We’re getting Jenn lots of great jobs. That’s a good thing. But she was a bit feeling swamped, so she came in and I went over my time management system with her. It involves big chunks of time and post-its. We determined that she prefers a visual/tactile rather than electronic system.

She went home and emailed me this, and here’s what she had to say:
“I’ve gotten myself on a schedule: I assigned myself projects to work on each day and posted the dates at which they’re due at a client’s. I got myself an actual, physical calendar (I just don’t have the discipline to organize around one of those computery ones). Now I can literally see where I’m at on any given project.”

Here are two new very exciting prints by Sarajo available at thumbtack press. They’re wonderful.

Dear Readers: Let me know if you buy them and then I’d love to see a photo of where you put them in your space.

Many of you already know Carolyn Gavin, the art-brains behind Ecojot. I’m sure you’ve seen her fab journals at your favorite boutiques. The journals are 100% recycled paper, and Carolyn does all the art for her company while her brother, Mark, oversees production. Carolyn and Mark emigrated from Johannesburg during apartheid and made their way to Canada some years ago. They are lovely and visionary.

We are thrilled to be the exclusive licensor of her work. Most of Carolyn’s art you’ll see on our site is, at this moment, available for lots of categories. In the short time we’ve signed her, she’s been picked up or garnered interest by a number of great manufacturers and retailers. Contact us to license.

This brand-new piece is one of the first editorial jobs we got for Matte. I was thrilled to see what he did. It’s pure Matte.

If an artist tightens up quite a bit for their commissioned jobs, and looses what makes them special, that’s a serious problem. This will clearly not be a problem for Matte. Some artists that are primarily fine artists and surface design artists (that is, they do paintings and art for products) have a difficult time transitioning to the very lucrative, yet completely different world of editorial (books, magazines). So (I’m repeating myself now) I’m happy that Matte was able to stay delightful. Prognosis: a great editorial career in addition to his existing great other work.

Why is editorial great for artists? It such an amazing discipline; it forces you to draw and design a myriad of images, stuff you would never draw, or think you can’t draw. Therefore, your repertoire is increased and your imagery does not get tired.

Art directors: give him a try! Plus, he’s the world’s most charming and polite Southern gentleman (now living in Portland, OR).

Here are more images for your enjoyment, historical analysis, pattern ideas, and character ideas.

How do you like the interior? It’s just a gigantic treasure-trove.

I just got back from New Hampshire and wanted you to see this amazing stuff. I’ll show you more tomorrow. Do you love this stuff as much as I do? I could barely restrain myself from buying everything. Why am I showing you this? For inspiration.

Janell was asked to do a piece on summer travel with kids on a budget for the Boston Globe. It’s a full-page, lead illustration for the Sunday Magazine. You can see why it’s such a great read for a full page: graphically strong, and a dynamic page. Wonderful work.

Here’s some silk painting I’m working on. It’s such an amazing medium. I’m going to make a tie for my husband. Check back to see the tie at some point. Right now, you’re seeing the brown line which is a resist which prevents the dyes from bleeding. Check out how the silk is stretched on an upside-down canvas on stretchers which I had lying around. Let me know if you’d like me to talk about technique on this.

Yesterday I showed you the roughs for Thrivent. This is the finish that Elke did for the art director on the topic of fund managers. Her design sense is impeccable and her textures are rich. Her highly-controlled monochromatic palette is compelling. It’s basically fine art with a concept.