Thursday, November 29, 2012

Katie Scott: Veggies Galore

This weeks artist is one of my favorite of all time illustrators, the massively talented Katie Scott. Her work is reminiscent of scientific illustrations from a better era of illustration, some fictional some more realistic, regardless all the work is great you should check out her site for more of her work!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Llew Mejia: Cabbage Stew



So this weeks floral is centered around cabbage. Yeah its a semi-boring subject, because its just a leafy green that kind of looks like a brain in some ways, so veiny. Anyway, had some fun with this one and went conceptual with it, so a small history lesson, which most people already know.

Irish people are mostly if not all catholic, so I made the papal emblem in my own way, and then gave the cabbage a godly glow, because well it saved them when they were eating green potatoes. And I'm not religious but still this bland vegetable pretty much saved some of them, like a god would, and cabbage stew is an iconic Irish dish because of this...sort of. Anyway it was good fun, and I hope you enjoy it because it's probably one of the weirder looking patterns I will make.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Lindsay Nohl - Gouache Flowers

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This weekend I got the chance to head to the art store where I treated myself to some new gouache. It was super cheap, but it was definitely still fun to work with!
So, instead of taking the normal digital route, here is my gouache-painted floral pattern!

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Alexa Thoen: Roundabout Lilies


 Alexa Thoen joined us this week with her awesome and sometimes psychedelic work, it is crazy detailed which is an immediate attraction for me in other people's art.
Here is a bit about her:

 Alexa is an artist and designer that grew up in the northern-midwestern United States. She have always been creative with a particular interest in the natural world, the unnatural spectacle of graphic art, and how those two things intersect. For more great work check out her site!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Llew Mejia:Retro Tiger



I like this weeks flower, but all I could think of while I was brainstorming for this pattern was how can I manage to throw a tiger in there with the tiger lilies. So everything is pretty abstract and retro, circa maybe 1950's or so. One of my favorite periods of design, illustration and lettering, they did it well, I can't really see it getting any better than that. Although people say art is cyclical so maybe, we will see. Just a toss this week, enjoy it!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Lindsay Nohl : Tiger Lily

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I did a really nice drawing in my sketchbook this morning and returned to draw on it throughout the day. Thought it wasn't originally for my pattern, I decided that I'd want to do a damask-style repeat for today.

Here's a tiger lily pattern for you! I am really enjoying these dusty colors and the repetition.


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Friday, November 16, 2012

Julian Howley: Childhood Mantis



So this week we have a talented illustrator and friend of mine Julian Howley, he has a real scummy/grime feel to his art that reminds me of punk art mixed with something else but I can't put my finger on it. Check out his site and his tumblr! anyway he had this to say about his pattern:

I wanted to revisit my childhood by repping both the flag flower of the great Hong Kong metropolis, and the terrifying majesty of a She-Mantis I once had as a pet.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Llew Mejia:Hong Kong Clams



This weeks flower is the Bauhinia Blakeana, such a complicated name, for a complex flower. This belongs to a flowering tree which is rare as it is sterile and can only be cultivated by taking other parts from other trees for propagation. So basically their is one grand-daddy tree and all the other trees are his children.

Pretty crazy stuff, anyhow, I tried to make a clamshell pattern and just freestyled it put some of my favorite occult symbolism in there as well as some random babylonian symbols that have nothing to do with anything, but aesthetically I think it all goes together alright. If you are confused the flower is in the middle, and the heart shaped leaves are the weird looking things flanking each side of it. Alright, well thats about it!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Floating

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I had a really productive day today. Productive and I learned a whole lot.

I got the chance to go over to the Science Museum in Saint Paul today and look at the Egyptian exhibit, which inspired me to go and get a new audio book to follow up what I had learned while I was there. So here I am, listening to a book on ancient Egypt, making my flower pattern for today, and feeling good.

Besides that I also got the chance to make two pumpkin pies and a huge vat of butternut squash soup. AND, they're actually delicious! So - I learned how to cook something! All in all, I feel accomplished.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Andres Guzman: Cosmic Dandelions



Andres is a good friend of mine, I didn't really agree with his choice of flower for the week, but he said he had to root for the underdog, in this case a stupid weed. Either way he is one of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, so check out his site, you wont be disappointed!Here's a some info on him:

Andres has spent most of his youth in Denver, but he is originally from Lima,Peru. He graduated from MCAD and majored in illustration, and took some interest in graphic design. He tries not to limit himself by any specific visual style as he believes there are too many beautiful methods and processes in the world of art to settle on just one. He hopes to inspire with his work as much as he is inspired by others.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Llew Mejia: Dandy Lions




Soooo, the cold is creeping in slowly but surely, actually the other day it snowed here, good thing it didn't stay. Not a fan. But either way, I think dandelions are boring, the only reason I did them is because Andres Guzman told me too, so blame him. But since we are in Fall season now, I drew things that reminded me of Fall with the Dandelions to make it a little more interesting. Brings up some nostalgia about roaming in the woods a lot more when I was younger, sometimes you just have to get outside, everyone should...I read this article about how if you spend 5 minutes outside minimum everyday it actually affects your health positively, and the euphoric effects of spending time outside can last for the entire day. So have a bonfire, or catch some newts in a stream, while it's not too late and everything's dead.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Bill Rebholz: Kiwi BIRDS!




So, this post is a little late unfortunately but at least it's here, so feast your eyes on a pattern by my good friend and illustrator Bill Rebholz. His work is really awesome and definitely one of my favorites, I think you will agree. Check out his website for more work!!!

Here's some info about Bill and also a comment:

Bill Rebholz is an illustrator based out of Minneapolis, MN. 

Frequently asked if he was born in the wrong decade, Bill insists he in fact was not, but rather just appreciates the old realm of commercial art, and wants to keep its relevancy in the modern world of design and illustration. His skills include, but are not limited to, all manners of illustration, design, lettering, and sign & mural painting.

"In a perfect world, Kiwis would scurry around sniffing kiwi flowers while their feathers reflect fractal patterning."