Chinese Bell Flowers

I hope everyone had a really fantastic holiday weekend!
I have been grateful for all of the craziness, the visits from my family, and the projects that I have going on.

In fact, here's one of them.
Here's a little floral study that I did for the wonderful Wendi Chen.
I've had the pleasure of feeling pretty productive over the last several days despite having the holiday-lag following me about!

Besides preparing for the upcoming shows at Light Grey Art Lab and finishing the rest of my commissions (thank you, everyone!) I've been swamped!
MCAD ends in just about two weeks and I'm feeling like, despite how much work this past semester has been, I'm really going to miss it when it's over.
I'm looking forward to sitting down, getting a ton more work done and really cranking out a ton of the stories and code that is for the upcoming Great Personality Exhibition (happening in January!)

Well, wish me luck! Francesca and I had the opportunity to update the website on Friday evening, and we've recently included some projects that I'm really proud to add! Here's a link if you're curious!

Sketchbook, you are growing on me.

One of my latest sketches

I've made some progress lately. I was paging through my sketchbook and realized the other day that I've had this one for about a year and a half. I've become painfully aware that I am a slow sketcher. I have always had this problem with trying to make everything in my sketchbook perfect rather than just embracing some of the weird, bizarre or spontaneous things that come with just trying things out.

In the last several months, though, I've been sketching regularly - both in my personal sketchbook, for fun, and for the upcoming Sketchbook Project 1703 Miles and Back Tour. Everyone at Light Grey got one and so we decided that we'd be working away at making something fun, while being okay with whatever interesting and crazy things came out of it.

This little bird was a doodle I made while I was playing D&D last Saturday with a group of friends. It had been a really long time since I sketched and hung out, and even longer since I played D&D. Hooray for sketching and hooray for hanging out. Two things I am excited to do more of!

I have a list of commissions (Thank you!) from some amazingly wonderful people that I'll be sharing here as I complete them.
Thanks to everyone that donated or comissioned me to help me pay for Oliver's (my kitty!) treatment.
I'm still taking orders! :) Here's a quick link in case you know anyone who might want a pretty drawing!

Vanilla Flowers, winding!

Tried something new tonight!

So - here's another new approach to pattern-making. I'm teaching an advanced pattern-making class at MCAD in a couple weeks and I've been trying all of these new ways of putting patterns together. It's been a blast trying to figure it out but it was definitely a challenge!

I tried a pattern with a couple layers this time - large foliage in the background, and smaller bits in the front. There are actually three layers that went into this and surprisingly, I started with some swirly vine things and went from there!

I had a great time making it - sorry for the huge size, but I had to make a tall one to make it work! Hopefully it just makes the detail easier to see.

What was interesting about this process was that I started out having to sketch the whole thing out before tossing it in the computer. This is certainly a new thing for me - as I usually just make a bunch of icons that are nice together and toss them. This time I had to puzzle piece the whole thing together before hand. It was actually really nice.

I am really interested in doing some HUGE patterns. I'm sure you may have noticed that there posts are taller! The more I get into these, the bigger they're getting, and the more room I need to make these complex things look good! I think I'll try some kind of damask pattern in one of my next patterns. I'd really like to see if I can make a new method for those, too!

Olive.

Close-up of the inked detail

I have been spending quite a bit of time working in my sketchbook these days. I spent my Friday night sketching away amongst a bunch of talented people. We worked through the night on our different projects and I found myself craving a little bit of hands-on art making rather than my purely digital process.

I did a pattern the 'good ol fashioned way' this time, where I inked each layer separately, then compiled them together in the computer and colored them.


The repeat tile

I'm really enjoying letting the inky brush strokes show on these and backed by a dark background you really see it.

This pattern is inspired by the olive flower. I really like the shape of the leaves more than anything, so I did something a little viney -- reminiscent of a wall paper pattern.


And here it is repeated

School just ended this week. Another semester is over and I'm feeling a little sad from it all. It's funny -- I've felt the same way every time another semester goes by. From the time I got out of school to now, it feels the same. I miss all of those people that I got close to over the semester. I won't get to see some of them until the new year, and some of them I may never get to see again for a long while -- or ever.

