Artwork of the Week: The Velveteen Rabbit

Endpapers from The Velveteen Rabbit illustrated by William Nicholson, 1922

We have three rabbits that like to hang around our yard. They're rather brazen too. Graham has gotten within a few feet of one of them, and they only slowly hop off when they decide they don't want to be bothered anymore. Though since they started work on our new screened-in porch, the bunnies have been pretty scarce. I will probably rue saying this once we've planted a garden, but I miss seeing those little guys on the daily. It makes me feel like we live in a Disney movie. 

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Forest

Forest by Jean Jullien 

Giclée print £200.00 via jeanjullien.com

It was mild and sunny all weekend, a welcome reprieve from the frosty New York we visited last week. On Saturday we took a stroll to see our soon-to-be new house, walking slowly past the property while pointing out where we'll someday plant new trees and dig a garden. I hope the current owners weren't home. That probably seemed pretty creepy. 

The smell of spring in the air has really got me excited for green! And this print by illustrator Jean Jullien is full of it. You can see more of the illustrator's work on his website: www.jeanjullien.com

- Cathleen   

Artwork of the Week: Visit My Web Site

Visit My Web Site by Charley Harper, 2003

When we left Brooklyn, we finally said goodbye to the little cockroaches that darted across the countertops every time we flipped the kitchen lights on. The new house in Durham has it's own breed of home invaders, however. Spiders sit poised in every corner of this place. I wouldn't say that I'm afraid of bugs, in fact, most of the time I just look the other way. As long as they're not bothering me, I won't bother them. But now that there's a baby crawling around putting all of the things straight into his mouth, I'm trying to keep a tidier house. So I started dust-busting the spiders up, thinking it would be the most effective means to their end and involve the least hand-to-hand combat. Big mistake. When Micky decided it was time to empty out the Dirt Devil last week, they all came crawling out ALIVE AND WELL. I didn't see, but I imagined it probably looked like a giant spider king made of a bunch of smaller angry spiders and I was so grateful he was there to wrestle each one of their spindly legs into the garbage.

Despite my aversion to webs and the cobs that spin them, this is my favorite work by illustrator Charley Harper. The bee stuck in the bottom left of the spider's silk is the very same that I considered getting as a tattoo. 

A lithograph of his original painting is available for $75 on charleyharperartstudio.com.

- Cathleen 

Artwork of the Week: Milk

Milk. There really is nothing better. 

This wholesome illustration by Thomas Slater really speaks to me with its straightforward simplicity, and has inspired me to make a couple New Year's resolutions of my own: more milk drinking! But really, more healthy living in general. If pregnancy has taught me anything, it's that it isn't that hard to make the right choices. Having to do it for the little person growing inside me has certainly made it more compelling, but I should be doing this stuff for ME too. And I will!

Also! In the same vein, clearing away the clutter from my life. Yes, we need to make way for baby, but I once read somewhere that clutter causes stress and stress causes cancer (ah! found it!)—an overly simplistic and rather alarmist view of things, I know, but it makes sense. These things I keep "just in case" are only weighing me down and it's time to GET RID! 

And more drawing this year! Slater's confident hand makes it look so easy. Why do I let myself get intimidated by a blank page when I could certainly turn out something as effortless and direct as this? Yes! Yes to all of these things! 

What are you resolving to do this year? 

- Cathleen 

One Stop Shopping with Sarah McNeil

Mittens No. 18 & 12

$68 a pair from SarahMcNeil on Etsy

You guys ready for Cyber Monday? I've already started in on my Christmas shopping, and really want to give the gift of handmade this year. Illustrator and maker of lovely things, Sarah McNeil has a little something for everyone in that department. Beautiful hand knit mittens in perfect shades of pink, gray and mint green. Original flora and fauna illustrations and prints. Funny eyeball stickers. Clever graphic zines. Fuzzy animal brooches. And thoughtful commissioned pet portraits. 

