Today I have artist
Littlestar Cindy on hand and I can't wait to share her sweet art with you. Her work exudes a whimsically innocent quality that definitely falls in the "
kawaii" camp but at the same time, it also seems like it's from a completely different era. For me, LSC's work feels like it's been rolled in candy sprinkles of 1940's art and animations like
Popeye and
Felix the Cat, and
vintage swedish fairy tale art which I remember covered these little wood puzzles we would get when I was a kid. To discover that essence of that feeling in LSC's work is such a treat! I hope you enjoy Littlestar Cindy's adorably odd characters and cute art.
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
Can you tell us of a favorite creative activity you enjoyed as a child?
Painting! Painting with lots of colors without limitations and rules.
When I grew up, however, lots of rules and limitations around us result in less and less color that I can use.
Therefore, I hope I can continue to use a lot of colors in my paintings and also remind me that don't forget my innocent child heart in this chaotic era.
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
What was your first job or position as a creative professional?
I'm a Freelance Artist and i really enjoy and love my job.
Although it's not my first job, it's my dream.
I always tell myself to do some meaningful things in my life….
I participated an art exhibition in Japan last year.
That was an amazing experience which could communicate and share my ideas and experiences with so many energetic people who devoted in art.
In addition, I learned how to enjoy and work with passion in everything I do!!
One of my artwork is greeting card design. It's very meaningful for me.
because you can imagine, people received the card may feel joy, touched or be encouraged.
Recently, I am working on the illustrations of children's books and i am also painting book games because the book have some game design for children to play. Education is very important and, of course, environment and children are also very important, they are our future.
I hope I can do something meaningful for this society, and do the best of myself.
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
What is your current favorite medium to work in?
My favorite medium for creation are computer and sketchbook.
I use the computer to create my works. On the computer, I work with "Photoshop" with "Wacom", it's amazing and I can use any color I want.
Also, I love graffiti so much. Therefore, I like the sketchbook very much. There are a lot of graffiti on my sketchbook.
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
Whistle while you work: Do you enjoy working in silence, listening to music, a podcast, or a movie? Please share!
I really love listening to music when i am painting, it vitalize me! i'm very enjoy it!!
The music genres I love are：alternative rock , Country rock , pop music , Trip hop, art rock , new wave music, dream-pop, chill-out, indie music……
If you have any fantastic music or want to share music with me, please email me! It will be very welcome and I am appreciate it!;)
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
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| © Littlestar Cindy |
Thanks so much, Cindy!!
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| © Monster Riot |
I'm so very excited to introduce to you today: Monster Riot! Jason and Catherine's work is a study in opposites: it's minimalist, yes, but thoughtfully so, and without losing a wisp of whimsicality or humor. It's also retro-modern— and while so much work you see these days is inspired in some way by mid-century culture, Monster Riot's work is indeed it's own— fresh, unique, and imaginative!
Please for a minute seek out and appreciate the quiet yet intense level of attention to detail that is apparent in the crafting of these illustrations. If you are a detail nut like me, this art can't help but win your heart on detail. Just seek and you will find it, again and again. Another thing I have to call out in the illustrations is the limited palette. Just gorgeous, sophisticated, thoughtfully curated colors. This is how you do minimalist!
I adore their funny, smart work and sharp, modern style. I hope you do, too.
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| © Monster Riot |
Can you tell us of a favorite creative activity you enjoyed as a child?
Jason: From as far back as I can remember, I think it was probably coming up with little stories that involved me and my little brother (I was always the hero of course). I'd write these adventures down and then illustrate key parts using my favourite Crayola colouring pencils.
Catherine: Playing with my Magic Drawing Board for hours on end (was fun at the time!).
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| © Monster Riot |
What was your first job or position as a creative professional?
Jason: After graduating in 2006 I was torn between animation and live action film. Neither of those really worked out for me so I found myself looking at different creative careers. Eventually I ended up as a Flash animator at an advertising company in London. This led to becoming experienced in graphic and digital design which I think has helped me become a better illustrator.
Cat: My first creative job was an art assistant for a children's nursery but now I'm a Creative assistant for an events company whilst working on my own projects in my spare time.
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| © Monster Riot |
What is your current favorite medium to work in?
Jason: You can't beat a pencil and paper (and then Photoshop to make it pretty).
Cat: Hard to choose but currently experimenting with indian and acrylic ink.