Waah, maybe it's the music I have on right now, or maybe it's because it's 3am and I'm finally posting this pattern before I head to bed, but whatever the case, I was just thinking about those guys. I had an amazing last day of class with everyone. I suppose nothing can last forever. I'll just be thankful I got to share the semester with everyone. It was a blast.

Want this pattern in my bathroom. 101florals: Tiger lily

I got to visit the Animal Humane society earlier today with Chris (one of my favorite places to visit, but one of the hardest places to leave!) and was excited to see that on our way in a couple was coming out with a new friend! There- we found a little nine-month-old siamese mix that looks just like our kitty, Jadey.

It took all of my will-power not to walk out with him! They would have made great friends! For those of you that are wondering why I couldn't bring myself to get another kitty -- it's because I definitely have my fair share of cats at home. And the dogs. -- Don't forget about those dogs.

Still, I fall in love with every single cat that I meet! Even the naughty ones!



I am really looking forward to a little bit of a slower week this week.
We have one class for CVA tomorrow - and another one for MCAD tomorrow night, but then Thanksgiving break starts. I'm a little surprised! It totally snuck up on me.

I'm thinking that while I have some time, I might just get a little personal art done. I was thinking of starting a couple new pieces. I'm not sure yet if they'll be digital or if I want to do some kind of traditional-media / digital hybrid.... or what.

I'm sure I'll figure it out! Oh yes. And - I still want to draw a million little cute pieces of food / creatures. That's what I get for playing Megu!

101 florals : Clematis, forever zen

So, yes, I took a couple liberties on color here with this Clematis, but I think this pattern is better for it.

The whole time I was making this pattern I was practically in a trance- fueled by streaming meditation music from one of my new favorite channels on the radio. I walked around Uptown with my good friend, Francesca, doing the coffee-shop tour of Minneapolis as she snapped pictures of colorful fixies.

We crawled around Uptown, Minneapolis, handing out flier after flier for an upcoming show at our gallery, when we finally stopped into a store I had been wanting to visit for nearly a year.


Detail shot of the color-against-color work

My sister laughed at me later when I told her that I stopped in to Eye of Horus, a local shop for people interested in the occult, tarot, and things of the like. Though I got a chuckle or two from her, I was super excited that I had finally gotten the chance to go in. The place was filled with crystals, tons of books on all of the subjects I'm interested in right now, and all sorts of neat things. The women that ran the store were awesome, and calming.
Francesca told me afterward that one of the women had "one of those voices" - where you just want them to talk at you for days.

I had a 10 minute Reiki session with one of the ladies at the shop, and went on my merry way with a new deck of Tarot Cards and a book about Witches in 1800s Europe.


The sketch that started it all

I guess the point of me telling this story is to explain the feeling I got while making this piece. It was meditative, to say the least. I'm sure after a day of being in zen mode, I was ready to make some art that reflected my thoughts. And here it is!


(cross-posted with the 101florals blog! )

Daily Pattern : 60s bedsheets, only $30 on Ebay

Topic: Ditzy

I was waiting for a conference call tonight from a client in China tonight. I had about 20 minutes to kill, so I went to one of my usual internet haunts, Ebay. I have a tendency to horde everything from the 40s through the 70s. Anything paper, fabric, or what have you. Mostly all the stuff with vintage illustrations or patterns on them. I put a bid in tonight for a wallpaper swatch book from the 60s. I just couldn't help it.
My ditzy pattern tonight was inspired by all the sweet sweet goods I found. I love it so much. Donations, anyone? I'll gladly take your old 60s paraphernalia off your hands.

Daily Pattern: Bodega

Topic: ditzy/calico

“This pattern is dedicated to all of the flowers in NYC that are dyed unnatural shades of turquoise, and sold at many of the delis - AKA bodegas - in every neighborhood in the city. Very strange to see but still very pretty in a vase on my coffee table!”

-Erin

Daily Pattern: Marigolds

The last floral pattern was so much fun that I was glad to have another opportunity. The bike ride to work is through some really lovely residential gardens. This week I noticed some people have their boulevards lined with marigolds–really pretty (kind of smelly) flowers. The coolest thing about marigolds, though, is when they dry up and you can harvest their seeds from the little pocket beneath the blossom.

