T14:08:00.006+01:00

Hip hip for the screen printing! Jane brought her screens and materials into the studio yesterday and so I made these alphabet bags. There are five bags and six or so prints on paper and they're all for sale. I'll be selling them at the Manchester Artists' Bookfair, along with handmade books, cards and bookmarks. If you would like one but can't make it to the fair, please get in touch through email! Prints are £4 and bags are £6 (+shipping). There's also much more to come!

emma's garden

2009-09-18T10:56:00.004+01:00

A few weeks ago, Jesse and I stayed with our friend Emma Gregory. She and her family were nice enough to host us for a week when we were in need of a place. I did lots of drawings of their beautiful back garden, which feels like a little world of its own. It gives you a sense of wonder to sit out there, surrounded by jade, ivy and an apple tree. I discovered the hidden snails, fallen apples, and spider webs. It has inspired me to some day put as much care as they have into a garden of my own. This is the best I can do for now.

for the first time...

2009-09-01T21:19:00.002+01:00

This is a new etching, which I made today in the studio. It came together so well after sitting for a couple of minutes with the plate in front of me, ready to be drawn on. I took the images from different pages in my sketchbook and put them together in this weird little world. Jesse says it reminds him a bit of Saul Steinberg and I don't mind that at all. The writing on the ribbon is based on a poem that I didn't write, but maybe I'll really be like Steinberg some day and come up with clever words of my own.

I'm really pleased with this piece.

plutarch

2009-08-20T12:56:00.002+01:00

This is the back cover to an album design I have been commissioned to create. It's a lot of fun so far. Certain things are cut-outs and I scanned it in a collage-style, using blue-tack to stick the pieces on and have them hover above the painting. See the tiny shadows? 3D! I'm going to atempt to put the track titles somewhere on the back, too....We'll see about that.

More to come in the future...

monoprints on tuesday

2009-07-29T10:55:00.008+01:00

In the print studio yesterday, the illustrators group worked with monoprinting, a basic yet challenging technique. It took me the better part a the morning and several cups of coffee (becuase it turned out to be decaf!) to come up with the flying bus image. I really like it and am happy with the colors and fuzzy quality of the lines. It's a start anyhow! We'll be in the studio again next week so stay tuned.

For links to the other illustrator's websites, see our blog: liverpoolillustrators.blogspot.com

a little something

2009-07-27T22:55:00.003+01:00

I wanted to post something....so I decided on this sketch that I did today while sitting in Oomoo Cafe. That plant is amazing and I really enjoyed drawing it. It's funny, I seem to have a thing with drawing in cafes, it just works for me. And this is a particularly nice cafe, too!

private view at editions gallery

2009-07-19T12:33:00.002+01:00

Here are a couple of photos from the private view last Friday. The place was packed! Thanks to everone who braved the horrible rain and wind and made it there!

the magnificent seven

2009-07-07T12:37:00.003+01:00

I am exhibiting my newest work at the Editions gallery in Liverpool, July 9-30th. It is a group show, consisting of seven Liverpool based illustrators who have spent the last few months working side by side in the Bluecoat print studio.

The reception party will be at the gallery on the 17th of July, 6-8pm. (Good fun and good art!)

Be there or be square.

the book!

2009-06-27T21:41:00.005+01:00

The Birthday is a children's story that was written by Jill Tomasetti and illustrated by myself. Above are photographs of the digitally printed version of the handmade book. I made an edition of 4 digital and 4 original versions.

Below are images of the book made from original etchings. The cover is printed using drypoint card. This version is larger than the digital ones and the pages are Fabriano Rosaspina printmaking paper.

I will be exhibiting these books at Editions Gallery in Liverpool from July 9th. They will be a part of a show I am, Magnificent Seven, with six other illustrators based in Liverpool. We formed as a group during a residency in the Bluecoat's print studio this Spring.

Thanks to Andy and Hannah for lending me their camera. Thanks to Emma for teaching me how to print, I will always be in debt to you for it. Thanks to Jesse, so much.

Thank you Jill, for writing this story.

the birthday

2009-06-24T21:36:00.005+01:00

I have been very busy lately, with traveling to Dublin, getting over a cold, changing flat bike tires, and making books! This book business has been a successful project and I am almost finished with it. My good friend, Miss Jill Tomasetti, has written a story for me and I have illustrated it using my newly aquired printmaking skills. This is the first story that I have illustrated from beginning to end and I chose to make them etchings, which is a techinque that suits my style really well. The line quality is amazing!

