Brought to you by the Letter "E"

Pyrographs from Etsuko Ichikawa

2011-10-24T21:53:00.003-05:00

Heading Home

2011-08-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

Finally heading back to Chicago today after two months of being away. Working from the west coast for the summer was a blast. I’m so incredibly thankful that I was able to have that experience of being in Portland, and then working with Tomorrow Partners. Everyone I’ve had the good fortune to meet has been awesome.

Berkeley Bound!

2011-07-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Flying from Portland, OR to Berkeley, CA today, to work for the amazing design group Tomorrow Partners. I’ll be working in living in Berkeley for a month, till the end of August. San Francisco/Berkeley peeps, feel free to drop me a line if you want to hang out! email: elaine@elainefong.com

Michelle Aramas

2011-07-08T17:03:00.004-05:00

http://armasdesign.blogspot.com/

all images belong to Michelle Aramas

currently listening to: TelePopMusik

Hot Pink Heaven

2011-06-23T19:32:00.006-05:00

Sammy’s Flowers on NW Glisan in the Pearl

currently listening to: Sonic Youth

Fremont Bridge

2011-06-23T13:04:00.001-05:00

Mary Blair

2011-06-22T19:37:00.004-05:00

Color, charm, wonder, delight… I could go on about Mary Blair, the famous illustrator and designer for Walt Disney, who was also an illustrator and set designer for famous projects beyond the Disney dynasty. When I was a kid, I always admired her work in our Disney records, animations, movies, and rides — most notably my favorite ride, “It’s A Small World.”

Ah yes, this is one of those afternoons where I wish I had the magical drawing wrist of Mary Blair. That lady knew her color.

Store Fronts in Ballard

2011-06-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

On a recent trip to Seattle, we stopped in Ballard for some shopping. I loved all the type on the windows of these stores, who were perfectly next door to each other.

currently listening to: Mackintosh Braun

Julia Calabrese

2011-06-20T11:41:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we spent Sunday walking around the Mississippi/Albina area of Portland, and came across this beautiful window installation in the store front of Sunlan (a massive lightbulb shop). The piece was done by Julia Calabrese, who’s color and patterning I admire. You can view more of Julia’s work here: http://juliacalabrese.tumblr.com/

currently listening to: Mother Mother

And We’re Off!

2011-06-16T15:00:00.003-05:00

S and I are heading to Portland, Oregon today!!! I’ll be living and working remotely from PDX till July 17. Portlanders, drop me a line if you’d like to meet up sometime! e: elaine@elainefong.com

currently listening to: Tender Loving Empire’s “Friends & Friends of Friends” album vol. 3

From Bennington College

2011-06-15T22:01:00.002-05:00

The Colors of André Derain

2011-06-13T21:27:00.003-05:00

currently listening to: Cale Parks

2011-06-09T19:33:00.001-05:00

currently listening to: Radiation City

Type Yum

2011-06-08T20:15:00.003-05:00

currently listening to: Sera Cahoone

Awesome Wallpaper

2011-06-03T21:04:00.005-05:00

Vintage wallpaper from an old Victorian home in San Francisco. My friend Gail lives there and is house hunting, and I went along for the tour while I was visiting her in April. I went nutzo over the mushroom paper in the kitchen.

Tweaking This Thang

2011-06-01T19:39:00.007-05:00

This blog site is going to look a little off or weird for a bit. Since I only blog about my new projects, work, or process, working on this page has fallen to the bottom of the totem pole. But for now, I think small moves like color changes, increasing the width of the site, and a new header will do. All entries prior to today will visually look retarded, including this one. Oh well.

In the meantime, the above image is just something nice to look at. Lush flowers at the San Francisco Farmer’s Market. I went to SF last month for 10 days to work on Sleeping Colors, so that photo has relevance to me.

