Bling

Let's start the week on a good note, okay? So let's take a look at some shiny pretty stuff...



Some old sketches...but still would like a real pair for myself :)

Mid-week Magic

(I wish my drawing skills would translate to being able to sew such an awesome cape!)

How's your week going?
I went to the Edel Rodriguez lecture at the SOI in NYC tonight.
It was really great to go and get some good advice from him.

Some key notes that I jotted down...
-if your work ever becomes too pigeon-holed, it's your job to 'open' your work up again to a new market
-you've got to be obsessed with your work and always making new art all the time (something that I can relate to)
-using your own photos that you snap as 'quick ideas' rather than photo reference

What advice would you give someone? I'd love to hear!

My 2011 Mantra

I think I'm on to something...

Back to it.

How was your New Years? Mine was pretty chill, a very quiet evening with my boyfriend. I got back the night before from Cleveland, so I just wanted to keep it simple and easy.

I've been trying to get to cafes more often so I can just zone out and do some sketching. That is one thing that I have missed so much since college. Sketching more is going to be one of my main personal and professional goals of 2011 and I hope to be able to share some of that right here.

So continuing on with my sketchbook....
I guess [pissed off] bundled-up New Yorkers are on my mind, because that is what has been showing up in it lately.

By the time I got back to New York after the 13 hour Amtrak journey, the snow had begun to melt, leaving a slush mess.
Now enter the garbage phase, piles and piles of garbage are NOW just starting to get picked up.

But aside from this, I am really excited about this year. I am working on new invitations, including my sisters wedding invitation suite, as well as couple's portraits, and some new illustrations. I look forward to sharing with you in the coming weeks!

Now, let the good times begin!

Jazz up your Holiday gifts

Print out the bottom image on sticker paper (or regular paper even) and here you go, To & From cards for your gifts.







10 To/From sets on an 8.5x11 page. Happy wrapping!

Happy Holidays

I will be heading home to Cleveland this week to celebrate Christmas with my family.

From me to you, have a great Holiday season!

Gap'd again

I spied some old art that I made 2 years ago and was originally in last year's Holiday line, recycled on a 7 pack of undies for THIS years Holiday line.
(I was freelancing for GapKids 2 years ago.)

Check out the top penguin. It was fun seeing familiar work in the store again!






And this is what I did for last year's Holiday season.



See all of what I did last year here.

Pillow Designs are Here!

You heard right! Go get 'em while they are hot!

I am so excited to announce that my aerial traffic scenes
are NOW available on Envelop.eu.

Envelop is "...an online print-on-demand platform where illustrators can create, promote and sell high quality cotton items to textile lovers worldwide."


Based out of Belgium, these pillow cases are printed on demand and are 100% cotton. I must send a big thank you to Serge for helping me get started and answering all my questions!


Round-About Traffic Scene



Highway Traffic Scene

----------

Prices range between $26-$32, depending on what size you would like to order.

Check out the 2 designs in my shop here. Perfect for a little kiddo's Holiday gift. But make sure to order before Dec 7th if you want it there before Dec 24th.

Happy shopping!

100 Layer Cake

Oh hey! I just joined as a vendor on 100 Layer Cake.
It is an awesome wedding site that offers different vendors online.





While I offer a different style, I would love to help couples on their wedding day invites.


Check it out my page!

So long beach weather

The fall brings out the best of me.

I love the crisp air and the autumn colors. I'm not a real big summer fan. Hot sticky days resulting in unruly hair, it's really not the season for me. So while I am talking about my love for Fall, please let's say good bye to summer, at least until next year.

40 Years Illustration Op-Ed NYTimes

Wow...great great great video article about 40 years of illustration at New York Time's Op-Ed page.

It's 10 minutes, but definitely worth sitting and viewing about how this little page progressed to be so big over the last 40 yrs.

see here

Welcome Fall!

Hooray, Fall is here tonight at 11:09pm. I sure hope tomorrow feels more like Autumn, because the weather has been getting warmer this past week. The week prior had been such a tease with cool breezes and crisp mornings.



I was doodling this the other night. Now wouldn't it be nice if there were hats like acorns? That would be pretty stellar.

Speaking of awesome hats, Tom has a nickname for me when I wear this winter hat of mine. He calls me, Slutvana (Sloot-vaana), since I look like a blonde Russian when I wear this hat. And now that I look at it, it kinda looks like an acorn too!



[Katie & me this past winter in Central Park.]


Only a few more months, then I can become Slutvana again on cold walks in Central Park.

Asking for some feedback...

Psst! I need some feedback...what do you think of the above?
Would you be interested in buying one?

I am about to start selling products online, but would like to get an idea of what people might be interested in actually buying.
Would you have any interest in buying any of these?

I think I will extend my work to also be on placemats, fabric napkins, as well as the above, pillows, oven gloves, and pot holders.

Any feedback would be so, so helpful! Please just leave in my comments or comment on my facebook posting of this!

Thanks so much in advance! xo

Farm to Table

I was asked last week by Leigh of Leigh Rubin Design, to help illustrate a map. The map will be used on a restaurant's website. Theme of the restaurant is "farm to table," so I was asked to incorporate different animals raised and crops produced at each respective farm.

Some barns.


Another barn.



A chicken.

The rough sketch.

The first submit.

The final. (asked for brighter background)

I'll try to link the the restaurant's site once it goes live.

Thanks Leigh for this project!

Celebrate

My mom is turning the big 6-0 this year, so of course a big party is in store to celebrate!

I created the invite for my mom's bday party that my sisters, my step-dad, and I are throwing for her.

I wanted my mom to be surprised when she finally got it in the mail, so I waited a few weeks before posting it until now. My mom has been a faithful blog follower of mine (thanks mom!), so I knew if I posted it before the invites went out, then well, it wouldn't be as much of a surprise.

;)



Flash forward a few weeks. My sister texts me while she is back home for the week "The invitation came today, mom laughed so hard, aww!"

Success!

You need an invite designed/illustrated?
Email me lindseybalbierz {at} gmail {dot} com.
Let's do something fun!

Barns

Something I'm workin' on this week...more to follow

Old Friends

You ever have those moments or nights where something revives your spirit? Brings you back to where you started?

My best friend from Cleveland, Adge, was in New York the other night, driving through on a road trip from Maine to Cleveland, and we were able to get dinner together.

It definitely revived my spirits.

In my Sketchbook

And for some visual stimulation...
I am working on some new sketches about one of my nostalgic childhood pastimes--
safety town.

More coming soon!

ICON recap

Phew! Finally get a minute to talk about my ICON trip.

ICON was such a great experience, definitely worth the flights across the US.
I met a lot of great young illustrators that are starting out like me, as well as heard inspiring talks from the pros: Melinda Beck, Yuko Shimizu, Gary Taxali, and John Hendrix.





I learned about orphan works, design integrity, and the value of being different.
I learned about the importance of social media, of being memoriable, and of always producing something.



I also met some great young artists, like me, just out of school or still in school who had some impressive work. Here are a few, but not all: David Gonzalez, Nick Iluzada, Hannah Lee (also a parsons alumn), Connie Wong, and Eveline Tarunadjala.





I'm looking forward to ICON 7, where ever it may be held!

But until then, I gotta get crackin'!

New Cards

I got my new postcard and business card printed for my LA trip.

Here they are:











Email me if you want me to drop one in snail mail for you.
lindseybalbierz [at] gmail [dot] com.

:)