The story is called The Birthday and is about a girl who goes to the park on her birthday. It is a unique and simple story that I made seven illustrations for.

"What do you think, Isis?" she said to the small bird under her bed.

The plan: I decided to make eight books, four of which will be the original prints on printmaking paper and four inkjet copies on high quality paper. So far I have made two of each, and hope to construct the rest this weekend.

"Her feet soon led her to the park, where a friendly little dog noticed her crown and wished her many happy returns of the day."

This past weekend was the second Liverpool Artists' Book Fair, where I shared a table with my friend Jo Moore. I showed my books there and get very good feedback from the visitors and other book artists. I also made cards with my illustrations on them and brought the bookmarks that I made last year, both of which sold well and it was encouraging. The weekend was fun and I was inspired, so I plan to get involved with the book arts fair in Manchester this fall.

Go books!

I promise to post photos of the books as soon as I get my hands on a digital camera. They really must be seen to be understood, words just won't do. Jill's story is wonderful and I'm going to send much simpler versions of the book to children's book publishers. Why not?

forever

2009-06-03T16:28:00.003+01:00

A very good friend of mine is getting married and commissioned me to design her wedding invitations. This is the 'Save the Date' card without the text. The couple bicycle a lot and I thought it was fitting to draw in a cute three speed!

Here is the invitation: two bicycles, a tall tree, birds, leaves on the tree... all good things. The couple are going to add text to this one as well. It will be folded three times and put into square envelopes. I can't wait to get one in the mail! Unfortunetly, Jesse and I won't be able to go to the wedding because we're living in England. It will be wonderful I know! I'm also creating a marraige contract for them, which all their guests will sign. It's a lovely Quaker tradition and I am so glad that I am able to be a part of it.

i really like these owls that i've got going here

2009-05-28T10:49:00.000+01:00

These are two more owl prints. In total there are around 12 and I plan to make several more in various colors. I've been mixing ink and making greens, browns and blues. When they are printed the colors are subtle and look really nice on the cream paper. I gave the one with the crowns to a friend of mine for his birthday! The blue one went to a charity exhibition, called Go Pink&Blue, which is raising money to fight female and male related cancers. The private view is tonight! The exhibition will be up until mid July.

http://www.gopinkandblue.com/

I am also part of a group exhibition in July, showing with the illustrators group from the print studio. Our show is at Editions gallery in Liverpool and will begin July 9th, lasting three weeks.

Check it out if you are in the area and looking to see some really nice work!

http://www.editionsltd.net

joan

2009-05-06T17:08:00.000+01:00

These are my first silk-screen stencil prints! Using paper stencils, and I have to say that I am proud of my first attempt. The uneven color and the off register shapes are all so interesting.

I have used silk screen printing since my years at summer camp (starting with a heart shape on a tie-dye tshirt) as well as a few times in college, but I was using a stop-out liquid. It is a very different way of working with the screen and I was unsure about the quality of my paper shapes and the fact that my work is usually so line based. The method is simple, though you need to really pay attention to the positive and negative, and the order in which you print. It was my intention to add a third color to this, but I am actually really happy with it as it is.

Thanks Jane, For giving us such a great introduction!

ps. this is Joan Baez, one of my favorite singers. I drew this from a video of a 1960s concert.

newsite

2009-04-30T21:17:00.001+01:00

My website has been redesigned and updated, so please have a look! Cheers to Phil Marsden for helping me so much with it.

www.marylundquist.com

And Phil's comics and illustrations are great so go to his website too!

http://www.phillipmarsden.com/index.html

mimus polyglottos

2009-04-23T18:11:00.000+01:00

Yes, another Walt Whitman print. I have been making variations, trying different colored tissue paper and printmaking paper. This is my favorite of all, yellow and blue on cream paper. The inked lines are thin in some areas, though I like it because it's subtle and delicate. Isn't it neat how the bird is off the mark?

This is a gum arabic transfer print, made with a wax crayon and using blue ink. That's Rhonda who is in "tuesday morning illustrators" at the print studio. This technique is great for a loose and sketchy print, recording the scratchy wax drawing.
This is a Northern Mockingbird! Looking a bit worried.

oh, walt

2009-04-10T16:34:00.000+01:00

Two new prints. The top one is a portrait of Walt Whitman, the American poet. It's an etching with chine colle and I plan to do more with it in the future. The bottom print is a aluminium drypoint. The printmaking class is over and now we have 6 weeks to use the studio for ourselves, which I am really excited about! More prints to come...

new prints

2009-03-29T18:39:00.000+01:00

Here are two more prints I've made in the print course. The one on top is a drypoint and I really like the way it came out. My intention was to use the strong dark lines to compress the space, making the scene seem very close, almost right up against the frame. I love how the drypoint gives you such dark values.