What I’m doing right now: taking care of my clients, getting my Kickstarter project for Sleeping Colors going, setting up an online shop, designing things to fill that online shop, getting ready to move into a new studio for my design work, setting up my old studio as a sewing room, and continuing to reach out to the awesome design community that is you.

Aaaand we’re going to Portland, Oregon for a 33 days in two weeks... Yowza! S and I will be living and working from PDX for the summer. I’m really excited! Any Portlanders who are reading this, drop me a line – I’d love to meet up with you over a fine cup of coffee or a craft brew, starting June 16. Email me: elaine@elainefong.com

currently listening to: Raphael Saadiq

My new website is UP!

2011-05-20T01:06:00.004-05:00

My new website is up and LIVE! Check it out! Coming up next: adding a Shop to the site so you can buy prints and randoms, and redesigning this here blog. Now it’s off to bed...

Downhill Bike Racing in Chile

2011-03-22T09:51:00.003-05:00

Downhill cycle racing in Chile braving jumps, stray dogs, flights of stairs and a steep downhill path. I love this video:

Sketch Detail

2011-03-18T18:58:00.007-05:00

Been working on a new index page for my site these last few days. Here’s a detail of what’s to come. Hopefully this will be go live by the end of the weekend...

While choosing a new typeface to best represent my name, I’ve realized the letter “G” was just as important as the “E”. Deciding I was a san serif was easy, but staring at the negative shapes in “ELAINE FONG” for too long made it all came down to these two elements:

currently listening to: Human League

Happy Friday + New Releases!

2011-03-11T14:15:00.006-06:00

It’s a whopping 45° in Chicago today! This is cause for celebration, as well and the release of two projects of mine:

Polyvinyl Records has announced the pre-order for Of Montreal's “Controller Sphere” EP today. I worked on the EP packaging/layout last December when we were staying at the Ace Hotel in Portland, OR. During our visit, I met the awesome folks at Tender Loving Empire, a new favorite label of mine. The EP is in traditional digipak, and the vinyl version has a beautiful flood coat of PMS 205C – a really nice, solid pink I chose to accent the artwork.

Also released today is the Of Montreal artist book that I've been working off and on for a while, called “What’s Weird?”. The book has a nice format for viewing: 11.75" square with 132 pages of colorful, intense paintings, sketches, and thoughtful anecdotes from artist David Barnes. His fantastical style of paintings allowed me to make some fun decisions for the book's typography, and fun design choices for the hardcover version of the book.

You can pre-order both the Controller Sphere EP and the What's Weird book here.

Hanging Plants

2011-01-13T17:27:00.004-06:00

How cool would it be, to have a few hanging planters holding herbs in your kitchen? Esp. if you have a loft-like space with lots of good lighting. I'll take five of these Sky Planters please.

currently listening to: Typhoon

Featured online in the “New York Times”

2010-11-30T20:01:00.004-06:00

Coolness! I just came across this September 2010 article in the New York Times, about the future of music packaging. One of the noted albums was Of Montreal’s “Skeletal Lamping”, (with a plug for their “False Priest” album as well.) I'm still very proud to have been a designer for the album and that whole campaign. Cheers to Polyvinyl and Of Montreal!

Good quotes from Kevin Barnes: “...and in the future, square CD packaging will be abandoned forever and only interesting art objects will fill record stores.”

You can read the article here!

Featured in “Better Homes & Garden”

2010-11-30T10:33:00.007-06:00

My “bowls recipe card” and “Marigold Paper” are featured in the latest Better Homes & Garden, holiday issue! Thanks to LB and LH for telling me about it. I never pick up that magazine myself, but I noticed this time around they did a redesign that is quite nice. The new style is reminiscent of “BluePrint” and “Domino”, two lifestyle magazines that many were sad to see fold. Cool that they considered Marigolds as a holiday wrap!

Quite Strong

2010-11-10T12:32:00.004-06:00

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Quite Strong for inviting me to their

“Lust List” of female designers and artists. I feel quite stronger for being a part of it!

Home is...

