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Art on the Go: Art School – Line Basics: Hatch and Marks to Imply Light and Dimension
Hatching or adding hatch marks is a technique used to add dimension and tonality to line art. It adds dimension to a simple line drawing by implying light and shadow. The hatch marks are used to indicated the shadow. It also adds tonality (or a range of tones) to a simple line drawing creating more interest. Hatch lines or marks are a simple and easy way to add pop to your everyday line art. Examples of Different Hatch Marks There are several different ways to create hatch marks. Below are 9 different examples, yet don’t let this list limit you. These are just some of the basic hatching marks, but…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Alluring Istanbul Collection
Istanbul, Turkey is one of my most favorite cities in the world. The “East meets West” concept is so incredibly alluring. By just driving over the famed Bosphorus Bridge, one can be transported from the continent of Europe to the continent of Asia! This bridging concept runs much deeper than just the driving across a river, though. The East/West connection can be seen in the art, architecture, culture and warm hospitality of its inhabitants. I enjoyed creating these Istanbul illustrations and patterns and capturing this spectacular city. From the signature Turkish tile seen throughout the buildings and mosques to precious floral details, I’ve highlighting the vivid colors, motifs and architecture…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Paris Floral Collection
Paris is so iconic. From the Eiffel Tower to the cafe chairs, I love how a city can be represented by just a few simple line drawings. How in the instant you see the drawing, you know exactly where you are. I created this Paris Floral collection with this notion in mind. When ever I’ve visited Paris, I can spend many days just wandering the streets, snapping pictures of decorative windows, lamp posts, mansard roofs and gargoyles. Add some fanciful florals that you might see in Luxembourg Gardens, at Marché aux Fleurs (Paris Bird Market), or in a simple window box and voila, beautiful Paris! If you are interested in…
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Art on the Go: Art School: Line Basics – Blind Contour Drawings
A blind contour drawing is where you only look at the object you are drawing, and not at the paper you are drawing on. The purpose of this type of drawing is to have your brain focus solely on the object – to really look at it and see it for all it’s details. Obviously, since you are not looking at your paper, it doesn’t always translate like you expect, but sometimes these haphazard drawings can be quite fun. Blind contours also have the benefit of improving your eye hand coordination. It’s a simple art exercise that does not take much time, but can build your drawing skills and produce…
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On Location: Artist Homes – Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Mexico City
Located in the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City, Casa Azul (the Blue House) is the birthplace of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. It is also the home where she grew up and spent many years with her husband Diego Rivera, and eventually died. The home is now a museum containing artworks from both artists as well as many personal items and memorabilia as well as Mexican folk art. One would say the home is as colorful as it’s inhabitants were. Frida led a somewhat tragic life with a horrible accident as a young woman that left her with a lifetime of pain, yet she continued to fill the world with…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Bella Italia Collection
I have yet to meet someone who has traveled to Italy and hasn’t fallen in love with the country. Whether it’s the incredible Italian food, the enchanting piazzas, the historic sites, the Mediterranean cypress blowing in the breeze, or just the earth-toned patina that graces every wall and building, there is lots to love in Italy. Here is a collection of patterns and illustrations I created, called Bella Italia, that celebrate the good life in Italy! If you are interested in licensing the illustrations or patterns in this collection, please contact me for details.
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Illustration News: New Road Trip Sticker Pack for Pic Collage App
I’m sure many of you know– I am a huge fan of a good road trip! There’s just nothing like packing up your car and heading out onto the long highway to places unknown (or known!) I’m excited to announce that I’m bringing my illustrations (and love of road trips) to your phones! I’m having a great time working with the app, Pic Collage and licensing sticker pack art for them in various themes. The stickers are used in their app to embellish the photos you take when you are out and about. This road trip theme was my first foray in illustrations for phones, and I’m looking forward to…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Swedish Folk Collection
Before we went to Sweden, I took in as many books and stories as I could about Swedish culture. Immersing myself in all-things-Swedish really got me excited to explore the country and see if what I had read had merit. One book I read talked about some Swedish folk traditions that I couldn’t wait to draw, the dala horse, love spoons and the traditional folk art style known as kurbits. I loved learning the history of these Swedish art forms. Here are some high level details of each folk tradition I drew below. Kurbits is a form of folk style ornamental painting originating in Dalarna, Sweden. Initially Kurbits motifs were…
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On Location: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles– the city of Angeles – the place where dreams do come true – la la land… Los Angeles is just, so LA! Being born and raised in Northern California gives me a little different perspective on LA. Although I do have a bias of which half of the state is “better,” I can truly say that I really do love Los Angeles too. It has such a different attitude than Northern California. It definitely imbibes so much of what “the industry” portrays (the stars, the culture, the trendy scenes) but also has it’s own unique LA flavor in many of the lesser touristy neighborhoods such as Echo Park,…
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Wanderlust Patterns: Camping Adventure
Summertime is made for camping! I’m lucky enough to have grown up and lived in some amazing areas in the West coast that offer incredible camping experiences. From sleeping under the tall redwoods of Northern California, to camping by a lake in the Sierras, there are just too many camping opportunities to list! To share my love for camping in the outdoors, I created this camping collection – a playful, hand drawn group of patterns and illustrations filled with iconography of the camping world, from wood textures to topo maps. If you are interested in licensing the illustrations or patterns in this collection, please contact me for details.
