A Green Weekend

I spent the first half of this weekend in March planting my new seeds for the spring/summer and repotting some cacti and succulents. I'm so excited to see what will actually grow for me! I have some tomatoes, spinach, mesclun greens, various herbs, green onions, and even cat grass for the cats to munch on.

I've never planted any seeds using these peat pellets, that expand into 1.5" round mounds of dirt, but I think they will work as my greens have already begun to sprout!

Below is my new jade plant I bought at the flower show, where I also purchased some special sand from arizona to put on the top of the soil.

Recent Music

1. Born Ruffians: Say It

2. Toro y Moi: Underneath the Pine

3. Broken Bells: Broken Bells

4. Le Loup: Family

5. Patsy Cline: 36 All Time Greatest

Some Web Shout Outs

So I know I'm not the only person that googles my name every few months or so. It's interesting to see how much of the google search is about you, and stuff that people have blogged about you that you never knew about! Well I found my step mom's sister's daughter's blog haha (my sorta cousin) and she had posted a painting of mine last year before the annual family jersey shore trip.

Cora has two blogs running that are both awesome. The first one called That's What She Baked looks as it sounds. It is about all of her baking endeavors featuring cookies, cupcakes, and so much more. I am jealous of her adorable cooking apron collection, as I have been shopping around for the perfect one for too long. She also has the blog that I was featured on called girl, you a hot mess where she posts everything pretty and artsy.

The second shout out was from my friend Daniel Fishel, who contributes to thinkfaesthetic. Fish and I graduated from uarts the same year. Right after school he started attending grad school at SVA and I think it's done him good. Here are some of his recent pieces I pulled from his website.

His newer color palettes have developed a certain maturity to them, that I am really enjoying. His work sets a certain mood that makes you feel that life is mundane but maybe not all that bad. Keep up the good work!

Flower Show

Dear glorious plants, I wish I could take all of you home.

This Saturday: "Don't Wake Me Up"

My friend Avalon Clare, who I have known for a couple years now, is having a solo show at Sweet Jane Vintage on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia. Sweet Jane is a cute store that sells vintage shoes, clothes, and accessories that I drool over everytime I go in there. I think it's awesome that they are featuring art in their store. Their gallery space is located in the back of the store along two walls, near the fitting rooms.

Here are some of Avalon's pieces that I really like!

My favorites are the one's where she has illustrated horses. It's nice when artists are able to take their love of something, and turn it into a great piece of work. Her color palettes are nice and simple, which makes the subject matter even stronger.

Fifty and Fifty

Here's a big project featuring a bunch of very talented individuals, that has been getting alot of hype in the design/illustration circuit. The website says:

50 AND 50 IS A COLLECTIVE, CURATED PROJECT WHERE FIFTY DESIGNERS ARE INVITED TO REPRESENT THEIR STATE BY ILLUSTRATING ITS MOTTO. Fifty and Fifty was created by Dan Cassaro, who is also a talented designer.

Below are some of my favorites from the bunch.

Jess Hische did the one for PA (which is currently my computer background).

Kansas was done by Luke Bott.

And Connecticut by one of my favorite illustrators Meg Hunt.

I like how all the designers incorporated the same simple color palette, which is a nice alternative to using the traditional red, white, and blue. It was nice to see how the different artists utilized hand done type and imagery to represent the mottos. Nice work!

Call for Entries: American Illustration 30

Below is last year's cover featuring art by Sam Weber.

I haven't entered work in one of these since I graduated but I think this year is the year.

The deadline for submitting work to American Illustration has been extended until this Wednesday March 9th. Here's a little blurb about it from the website:

American Illustration and American Photography the award winning, large-format, beautifully designed and printed hardcover annuals offer high visibility and recognition where it matters most. Both are the exclusive source for assignment and commissioned work by many top art directors, designers, photo editors and art buyers.

When you enter the AI-AP Call For Entries, your work is seen by a jury made up exclusively of top creative professionals who assign and utilize photography and illustration, including art directors, designers, photo editors, art buyers, gallerists, editors and publishers. Those who can hire you, regardless of whether or not your work is selected, will see your work.Selected images appear in the hardcover books, one-image-per-page with an index that includes all creative credits and contact information. Books are distributed worldwide through retail outlets and through direct mail order.