2010-11-05T10:35:00.002-05:00

This had me laughing out loud for some time – artist Johannes P. Osterhoff built the Mac OSX house icon, and took it around town. I loved how he completed the details of the house to perfection. So clever!

All photos belong to Johannes P. Osterhoff, and came from his flickr account. He maintains all his rights to his photos.

currently listening to: Junip

The Cove

2010-10-29T13:55:00.002-05:00

S and I watched this incredible documentary last night, “The Cove”, exposing the controversial dolphin killings in Taiji, Japan. I strongly urge everyone to watch the film to understand and learn more about it. It’s a heavy film, but an important one. Some things are better explained seen, than written:

Shoes never looked so good on paper

2010-10-28T16:42:00.003-05:00

I recently came across Bristol-based artist & illustrator David Brownings, and love his Nike pieces – so clever, colorful and well-crafted. Close friends know I’m a bit of a shoe collector... so it’s not a surprise that I like these unusual kicks. Love how he deconstructed a classic pop-culture fashion icon, and made it something more.

images from David Brownings’ site

currently listening to: Aceyalone & The Lonely Ones

Sculley on Jobs

2010-10-20T17:14:00.003-05:00

I loved reading this interview Cult of Mac conducted with John Sculley, former CEO of Apple, reflecting on his time there and sharing his insight on Jobs’ methodology. Really inspiring. Reminds you why companies succeed and why others fail.

This was one of (many of) my favorites from the article:

“The legendary statement about Microsoft, which is mostly true, is that they get it right the third time. Microsoft’s philosophy is to get it out there and fix it later. Steve would never do that. He doesn’t get anything out there until it is perfected.”

You can swap out Microsoft for any other company, small or large, and see it happens so often. And if you're a designer who cares enough, it’s painful to watch.

There’s also a great photo in the interview, of Steve Jobs in his younger years, looking a lot like Thomas Mars from Phoenix...

Speaking Event: “Creative Women”

2010-10-06T22:40:00.001-05:00

I'll be speaking at Columbia College's Portfolio Center, on a panel called “Creative Women”. My friend Margot Harrington from Pitch Design Union will be joining me, along with other creative ladies from the Chicago area.

Tuesday, October 12

starts at 6:30pm · 623 S. Wabash, Suite 307

Stop by if you can!

of Montreal “False Priest” album out today

2010-09-14T17:21:00.005-05:00

The new of Montreal album “False Priest” that I did design work for, is available for purchase today. The label gave me an early preview of it a few weeks ago, and it’s definitely a different sound – with Jon Brion as producer, featuring vocals from Janelle Monae and Solange Knowles.

The packaging ended up not being as intricate as the previous two albums, but there is a lot to be said for simplicity. Plus, this band has a lot more up their sleeve soon to be released… Stay tuned. For now, “False Priest” is all I can (finally) talk about:

Updates and Stats Are Long Overdue

2010-08-18T16:39:00.006-05:00

Sleep In

2010-08-18T16:25:00.004-05:00

I had a dream last night that S and I were going on a big trip to Colorado, via bicycles. As we were heading out, there was a huge crowd of people on the side lines cheering us on as if they were watching a parade.

This illustration doesn't depict what I saw or even remotely translates the dream, but somehow it sprang from it:

I think the dream meant we're about to embark on a new journey, and we have all the support in the world. Awesome.

currently listening to: The Roots

Barcelona, Spain

2010-05-06T21:08:00.015-05:00

3 days - Parks, museums, GAUDI, the Gothic corridor, seafood, tapas, soccer, Mies Van der Rhoe, El Ganso, graffitti, bicycling… Gaudi stole my heart. Everyone needs to see Sagrada Familia in their lifetime.

I want to learn fluent Spanish and live there.

Photos of Paris to come… S’s pics are better than mine.

Clear as a Broken Bell

2010-04-16T14:00:00.002-05:00

via AOL Interface and Spinner.com

Springtime in New York

2010-04-13T16:08:00.009-05:00

S wearing his tie out to dinner with friends.

