Tuesday, November 24, 2009

i kid not

If it isn't Nutella calling my name, it's a BLT with a side of Tang...
BLT

Monday, November 23, 2009

that nutty nutella

I can say with some certainty that this is one of the most random [at at the same time hilarious] emails I've received in some time :

SUBJECT : This made me think of you!
"Hey Suzanne! Hope everything is going well for you!  I happened across this scene in a bathroom today and couldn't resist sharing it with you!"

that nutty nutella

They say Nutella goes with EVERYTHING.  What they DON'T say is that Nutella should go EVERYWHERE...especially a public restroom.  

Nevertheless, thanks for thinking of me Chey!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

let there be light

let there be light
Thanks for checking in. I'm sorry for the lack of posts. Contrary to popular belief, I haven't lost the battle to Nutella; I'm just running a little low on energy...as is the rest of my household. I look forward to being back up [and drawing] soon.

Monday, November 02, 2009

hazelnut update

I'm not lying about Nutella calling my name. Check out comment #8 under this post.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

need i say more?

i will ignore the nutella
I will. I will.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

do you ever have this thought?

an hour wasted
And don't worry, if we've hung out lately...this isn't about you! It's about me :)

Monday, October 26, 2009

monday's mantra

tomorrow i will enjoy flossing
Here's my healthy mantra for the day. What's yours?

Friday, October 23, 2009

studying scale at starbucks and salsaritas

starbucks
Last week I asked my first year students to sketch 5 interior environments with people.  The results of the exercise were mixed, with many focusing more on individual portraits and less on the space.  The reason for the assignment is to understand the importance people play in making spaces active and the sense of scale they provide to a drawing.  To better explain this in coming weeks, I set out to complete the assignment for myself via stops at Starbucks and Salsaritas.
salsaritas

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

form over function

night and day convertible sofa
I'm loving the look of the Night and Day Convertible Sofa by Urban Outfitters.  It's clean lines are perrrrfect.  Unfortunately, the reviews aren't quite as stellar.  

Dear Mr. Manufacturer...why, oh why, do you tease us this way?

Monday, October 19, 2009

one of these days i will draw again

But in the meantime, I hope you'll be content with some inspiration via my office. I feel very lucky to not only love what I do for a living, but also the spot within which I get to do it.  Truly a good place to come to work.

inspired
: alien computer, looks cute, crashes on command :

beauty school dropout
: beauty school photo = great conversation starter.  and no, i'm not pictured in it :

salvation army select inspiration
: display prototype for The Salvation Army Select...which I need to tell you about... :

a little corner
: creativity, writing, drawing...and a gift in the corner from a student :

great wall door frame
: a portal created by students, inspired by the great wall of china :

what would you do?
: in case you didn't know, i'm a collector :)...read more about the 'stuff' here :

puddle
: a bit of the portal puddles here [never anticipated typing that statement] :

edgar's village
: edgar's city of wonder and happiness : 

Thanks for sharing in my world.  Hope one day you'll stop by during office hours.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

putting one foot in front of the other

putting one foot in front of the other
Please forgive the lack of activity around here this week...I've been a little under the weather. So much so that I'm pulling out this drawing from the beginning of the semester. The gladiator sandals have since been traded in for galoshes...which, I might add, are much, much easier to draw.

Monday, October 12, 2009

touched

This is all I've been able to think about for the last three days. All I've thought about.

IMAG0013

With this comes heightened resolve to :
: nurture relationships with those I care for and who care for me :
: live in the moment, finding beauty in small things :
: focus energy on doing what I love and what has meaning :

If you do nothing else today, please watch this video.

Friday, October 09, 2009

i'll take the color combo please

Remember this?

reading rainbow

Well I think you'll agree that the bathroom of our school's library was ahead of its time as heather gray and yellow are popping up EVERYWHERE this season. Denise sent me a link to this blog post with a collection of other 'current' yellow and gray bathrooms. I particularly love this one from Southern Living:

more intense concentration!

This time in a sea of black and white. Isn't it wonderful?
concentration in black and white
Many thanks to Mithi, whose work at the London Met inspired this intensive pattern making experience.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

up for debate

canonet ql17
Perhaps it goes back to hours I spent as an undergraduate in a printmaking studio, but I really enjoy 'offsetting' illustrations when rendering them in photoshop. Like with my good friend, Blind Contour (have you met?), I find the resulting 'imperfections' beautiful. But, I wonder if it is the same for you... Which leads me to the question : What rendering style resonates the most with you?

Option A : in the lines (above)?
Option B : outside the lines [offset] (below)?
Option C : doesn't make a hill of beans difference...quit your rambling Suzanne!
canonet ql17 : offset

Monday, October 05, 2009

switching subjects

We're currently on the look-out for one, perhaps two, large pendant fixtures for our living room. And, of course, like any good mid-century enthusiast, we LOVE George Nelson's Saucer Bubble Pendant. But we'd also like to step out of the box [and back into our price range] a little.

