Wedding Illustrations

Since our wedding was at the Society of Illustrator's, I felt it fitting to hire a fashion illustrator, Jillian Leedy, to draw during the ceremony and cocktail hour for a little something different. She sketched there previously for an event I blogged about here, so I was excited to see her loose, quick interpretations, and everyone enjoyed watching her while she worked.

* all images are via Jillian Leedy

Illuminated Invitations part deux

Okay, so my wonderful, fantastic graphic designer friend has kindly offered to LETTERPRESS our wedding invites. How amazing is that?? When you cost them out at other places they are often around 8.00 PER CARD!!! Needless to say, I'm excited...but everything has to be done this weekend because he's printing next Saturday, so that's what I'm doing! There's snow piled a foot high, but I really need to trek back up to take reference pics of the building. Here's the final inspiration board...my rough sketch of the Society of Illustrator's building, and the tall skinny envelopes from my favorite stationery store, Paper Presentation, though I haven't decide on grey or kraft paper yet. At the top left are the Love stamps I'm using beautifully designed by Jeanne Greco.

Illuminated Invitations

This is in no way turning into a wedding blog, but I have been on a quest for great inspiration for my wedding invites, which of course I want to illustrate myself, hence the posting. I already showed the save the date, but wanted something different for the invites and have searched high and low for ideas.

First, I was really into the idea of a comic book theme.


I was obsessed with this comic book cover style design from D.I.Y. Union

and this one from Lollipop Events and Designs-where the bride's ring is a diamond Hello Kitty!!

But also loved the sweet simplicity of black and white lettering and kraft paper of this letter pressed couple via Oh So Beautiful Paper

and of course all the wonderful Rifle Paper invitations; especially that the designs of their whole sets work together perfectly....

and was also drawn to the intricate line work of this gorgeous hand carved and printed set via Tugboat Printshop

But ultimately, this board I put together was the final inspiration piece I went off of to design the invites. It will definitely be a black and white crosshatching type style drawing of the Society of Illustrators where the wedding will occur. I liked the idea of us on it, but we decided simpler was better. I can always draw us in front of the building on the RSVP or for the guest book. (yay, more projects!!) I still don't know whether to add the one color pop of their iconic red door, it doesn't go with the palette of anything else; I'm not all "wedding colors!!", but they have to all make sense together, you know? Although it is so trendy right now, I just love the look of kraft paper and think the envelopes may be made of that...

From left corner: Incredible building illustration by Al lorenz via Society of Illustrators ; Shu Okada's people have a very sweet vintage Joan Walsh Anglund feel; The awesome hand drawn napkin invites were done for a contest on 100 layer cake by Bryn; Picture I drew of Matt in front of the Rosenbach Museum in Philly; Wedding paper set with library building and bookmark; Letterpressed Golden Gate bridge invite; My drawing of a 2 of hearts couple

Back in business!

Hi there! I'm back....just busier than ever, which is good of course, but I've been slacking on this front! A few things I've been working on lately. These are all done in Prismacolor markers with ink and some Pentel pen and prisma color pencils.



Sketch night at Society of Illustrators



Dior leopard dress from Fall '09



Based on blogger Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes but I've changed it up a little :)

Bye, see you much sooner next time!

Go figure!

On the Society of Illustrators main page I always see a sidebar advertising their Jazz and Sketch night, and while it sounded intriguing, those things can be kind of intimidating and I didn't go out of my way to see what it was all about. Finally, probably out of frustration of wanting better subjects than my cats, I decided to check it out, why not? And absolutely loved it. The drawing venue feels like a cozy parlour, a totally relaxed and relaxing atmosphere -a live band plays, you can drink wine, and it's completely non judgemental. The Society has it every Tues and Thurs; I will definitely be going back- you should stop by!


picture via Society of Illustrators



my sketches from last night using ink

Friday's Five: Must see summer art shows

1. MoCCA Art Festival 2009 - a fundraiser for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, but held at the Lexington Avenue Armory; a huge exhibit of artists, sketchers, animators, indie comics and more- I mean, just look at the poster! June 6th and 7th.

2. Also currently and, actually, at MoCCA through August 23rd, is a retrospective of David Mazzucchelli, a comic artist who started at Marvel working on Batman in the 80s and moved into the less glamorous but more personal indie comic world. He was actually in one of my classes at SVA- you know how you'll be in class and there's always a superstar the teacher adores and everyone else is struggling? Well, he's the superstar. Mazzucchelli's new work, a graphic novel called Asterios Polyp, looks really exciting - I can't wait to see it and get to know his older work.