Hamilton

2010-04-08T21:26:00.014-05:00

Some photos from last weekend's trip to Two Rivers, Wisconsin to visit the Hamilton Wood Type Museum. I had a blast printing, talking with Jim Moran, and taking in the whole experience of being surrounded by decades of old wood type. And to top it off, we had a great time staying at Frank Lloyd Wright's Schwartz House just down the street.

It was nice spending the weekend with The Family.

currently listening to: Mason Jennings

Hell has frozen over

2010-03-27T22:09:00.003-05:00

I finally broke down and joined Facebook…

Some things you just can’t avoid anymore. Like the power of social media.

currently listening to: the new Aloha album "Home Acres" (thanks Matt!!!)

Weekend reunion in D.C.

2010-03-23T22:39:00.006-05:00

Tried and true friends are the ones you can pick up where you left off,

13 years later.

On my way to the train

2010-03-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

This is why I like people-watching:

Finally

2010-03-11T23:38:00.006-06:00

…My very own LeDoux, filled with Elaine-isms, perfectly hung on my wall; a gift from one perfectly amazing S. Best Christmas present ever.

currently listening to: Lady Gaga

More Dropcaps

2010-03-08T21:53:00.001-06:00

A quiet lake in Normandy

2010-03-05T10:21:00.003-06:00

Brushstrokes

2010-03-04T23:28:00.008-06:00

Playing around with different brushstrokes and calligraphic settings, and experimenting with different styles of lettering, led to this “missing my other half” illustration:

The hand-lettering looks messy and loopy, but I kind of like that. I’m digging the way “bottles” and “Scott” look.

Potential Poster?

2010-03-04T22:34:00.005-06:00

For what yet, I don’t know... kind of. There is a poster project I was asked to contribute to, where these black roses could look striking and lovely. I want to draw 100 of them first... In the meantime, here are 14:

Letterforms for S

2010-03-02T18:42:00.008-06:00

Working on comps + drawings for S’s book:

These are drop caps for his opening chapters. (Our first collaboration together, which will be the start of many more.) I would encourage everyone to pre-order and support his book; not just for my own heartfelt reasons— because it’s a piece of beautifully designed, well thought-out, artfully architected history.

More letters to come soon…

2010-02-24T23:35:00.002-06:00

I need one.

Sunday's Brunch

2010-02-22T12:09:00.003-06:00

at Nightwood, with a “smore” donut…

Sew there’s a birthday

2010-02-19T23:00:00.011-06:00

Made a SimpleTie and a SimpleSquare for my SimpleScott.

Happy 30th Birthday S!

Colors + Shapes of the Day

2010-02-05T18:54:00.004-06:00

Turks & Caicos - Day 07

2010-02-05T18:43:00.004-06:00

Visited a new island today (North Caicos)— Native American caves, late 1700's cotton plantation, eating oxtail, driving on the opposite side of the road in the opposite side of the car, ocean trails, a whole other view of the islands…

Turks & Caicos - Day(s)…?

2010-02-04T21:31:00.004-06:00

On island time, there is no time. So the days are now a blur and look a little something like this:

Turks & Caicos - Day 03

2010-02-01T14:01:00.005-06:00

Call me Scuba Steve.

Neato-mosquito!

2010-02-01T13:38:00.007-06:00

Ran into a college acquaintance the other night in Chicago, who informed me that I'm in this book:

(photo taken from Rockport Publishing's site)

currently listening to: the sound of the ocean

Turks & Caicos - Day 02

2010-01-31T17:35:00.003-06:00

First time snorkeling in my life, today. A barracuda swam between D and I— everything was incredible. I've been missing out on a lot, never seeing that life underwater.

New favorite food: conch.

