pining and waiting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

 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

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

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...

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

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...