Lynsey Erin Illustration

Hi friends! It's been a bit of work, but my illustration website has launched!! Wooooo! This includes my fancy new blog where you can keep up with my news, art inspiration, goodies and such, as well as super new art. Stop by LynseyErinillustration.com and let me know what you think!

NY Comic Con, Asterios Polyp and Wilson

I warned you that I was in a graphic novel phase, or research between new work phase, or procrastination phase, but whatever you prefer to call it, I've been excited about comics lately. On top of that, out of the blue my friend had such an intriguing proposition working the Anime Network booth at NY Comic Con, that I couldn't refuse and have been pouring over the event list daily to see where I'll make my way during breaks. Tracy White will be speaking there, author and illustrator of graphic novel How I made it to Eighteen, a story of addiction, depression and getting through it, as well as Jane Yolen, who is typically a wonderful children's author and is making her own graphic novel debut. Definitely check all the comic mayhem out October 8th-10th!

image via BoDoi, image via paulgravett.com
Today I finished 2 graphic novels back to back, and there was my first mistake. The second, is that I started with David Mazzucchelli's Asterios Polyp and then went on to Daniel Clowes' Wilson. They both star a middle aged self centered male, and because of this should have been enjoyed and reread separately in order to avoid comparisons. But alas, I did not and so I will.
Mazzucchelli's graphic design layout, choice of limited colors, use of space, and a beautiful script make this the perfect graphic novel to me. Each character has a depth that feels more autobiographical than fiction. I could gush and pour on the praise all day, but just do yourself a favor and read it.
* On a side note, I did take a class alongside Mazzucchelli and his class work is featured somewhere on this blog.....also, he was super nice and always helpful.
In Clowes' Wilson, the character never quite grows, is always quite despicable, and never makes a real connection to the people on the pages, leaving it as flat as the medium itself. What works are the changing styles of drawing and alternating full color pages and 2 colors pages for visual interest. His drawing style has always been a favorite of mine, and for this I would still recommend it.

image via raincoastbooks.com

Graphic reads

Lately all I've been into reading is graphic novels. Luckily the library down the street from me has a great section and apparently few geeks like me in the area because the section is always pretty full. I became obsessed with Julie Doucet after reading her 365 days, basically a journal of a year in life, working, traveling and just dealing with everyday things.

I picked up Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by cousin Jillian Tamaki and was blown away. The coming of age story is so honest, and the illustration and perspectives are so beautiful that I read it over and over again. I want to get my hands on all of Jillian's work now.

The Impostor's Daughter, a true story of a journalist and her relationship with her father and her unraveling read like a thriller and was absolutely satisfying. These are due soon, so I'll have another batch to get wrapped up in and hopefully get inspired to start on my own.

Images via Drawn and Quarterly, Amazon, and Tablet.com

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

Tacos to Truffles

So my friends and I love to eat, and talk about eating so much, we started a blog called Tacos to Truffles. I'll be there every Tuesday illustrating my favorite meals of the week. Come check it out- I promise you'll leave salivating!


Burrata appetizer from Fiore in Brooklyn - watercolor and ink

Happy Birthday Frida!

picture via Maira Kalman's blog

La Isla Bonita

Hi! I'm back from our honeymoon in Spain, too soon of course. We went to Barcelona and Mallorca, a beautiful island off the coast, and had an amazing time.

This is the beautiful town of Deia in Mallorca that
many artists, writers and musicians come to for inspiration.
Check out more of my Spain sketches on my Flickr page.

Illustrated Wedding Invites

So this is how our wedding invitations came out...our friend Ricky is an amazing graphic designer, and he type set and letter pressed them at The Arm in Brooklyn. (and took these 2 top photos...mine, not so great!)

images per Ricky Ferrer

Here's how the set looked. King and queen Love stamps, grey envelopes with attempted calligraphy, RSVP post card and invite. It took 2 stamps to mail just because the envelope is vertical! At least it made sense with the king and queen on each one....

Fancy Free and ABT

Hi! Haven't posted in a while due to the upcoming wedding and work, but I'm still drawing daily! Recently my fiance and I have been going to the ballet a lot, and he turned me on to the ABT logo contest....and I won! It's a rendering of Fancy Free, a ballet set in the 1940's about 3 sailors who fall for 2 women. Wooo! Check it out at American Ballet Theater.

Moleskine fiend

I never really understood why this brand of seemingly regular notebooks has such a cult following. But then I saw this video by Juan Berrio and was completely inspired, and started searching for other Moleskine using artists...of which there are many, many, and even more many. You must, MUST take a look at the video- it is just incredible.


I found a new favorite illustrator, Badaude, and fell in love with her hand done typography, fashion musings and illustrations, and fantastic scenes of Paris. J'adore her!!




Moleskine page from Illehell, on Flickr....the set is an a-z of cities worldwide, but I had to post my hometown, Houston!



This is a set of 3 Moleskines I bought for me and my two friends so I would finally have a sketch book to use in the subway, and because they are so wonderful and thoughtful, that I owed them some pen pal love. The girl in the top left corner I drew from a Depression era photo found in the Library of Congress's Flickr photostream. Best resource ever. I drew the Alexander McQueen dress for Jen, who was also a huge fan, and finally, a sun bear lamp/upholstered living room scene with a Daughter Earth wall hanging for Katy, of Daughter Earth. That may sound weird, but read her blog, and you'll understand. I'm off to finish my drawings for the invites...and start filling up pages of round cornered inspiration!

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

News and updates and whatnot

Well first, I've been working on my portfolio, trying to get more sequential images in there and all. Here's one from a series I've been working on about a girl and her mom.

Lynsey Hirth - click to enlarge

I guess my biggest news, though, is that I recently got engaged and am now planning the wedding, which, knock on wood, has been great so far. I made these save the dates that said,
"Don't be sketchy, save the date!" Yes, there's a bit of an art theme to the wedding...but not overly cheesy...hopefully I can restrain myself. I'll be posting my ideas for the invites soon...I can't decide on what to go with!

Lynsey Hirth

I am also terribly upset over the loss of Alexander McQueen. His work was a huge inspiration to me since design school, and I've seen his garments in person and been blown away by the craftsmanship. These are a few of my favorite fashion illustrations inspired by his designs:

Beautiful jester drawing by Kuanth

Gorgeous twin dresses by Sandra Suy

An ethereal McQueen dream sequence via Danny Roberts of Igor and Andre

and of course, the adorable Fifi Lapin in her British best

My favorite ever look of McQueen's, from Spring 2005, hat by Philip Treacy, that I will try and draw very soon.