Kris Atomic

Bright colors,fashion, and quirky ladies - what's not to like?

Tweet

Chris Turnham

Honestly, every time I research an artist I'd previously loved from afar, I feel like I find out that they did concept artwork for the 2009 clay-mation movie Coraline (Tadahiro Uesugi, Jon Klassen, etc. seriously.) Los Angeles illustrator Chris Turnham is in fact one of these people, though in truth, I actually found him because of the lovely animated ad for Persol sunglasses he worked on this year. 

His style, like others that have worked for Coraline production company Laika, is very mid-century and a bit loose, full of crayon textures and sketchy pencil lines. However, Chris also has a very strong understanding of geometry and perspective, and creates these drawings of houses that have enough personality in them that I almost want to call them portraits. 

This inclination towards clean lines is definitely something that can be seen in Chris's printmaking work as well - in fact, Chris is one half of the print duo and general purveyor of retro babes "Fleet Street Scandal" with fellow illustrator Kevin Dart. 

So, take a look at some of his work, and definitely check out the Persol video - it is really just... really, really, great. There's lots more work on his site, as well as a super interview with him over on "LA, I'm Yours" where you can see photographic proof of how adorable he is (guys, he baked Bobby Solomon brownies. I know.)

- Elizabeth

Tweet

Lena Corwin

Happy Mother's Day! I was trying to find something somewhat related to "mothers" to post about but I was completely unsuccessful because what does that even mean, so instead I decided to post about Lena Corwin's textiles work because, well, she's a lady herself, and plus textiles are kind of... home... and er, mother-related. (Re: Flight of the Conchords song about women weaving?)

Anyways, Lena is absolutely a jack of all trades. Besides designing textiles, she also does photoshoot styling, hand-printing, and illustration work, and she has even written and illustrated two different books that teach children how to crochet and weave. Her textile designs are really lovely and simple; they are slightly retro, but far more minimalist than your mom's old 60's couch, and definitely softer too. I'm particularly enamored with this triangular pattern she's created - its so geometric and strong, yet also quite irregular and organic because of the uneven shapes and floral elements. Check out her website for more work. Now someone buy me a pillow, stat!

- Elizabeth

P.S. I just want to say a special I love you to my mom, because she is an outstandingly amazing women who is not just beautiful and super smart but incredibly kind and generous as well. You did good, mama. 

Tweet

Hellen Jo

I have been infatuated with Hellen Jo's work ever since I bought a copy of Electric Ant in 2009 that she did the cover for, and let me just say that if you are into illustration and the internet and don't know her by now than I think you must be living under a rock with a DSL connection because this girl is consistently working it. 

Hel;en is an art school dropout who lives in Burbank, and besides being a crazy cool illustrator and person in general, also works as an assistant story board revisionist for the ever awesome Cartoon network "Regular Show" (p.s. how great is Cartoon Network these days? Thank God we've finally moved past things like Codename: Kids Next Door and Ed Edd n Eddy to have actually great programs like the Regular Show and Adventure Time.) 

Her style is perfectly illustrative and very distinctive, and her delicate but heavily textured watercolor and faux-dry-brush technique are to die for. Hellen does a great job of seamlessly combining aspects of modern Korean culture and American trends with classic folk-lore, tradition and history - her full page pieces even remind me a bit of tableaus. I also especially just love the somewhat innocent but also deeply mischievous and I don't know, grungy (?) attitudes she gives her characters. Much more work can be seen on her website, and you can also follow her on twitter here. 

- Elizabeth  

Tweet

Jenny Mörtsell

These portraits by Jenny Mörtsell are so simple and lovely! I love a good graphite rendering, and these really fit the bill in terms of being extremely believable and accurate while also having just enough stylized elements and roughness to draw you in. I especially love the parts where a little bit of the plain white background shows through or the sketch dissolves; it really plays with the idea of false depth so well. Jenny's Twin Shadows (who came to Brown for Spring Weekend this year!) illustration is also really great, and the clean precise lettering suits the piece perfectly. Plus, the clothes in all of these are just to die for. More work on her flickr, including some fun pieces with little splashes of color.

- Elizabeth 

Tweet

Mia Nolting

Lovely sketches and designs from San Fransisco bay area native Mia Nolting. I first heard of her from a friend, who had ordered a copy of a beautiful, roughly handcrafted book from Nolting—she silkscreens and photocopies myriad collaged and drawn images, and stitches them together into bewitchingly unpredictable documents. The rest of her work also has a delightfully collaged, sketchy aesthetic, whether it is a commissioned piece (her clients include Penguin Publishing, The New York Times Magazine, and Toms Shoes, to name a few) or a personal drawing. Since returning from a residency in Cape Town, South Africa, she lives and works in Portland Oregon. I especially love the way she integrates textures and text with her delicate line drawings, and the spontaneous, nearly haphazard feel of all her pieces is entirely irresistible.

See more at her website and shop.

-Pierie

Tweet

Kristina Collantes

Nice work from San Diego based illustrator Kristina Collantes. I love the repetition of bubbly sci-fi elements throughout her work, and the wonderfully bright colors she works with. More work on her site. 

- Elizabeth

Tweet