I ADORE David Trubridge's Floral Hanging Lamp, [have you seen the light patterns created from this beauty? GORGEOUS!!!]. Unfortunately, Edgar is not a fan of exposed light bulbs...

which also knocks out Moooi's Random Pendant...rats.

So, any suggestions? We're open to all shapes, just not all sizes (the bigger the better). We're also particularly interested in supporting up and coming designers...

Update : check out these nifty suggestions via nifty readers...

Jax suggested the Sustainable Chandelier by Julianne's Atelier. Made from plastic cups. Wowzer!

And then another suggestion of the Ikea PS Maskros. I love it via the internet, but I'm curious about how it looks in person. Have you seen it?

Keep 'em coming!

Thursday, October 01, 2009

in the trenches

This is what intense concentration looks like.
intense concentration
As a teacher, I live for intense concentration! ...and active listening. I LOOOOOVE active listening. I wonder if it's unrealistic to expect both?!? A girl can dream.

P.S. Please accept this sincere thank you for your many lovely comments as of late. Unfortunately, I haven't been the best about following up with each of you individually as I should, but I want to let you know your words brighten my day.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

camera collection : take one

revere eye-matic
The first in a little series I've been working on since...oh, July.  My favorite illustrations are all of either cameras or typewriters.  I've decided it's time I try my hand out at both.  I'm thinking about 10 of these little jewels, repeated, could make a pretty nifty wallpaper pattern...  Let's see if I can get there.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

let's face it, I have a chair addiction

As I mentioned last week, I've been reluctant to show you photos of the new place as we've yet to really get started getting started settling in. However, I'm going to make an exception for one reason and one reason only.

happy chairs

I'm so SO SO SOOOOO excited about the three molded plywood chairs I picked up this past weekend at the Liberty Antiques Festival that I simply can't keep them to myself. Gorgeous. Designed by George Mulhauser (who, I learned via a little internet research, is also thought to have played a large role in the creation of the Coconut Chair), the three chairs are perfect for the three of us in the little breakfast nook-to-be of our kitchen.

What's not so perfect? The bright red walls and black and white tile floor they're surrounded by. I get a headache from the contrast every time I cook...or wait, is that just the cooking?!?

Monday, September 28, 2009

mondays are better with coffee

or so I've heard...it's not really my thing. caffeinated monday
Whatever your drink of choice, here's hoping your Monday is off to a caffeinated start!

Friday, September 25, 2009

out of the mouth of my husband

Introducing a new blog installment : Emails from Edgar, in which my significant other constantly solidifies his conviction that I'm part bobble-head.

Ahem...'If you and Chuck Norris were to get married, you'd probably look like this."

image via a goooorgeous wedding at Design Sponge : dolls by goosegrease : thanks for the links Grace Anna!

Who does this?!?!  

See my other look-a-likes courtesy of my dear husband (NOT Chuck Norris) here, as well as a custom portrait here.


pad in progress

thoughts on a living room
I've received sweet notes from a few of you asking when I'm going to show some photos of our new pad.  I would love to...and will...but right now home improvements are progressing at a snails pace (translation : we still have not one frame on a wall).  What I do have, however, are these little doodles in which I've daydreamed about things coming together.  As you can see, my dreams involve parties, with lots of odd-looking figures in dark suits.
thoughts on a dining room

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

working backwards

Recently, I had my students to complete a self-reflection in which I asked 'what is one skill you would like to walk away from the semester with?'  One of the best answers I received was 'to draw like Candice Olson of Divine Design'.  Wow...me too!  Of the many designers making a career on television, Candice stands out in her ability to represent design ideas on paper through incredible hand renderings.  This, in my opinion, makes her the real deal.

Below is a demonstration I gave students, based off a drawing method featured at the end of Divine Design, where a space is rendered from a photograph.   In the assignment that grew from this demo, I encouraged students to draw one space several times, experimenting with color combinations to see what works and what does not.