You can see more of Sarah's work on her website www.400pencils.com

And purchase her handiwork directly from her Etsy shop: SarahMcNeil

Trying to be Happy a Lot of the Time and Fox and Fir Giclee Print Set

14cm x 12.3cm, with 0.5cm borders and a 1.5cm border at the bottom

$40 from SarahMcNeil on Etsy

Updated Report of Observations Which Seem to Reflect Abstractly on Life Zine

$4 from SarahMcNeil on Etsy

Hand Cut/Drawn Eye Stickers

$16 from SarahMcNeil on Etsy

Commissioned Pet Portrait

$200 from SarahMcNeil on Etsy 

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Kimberley Laurenti

Cute Plant, $39 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Kimberley Laurenti is the painter/illustrator/sculptor extraordinaire responsible for these cute little guys. She has two Etsy shops: Herman Marie, where the first five of these flat wall sculptures hang out, and My Grey Sky, where she features the rest of her 3-D Mooks and 1-D prints. Though there is a distinct difference in color and content between the two stores—one's a bit brighter and more whimsical, while the other strays into slightly darker territory—you can definitely tell they were made by the same funny hand. Kimberley lives in Florida and has a blog that she occasionally updates with sweet shots from her daily life and sneak peeks of what's soon to be in store. You can check it out here: www.ilovegreyskies.blogspot.com

Two Orange Snakes, $56 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Yellow Bear with Bow Tie, $46 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Anatomical Art, $56 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Egg Cups, $55 via HermanMarie on Etsy

Bear Hood Mook, $36 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

Mook Love Print, $15 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

Wolk Mooks, Mounted, $40 via ilovegreyskies on Etsy

- Cathleen 

Artist of the Week: Charlotte Trounce

 

 Charlotte Trounce is an illustrator based in London whose drawings are as light and fresh as an exhilarating dip in a cool pool followed by a juicy hunk of watermelon. Mmm. Truly the best sensations of summer! I especially swooned over the distinct pulp-y line work of the slice of fruit below. So simple, so perfect. 

 

I so love illustrated recipes. 

Rice Pudding Tea Towel, collaboration with Found Bath, on sale here

Cheeky alphabet,

 inspired by the 2012 Olympics

From peach to pit,

James and the Giant Peach book cover 

You can see more examples of the artist's work on her website charlottetrounce.co.uk and her blog charlottetrounce.tumblr.com.

- Cathleen 

[All images courtesy of the artist's websites and Pinterest.]

Artist of the Week: Faye Moorhouse

Forty Faces Print - 8/40, 10 GBP on Etsy

This week we bring you the work of UK artist and illustrator Faye Moorhouse: moody, expressive, and dark, with an edge of humor and whimsy. I like.

Mankini - Articulated Paper Doll Kit, 5 GBP on Etsy 

Arms for Dinner - Original Collage/Illustration, 75 GBP on Etsy

Grave Robber 001 - Original Illustration, 75 GBP on Etsy

Drawing from the Swimmers Series 

Illustration of Paralympic Oscar Pistorius 

surrounding the London 2012 Olympics

- Cathleen

[First four images via Faye's Etsy shop, Faye Moorhouse Illustration, last two via her website (fayemoorhouse.co.uk)]

Vesa Sammalisto

First and Foremost, Happy Birthday to the Bestie of all Besties! Catie! Who turns 31 today. We've known each other so long that I went to her 13th birthday and wore a REALLY wrinkly vest. Yeah, that was hot then. We have only one photo of that day and you can see me with some EPIC eyebrows and Catie with some crooked liquid eyeliner. It was a pretty fabulous birthday party.

So onto art.

Vesa Sammalisto is a Finnish illustrator working out of Berlin, Germany. He creates clean illustrations that are a pleasure to look at. Here are some of his alphabet illustrations:

I can't lie, I'm confused by the letter U. When in the heck did Santa have anything to do with the letter U? Also W makes me uncomfortable with all those veins. 

Moving on! Vesa also does illustrations for companies and their marketing needs. Here are a couple of my favorites (sans U Santas and veiny Ws).

Pretty cool.

Enjoy your weekend!

-Grace