Today I’d like to share a really fun, and quite different, project. I was contacted by Michael Buchino, the graphic designer for Portland Center Stage, to create a poster design for their 2012 season. The play was Black Pearl Sings!
A brief synopsis from Michael: In 1935 Texas, Susannah, an academic and song collector for the Library of Congress, visits a high-security prison where she meets Pearl, an African-American woman imprisoned for murder who longs to leave prison and find her lost daughter. Hoping to record the treasure trove of spirituals and African folk songs that only Pearl knows—and make her reputation on the discoveries—Susannah bargains for Pearl’s parole and arranges for several public performances. The two women soon find themselves walking a delicate line between exposure and exploitation.
Featuring beautiful a cappella renditions of little-known American folk songs, Black Pearl Sings! chronicles a powerful story about being a woman in a man’s world, being black in a white world, and fighting for one’s soul in a world where anyone can be a commodity.

I was very interested and excited to work on such a different type of project. I read the entire script and relished in trying to create a captivating and communicative image. I explored several different rough concepts and illustration styles.
Here is one of my studies. I thought it could be interesting to play with old sheet music paper and to use the lines to represent prison bars.
Here is a similar study, again using the music paper, but here I wrote the words to a song that Pearl sings in prison to gather attention.
I loved keeping my designs in black and white with a touch of red, simplicity can be so powerful. The storyline and the main characters also made it seem quite fitting.
I also explored “illustrated type”. I love expressive typography and I thought it could be interesting to illustrate the name of the play and somehow communicate the storyline.

In the end Michael chose this design concept and I was very pleased. The final poster image, shown at the beginning of this post, evolved into a portrait format rather than landscape to accommodate other printed verbiage and I like the way it turned into a strong checkerboard of information. My illustration style in this design is inspired by one of my favorite artists of all time, Margaret Kilgallen. If you don’t know of her you should watch this short film. She was so talented. I love her work and sensibilities.

I am about to become an Auntie in a few weeks, so babies have been on my mind!
And while I’m on the subject, I’d like to share a lovely “logo refresh” project that I did for Odile, a luxury children’s boutique in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
Camille Cozzini, the owner, already had her wordmark designed but felt it needed an illustrated element to reflect the kind of items she sold and to add some whimsy. We explored several different ideas from bunnies to caterpillars… to mushrooms! I’m thrilled that Camille decided on the mushrooms. There is something so playful and friendly about poke-a-dotted mushrooms! I feel it appeals to little boys and girls…. and adults alike : ) The existing typography of “Odile” seemed to come alive with the new addition, they seem to complement each other very well.
Here is a lovely view of the interior of the store, it looks so warm, light and airy with a very European flair. I hope to visit in person someday!
And here is a photograph of the newly refreshed logo embroidered on a darling pillow!
I think I know what I need to get my little “soon-to-be” nephew!
Along with custom designed birth announcements of course!!!

Today I delivered these hand-painted signs to Cafe Rouge Restaurant. I can’t believe that I have been creating various signs and invitations for this event for TEN years now! Think Pink is a festive night put together by the chefs at Cafe Rouge and Kermit Lynch wines… an evening with a special menu celebrating, and complementing, rosé wines!
August 11th – Think Pink!

Today seems like the perfect day to share a wonderful project that I did for Lola Home Store. It is pouring rain and I feel inspired to make myself a pot of tea, which I always serve in my cherished cups and bowls by Molly Hatch!
Lola Home Store is a gorgeous local shop offering unique and beautifully designed items for the home and personal use. The store also hosts inspiring shows featuring various artist’s work. I have been very fortunate to work with Lois, the owner, on creating invitations, announcements, and posters for these events.
The image above is a tea pot shaped poster that I created to announce an opening reception for ceramic artist, Molly Hatch. I loved studying and recreating Molly’s illustrated floral motifs. Her designs are amazing!
Here is a picture of my coveted tea cup and cafe bowls by Molly… I love that her designs are playfully placed inside, around, and even on the bottom of her pieces…
true works of art!
This particular project was very special to me because, not only, did I get to meet the lovely & talented Ms. Molly Hatch, I also got the opportunity to work with Matt Pavlovcic on creating my first animated invitation! Matt, also lovely and talented, animated my illustrations and hand lettering to create a charming “e-vite”. Please click here to check it out. Stay warm and dry!

I always have fun working with Marsha McBride, the owner and chef at Cafe Rouge Restaurant (& Meat Market). She has a fantastic sense of humor so each project is guaranteed to make me smile. Here are two of the pig characters that I created for Cafe Rouge’s house wine label some years ago. Over time we’ve been able to adapt these funny illustrations for all sorts of things; ad posters, signs, even holiday cards… and now Valentine’s Day!
Here is the Valentine poster I created, hung on the front door of the restaurant.
I never tire of these funny little pig characters!
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, don’t forget to make a reservation!