Daily Pattern: Jasmine Flowers

There are three kinds of flowers that I love to eat/drink (consume?) The first favorite of these is lavender. I almost did a pattern about lavender, then I realized I already did one. The next favorite is jasmine and the third is rose. So I sat down with a pot of (jasmine) tea and made this pattern.

Daily Pattern : Burst

The heading of this post perfectly describes the feeling I have. It's the end of the week (sort of) and I feel like I've been pushed to the max. It's not that I haven't enjoyed it, it's more that I am getting ready for some major things this week and it's a lot to handle at once! I am teaching class tomorrow which will be a blast, so I am welcoming that with open arms. Does it ever seem like the older you get, the faster time passes? Someone told me that once and for some reason I'm believing it. I also think that the internet might have something to do with that feeling. Just a hunch.

Also - what's up with all this old talk all over the place!? Hm...

Daily Pattern: Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Every Rose Has Its Thorn, by Poison, has always held a special place in my heart. My older sister Sarah introduced the song to me as a very young child, but it's become a staple for everyone in our house since.

I've known the lyrics since before I can remember and it's a go-to song at karaoke (hater's gonna hate). I always sing it with more feeling than it probably deserves.

Daily Pattern: Rain Boots

editor's note: We'd like to introduce you to a brand new contributor: say hello to Marie Buffet! You can look at more of her work at her blog!

My name is Marie. I live in Paris but I am from the south of France, from a city called the Pink city (Toulouse).
I am 26 years old and I am the mummy of a sweet sweet little girl. It is thanks to her that I started designing patterns!
I have launched my own swimwear brand with a friend (www.helluh.fr), and I am also a graphic designer for fashion and furniture.

When I read the topic "boots", I immediately thought of one of my favorite childhood cartoons, "Mimi Cracra". It's about a little girl who loves to jump in puddles!
So I started to design these boots jumping, picking flowers etc.

-Marie

Daily Pattern: Flower Bulbs

I already did a lightbulb pattern sort of recently so I wanted to put a twist on the bulb theme, so I thought flowers that grow from bulbs would be a reasonable solution.

Daily Pattern: Pixel Lotus

Pixel lotus flowers? Whaaaaaa?

I was planning on doing a pixel pattern featuring Street Fighter's Dhalsim and his Yoga Fire... Yoga Fire... Yoga FLAME!

But then I made a celebratory 100th Daily Pattern, er, pattern and I decided I didn't have enough time to go into the painstaking detail needed for Dhalsim and his flaming awesome.

So I settled on lotus flowers (ala the Lotus Pose) but I was stuck in the pixel mindset. And that's how I got here.



But maybe yoga and video games do have more in common than you might think... I know I get into a pretty Zen state when I'm playing Battlefield.

Just ask Lindsay, she tries to throw popcorn my in slack-jawed mouth.

Daily Pattern - Tulip

Much like Spring this year, this daily pattern is a little late.
It's been a while since I've posted anything on here. For more info on my daily patterns go to my blog to hear all about it!

Daily Pattern: Tulip

Phew! Running a little late, but this one's icons were a little more time intensive than I thought they would be. Tulips always struck me as being flowers that fall pretty hard when they're destroyed. Pets + Tulips=destruction.


Francesca Buchko

Daily Pattern - Tulip

Here's the world's most technicolor of all tulip patterns. I was thinking about the last couple days and how rainy they've been. There are a handful of tulips growing in my sad garden out front. They're looking pretty healthy! - - Unlike the plant that was living on my sill in the studio. (I walked in today to find it dried up and crunchy... whoops). There you have it! Late night pattern making FTW!

Daily Pattern for Saturday & Off to NYC

Happy Saturday!
In lieu of another topic, I am throwing this pattern out there as an obligatory "Saturday" pattern. Everyone at Paper Bicycle is headed out to New York today to eat cupcakes and attend the New York Stationery Show / Surtex. I'm psyched because we've been on a hot-dog search and destroy mission, and I got some amazing recommendations for the best of the best hotdogs in Manhattan. Wish us luck and good weather. Most of us will be trying to stay dry and keep our knees from hurting from all the exercise.