3.Giant Robot NY - One of my favorite little galleries because of it's laid back vibe, cute shop items, and back issues of it's awesome magazine. Check out the new exhibit Panelists: Comic Artists on the Wall through June 24th.

4. Society of Illustrators -Earlier this year I posted about Yoko Furosho, a favorite artist of mine and a really nice girl. She was featured in The Society of Illustrators annual student competition, along with many talented upcoming illustrators you should check out to say you knew them when- through June 6th.

Petals in the water by Yoko Furosho

5. American Folk Art Museum- I already loved Henry Darger's collaged and traced outsider art illustrations following his fictional 15,145 page story about the Vivian Girls, but seeing the actual pieces is stunning. I didn't realize how large they would be, or how dreamy the use of his colors were until I visited Up Close: Henry Darger - though September 6th.

Friday's Five: Fashion Illustrators

There is absolutely nothing better than going to a great museum exhibit and getting some much needed inspiration. Attending a lecture by people I was in awe of and seeing them in "real-life" with incredible personalities, insight and advice was an invaluable experience. Wednesday night The Society of Illustrators hosted a panel of fashion illustrators and models. It turned into a conversation between the panelists about the importance of fashion illustration, the relationship between photography and fashion illustration and the bias museums and people have of fine art over illustration. They all shared so much about the industry, how it's changed, and how current fashion illustrators are the hope for the future. In the fashion and art industry this is a very refreshing attitude!Fashion illustrator, curator of the show, and clearly sharp dresser, Robert Richards talked about photography losing its credibility with everything being photoshopped to death, "if it's going to be a fantasy, then come to us!"

Anna Bayle, the 1st Asian supermodel called " the face of the 80s" for good reason, holds an illustration of herself done by Alvaro for Vogue China. Pictures from top right, Alvaros illustration, editorial tears, all via Anna's website Annabayle.com. Anna in white gown, via Adrianadasilva.com.

Now for your installment of Friday's Five: Fashion Illustrators

1. Bil Donovan -this man (below, hand closet to the wall) is a phenomenal illustrator. How phenomenal? He just signed a year long contract to be Christian Dior Beauty's in house artist. Donovan has worked with absolutely everyone and his website is gorgeous, so do not miss!

All photos were taken at the show, or via Society of Illustrators

2. Karen Santry -I took notes about the panelists before it all started, and she ran in late, in the most amazing outfit, 4" heels, and huge black felt fan hat, and I just wrote, "FABULOUS!" She works as a professor at FIT and I would do anything to take a class with her. Do yourself a huge favor and check out this article in the New York Times, featuring more of her work and her artists in residence studio apartment!

This book always pops up on my Amazon recommendations: Big Book of Fashion Illustration: A Sourcebook of Contemporary Illustration. Guess who did the cover? Karen, of course.

See? it's 3-d! so cool.

3. Elena Ambotaite- Gorgeous. Blonde. Dimples. Model. Wait no, illustrator! Actually both. She was charming and insightful about the work, having seen both sides. She 's modeled for Donovan before, too.

Illustration via elenaambo.com

4. Alvaro- Yes, he goes by one name, because he's that good. His story touched me, as a a little boy growing up in the Bronx, he saw Antonio Lopez's work, one of the illustration greats, and was determined to meet him. He did, and worked with and learned from him for years, until Antonio's death in 1987. Alvaro's message was that you can do anything you dream and put your mind to, and the way he was so emotional and passionate about his and the other illustrators' work, was really touching.

Alvaro and Karen Santry at the opening reception. Picture via Society of Illustrators

1st ever illustrated Vibe cover by Alvaro

5. Last but so not least, the late Antonio Lopez- I think it's very sad that fashion illustration is not a well known art form, because people miss out on beautiful work such as his. Karen had a hilarious story about living in NY in the 80s and going to Union Square, where Antonio lived, and literally digging through the trash for discarded illustrations! she said her and her friends would pin these up as inspiration. He had so many different styles, you can tell he was always experimenting and trying new things.

Illustrations for collage via arinavarga.blogspot.com, www.webuweb.com, fashionillustrationgallery.com, arinavarga.blogspot.com and http://latino.si.edu/virtualgallery/antonio/bodyessay.htm