Turks & Caicos - Day 01

2010-01-30T22:00:00.007-06:00

Today's the first day of my vacation on the Turks & Caicos island in the Caribbean. It was snowing in Chicago when S dropped T + D and myself off at the airport. The temperature here on the island? 85°

I am in swimming heaven.

2010-01-28T13:34:00.001-06:00

No Joy in Mudville

2010-01-28T12:26:00.006-06:00

Kind of feeling crabby today. I think because I'm tired of the 20° temperatures, nostalgic for last summer's bike riding adventures, bummed about not seeing much of S in February, and anxious to get on the plane for the Caribbean already dangit…

So I drew this in honor of Alexander Girard, to kind of help me snap out of it. Kind of.

currently listening to: all things wonderfully James Mercer

Broken Bells

2010-01-25T15:07:00.004-06:00

I can't wait for these guys to go on tour… I just might implode.

photo taken from Broken Bell's Twitter page

Some Evenings

2010-01-24T21:42:00.001-06:00

IIT, collaborative cooking, the film "Typeface", good talks, good food, great company.

Documenting Color

2010-01-22T14:55:00.004-06:00

Been having a lot of vivid color dreams lately. I'll wake up and have to tell S what I saw, so I won't forget. Sometimes it happens when I'm sleeping, sometimes when I'm awake, though all the time in his company. I'm going to start documenting them as often as I can:

Let a few walls come down and you start to see things in technicolor again.

currently listening to: all things Mark Kozelek

There’s another ’bot in the world

2010-01-21T16:37:00.005-06:00

I'm a godmother now to this little robot named Lorelei.

Let the spoiling begin.

miss me my S

2010-01-13T14:42:00.004-06:00

S comes back from New York this evening, but even still, this quote from

Best Made Co. spoke so true to me, I had to do a sketch.

New year, new piece

2010-01-11T21:22:00.004-06:00

Art submission for Inspiration Corporation's One Inspired Evening.
11" x 34" silkscreen.

D.C. Getaway

2009-12-13T20:15:00.007-06:00

Went to Washington D.C. for the first time, accompanying the mighty S to his holiday party. We were only there for a day and a night, so we didn't get to see very much, but we still had a blast. There are so many things we didn't have time for unfortunately; I definitely need to go back to the National Portrait Gallery… that place has me in awe.

Firebelly Pop-Up Shop

2009-12-04T20:20:00.007-06:00

I had a piece up at Firebelly's Pop-Up holiday shop. Whoever bought it, thank you. I hope you are quite happy with it.

Whole Lotta West Coast Love pt. 2

2009-11-28T22:24:00.003-06:00

Waking up at 6:00am to go horseback riding along the bay in Petaluma, is so worth it. My horse and I fell in love.

Whole Lotta West Coast Love pt. 1

2009-11-28T20:11:00.009-06:00

Finally made it back out to San Francisco for Thanksgiving, to see Gail and Solange. I missed out on the reunion the last two years, so the good times and the good visits were long overdue.

Halloween

2009-10-31T20:06:00.007-05:00

It has become a tradition in my family, that every year for Halloween I go back to Seattle to take my nephews trick-or-treating. This year was no different, except I got to observe the boys organize their candy via the Montessori method. Interesting.

And Daniel's abstract "zombie" drawing, for me to carve his pumpkin with, was pretty rad.

Fall at the Farnsworth House

2009-10-25T19:52:00.008-05:00

(I've been busy and preoccupied, for an extremely wonderful and singular reason… So all these posts + pics are long overdue, but have the correct date of it's occurrence. I'll try to be better about posting, since it's 2010 already…)

We finally went to Mies Van der Rhoe's Farnsworth House, followed up by apple picking. It's what you have to do in the fall.

