Hello Birds {letterpress}

We reprinted our bird cards! We had run out and we weren't sure whether to reprint or not - then we got a wholesale order for these cards. Time to get the press running! We printed them in a smaller 4Bar size (3.5' x 5') because that size is our new obsession. It seems cuter and sweeter. Just enough room for a few choice words. We kept the colors close to the originals but tweaked the pink to Pantone 205 - the closest match to honeysuckle, which you should all know was voted the color of the year for 2011 by Pantone! Our birds not only pop, but they are hip too.

Sanjay Patel {illo inspiration}

Here are some amazing illustrations by Sanjay Patel from his book "Divine Loophole." I borrowed the beautiful book from a friend and scanned in as many images as I could. I can't tell you how hard it was to narrow it down to just these - there were so many gorgeous pages to choose from. Sanjay is and animator and storyboard artist for Pixar. I hope he inspires you. Enjoy!

Love Sick {illustration}

This illustration ran with two stories about couples staying in love through sickness. One was about a couple that met while the man was battling cancer. The other was a about a couple being together when one of them is HIV positive. Both were very touching stories - sad and sweet. Of course, the story ran right around Valentine's Day. How perfect.

{images belong the San Diego Union Tribune}

Bridal Show Invitation {Letterpress}

Here is a job we printed designed by Vanessa from Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations. It is for an upcoming bridal show put on at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. It was a double-sided, 2-color job on the 220# Crane's Lettra. Crane's recently lowered their prices on the extra thick Lettra a whopping 26%. It's still pricey but much better. It prints like a dream.

Jim Flora {inspiration friday}

I came across Jim Flora's work while looking for inspiration for a December Nights illustration {see Happy Holiday's post.} He was most know for the Jazz album covers he did in the 1940's and 50's along with his children's book and magazine illustration. On his website, though, you discover the fine art side to him. The prints and note cards available for sale made me drool. He has been gone for over a decade, but his art still speaks to me now. It says "hey there, I'm still amazing!" Enjoy!

{images from Jim Flora site and blog}

Recent work {illustration wednesday}

This was a tabloid cover illustration on comedy clubs in the San Diego area. I was very pleased with the concept. So pleased, in fact, that when I started working on it I ran into trouble. I couldn't see how to keep it simple and give it texture and interest at the same time. It wasn't until I thought of it as a screen-print that I was able to pull it off. Whew!
{By the way, do you see the laughing face in the cord of the microphone? Just making sure!}
This illustration ran with a story on the division of chores in the household. The clever hedline says "Are you losing the chore wars." This story definitely hit home with my husband and me. He joked the other day that he could show me how to turn the vacuum on if I wanted. Whatever! (okay, maybe I could do more around the house - don't tell my husband!) My favorite statistic from the story said that around 60% of men actually prefer to do the cooking. Nice!
This last illo was for a story on damaging your vocal chords from over use - specifically in teachers. This is important in my family because all four of my sisters taught at one time and my father is a retired high-school teacher. I loved the erased look of the sound bubble - I used the smudge tool in Photoshop to get it. The smudge tool is a very under-used tool in my toolbox. That may change.

{all illustrations by Cristina Martinez Byvik - for the San Diego Union-Tribune}

What the Pluot! {illustration process}

This illustration was done for the January Water-wise garden section of the Union-Tribune. {story here} I thought is was a good example of how I worked. Sketch to Illustrator to Photoshop. The writer, Nan Sterman, complimented me by thinking this was an actual print. If only I had the time...

by the way - a pluot is a hybrid between a plum and an apricot.

Lora Lamm {illo inspiration}

I stumbled across Lora Lamm's illustrations accidentally - I was searching for 50's style illustration and clicked on a website called Display. This site "documents mid-20th century, modern graphic design history through a curated collection, feature articles and bookstore." I borrowed these images of Lora's work from the site but there is so much more to see, I barely scratched the surface. Lora was born in Switzerland in 1928. She worked for the Studio Boggeri in Milan during the 1950s and 60s. I can see her influence in many illustrators working today. I hope her images inspire you as much as they will inspire me. Enjoy!