:::::one:::::
For this exercise, we'll work backwards.  I'm beginning with an image from a magazine, but you can work from a photo or digital model of any space you would like to see 'updated'.
step one : choose image
:::::two:::::
The first step is easy.  Place a sheet of translucent paper over your image and trace what you see.  Don't worry about having rigidly straight lines.  Exactness is not the goal, but rather expression.  You'll notice, especially around the painting hanging on the wall, my lines extend beyond the boundaries of what I'm tracing.  This aids in the crispness of the drawing.  Feel free to change elements of the room at this point.  There is no reason you can't make your own design decisions.  Go ahead, add some tchotchkes!
step two : trace
:::::three:::::
Once finished with this step, I add some thicker lines using a wider tipped pen.  I choose to add these thicker lines to surfaces and edges where I assume shadows will be.  I've identified these areas based on the assumption that light is coming in through the window.  However, this is where a photo reference can help.
step three : consider light
:::::four:::::
I then begin applying color with a Chartpak AD marker.  I work quickly as the marker dries fast on the trace paper.  It also helps maintain the loose look I'm working towards.  
step four : apply color
:::::five:::::
Say what?!?  As this drawing was serving as a color study in my interior design class I'm bold with the color, attempting it to use combinations in unexpected [and often unsatisfactory] ways.  But why not?  It's just a drawing...
step five : be bold
:::::six:::::
I like to embrace the process that goes along with this type of drawing.  As a result, I test out the markers along the side of the rendering, with the intention to leave these trials in my finished presentation.  I also joke with students about my unruly hand which can't help but leave marks all around the outside of the image.
step six : step out of the lines
:::::seven:::::
With the base colors down, it is time to add some shadow.  Because of the nature of the paper and markers, if I were to try to add shadows on the front of the paper, the strokes would become diluted.  Instead, I flip the paper over, adding dark areas to the backside which while shine through to the front.
step seven : flip it over
:::::eight:::::
The result is a loose and quick vignette.  This one took about 15 minutes from start to finish.  A great way to present ideas in a hurry, this drawings can be further enhanced (and toned down a notch...or two) in Photoshop.
step eight : review

Find this helpful?  If so, please share the link with you friends!
See a past, tighter marker tutorial here.

Monday, September 21, 2009

keyless entry

the keys to life
I wish I could claim to 'have it all together'...but as hard as I try, I simply don't.  Take today, I remembered my office keys (which I normally forget) and forgot my phone at home instead.  And since I've recently 'gone digital'...forgetting my phone also means forgetting my calendar.  Oh, for goodness sakes...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

i've said it before

...and I'll say it again. Rainy days make wish I was a dog...
dog days
...at home
...curled up
...with no place to go.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

in summary

in summary

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

i dig wonkiness

i dig wonkiness

Which is fortunate, as my sketchbook is filled with it.

Friday, September 11, 2009

the wheels on the bike go round and round

upside-down bike
If you feel a sense of déjà vu, it's for a reason. We've been here before. I think this proves that a bicycle can provide a variety of workouts.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

across the tracks

across the tracksThis is the view from the 3rd floor of the building I work in. I've wanted to draw this scene, with all it's complications, for a while now and finally had the opportunity. Do you see my little car? This is the spot from which I drew yesterday's post. It's all coming together...before long you can park for me!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

backward and forward

backward and forwardIn retrospect, I'm not sure how 'super' this parking spot really is.  A couple of days after completing this sketch, I parked in a neighboring space, only to have someone hit my car and run... Whaaaawhaaaa.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

its me, margaret

Helloooooooo! Are you still out there????

Thank you so much for your patience over the last couple of weeks. I'm happy to report that we've officially moved in: though I still can't find the cord that connects the scanner to the computer or the shower curtain for the guest bath or...you get the idea. I guess a more accurate description of our current status is that everything is under the roof, but where under the roof is up for question.

Regardless, we are SO happy and looking forward to a long weekend of house work. Did I just say that?

But, for today, since I'm sans-scanner, I thought I'd post a few things that are hanging out on my desktop waiting to go in their proper folders. Let me assure you, there is no rhyme or reason to this ensemble:
welch family tree
: a family tree for a friend's grandparents' 50th anniversary :


wedding snacks
: wedding snacks : photo by Jen Yuson :


welcome
: leftover signage from the virtual open house :

if we were muppets
: an unfinished family portrait with the working title 'if we were muppets' :


suzie headbanger
: and once again, that funny picture of me banging my head against the table :

So random...and so much more of it to come...

Monday, August 31, 2009

august and everything after

A little update...just in case you were wondering.
august and everything after

Inspired by the incredibly fun Arty Velarde (who I might add, also inspired me to sketch more regularly in the first place!)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

on the move again

mini moving
I'll be taking a little break from blogging the next couple of weeks as we move to our new home and classes resume. Look for things to kick back into gear here following Labor Day. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! As always, thanks for visiting!

Monday, August 17, 2009

hola!

Thanks for staying tuned! Here's a glimpse of where I've been hiding..
cabo san lucas
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico...or Paradise, if you prefer.
cabo san lucas
cabo san lucas
How is this for a view?
cabo san lucas
We stayed at the Riu Palace, a resort which overlooks the southernmost point of the Baja Peninsula. It was pretty incredible...
cabo san lucas
as was the time spent drawing at the pool.
cabo san lucas
The only bad part of this vacation was leaving...
cabo san lucas
and trying to get back in the swing of things today.

Friday, August 07, 2009

sweet!

love
Taking a little anniversary vacay! Be back soon...