drawing at the met

a few small drawings i made in my sketchbook this weekend while wandering around the metropolitan museum of art. i love the ancient greeks, can you tell? they indulge my weakness for beautiful hands and noses.

little thing magazine

some of my illustrations, along with an interview intriguingly entitled "st. petersburg is gloomy," is featured in the adorable chinese magazine little thing. 

the reader

this painting is for the annual children's book art silent auction at bookexpo america. the proceeds will go toward the effort opposing the censorship of children’s books and authors nationwide (like the kids' right to read project and banned books week). the expo, which will take place on may 29th in new york city, will bring together "booksellers, publishers, authors, artists, illustrators, [...] fans of illustrated children’s books and supporters of the free speech rights of young readers." see you there!

píccolo print

my píccolo prints have arrived and are now available for sale in my shop! this limited edition print is a 5"x7" archival quality, full color illustration printed with an indigo offset press, on thick 24-point, 100% recycled natural chipboard. thanks again to everyone who donated to píccolo's kickstarter campaign!

ma mère

autochrome lumière

it's been a long time since i've come across something so beautiful that it makes me feel restless. i recently discovered autochrome photography thanks to "edwardian opulence," the current exhibition at the yale center for british art, and since then i've been poring over various online collections, still finding it strange to accept that like ours, life one hundred years ago was lived in color. my favorite photographs, like the two above, are by belgian photographer alfonse van besten (1865-1926). his subjects are just like the dream-muses of j.w. waterhouse, with flushed cheeks and flowers that seem more real and fragrant than real flowers. ever looking to possess at least some aspect of the kind of beauty that causes me unrest, i'm thinking about how just something of the essence of these photographs can be translated into my watercolors. (images from here)

light and darkness

someone recently described my work as dark and spooky, even nightmarish, although it seems to evoke warmth and comfort for most others. both aspects are essential to the way i perceive the world, and i always wrestle with myself: which side should i show? but if two people can see such different things in one image, perhaps quiet domesticity and peaceful repose are perfectly compatible with magical, unsettling darkness. i don't mind, anyway.

la vida interior de las plantas de interior

book cover for la vida interior de las plantas de interior (the inner life of indoor plants), a collection of short stories by patricio pron for random house mondadori (spain).

philadelphia

i wandered the streets of philadelphia in search of art deco, and among the well-preserved, prominent examples - such as the two above - i found magnificent architectural details everywhere, many inconspicuously gracing the façades of dilapidated buildings; ghosts of former opulence above dusty storefronts with cheesy signage, existing in strange accord.  i've never seen beauty and decay harmonize quite so well as they do in philly. the weather dashed my plans to see the city's major neighborhoods on foot, but that just means i have a reason to come back at a warmer, drier time.

many thanks to eleanor grosch for being the perfect host and to the students who participated in my workshop at university of the arts - i really enjoyed getting to know you and your work!

dpi taiwan + uarts workshop

my work is featured in the "meticulous art" seasonal from dpi magazine, an art and design publication in taiwan!

i'm teaching a two-part editorial illustration workshop at university of the arts in philadelphia on february 26th and march 5th. on both occasions i'll have the following wednesday afternoons to spend as i like before i take the train back home, so if you know of some gems, i'm taking recommendations! 

l'inconnue

i've been thinking about something alain de botton said on his twitter the other day: "we're so unimaginative, we think liking always has to lead to buying, touching, having...what of simply admiring?" this liberty of london wiltshire berry print was sort of maddening - i was ready to purchase a yard of it for no reason other than to have it - and now that i've painted it, the sense of materialistic urgency is gone. for me, drawing can be a form of possession. a loophole, perhaps?

real simple magazine

dream client alert! i have three illustrations in the current issue of real simple magazine, for an article on how to discuss sensitive but important financial issues with aging parents.

portsmouth

b and i spent a picturesque weekend in portsmouth, which is quite possibly the perfect new england town. although small, the city center is so incredibly dense with shops and restaurants that the entire saturday afternoon was not enough to explore everything thoroughly. we'll surely return, and for longer. time spent with a dear friend is always restorative; i've wound my spring for the coming month.

the opening at nahcotta gallery had a very impressive turnout and two of my iceland paintings have already sold! the four remaining are still available in the gallery and through the enormous tiny art show website.

design*sponge labels

i made a set of printable organization labels for design*sponge this week! you can download and print them on sticker paper, then stick them on whatever needs organizing. enjoy! 

прекрасное далёко

another painting of iceland for the upcoming enormous tiny art show. i decided to go to portsmouth for the opening and take b with me. we'll have a couple of hours to kill in boston on friday and again on saturday, if anyone fancies joining us for a (very hot) cup of tea.

enormous tiny art show no. 13

i'm all ready for the enormous tiny art show at nahcotta gallery in portsmouth, new hampshire, which opens on february 1st. my beautiful wooden frames with a vintage white finish were custom made for me by the fine folks at signed & numbered in salt lake city, utah, whom i can't recommend enough.

advice to a poet / Խորհուրդ բանաստեղծի մը

last spring, i had the pleasure of illustrating a long poem by new york-based, armenian-american poet lola koundakjian. it is called "advice to a poet" and was recently shortlisted for the orange book prize, a contest which aims to help recognize and promote modern armenian writers.
the winning entry will be printed in 500 copies. the poem's stanzas would be printed in english and armenian, alongside 14 color illustrations, and you can help this book materialize by taking a moment to vote for it! click the facebook "like" button in the bottom left (you can view a pdf of the poem and illustrations via the orange button to the right of that).

