Happy Valentine's Day!

Final photos, as promised:


"LDR" (Pen & Prismacolor on watercolor paper)



"Swans" (Paper)

Almost here...

I'm almost finished with my love-inspired art!



This card is inspired by my new boyfriend, who is a resident of Australia. I'm sure it will resonate with everyone who has ever been in an LDR (Long Distance Relationship) during the past decade or so. While the bulk of our communication is online, I like sending cards and other physical love notes. It's nice to have something to hold or look at when you're missing that someone special.





Here's a detail shot of an origami card I put together. I haven't worked with printed paper in awhile, so it was fun mixing and matching patterns and colors.

I'll be taking better photos and scans of the finished products tomorrow. Right now I need to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympic Games!

Let the wild rumpus start!

(Image from Hunt Famous)

When I was a kid, Where the Wild Things Are was my favorite book. According to my mom, I brought it home from the library several times before she finally broke down and bought me a copy. Unfortunately, she did not enjoy Maurice Sendak's classic as much as I did. She found the illustrations scary, and couldn't understand why her five-year-old daughter loved a book filled with such "creepy" monsters. Whenever I wanted WTWTA read to me, she'd suggest I ask my dad, who fortunately found reading it to be a fun experience.

Time eventually changed Mom and Dad's perspective of the book. Mom eventually sat down to really read it, and now loves it. Dad has completely forgotten he ever read WTWTA to me, and cannot remember a single thing about the book (to be fair, the last time he cracked it's cover was close to 20 years ago). Which is why I saw the movie with my mom while dad was at work.

(Image from Movie Crunch)

Here's my short review:
The Where the Wild Things Are movie is a beautiful adaption of a classic children's book, though it is definitely not for kids. There's no language or sex, and minimal violence, but the themes of loneliness and feeling life is beyond your control will likely be lost on younger viewers. Which is funny, because these concepts are exactly the sort of thing kids need to be reassured about. What child hasn't felt lonely at some point growing up, even when surrounded by people who love them? What kid doesn't act out at a situation beyond their control? WTWTA speaks to those kids, though they may not realize it until they're a bit older.

Beer Label

My dad has been doing a lot of home brewing lately, and thought it would be fun to have his own labels. More to come, as we nail down a name and theme.

Wild Animal Park

Here are a couple of things I'm working on just for fun. I'm trying to marry my illustration and graphic design skills in a fictional ad campaign for the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park.


My aunt and cousin both used to work for the Park, and my sister will be studying zoology in college, so animals and the SD Zoo and WAP are both big parts of my family's life!

Back Alley

Film Noir

This is an image for my special studies class. The theme is Raymond Chandler novels, and the film noir genre.

Bogart