2009-10-23T13:46:00.003-05:00

Been rethinking a lot of things this past month, and will do some rearranging soon. Before I do, here's my take on a classic joke that's had me chuckling and shaking my head lately:

currently listening: Califone

Close, but no cigar

2009-10-09T16:16:00.007-05:00

Another typical afternoon of browsing through bikes on Craigslist, I see a post for a Raleigh Mixte. Had this been available 6 months ago, I think I may have jumped on it and made my own updates. The differences between Oiseau and this bike are great, but the similarities were enough to make me stop and do a double take. Here are their photos:
The Blue Raleigh vs. The Green Soma:
single speed - 9 speeds
straight bars - moustache bars
Nitto stem - Velo-Orange stem
squishy black seat - Brooks saddle

How interesting are those photos? I suppose it's not that uncanny to want to design your bike that way— mixte frame, wood fenders, simple Pletscher rack, The End. I do like their custom made wood attachment from the rack to the frame. Still, I'll be a total dork and say mine is better...

Man, it's getting more crispy cold in Chicago each day. Time to invest in some merino wool for those rides. Now my mind is recessing into the design I have for a "poor weather - gravel road riding" bike… Surly frame, repainted Pantone 424C, Delta Schawlbe tires in creme, and I could go on and on. It's a sickness, but I'm okay with that.

currently listening to: the new Built to Spill

2009-10-02T17:02:00.004-05:00

Je voudrais travailler pour vous.
currently listening to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wild Things

2009-09-29T22:30:00.002-05:00

Just got back from watching the special screening of "Where the Wild Things Are" at the Music Box. The film blew me away.

The screening advertised that Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers would be there, but a nice surprise was that Max Records (the young actor) and Catherine Keener also showed up as well. Double treat! For me, the movie was not about the book— it celebrates the book and certainly stands up on it's own two feet. In an interview with Molly Young, Spike says it best with "I don't think I was trying to make a children's film. I was trying to make a film about childhood."

Can't wait to watch it again…

Evenin’ Time

2009-09-29T01:32:00.003-05:00

I think my computer is going to (knock on wood), die soon… or maybe she wants to go to sleep. Kind of like I do.
currently listening to: everything SUBPOP on my iPod… now rolling on to Red House Painters

Another day, another year older

2009-09-28T00:18:00.016-05:00

Quiet, laid back, and relaxing— sometimes it's just nicer that way. Sunday apartment cleaning, worked on my book, enjoyed the treats of the day:

Enjoyed preparing one of my favorite meals for my friend Cristina and I: arugula salad, with tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, prosciutto, parmesan, with truffle oil. Accompanied with almonds, olives, and apricots. Popped a bottle of Prosecco— I'd like to think you were all there in spirit.

For the cake, my all-time favorite dessert: french mousse cake with fruit on top. Yum... we split a pistachio and a chocolate cake; I made a wish, or two…

Treats from Cristina's trip to Italy: "Pinnochio" brand ink and pencil set, and Italian chocolates.

And I'm proud to say that I completed the only goal I was allowed to give myself this year, for my birthday. Yep, just barely made it, two days before due date. More on that later…

More surprises...

2009-09-26T20:08:00.001-05:00

There is only one person in the world who's allowed to send me flowers at work. And that's my sister Nancy, who sends them on behalf of the family, especially from my nephews. I had fun on the slow, rainy ride home from work, with a huge 1-800-FLOWERS box mounted to my rear rack. A surreal moment came later at home, when I got my first "Aunt" card in the mail. I've been an aunt for almost 9 years now, but I still think of myself as a kid. I love those boys, they rock my world.

(I love how the sentiments in the card refers to me as "silly" and "way real when it counts". I hope they still think of me that way when they're in college...) Thanks for the bouquet of color Nancy, they're fun to come home to!

currently listening to: Sound Opinions on WBEZ Chicago Public Radio…!

Those Icelandics give me goosebumps

2009-09-24T17:28:00.004-05:00

With your full attention, with headphones on. Ólafur Arnalds - Ljósið:

While waiting for a 2GB file to save down...

