research papers

I'm starting to work on a NEW PROJECT. AN ART PROJECT. MY OWN PROJECT. It's unnamed and really shapeless at this point, but I thought I'd start posting inspiration and research as it goes. The first two photos are from scans I made from a book about masks I got from the library.

My musical inspiration is Charlotte Gainsbroug's 5:55...



(whoever picked this picture of her for the video somehow found the one picture that doesn't look like her AT ALL.)

pie chart

we made breakfast pizza. it was good.



next time i think i'll use this recipe. they were a lot more clear about how to keep the egg from dripping off the pizza whilst in the oven, which generally causes the fire alarm to go off in my experience.

cover story

i found this book while doing some research for a (shapeless/nameless/baby stages) project at the st paul public library. i wish it were mine! Also, if you ever get the chance to go to the Central Library in downtown St. Paul, you should go. It is BEAUTIFUL.

metropolis

In the last post I mentioned a little trip I'm planning and I realized I never said exactly wheeerrreee I was headed to - oops, it's New York! The big apple! A place where stuff happens! I've never been before but I love movies like Manhattan that are little love letters to the city ... and they make me think that's the city I want to visit. Obviously also I love Sex & the City, although it's really Woody Allen's New York as of late that's given me the itch.

Anywho, where should I go? Anyone been before? I'm not really planning on going to the statue of liberty or anything since it'll be a quick trip. I'm thinking more like MoMA, Katz's Deli, Shopsin's (music plays when you click the link), maybe even try to see Martha Stewart live... I've got a food based trip plan for the most part. Maybe vintage clothing shopping in the Lower East Side? GIVE ME THOSE SUGGESTIONS.

v.i.p.

+tarocco oranges (oh yum)
+the new weather (it just started today, SO WARM)
+my new boots (thrifted from the goodwill timberlands!)
+planning tripssss (SO. EXCITING.)
+sailor's knot necklaces from the vamoose.

brave

"I am not afraid... I was born to do this."
-Joan of Arc


for this week's illustration friday the keyword was "brave". I have been moving away from the fantasy art that captivated me all the way to my early college years in favor of more serious or more girly topics, but recently I've started a project that's bringin' me back to my Dinotopia, Red Wall, Sailor Moon, and general fun monster drawin' fantasy roots. This project has also been causing me to want to research a lot of the cultural heritage of Minnesota - namely Native American and Scandinavian, but I'm also thinking I should look at Hmong and Somalian imagery too.

Anywho, that's where this image came from. This week I also really like the contributions of hsinping pan, moira millman, and alice carroll (HOLY CRAP THAT LINEWORK!!!)

ALSO I have a new hand set font available for purchase at You Work For Them. His name is Alistair... be nice to him, he's gentle.




p.s. "Two posts in one day, Emma?" you might say, "That seems in excess." "NAY!" I will respond, "I actually wrote that last post about jeans two days ago and forgot to post it. Also it was boring!"

in the jeans

Dearest darling jeans that were my favorite,

Perhaps it was because I favored you over my other denim, perhaps it was because you came from old navy and I jinxed it by saying I had a pair of Old Navy jeans for three years that never ripped, perhaps it was because all good things must end..

and now I need a new pair.

I'm thinking cropped (for the hopefully impending spring) or a cigarette ankle jean... if they look good on me. I haven't actually bought a new pair of jeans in so long I can't actually remember what looks good! BUT HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS.



the gap, jack wills, and urban outfitters (even though I personally reeaaaallly don't like those shoes.)

salt of the earth

"Wouldn't it be nice if that oak tree would ever reach my remains, and the tree would take nourishment from that? And it's kind of like I never died, really."

I read this article on NPR awhile ago and thought the whole thing was marvelous. So romantic, an illustration was just begging to be made. It also particularly makes sense that this woman is from Michigan - I met plenty of people who probably felt the same way as her growing up in the mitten state.

This is the work in progress so far... but something feels unfinished. Since I can't go to class and have my peers all in one spot anymore (curse you art school! critiques were so helpful!), I'm going to ask for YOUR advice. You. yes you, with the coffee in your hand sitting in your favorite chair. Or you, surfing the internets at work while waiting for something to do. You know who you are.

p.s. while I was making this illustration (specifically, placing all the flowers & fauna) I was listening to the This American Life about Sinatra and now when I look at those flowers all I can think about is "My Way " or "That's Life". BRAINS ARE WEIRD.