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| © Monster Riot |
Whistle while you work: Do you enjoy working in silence, listening to music, a podcast, or a movie? Please share!
Jason: I tend to like silence when I'm writing, drawing and coming up with ideas. I'll only listen to music if I'm doing bits in Photoshop as it helps me work faster!
Cat: I like to listen to music playing out loud (with both of us singing along badly) but will resort to listening on headphones when Jason wants quiet time!
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| © Monster Riot |
Now how 'bout these little stuffed creatures? (You know how I love my stuffed animals.)
I don't think there's anything sweeter than the little stuffed legs on the pink birdy.
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| © Monster Riot |
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| © Monster Riot |
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| © Monster Riot |
Visit Monster Riot!
Monster Riot
I first came across Megan Downing on
Society 6, then began following her on
Twitter. Then, one day on Twitter, she posted a picture of an adorable paperclay sculpture and I was so taken by it's level of jovial cuteness! I knew I had to check out more of her sculptures in her
Etsy shop.
Megan's characters are quite adorable and she's got a lot of offerings between her S6, Etsy,
Zazzle and
Spoonflower shops. (Her
Alice & Friends fabric is simply divine! I am thinking pillow covering for a comfy chair in my soon-to-be-new studio!) Hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about Megan and checking out her super-cute work.
Can you tell us of a favorite creative activity you enjoyed as a child?
I would probably have to say crocheting, drawing, hand embroidery, and web design. Crocheting was always a very relaxing craft for me. I have always loved drawing cute and goofy characters, but when I was younger I used to make hand embroidered designs based off of my cartoons. I still do it some, but not nearly as often. It’s always fun seeing my ideas come to life.
Most of all, I think web design was my favorite creative outlet as a kid. My dad taught me the basics of designing websites when I was in elementary school and I was instantly hooked. As the years passed, I would find myself staying up all night working on my websites, and I think it really is what got me into digital illustration.
What was your first job or position as a creative professional?
So far, I have only ever worked for myself (creatively). However, did some graphic design and illustration work for a non-profit organization when I was in college. It wasn’t a paying job, but creative work none the less. I mostly made brochures for them to give to teens & kids, as well as signs for their clothing room. I don’t do much design work for them anymore, but I do run their website now, which is lots of fun.
What is your current favorite medium to work in?
For my sculptures I love Paperclay. It is an air dry clay and I love how easy it is to use. I like that it allows me to work in layers/stages.
For my illustrations, I love working digitally. My favorite program for it is Adobe Illustrator. I also love to use my little Wacom tablet whenever I can. And of course I love Photoshop as well.
Whistle while you work: Do you enjoy working in silence, listening to music, a podcast, or a movie?
I definitely like to be entertained while I work. When I paint I usually watch shows on Netflix. I try to pick something that doesn’t require my full attention. Right now I’m going through all of the seasons of Murder She Wrote. Gotta love the classics!
For most other things I usually just listen to Pandora radio. My favorite stations right now are Shane & Shane and David Crowder Band.
I find that when I need to be making Holiday themed art it helps to listen to music to get me inspired. There are lots of great Christmas stations on Pandora. And don’t forget about Easter songs, Love songs for Valentine’s day, even Halloween songs. Sometimes you just have to get in a holiday sort of mood & then the ideas will start rolling in :D
Visit Megan at the following links:
Connect--
Handmade Shops--
Illustration Shops--
Today, I am so excited to introduce to you Kristopher Kotcher AKA
Frenemy Life. I discovered Frenemy through that magical viewfinder that is
Instagram. I'm not sure how I came upon his work in my photo stream, but I did and it captured me right away! Kris's work is child-like and whimsical, detailed and well-crafted, but it is also rough-around-the-edges and dark with tons of story going on! His work is so successful at capturing a mood and his unique world full of kooky characters. It's got a great combination of odd humor mixed with some eerie stuff too. Just like a classic old-time fairy tale. I could see Frenemy's work illustrating classics like
The Brothers Grimm and
Aesop's Fables in a fresh way. It is also akin to more contemporary classics such as
The Point or
Yellow Submarine. Don't you agree? Without further adieu please meet Kris Kotcher.
Can you tell us of a favorite creative activity you enjoyed as a child?