The print on the bottom a soft ground etching, so the lines are softer, like vine charcoal. I drew it quickly and am happy with this print, though later I used an aqautint technique to add different shades and the result wasn't as strong as this first print. It is a sort of small homage to Shel Silvertein, one of my favorite illustrators whose work helped to shaped me in my early years.

www.shelsilvertein.com

new type of drawing

2009-03-18T19:11:00.000Z

The illustrators printmaking course which I am participating in is going very well. I'm challenged to work in ways that are backwards, complicated and unkown to me. The difficulties have produced some surprises and I am learning from it all. It seems like we've done so much, monoprints, etching, aqautints, drypoint, but I know full well that this is only scratching the surface of the possibilities of printmaking.

The thing I like the most so far is this strange distance between the time that you make marks in the plate, or card, or paper, and the point at which the print comes off the press.

This is my first drypoint print and a very unrealistic portrait of my friend Keiron, who was sitting across from me. I like it.

golden sea

2009-03-08T18:20:00.000Z

Lately I have been slowing down, making more deliberate, planned, worked and re-worked images. This is a painting I did today from several sketches on the same theme.

I'd be glad to hear what people think of it.

etching no. one

2009-03-03T16:16:00.000Z

This is my very first etching ever! I am honored to have been invited to be a part of a class of illustrators at the Bluecoat print studio. The course is lead by Emma Gregory and she is teaching seven Liverpool based illustrators how to use non-toxic intaglio printing processes. What an amazing opportunity! Today was our second meeting and printed our etchings. Last week we used monotypes and next week will be aquatints. Below is a monoprint: the original print on newsprint to right and the final print on the left.

anchor coffee co.

2009-02-24T19:26:00.000Z

No, I'm not designing this for anyone except myself. And though I'd love to, I don't own a coffee company. This little sketch of a boat and anchor got me thinking about creating a packaging design for coffee beans, I'm not sure why. It was fun and I quite like it because I was able to make it look like a print.

This logo happens to be for an actual cafe! The owners and I have been working together and this is almost the final design. I've also done the digits and the whole spanish alphabet in this font for them to use as they will. I'll post the final logo when it's done.

cafe verde

2009-01-26T23:09:00.000Z

Some sketches for Cafe Verde!

mona

2009-01-18T14:24:00.000Z

This is a new painting and the sketch it was inspired by. It is interesting to see them together because each has its own unique character. It also makes obvious the things that can get lost in translation. The figure in the sketch is more expressive, which is often the case, and I am trying to bring the same amount of personality into the finish.

The colors! They are the redeaming factor in the case for the paintings. For this peice I have taken up acrylic, which I haven't used for several months. The paint brought this little woman to life! My favorite part of this is the leafy bit on the bottom, but I am also pleased with the figure and her hair.

This is Aladdin, though only after the fact. It is another situation where I tried to maintain the feeling of the simple pencil drawing and in this case I'm very happy with the likeness.

farm logo

2009-01-11T14:43:00.000Z

I have been commissioned to design a logo for Jesse's Aunt Betty. She has a farm in Maine and is going to begin marketing her fleeces online through Maine Fleece Coalition, so she asked me to come up with a logo! I am having a lot of fun drawing the sheep and also the coils of wool. I found references on the internet of sheep, but I drew these ones from my imagination. For the coil design I used a scarf of my own so that I could get an original shape. One of the most difficult parts of using Photoshop is that there are endless possibilities! Betty will decide which of these she likes the best and then I will refine it into a final design.

If anyone is interested in having a design or illustration done, please ask me about a commission. It would be wonderful if I could have a job like this going on all the time, or several at a time!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-21T13:20:00.000Z

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Here is a little angel that I drew for email Christmas cards, maybe I'll get a printer next year and send them by post.

Our Christmas tree! I was determined to make one for our flat, and here it is! It stands about a foot and a half, made of cardboard and paper. The green stuff is hand made paper I bought and also brown paper painted green with acrylic. The stars are paper too! Yellow on one side and a map of Great Britain on the other. This tree is around 80% recycled material!

Jesse added an ornament: my name tag from Thanksgiving!

