Little Clouds
Posted by Amy on Thursday March 11, 2010
Fun little characters all lined up in a row from Little Clouds, and I love how she has a zine that share juicy details on each individual character!
Originally from London, she moved to Hong Kong to experience something different and is documenting her discoveries on her blog.
Society6 Artist interview: Aurelie Grand
Posted by Amy on Tuesday March 2, 2010
Awhile back I posted about collaborating with Society6 to pick out an artist every month (it’s more like a bi-monthly thing though!), and our third pick this time goes to Aurelie Grand. There were tons of applicants, and while it was no easy decision to make, Aurelie stood out because of her sense of style, and the various media that she uses. Here’s definitely one lady to watch!
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Name: Aurelie Grand
Location: Montreal, Canada
Website: www.aureliegrand.com
Shop: socuute.etsy.com
Blog: lilyk.canalblog.com
Illustration media: ink, digital, photography, acrylics, fabrics
Tell us a little more about yourself!
I was born in Toulouse «Pink City», France. I grew up in a small village closer to the Pyrenees. My dad has always been an illustrator (though he was also a full time dentist for a while) and I used to spend hours in his studio either watching him or doodling. As far as I remember drawing’s always been my number one occupation. I honestly never stopped. How nerdy is that?
I currently live in Canada with my boyfriend Max who’s also an artist.
Where do you live? What stands out about living where you are, and what is your daily schedule like?
I spent 3 fun years in Vancouver, Canada and I recently moved to Montreal, Quebec because I wanted to experiment the North American East Coast for a while and we have long-time friends here. Montreal is culturally rich, there’s a lot of artists, parks and bikes (and snow), that’s enough to inspire me.
I like to wake up early and start my day by sketching ideas, new projects etc… Then I have to say I’m not very productive in the afternoon so I’m networking, reading, having a nap, or just hanging around . My favorite shift at the studio is 9pm-2am. I guess I get more focus at night. I also like to take the bus home from the studio with drunk people.
How did you get your start in illustration?
I wrote and illustrate a book when I was 9 or 10. It was an elementary school project, a sort of novel inspired by a school trip. It was about 2 detectives (a dog and a hamster) who were investigating on missing horses in a farm. We sold the books to parents and friends at the school annual show. Ha!
I didn’t go to art school right after high school, even if I really wanted to (I wanted to be a graphic designer actually) mainly because my family did not seem to agree with the idea but I know now that I wasn’t ready anyways. So I went to university to study cell biology and animal behavior for 4 years which was seriously interesting but I soon realized life’s too short and I was wasting my time there.
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Old World Primitives
Posted by Jamie Shelman on Wednesday February 17, 2010
I’ve been in love with Stephanie’s vintage style chenille ornaments ever since I purchased her victorian cat ornaments for the holidays. Those big cat heads and little furry bodies, I can’t get enough. I love them all! (did you notice the little valentine in the cats mouth?) Find her works in her Etsy Shop and visit her website for more!
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Sponsor giveaway: Oh My Cavalier!
Posted by Amy on Tuesday February 9, 2010
Julianna Swaney of Oh My Cavalier (featured previously) just opened up a new Bigcartel shop, where you’ll find wonderful exclusive items, such as these Mechanical Animals paper dolls.
She’s giving away one set of these lovely set of 6 cut out and assemble paper dolls, made from her original watercolor drawings and inspired by an antique toy set of the same name to ONE lucky Pikaland reader. Enter by commenting on this post by 16th February to be in the running!
UPDATE: Commenting has now closed, thanks so much for participating. The winner of this giveaway is Flora May!
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Vanilla Bug
Posted by Amy on Wednesday February 3, 2010
How adorable are these finger puppets? They’re three French hens screenprinted onto calico fabric (with wonderful little touches like rosy cheeks and a necklace touched up by hand!) The trio fits handsomely into their own pouch, and were all handmade made by Amy Borrell, a freelance designer + illustrator based in Australia –- check out more handmade items in her Vanillabug Etsy shop.
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Giveaway #29: I Heart the Arctic giveaway
Posted by Amy on Tuesday December 8, 2009
When I first saw the I Heart the Arctic zine by Jacqueline Kari Bos, I was intrigued. It’s an illustrated book about the arctic, Inuit myths, Eskimo hoods, seals, and all things chilly. Jacqueline created the book after completing a year long study on Inuit myths and readings on arctic cultures.
The first print run has sold out quickly in her Etsy shop, and here’s your chance to get your hand on ONE COPY of the limited edition second printing. And as a bonus, you’ll also get a sewn arctic heart ornament to go with the book. Say YAY!
Just comment on this post by 15th December and we’ll pick out a winner after. Giveaways on Pikaland are global – meaning that EVERYONE from ANYWHERE can enter!
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P/S: Posting is a little light today, and with good reason too — I’m out to celebrate my birthday today! Thanks so much for all your wonderful wishes and birthday greetings (I’ve had so many messages delivered via Twitter, Facebook and email!)
UPDATE: Commenting has now closed, thanks for participating!
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Best Friends Forever
Posted by Amy on Tuesday October 13, 2009
Beautiful work by Lily Lin, a Taiwanese born Canadian living in Berlin who is available for freelance commissions. These plushies were made for the Best Friends Forever Group Show and was based on her illustrations called huggabets.
I love it when 2D ideas become a 3D product!
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Cornelia O'Donovan
Posted by Amy on Tuesday September 8, 2009
Ooooh, I think I’m in love. Cornelia O’Donovan’s work has a playful and light-hearted personality that draws me in instantly!
*From her profile:*
Just having fun with paper, pens, glue and scissors, the flow of images of character faces and figures, animals birds, flowers and abstract patterns her exploring artistry makes a poetic mix from technique and narrative.
In short, plain awesome!
You can hop into her Etsy shop while it’s still open, but she’s slowly moving her stuff into her new Bigcartel shop.
{Discovered via Lena Corwin’s blog}
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Anatomy of a mook
Posted by Amy on Saturday September 5, 2009
“So you don’t think I have enough guts to mount myself on this wooden thing here? Well I’ll show you, AND I’ll prove that I have guts too! HA!”
I’m glad that Kimberley of I Love Grey Skies is back, because I just can’t get enough of her wonderful little people. Read her little interview as a featured seller on Etsy right here.
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Ninon
Posted by Amy on Sunday August 30, 2009
How awesome are these plushies from Ninon? Tania is a full time plush toy maker based in Germany (but she’s Italian). Les monstrìs is her ongoing collection of monster plush toys. She started sewing clothes for herself and friends and found that she was also drawing a lot of monsters, and so decided to join her two loves. What’s fantastic is that there are never two plushies that are alike!
Keep up with her on her blog and her awesomely colorful flickr stream.
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