designlab

Time for some updating.....

My freelance career has taken me in many directions over the past 2 or 3 years.  Creative projects have included design gigs and teaching art.  I have designed 3-D soft products for kids and have also taught textile arts. I have also created a few textile works of my own.  Over the next couple of days I will be posting a few photos of some of this work......I have also done some painting that I will share....

Textile softies created by some of my textile arts students.

Goat painting by me.....goauche and acrylic paint on paper.

Hand puppets made by me for my musette line of textile arts.

Postcard design for the AWOL Gallery Luau Reception

Announcement card design for AWOL Gallery Doll Show

Another goat painting....acrylic, laytex and gold leaf on canvas.

Geisha Girl Doll for my musette textiles collection.

More to come in the next few days.....

 

My goodness - I have been away far too long...

I thought I would share my softer side....just SOME of my softer side....

say cheeseburger....

silly bear family...
hoot
the cupcake princess - yum
the ballet princess - if you notice in the lower right corner the poodle ballet princess - awesome...

red head in a polka dot dress...

most of these critters and dolls are designs for Maison Chic one of my clients on the east coast.

I have designed tons of soft animals for this company.

the red head doll is one of my hand made girls...

Pardon My Frenchie and love maud are merging.....

Beach dolls

Here is a shot of one of the many beach dolls with postcard "packaging" that I was inspired to create after putting together my beach inspiration book...her swimsuit was created from a vintage floral handkerchief, the background is a collage of acrylic paint and fabrics.

It's about time...

I have been waiting for someone to come out with a book of kids fashion designers.  Most of the designers in this book I have seen before and have to say they deserve to be in this book. The book showcases small lesser know designers as well as some name brand designers.  I like the book and anyone who has worked in childrenswear should grab a copy.  I defintiely see a volume two or perhaps a more kids indie designer book.  There are a ton of indie kidswear designers. I might have to publish something....

Animal art

I guess it is about time that I post a bit of creations that have come from the design lab (that's me). This is not something new as a matter of fact it is quite the contrary. This happened back when I first decided to use my Epson 1500 large format printer to print on fabric. Now this was  before you could buy pretreated fabric to print on your Epsons.  You had to buy a solution, from somewhere like Dharma Trading Company, soak the fabric in it and let it dry out. Then you could run the slightly stiff fabric through your printer.  I was also into painting monkeys at the time and faux fur.  So I printed out colorful monkey and gorilla faces onto white linen. I made pillows out of the printed fabric and backed them with faux fur that looked amazingly like gorilla hair. I think they are pretty outstanding....

You have never seen anything like these before, right?

The Bangles, no not those Bangles-

I love these photos by Man Ray. One of them is Nancy Cunard.  I must say I am quite fond of polka dots and bangle bracelets-being a designer in fashion...

 And here is an updated homage to Nancy Cunard...

June - the painting

It seems like forever since I have put paint on canvas.  I have been doing so much digital art lately. I admit I am feeling a bit shy about beginning some new works on canvas, but I am really feeling the need to get my hands on some paint.  The painting below is one I did a few years ago.  It's acrylic on canvas with a little bit of flocking and glitter thrown in.  I was in a sparkly, warm and fuzzy mode....I recently put this painting on my etsy shop.  I can totally see it in a child's room, although right now it is in my sun room hanging over my bright yellow chaise and makes me feel great when I enter the room.

Favorite Graphic Designers

I thought I would let you take a peek at some of graphic designers and design firms that have inspired me.  All of them are quite diversely creative, their work ranging from advertising, packaging, book covers, posters, surface design and fine art.  Vintage style up to the present - I am drawn to these artist's compelling work like a bear to honey. I just can't get enough....

This book about Olle Eksell, a Swedish graphic designer who's career spanned from the late 1930's to the late 1960's is beautiful. Below is just a tiny portion of his work from the book.

Illustration from 1939.

Book cover from 1964.

Here are some pillows with one of his textile designs.

And a whimsical packaging design.
If you like any of what you see here, you should definitely pick up the book.  It is all samples of his work from front cover to back. Lots of eye candy.

The decorative side of graphic design...

After several years designing retail flyers, advertisments, pop's and signage - and several more of packaging design, I decided to move towards decorative arts and began working in product development and surface design.  I found this to be much more to my liking and I have spent many years up to the present designing for the gift & stationery industries and the apparel industry.  I will be creating pages over the next several days with some samples from my portfolio.  You will find them in the left hand column under Pages and listed by categories such as textile designs, product design etc.  If you would like any information on any of the work there, please feel free to email me.