As you can see, there is not one snow flake in all of Liverpool. This is my window sill, a sad winter sight for us New Englanders! These past few days have been drizzly, windy, and warm enough to go without a coat. I hear that snow does fall here, rarely. The closest I have witnessed is hale, which looked like snow at first, but just bounced on the ground and melted! As you can tell, I miss New England and wish we could be there for the holidays. Maybe next year!

tall tree

2008-12-02T19:46:00.000Z

This is a new little painting. I made it for the Christmas Presence exhibition at the Bridewell and I'm really happy with how it came out! There is a frame for it, which separates the three sections. They fit together correctly when it's framed, but I like the disjointed way this looks. The middle is my favorite part.

Panic and such

2008-12-01T20:38:00.000Z

Well our exhibition is up at Wolstenholme Projects and I am quite happy with how it turned out. The private view was lots of fun and I want to thank everyone for coming! Hannah is doing a week long residency at the Bluecoat this week called "eight days a week" so check it out if you can. Also the Bridewell Christmas market is this Saturday, I am helping out with it (as a part of my internship duty) and will also have a table there with handmade cards, books, and bookmarks. There will be an exhibition sale as well, so check it out! Get in the holiday spirit with some mulled wine and caroling. I can't wait, really.

Some photos of our show at Wolstenholme.

over cape cod

2008-11-19T21:01:00.000Z

Another two pieces. These are about panic, like the others. The girl in the air, a dream of flying, looking at the curve of the earth (she is not panicking and has a pleasant emotion, perhaps just before the fright).

The blue winged thing is an angel. I have often felt an enormous sense of fear, ever since childhood, when thinking about heaven, hell, and angels. This is a representation of the mystic angel that is at the gates of paradise, and her sword. She is blue, like the gods you will see in Indian art, which I find interesting and unnerving.

shoot the moon

2008-11-18T16:27:00.001Z

This is a new piece for the show called "don't panic" . It is about the worries related to being a female, and specifically toxic shock syndrome, a terribly scary name for an equally scary disease. It is a contemplation of the moon, of death and of the fear about the horrible things that can happen to our bodies. The personal element is that my mother (among her many unreasonable fears) opposed the use of tampons, which can cause tss, and instilled a fear of them in me.

A few things

2008-11-04T16:41:00.000Z

There are so many things to do in the world! Here I've taken photos of a pillow and two new books. The quilt pattern on the pillow is called Tennessee Waltz and I made it using a sewing machine a while ago. I made one then for Jesse, and this one but never had the chance to finish it until now. The green border is hand stitched because I don't have a machine to use here, but I quite like how it came out and was successful in my "blind stitching".

Both of the books are pamphlet style and filled with graph paper. The design on the cover is a lino-cut, which I really like working with. I have been invited to share a table at a book arts fair in Liverpool, so I am starting to make more of them in order to sell and also a few personal books to show to people. It's so much fun!

The painting is a watercolor and based on a sketch I did at the veggie cafe on Lark Lane called Green Days. It was really nice how the cups and things were arranged on the table and how the shadows fell. Jesse was actually sitting there studying, but I cut him out!

Don't Panic

2008-11-01T20:13:00.000Z

Here are two new watercolors. The one of the woman in the bathtub is the first in a series I am making for a group show. Two friends and I are putting together a show at Wolstenholme Projects, Liverpool city centre, where one of them has a studio. The title is "Don't Panic!" and my intention is to convey the fear or anxiety that occur in dreams as well as strange moments of panic in waking life. My aim is to have a range of images, some quiet, some humorous, and some more on the nervous side. I hope to show the scope of the state called panic.

This "flower beard" is a man who I think fits into my panic theme, though I'm not sure he'll be in the show. He represents old age and the reverence I feel towards age and those who live well in it. His flowering beard is the beauty this man holds in the later season of his life. After awhile I saw the similarity between this piece and my "Don Quixote" (first post on this blog) which is pretty neat. It was completely unintentional and so I can suppose that this is just part of my thought which insists in being known!

Birdhouse

2008-10-26T08:48:00.000Z

Here are a few of the cards I have been making. My friend Hannah and I are working together on this project and planning to sell them at a local shop and at Christmas fairs. It's been really fun to work with linoleum prints and sewing. We are using mainly recycled or reused materials, which has been interesting and rewarding. They are all simple folded cards except the green one with the dark green ribbon, which is a pamphlet style book. I used paper from a sketchbook made from recycled paper for the inside pages and a road map of Britain for the end papers. Our little operation is called Birdhouse.

I'm excited about book arts still and am taking a workshop next month on binding, using recycled material of course!