I wanted to share this birth announcement that I created for a friend/colleague. It is inspired by a wedding invitation design that I did, featured in Brides Magazine, last year. The theme was “vintage schoolhouse” printed on old school paper, mounted to old file folders, and packaged in manila envelopes. The look had such an old fashioned sweetness about it… also perfect for a birth announcement!
On the front of the envelopes I silkscreen printed my stork illustration and found the perfect use for my vintage “Special Delivery” labels.

On the back of the envelopes I played with the same “schoolyard song” as I had for the wedding invitations, only taking it a bit further… first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…. Jameson!
I had so much fun creating schoolbook-like illustrations and hand-lettering. Using a clock for the time of his birth, a scale for his weight, and a ruler for his length measurement. I like how the parent’s names cradle each side of my baby Jameson illustration.

I just finished creating this project for Cafe Rouge Meat Market (and Restaurant). It couldn’t have been a more perfect project for this time of year… a Meat Roast-Timer! Marsha McBride the chef/owner of Cafe Rouge had found an old promotional piece (circa 1950′s) from Little City Meats, a traditional butcher shop in San Francisco, and wanted me to create something similar. I had so much fun creating the vintage inspired illustrations, lettering, and color palette… and the shocking/hilarious quote at the bottom of the Roast-Timer “Two Pounds of Meat a Day Will Help Prevent Disease and Insure Perfect Health from Infancy to Old Age” was truly printed on the Little City Meats promotional piece! So unbelievable that we had to include it, just for fun! Below is the front side of the Roast-Timer. It’s a great size to hang on your kitchen wall… hence the butcher twine. I learned a lot about eyelets and applying just enough pressure when setting them so that the wheel can still turn freely. Having all of the information line up correctly was a challenge as well, but so rewarding to have it all work out in the end.

And here is the backside… I loved creating the juggling cow, various meat cuts, and a fun 50′s style logo for myself… so playful.

These little babies just hit the shelves at Cafe Rouge Meat Market and are being sold, along with a meat thermometer if desired. Truly the perfect little gift for yourself, your kitchen, or a creative stocking stuffer for all the Meat Lovers in your life!

Okay, please forgive my enthusiastic sales pitch!
Wishing you a delicious and joyful Thanksgiving holiday! Happy Roasting!

I have always wanted to tell the story behind my dear friend, Maria’s, wedding invitation design. The above image is the incredible reference/inspiration material that Maria first brought to me. She had found this invitation, from Mexico circa 1939, amongst her Grandmother’s things. The moment I saw it I knew I had died and gone to heaven! The design is so spectacular and unusual. The hand-lettering, as well, is so interesting… I had never really seen anything like it. I loved studying every detail and recreating the design for Maria and Darius.

Here is the invitation that I created. I hand-lettered the new text which remained written in Spanish. The translation of the wording is so beautiful, with both the parents of the groom (on the right) and the bride (on the left) inviting you to “witness the interlacing of their children”. Just the word “interlacing” conjures up such romantic emotion! The vine dangles symbolically, separating the bride’s and groom’s families until the mention of their wedding day, at which point, the vine ends and the text comes together to create a singular point. The initials at the top also create a “crossing over” with the groom’s initial on the bride’s side and vice-versa … such symbolism! I replaced the initials with an “M” and a “D”… for Maria and Darius.

Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

I redrew the header illustration and decorative elements. Their wedding took place in Oaxaca, Mexico so we decided to have the header illustration feature a church that is very prominent there; Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán.

Here is the RSVP card. I love all the unique decorative symbols mixed into the wording.

I love how the return address design fit the flap of the envelope perfectly.

Here is the menu for their wedding day feast! I was so fortunate to attend this wedding, truly one of the most amazing weddings ever! Thank you Maria, love to you both.

If you didn’t get a chance to see the PBS 3-part documentary series on George P. Shultz, you should. It is very well done and gives some remarkable insight.
I was extremely fortunate to work with Charlotte Shultz (Mr. Shultz’ wife) on designing the menus, place cards and movie posters (shown above) for the release party. I thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to hand-letter all the wording in old “film poster styles” from the 50′s. The headline is playfully sensationalized in that “early film poster tone of voice”… and at the same time, accurate. After seeing the film, I think you’ll agree.

For the place cards, I created tent cards that were fashioned after old theater tickets.

The weather is so dreamy today… it seemed appropriate to post about this wedding invitation. The wedding took place on a beautiful ranch in Carmel Valley… almost one year ago to the day. I love how the illustration became a dreamy backdrop for the invitation wording, creating an inviting scene which draws you in, walks you through the trees and along the path to a magical event. Happy Anniversary Michelle and Peter!