píccolo

sara barnes of brown paper bag and lisa perrin have started píccolo, "a collaborative art project dedicated to celebrating all things small." they launched a kickstarter campaign to fund the print project; by donating, you can pre-order a 5"x7" archival quality, full color illustration (like mine, above), printed with an indigo offset press, on thick 24-point, 100% recycled natural chipboard. help support the píccolo print project!

happy new year

a drawing of reykjavík, which i will exhibit along with five others at the enormous tiny art show in portsmouth, new hampshire next month.

in the past year i have given a lot of thought to this road less traveled; possibly even touched the dangerous emotional depths of the solitary and structureless world of freelancing. it scared me, but just enough to show me that i want to keep moving forward and stay out of those eerie depths. starless are the nights of travel, bleak the winter wind. but in 2013, i resolve to lay down doubt, and fear, and try to travel a little lighter, for my own sake!

new website + news

with some generous help from meg of ghostly ferns, my website got a nice makeover and has been updated with all recent work. one major change for the new year is that i am now represented by magnet reps in los angeles, california. if you've ever wondered what i would take with me to a deserted island or how i deal with a creative block, have a look at my artist spotlight, with a very informative interview at the end!

anorak magazine

i was so happy to illustrate "the human zoo" by cathy olmedillas for the current issue of anorak magazine. the story is about two cats, clara and colette, who spend a day at a very special zoo. the beautifully printed issue is filled with lots of other stories, games and activities - get your copy here!

pikaland wall calendar

the 2013 pikaland wall calendar is out! the theme is "on my desk" and each month is illustrated by a different artist (i am miss november). a book of interviews with each contributing illustrator is included. (you can purchase it here, limited edition of 500!)

the rider

on friday i visited kelly murphy's sophomore illustration concepts class at the rhode island school of design to talk about some of my experiences as a full-time freelance illustrator so far. thanks to all of the students for your attentiveness, thoughtful questions and warm welcome. i had a wonderful evening, followed by a perfect saturday exploring the city of providence with b, with whom everything is always ten times better.

ישראל

i was in israel the last two weeks (i know -  good timing, right?) i've been dreaming of returning since my first trip to this special place back in 2008. this time was a little less adventurous - no riding camels or climbing masada before sunrise - unless, of course, you count running through an abandoned lot behind a diamond factory in jerusalem with six barking strays at my heels (i shuddered at the sight of any dog for the remainder of the trip).

under constant threat of being wiped off the face of the earth by one of its hostile neighbors, this little desert oasis seems to know how to enjoy life even under the most difficult of circumstances. thinking of friends and family; wishing peace and safety to all the people of israel and the rest of the middle east.

tomorrow magazine

if you've heard of the new, los angeles - based tomorrow magazine, you know it's kind of a big deal, and i feel lucky to play a small part in the very first issue. this illustration accompanies one click at a time: alcoholics are truly anonymous online, an article about the controversy of virtual support groups for people struggling with alcohol addiction. you can purchase the beautifully printed issue here.

three black princesses

for the exhibition the enchanted forest: celebrating 200 years of grimm's fairytales on view at foyles bookstore (113-119 charing cross road, london) november 29th - december 7th. "the three black princesses" is an obscure tale with a very unmemorable plot, but i couldn't pass up such a visual, especially at this spooky time of year.

buy some damn art

some of you have been asking about purchasing original paintings; here's your chance to buy one (or collect all six) of these tiny rooms at my second buy some damn art show, available for the next six weeks.

where, why, how book trailer

matt lamothe of also design animated three of the illustrations for the where, the why, and the how book trailer - and one of them is mine! (my peppered moths magically came alive!)

the where, the why, and the how

the where, the why, and the how: 75 artists illustrate wondrous mysteries of science by julia rothman, matt lamothe and jenny volvovski is finally out! it's nice to share this after keeping it under wraps for over a year. i illustrated one of the most elegant examples of evolution - the peppered moth, which changed color over several generations in response to industrial pollution in london.

the book launch party will take place at 7pm on october 11th at powerhouse arena in brooklyn. i'll be signing books along with other featured artists, so please stop by if you are in new york next week (drinks will be served!)

mata hari

an illustration for the extra-beautiful new issue of lone wolf magazine. mata hari has been on my to-draw list for ages! thanks again to natalia for another dream assignment.

there's also an interview with me on ten paces and draw today - thanks to my former MICA classmate alyssa nassner for the feature!

new york times

my first ever new york times illustration, in today's editorials / letters section!

home and away

between seeing the ancient towns of izborsk, pskov and novgorod, venturing north to finland (joensuu and helsinki) and finally seeing tallinn, i was really only in saint petersburg for about two full days.
all of these places are so lovely, so charming in vastly different ways. i'm still reflecting on and processing my impressions; there is a whole collection of photographs, drawings and herbariums still left to share.

from top left: 1) rest stop near joensuu 2) koli national park, finland 3) picking gooseberries at our country house 4) izborsk 5) pskov 6) novgorod

black river

off to saint petersburg tomorrow and until the 24th of august. i'm closing my shop for vacation, so if you'd like to place an order please do so by 1 pm EST tomorrow!

stranger

"in the world of the imagination it is easy to break off an affair, and there is nothing to blemish my memory of you. adieu." (andré maurois, lettres à l'inconnue)

figure drawing at the society

i went to sketch night at the society of illustrators last week. there's a bar and a live jazz band!

ghost