Art has always been one of my favorite pastimes. When I was in kindergarten I got in trouble one day by my teacher Mrs. Thomas. She told me I had to sit out from doing art that day as punishment. I was so upset and started crying. Mrs. Thomas felt bad and let me come back to do art. I still cry to this day when someone takes my art supplies away. I’m a big baby. Haha. A close second to art would be Legos…a very close second. I would make super elaborate castles with trap doors and hidden chambers. Making castles from the Middle Ages was always my favorite, that is probably one of the reasons I use Medieval Architecture in my work now. I love the way it looks...I guess I have always been drawn to the whimsical.
What was your first job or position as a creative professional?
I started with freelance and doing art shows in local galleries. It kind of just happened people would ask me to do art for their band or show posters, and from there I started getting better jobs. My first real job though was doing artwork for a South by Southwest event a few years ago. If you don't know South by Southwest it is a huge media, music and film festival that lasts two weeks in Austin, Texas (where I used to live). Getting these opportunities really pushed me to take my art more seriously and to go back to school. I am pretty much a self-taught artist, some friends taught me how to use Adobe Suite. I wanted to learn more so I took some college classes in digital art and animation, which has been a big help. Along with freelance I have been showing my art. I remember how excited I was at my first art show to have my work up and have strangers come and view it and then buy my paintings to bring home! To me that is a big part of who I am as an artist…I love sharing my art. I love knowing my work is out there on a gallery wall, on the Internet or hanging in a stranger’s home. I do art not just for me, but to share with others and hopefully remind them they are not too old to use their imaginations or to get lost in a world they create all their own!
What is your current favorite medium to work in?
My favorite media to use are watercolor, gouache, and ink. I also work digitally. Vectors look nice, but nothing beats doing an actual painting. A lot of vector art looks like a machine made it, too perfect. Even when I do vectors I try to make them look like they were hand drawn. Painting is when I am able to get lost and totally escape into my art. It is meditative for me. I like the way watercolor and ink gives the feel of Children’s book illustrations. I would like for viewers to see my art in that style and remind them of the books they read as a child.
Whistle while you work: Do you enjoy working in silence, listening to music, a podcast, or a movie? Please share!
I always have music on while I work. I usually listen to bands like Chad Vanghallen, The Babies, Thee Oh Sees, and Ty Segall…stuff like that. Music that relaxes me and helps me get in the mood to paint and focus.
Kris, thank you for sharing with us!
Instagram/Twitter: @Frenemylife
Today, I have a nice, big surprise for you- today is the launch of my artist interview series here on my blog! In all of my years of blogging, this is a first, and I'm so excited about it. Lately, I've been discovering some new-to-me artists that have really knocked my socks off... who am I to keep them to myself? I love to hear a few little nuggets from artists whose work I find inspiring in some way, and I am betting that you do, too! So I have been inviting them to share a little peek into their world with me and you, and I will post the interviewes here on my blog, every other Monday.
Let's start, shall we!
I discovered Leah Greenberg's work on Etsy. Leah designs and manufactures her own line of greeting cards. (She exhibited at the National Stationery Show for the first time this year!) When I first discovered her work, I was immediately charmed. Her quirky characters, style and her off-beat sense of humor caused me to have the involuntary nod-head-and-laugh reaction. Her comedic sensibility and wackiness is so fresh and her work is just kind of hilarious. I "got" it on first sight. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this girl puts out in the future.
Can you tell us of a favorite creative activity you enjoyed as a child?
I loved illustrating and distributing my own nonsensical comics.
What was your first job or position as a creative professional?
Well, so far my only experience being a creative professional has been with all the work I've put into creating my own stationery line. I showed my work at the
National Stationery show in New York last spring, which was a HUGE learning experience. I'm constantly finding out new things regarding the business of stationery and illustration.
What is your current favorite medium to work in?
I am a nerd and i love my computer! Adobe illustrator, Photoshop, and my Wacom are a trio that rarely let me down. Outside of my studio I can usually be seen doodling in my sketchbook with micron pens.
Whistle while you work: Do you enjoy working in silence, listening to music, a podcast, or a movie? I go back and forth between podcasts, silence (when i'm very focused or very frustrated) and movies. I love
This American Life and
The Moth Podcast, they both keep me interested without being overly distracting. Movies can get a bit distracting, but sometimes if I've seen the movie enough times already I can resist the urge to stare.
Thanks, Leah!
You can see more of what Leah is up to here:
Awesome interview :) I especially love the elephants and the top!!
Megan! I love them too! Aren't they great? And the colors are sublime. Those particular shades of blue and pink... Love them :)