Update

I thought I'd check in here, haven't posted in awhile. Mostly because time I would otherwise devote to my blog, I've given to my flickr account. I'm taking my drawing / painting in a new direction, one more honest to myself and my interests. You can see some new work at www.flickr.com/photos/sarah-po. I'm so excited about these new pieces.

I finished the audio book version of Steve Martin's Born Standing Up today, while working on a logo project. I loved listening to it because Martin takes you through his journey in comedy: falling in love with it, struggling to make a name for himself (for ten years) and finally making it big. I'm in the early stages of my career, so it is inspiring to listen to someone recount their "beginner" days, working toward their dreams. A hearty recommendation from this lady!

launch!

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have been a busy little bee. Mike and I just launched our new t-shirt site at www.imahottee.com. Check it out! Also, I am wrapping up a small design project.

In my spare time I've been painting in anticipation of showing my work at a local gallery in a few months. I am happy about how I'm progressing with that, and looking forward to spending greater chunks of my day painting.

I'm also happily anticipating creating new shirt designs for the site- it's been a blast working on it and I'm excited to watch our company grow.

Check out the launch video from our channel: www.youtube.com/HotTeeTV:

new obsession

I found this site: http://www.japanesestreets.com.
It's awesome, I love looking at Tokyo street fashion. It makes me want to be more aware of my own sense of style. Not to mention it's a great creativity-booster.

Here are some of my favorites:

Bartle Doo!

This is surreal...Mumbles is wearing a shirt printed with one of my t-shirt designs! (You can see it in full about halfway through the video.)



Thanks to Mike and Ed Yue for all the help on this one, and of course my family for the support. And Ed Bassmaster for being so generous/ hilarious/ creative! I'm so excited!

an end-of-summer update

Well I have been neglecting my blog a bit, but not my sketching, rest assured. I have been busy working on t-shirt designs, the web site for I'm a Hot Tee, LLC, an illustration for my dad, and I started a new map painting. I've recently focused on maps as a subject for drawings and paintings and they still intrigue me.

The week prior to last was completely whirl-wind: my brother moved in and my old roommate Jamie (the sweetest girl on earth) moved out. Also, Mike and I went to a book-signing featuring Senator Byrd. Something happened there which was totally exciting and awesome, but I don't feel at liberty to say what yet ;). Also, Mike's script, S.P.E.C.T.R.E., caught the interest of a great management company in LA. So keep your fingers crossed for us! AND, to top it all off, Mike proposed to me. He asked me in a bench in the Arboretum, on a trail we walked when we went on our first date. :)

Anyway, here are some snippet images of projects, both finished and in-progress.

pixels

Sometimes, if you closely examine a digital image, you can find amazing pixel patterns. I have a soft spot for grids and vibrant color, and this combination of pixels grabbed my attention. I like to imagine what you could do based on this image- make a quilt, wall hanging, large painting, etc. Or even tile work.

PS a new sketch post coming soon...

more sketches, older and newer

Here are some new pen sketches. They appear more yellow because I scanned them...for some reason it renders the paper differently than when I took digital images. Anyhow, in the "experiments" sketch, I decided to see what happened when I drew loopy lines over a grid. In one section, the lines made something close to a landscape, with the sun and a mountain. So I decided to focus on that and add more lines. It ended up creating a fluid texture...well worth the experiment. The lines on the mountain also remind me a little of agriculture- like when you pass over farmland in a plane and the world becomes ordered and quilt-like for a few moments.

quick drawings, pugs, and crispy-ness

Had a fun holiday, complete with my first stay in a camper. Spotted pugs on 2 separate occasions, which Mike appreciated. I am slowly warming up to them, though I have always been more of a cat person.

On the 4th, we saw a reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburgh and it was the best reenactment I've seen. Huge scale, with dozens of horses, canons, and probably thousands of soldiers.
I was so fixated on the battle, though, that I neglected to put sunscreen on until it was too late. A few hours later, my shoulders were as pink as a 4th of July hotdog.

my favorite mug

I bought this mug about a year ago and I've used it nearly every day since. It is a beautiful blue-green color (turquoise, really) with a hint toward the yellow ochre (sp?) side. I made a Sakura Micron pen drawing of it a couple days ago and then added color tonight.

from within

"[And where does the strength come from, to see the race to its end?] From within."

Mike and I watched this the other day. I've seen it a few times and it gets better with each watching. Maybe because I appreciate it more with age. It's a beautiful movie and I'm sure this isn't the last time I'll see it.

We didn't just watch it because it's great, though. There is a 5K coming up in a few weeks and we're both going to run it. What better way to pump yourself up than have that Vangelis sound track playing in your head?

Also, on a side note, I set up my portfolio site today! You can see it at http://www.sarahlaynedesign.com. Still some kinks to work out and some rearranging/ adding of images to do, but overall I am pleased.

back in motown

I had an absolutely amazing time in California, and Mike put it right when he said we fell in love with it. (Of course, it's pretty difficult not to fall in love with Santa Barbara, where we were for a week, staying with my grandma.) I have plenty pictures which I will add at some point, but for now I am posting (see below) the beginnings of a series of sketches I want to do for a future zine, Wayfinding. This blog may become totally dedicated to updates on that. Stay tuned!

dreams of travel

This Monday, my fiance and I will be heading for California! (After I receive my hard-earned BFA diploma on Saturday, hurrah!)

I am beside myself with glee (if that is possible.) I was looking at another person's travel images (they happened to go to Tokyo) and a lot of the images involve food. Looking at their plates of Japanese sausage etc, I was reminded of what it's like to eat in a foreign country- how different the food tastes, looks, and smells compared to American food.

While we will still be in America, I am excited to take in West Coast yummies and sites and smells. I plan on uploading some images when we get back.

new blog!

Ah yes. It's that time of year again. Summer. When my thoughts turn to blogging, journaling, eating, drawing. Having fun. And generally loving life. Not that I don't feel these things during the other seasons. I just don't always have time to write about them :).

I must say, I am psyched to finally have a blog with {free} photo uploading. Maybe I've just been out of the scene for a while, but even a couple years ago I never could find one. In any case, it pleases me.

In other news, I have my eye on a table top that has mysteriously parted from its legs and ended up in a dumpster near my apartment. I am interested in it, but not for eating or the regular table-top use. I have been wanting to paint on wood for some time now, but never made the leap. So, a table top meant for the landfill seems as good as any surface to me.

What will I paint on it, you ask? Something map-based, most likely. I was thinking I'd like to paint the world on it- working from a world map that I have. Suggestions, anyone?