2009-09-24T15:23:00.004-05:00

… all I had was this inky Pilot pen, very smudgy indeed. Great for writing checks, but not so good for drawing. I need to buy more Microns. Drawing is on the back of an Orla Kiely noteset:

currently listening to: Pixies

Smiley

2009-09-23T21:20:00.005-05:00

Tonight's bike ride home from work was so great. Partly because the weather was nice, mainly because of a happy email I received— which had me smiling, whistling and laughing to myself, nearly the whole 7 miles. Every bike ride should be that way, and every ride home from work should leave me feeling smiley.

More smiley for me yet, was an early birthday package from my sister waiting for me at my door. I opened it to find this t-shirt inside, which had me laughing out loud— I could not think of a better timing for it.

Thanks Jenny, I'll be sure to wear it proudly on Sunday!

currently listening to: Thom Yorke

Weak-end

2009-09-20T17:05:00.007-05:00

So this weekend's activities left me a little pooped... needless to say I never did start working on that "ocean" piece. Friday's midnight ride to the Museum of Science and Industry for the Harry Potter exhibition left me pretty lethargic on Saturday. (Friday's total bike mileage ended up being a mere 35 miles, but we had a bad head wind coming home at 1am). And Sunday's seem to end up being apartment cleaning and beer drinking day. Well, what can you do?

Too bad we couldn't take any photos inside the Harry Potter exhibition... otherwise I'd have a pretty hilarious photo of me sitting on a stool wearing the Sorting Hat. (I got placed into Gryffindor! Siouxsie was placed in Ravenclaw.) If you have an appreciation for the Harry Potter books, the exhibition is worth checking out. And if you like bike riding, do ride your bike down to MSI for it— riding through the Museum Campus in the middle of the night with good friends, is everything.

Mad props to Siouxsie for being 6 months pregnant and still riding 30 miles... You win.
……………

An early birthday present coupon from Anthropologie. It's the stitched packaging, with extra threads and buttons that I love more than the coupon itself. Details, details...
currently listening to: Grand Archives

Sonnenzimmer + Flingco

2009-09-18T16:10:00.004-05:00

Local Chicago music label Flingco Sound System is hosting a release party to kick off their Black Box sound machine, at Sonnenzimmer's studio space. If you're in the area, you should check it out and buy some prints!

Saturday, Sept. 19
6pm - 9pm

3605 N. Damen Ave., Rear
(Damen and Addison, enter from the alley)

currently listening to: Love Spit Love

Rejected… SCORE!

2009-09-17T16:01:00.004-05:00

The invitation design was rejected. When I asked about it, the response was: "Oh yeah, no. They don't get it. At all."

I'm so excited!!! I think I'll spend all day Saturday fleshing it out on paper with ink, graphite and thread. I've decided this will be a one-off, as a late wedding present to Gail. Which she's excited about receiving.

So this won't be the free give-away print after all. But here's a fun crop of where this piece will go. Hopefully I'll have the finished piece posted by Sunday night? To be continued...

currently listening to: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wedding Smedding

2009-09-16T17:11:00.010-05:00

I've been having a hard time getting inspired to create wedding invitations for work. I think mainly because I don't want to have a wedding personally, I'd much rather elope and save the money to buy acreage and build a house. But deadlines call, and you have to find inspiration somewhere so...

Inspiration comes from:
1. Lamp designs from Pratt students featured in Dwell magazine
2. The topographical chart in the old version of "Battleship"
3. The memory of my friend's quick, laid back wedding on the beach in San Francisco (happy 1 year Gail + Nico)

…………
…………

I'm kind of hoping this design gets rejected so I can keep it for myself and turn it into a print... Silkscreened silver and white ink on some thick, cotton heavy, pukey-colored Arches Rives paper... maybe even stitch some of the topographical lines with Home Depot orange or cerulean blue thread… damn.

