Video Inspiration Week – Day 3!

I clicked on this video last night simply because I thought the kitty was so great, but was ultimately drawn in by Mirjam’s wonderful illustration style and her capacity to communicate a struggle that all women struggle with to a certain extent.  That sometimes not so subtle push and push of wanting to be beautiful and seen by others and just being comfortable in your own skin.  Is there a trade-off, are these two things mutually exclusive?

With such a simple and beautifully whimsical animation, this artist got my mind a buzzing with questions beyond the realm of beauty – specifically, how I view myself as an artist and my work.  When I look for inspiration in this design or that photograph, when I check that blog, website, or twitter feed – in the end, I’ve realized there comes a time when there can be too much of a good thing.  When the inspiration slides slowly into envy, strolls on down to that deflated place of, “Man, I wish I were making (doing, creating, experiencing…) that….”  and meanders into “All the cool stuff is already made, my stuff is lame, why should I even try….”.  It’s  a pretty dangerous place to end up – cause it usually means you’ll be stuck standing still for a little(long) while.

This morning I felt myself heading down that scary trail….and by grace alone did I remember the title of this post and the things I have been saying all week…I’ve got my own work & creative perspective. That’s all I’m responsible to be faithful with.  Nothing more. Nothing less.

Right now, it’s simple:  Create.  And encourage others to do the same.

Made-Up from Mirjam Plettinx on Vimeo. Quote via Oscar Wilde.

Be patient.  It will eventually settle.

On this Monday morning, I wanted to share some new work I started about two months ago.  I think I’m calling Sifting.  It came from an awareness I’ve been having over the last year or so that some things (usually the big things, tough ideas, theology, the words of Jesus…) need a little time to “sift” into that space between my head and heart before I am able to respond to them as I should or before they find a place to settle in my soul.

The only way I can describe it is through a parable I read recently in Matthew (21:28-32) where two sons were asked to go work in the vineyards by their dad and the first responded by saying, “Hellz no! I’m not doing that! Do it yourself!”(I’m paraphrasing, obviously.) but then went away, thought about it, and came back and went to the fields. The other son said right away, “Yeah!  I’ll get on it!”  And then totally didn’t.  Lame. 

And I find I am the second son more than I would care to admit.

So eager to give the appearance of understanding and obedience rather than actually admit and acknowledge what I might really be feeling – unbelief, anger, annoyance, rebellion. That inside I’m really just a whiney ten (28) year old.

I wonder about that time – the time between the first son’s initial reaction and his change of heart.  It feels so silent.  But I know something profound happened there.  It feels like what I heard someone once describe as one of the Bible’s “white spaces”.  Those moments that lie dormant and without explanation, but where profound action takes place.  I think about those moments between Abraham tying up Isaac and physically placing him on the wood.   Or the moment between Jesus calling the disciples – working on their boats, tending their tax tables – and the movement of dropping it all and following.

I think these white spaces show us faith.  That unquantifiable and often hard to pin down thing that is both action and letting go at the same time.  It’s trust. Submission. Belief. Hope. Guts. All rolled up in to this thing that is really a gift when we have it.  There’s no use faking it or trying to manufacture it  – I’ve been doing that a long time and you just ending up like the second son – a ton of hot air and no lift off.

Happy Tuesday!

Thought I’d quickly post a couple of examples of the illustration I was working on today – I have been creating faux vintage Penguin covers for our New, Used, Bargain campaign at work and each one has been a lot of fun. Visual puns are hard – so it’s been a great creative challenge to not be totally literal, but also allude to familiar imagery.  The almost finished product above and the full jungle scene below.  My other covers can be found here.

My dear grandmother, Phyllis Pederson, passed away Monday after a brave brave fight with cancer.

I named this blog rough hewn for times such as these.  For those in-between spaces between joy and sorrow – where you’re not really sure which one to choose and not really certain you are feeling either.

My grandmother was a woman of faith, strength, patience, good taste, independence, talent, and creativity.  She encouraged me to explore not only the world around me, but the world at large.  My love for knitting and any skills I claim to have come straight from her.  I will miss her abiding love and wraparound hugs.

I have often said that where words fail us, image takes over. I have been comforted by these two illustrations found on Nothing Relevant – a local blog I ran into through a random google image search.  Very serendipitously, I think.

