Romancing Sleep

Romancing Sleep - by Constantine Darling & Terri Salvatore-Swahn

I've been meaning to post this for awhile, but the great thing about this one is that it's not a one time deal in a magazine; it's a lovely book! so if you feel like reading you can go get it anytime right here: Romancing Sleep.

*EDIT 7/25/11: I was saddened to hear that Constantine Darling passed away after battling Throat Cancer. My respects to the family and friends of this lovely person, who had such a positive and loving influence on so many lives!

"Romancing Sleep" is a self-help book, written by Constantine Darling and Terri Salvatore-Swahn, that offers tips on how to get a better night's sleep in natural ways. It covers numerous techniques like trance induction, breathing exercises, massage, nutrition, and relaxation methods.

I was initially contacted by Terri for this. She said they liked the use of nature in my work, and told me how the book focused on nature and how to "receive it's calming cues" when preparing for sleep. Terri asked me to match the nature theme and create imagery with dream-like/ flowing effects.

Water is a particularly strong symbol in the book, often used as a metaphor to describe different levels of consciousness.

I also created a handful of spot illustrations, but I'm not posting them all here. So if you're inclined to see them, or if your java-toked hi-reved lifestyle is killing your ability to sleep easy, please take a look at this wonderfully helpful and beautifully written book!

Archways Magazine

Archways Magazine - Winter 09-10, Volume 9, Issue 4

Here are 5 illustrations I made a few months back for an article in Archways Magazine called "Taking Shape." It's about the future plans and possibilities for Nebraska Wesleyan Universities' Campus. I worked with art director Melanie Falk, who was interested in having dream like imagery to represent the future structures on campus. You can view the other images and read the article online here. (I really think the images look better at this link then in the pictures below, but I wanted to share the layout out of the article here cause I like it!)

This one features the building "Old Main" that has been at the heart of campus for 120 years.

Campus map showing avenues for growth.

The above represents the goal of NWU to have an open and simbiotic relationship between its campus and the surrounding community.

One of the biggest plans is constructing an entirely new science facility or significantly renovating or expanding on their main science building "Olin Hall."

Here's how the cover initially started:

and where it ended:

I had a lot of fun with this one. It was quite a challenge to get the 5 to work as a set. I tried using a sort of "split screen" approach for the majority, but also picking a color scheme and using it along with similar textures through-out helped a ton. If anyone has suggestions as to how to make these types of sets work together, I'd love to hear it!

LA Weekly

Here's a fun little something you can find while flipping through the LA weekly this week: a calendar! Look for a brilliant blue insert with a picture of a Chihuahua in a bee costume being attacked by a shark while riding the waves on konica minolta 1050. Unfold that sucker and you'll find... another chihuahua in costume. yay! This time being walked by some sexy legs.

looks great on fridges:

dont miss out, get yours today! offer ends February 18th 2010.

Storytelling Magazine

Storytelling Magazine - December 2009

I'm posting this a little late, but above is an illustration I worked on for the cover of Storytelling Magazine. I worked with Art Director Dale Atkinson on this, who gave me a lot a freedom and encouraged me to get abstract with my interpretation of the story supplied: "Fresh Bagels." This is a traditional Jewish folk tale retold by storyteller and teacher, Zane Chait, who holds storytelling workshops in the Chicago area.

I particularly like how the "tentacle-like smells" (as Dale named them) mimic the Storytelling logo. Wish I could say I had this in mind the entire time, but that would be a blatant lie. so I'll be real with you- it was just one of those happy accidents! Thank you Dale, and Storytelling Magazine!

Her Nashville

Her Nashville, December 2009 (vol 02, issue 6)

I'm very excited to have created some wintery cover artwork for the December issue of the beautiful Her Nashville Magazine. This issue centers around female bonding and friendships that are "like family without the dysfunction," as Heather Pierce explained it to me. Heather is the art director at Her Nashville, and she was super helpful and a pleasure to work with!

Below is one of the early sketches:

And here is the final without the Her flag:

Thank you to Heather and everyone at Her Nashville for this great opportunity!

Prism International

PRISM international 47:3, Spring 2009

Copies of the PRISM international issue that features my work just arrived in my mailbox. I'm so pleased with the results! It's lovely and has been a great read, so please please please pick it up if you get the chance. Or go subscribe to this quarterly at their website. Thanks to the folks at Prism, especially Michelle Miller, for contacting me for this project.

By Ginger!

Fluttering

Over the Bars!

It's probably obvious that these were greatly inspired by bicycle wanderings. This has been the main way of getting to know my new home in Santa Monica; by foot, bike and bus. Here are some of my favorite sites:

Under an overpass. 

The shadows cast on my porch.

The unfortunate butt.

The kick-arse ceiling, and book wall in our new aptartment.

Crazy critters also inspired me. Here's my favorite crazy critter, passed out in a sun spot after reading up on her art hero:

The Story of Docile and Feral

The Story of Docile and Feral - by Shelly Smith

This is the front and back cover of The Story of Docile and Feral, an adult fairy tale by Shelly Smith. Shelly contacted me a few years back to illustrate her story, and there are now over 30 full page and spot illustrations in this baby! 

The time is right and Shelly is now letting the book out into the world. For more information, or to purchase it, please visit: www.docileandferal.com Get your copy today! This is a self publishing venture so your support will be much appreciated.

Translating to the Beetles 

Above is a little before and after action. This is one of the first illustrations I made for Shelly, and it was eventually chosen to be the story's cover girl. You can see it has a vertical orientation, but somewhere along the line we changed things to be horizontal and the image had to be elongated. I wanted to show the vertical version here because it's still my favorite.