I just might do it anyway. Will that be the free giveaway print I've been promising for so long? Hmm...

still listening to: Choir of Young Believers

Somewhere out there…

2009-09-15T23:30:00.005-05:00

someone had better be enjoying my lost Betsy Walton Poketo wallet and bought whiskey with the wad within...
currently listening to: Kings of Convenience

Drawering

2009-09-15T15:50:00.011-05:00

Valentine’s Day card comps for work. Whatever:

currently listening to (my new favorite!!): Choir of Young Believers

Never Enough

2009-09-12T23:02:00.005-05:00

What started out as a wedding invitation design, turned into an illustration in trying to avoid boredom here in this large office on a Saturday night and what am I still doing here?! Bike ride home— stat!

currently listening to: Tenement Halls

About a year ago

2009-09-09T23:02:00.017-05:00

I was hanging out in PDX…

It's funny how time flies, and so much can happen in a year, let alone one week. Some things you just can't plan or force. Fast forward one year later to an amazing evening I got to share with my peers, and so many people I respect, have yet to meet, and look forward to shaking hands with. Thanks to everyone who presented and came to watch the Show n' Tell Show on Sunday night, it was an honor to be in the same room as you.

currently listening to: Nada Surf "Lucky"

2009-08-28T16:50:00.004-05:00

currently listening to: Hum

Calligraphy

2009-08-24T15:15:00.009-05:00

Procrastinating the inevitable here at work, trying in vain to stay awake in a cold office sans espresso (I don't know why I didn't have any today)… the thirteen year old within me thinks: "Let's make silly or unfavorable words approachable and pretty." From me to you:
My friend asked me yesterday what I do to get over the boredom hump at work. I suppose one answer would be to practice design immaturity. I can only imagine someone walking behind me at work, watching me draw "Butt Munch" on the computer...

I am so bored. I think that's why I want to go out town again. Where should I go? (I'm opening up comments for this one).

currently listening to: The Jayhawks

Sink

2009-08-24T14:42:00.001-05:00

Sank

2009-08-24T14:41:00.003-05:00

Sunk

2009-08-24T13:43:00.005-05:00

currently listening to: Dirty Projectors

Drawings

2009-08-18T11:10:00.007-05:00

You can find these two illustrations I did in this 2010 calendar, for sale in-stores and online here.

currently listening to: Panda Bear

Sunday in Rosemont

2009-08-17T14:42:00.008-05:00

Bike swap at Wolff's Flea Market:

All the fabric softener you could ever need, in gallons:

A man whose loves his family as much as his vehicle:
currently listening to: Caribou

In the portal to Portland

2009-08-14T12:12:00.005-05:00

Moved into the office whose former inhabitants evaporated to greener pastures. This is for you Jess...
currently listening to: Wolf Parade

Les Animaux

2009-08-13T17:33:00.005-05:00

This new product came into work today, and had to be photographed for use. I think my friend Joe knew it was right up my alley, so I helped him assemble what is probably my favorite calendar of all time now: "2010 Zoo Calendar" by the Japanese design group Good Morning Inc.

Made out of thick, pressed white board, printed with tasteful, simple type, and elegant in form, the animals are printed on both sides, to maximize the usage. I love the animals they chose— the gator and the rhino win me over, but nothing gets me more than the negative shape of giraffe butt left behind in the cardboard. Giraffe butt!!

currently listening to: The Beach Boys

new Wes Anderson for this fall...

2009-08-10T09:54:00.002-05:00

His choice of cast is great per usual, and everyone loves a good Roald Dahl— we'll see how his first feature animation turns out...

Jamie Oliver

2009-08-04T11:14:00.004-05:00

The Naked Chef released his own line of kitchenware— though the textile prints and colors aren't anything we haven't seen before, I still think the cups are pleasing to the eye.

currently listening to: the new Modest Mouse EP (I still don't like their newer stuff…)

“Dead Snow”

2009-07-30T22:43:00.007-05:00

I really don't like scary movies, but I know better than to pass up a chance to see a Norwegian film about a Nazi-zombie battalion… NAZI ZOMBIES?!