The last communication I had with my grandmother was through a  Valentine I sent her last week.  It was a card having nothing to do with hearts at all, but depicted (through a sheen of glitter, to my chagrin) a bird flying up with rays in the background.  Like that bird and the bird above -  I know she has flown to the safety of her loving savior.  And as I think on this,  joy overwhelms any sorrow I may have about her absence.  For I know that she is truly safe at home.

“It’s fruitcake weather!”

Apparently.  I’ve never read this charming little story, but I got a chance to illustrate a poster for a performance of it coming up in the next week.  The project afforded me an opportunity to jump out of the holiday look I’ve been stuck in for the last couple months and experiment with some great illustration tips from an interview I read recently of Invisible Creature‘s, Don Clark.  Reading about Don’s process jolted me back into design reality (whatever that may be) and reminded me that – I’m an ARTIST!  WAGH!  I have a wealth of fine art techniques at my fingertips and I’m not taking advantage of them!  So with this project I added some newer textures and processes to the mix and I’m excited to do more exploring and finding my own niche, rather than feeling a tad like a copycat.  I’m happy with it – I think it’s…delightful.

Summer is a season for SALES!

Thought I’d share a couple of projects I’ve recently enjoyed designing at work.  The Dover sale (above), kept me busy this week, and had the added restriction of being type-only.  I enjoyed the “challenge”, but snuck a few circles in there for good measure.  The design easily lends itself to different variations and combinations – which makes my job a whole lot more interesting.  The illustration for the Mountaineers Sale (below), was just fun to do.  I went for a vintage travel poster feel – but could have spent a bit more time on the hiker – his calves are intense!  Will be working on website this weekend – soon there will be more examples of my work to gander at!

The fog rolled into the Puget Sound this morning, thick and disorienting.  Mysterious and confusing, but in some ways comforting in the way a blanket covers and warms, but also hides the true form and all its details and imperfections. Familiar landscapes become new worlds and we are forced to rely on memory and the revealing of only the smallest portion of our next step to navigate our previously familiar surroundings.

To be honest, my life right now kind of feels like this – so many things I can barely make out, but I know they MUST be out there.  Somewhere.

I trust that eventually the sun will burn away the fog and I will again see clearly what I knew was there all along. Or wonder of wonders, maybe even something I never noticed before!

You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

PSALMS 139:5-6

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 SAMUEL 16:7

P.S. I just realized that my cute little cloudys look rather menacing at second glance….hmmm.

Did you know that April is Poetry Month? Well, folks, it totally is.

On top of that, yesterday I went a little nuts-o after deciding that I want to be more intentional about creating every day….even if it’s just a sketch. Or writing a couple lines.  Or like in the case below, drawing and coloring without any intentions of perfection or even having a plan, for that matter.  Instinctual and non-judgmental – create now, think later.  And it was seriously fun and pretty cathartic.

One of the main reasons I have this blog is to get over that pestering perfection hangup I have as an artist.  The whole idea that I must only display what I deem to be acceptable for others to see. Even if it’s just a sketch, it must be a sketch that shows I’m well on my way to making progress. I’ve decided that’s lame.  Essentially, it becomes less about the art and more about what others think of me.  Self-protection rears it’s ugly head!  And in the meantime has stifled a lot of great work.  SO count this as my first effort at throwing caution to the wind and the hell with perfection.  There’s beauty in the mess.

No BUS STORIES today, just wanted to get the week rolling with a few photos that are filling me up in different ways today…

Kate Bosworth in an ad for Calvin Klein – captivating, lovely composition, tone, and movement.

Postcard I picked up at Sonic Boom the other day for the show Residence at 20Twenty, an exhibit of recent work by Robin Stein.  Reminds me of living in L.A. I can literally smell this photo.

Love these photos and these lovely ladies! Taken on an art retreat at good ole’ Biola, this contact strip is a little piece of friendship shining up from my desk.

Since I visited the blog Scanwich (check it out!) and saw this photo, all I have been able to think about is bagels & lox!  Like that scene in the movie Ratatouille – a bite of B&L instantly transport me to the middle of Central Park in the dead of winter, where I had not only my first taste of Zabar’s goodness, but of the sweetness New York City has to offer! (Note: Yesturday I got to have half of one at my sister’s church….mmmyeah…it only stoked the fire!)

Still thinkin about this quote…

Not really sure what this book is about, but with a title like that I’m definitely interested!
(I hear it’s an Irish Cinderella story – O’Cinderella? But then why two ladies?)

I’m also digging the 1957 illustration by Jan Balet.