Halloween Dessert Table Sketch

Its quite an odd Halloween having just had one of the largest storms ever on record rip through the east coast wreaking such havoc on the city, but I'm pleased to report I'm safe and sound and live in a part of Manhattan that wasn't hit so badly by Hurricane Sandy. Unlike many of my friends and family I was lucky enough not to loose power an have been able to stay home. Thank you to all who reached out with concerning calls, emails, facebook messages and tweets!

A few weeks ago I was commissioned by Amy Atlas to sketch another of her exquisite dessert tables for Halloween (last one was for July 4th.) This design was to be used for a segment Amy was planning for a national television segment. Unfortunately the segment was cut due to the hurricane but Amy posted the illustration and all the elements that her and her talented team concocted for it. They even posted templates you can download and recipes (like Bewitching Bark) to make some of the elements yourself.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween and maybe this dessert table illustration will inspire my displaced neighbors, friends and family to enjoy a treat during this trying time.

Lash Menu Illustrations

I'm excited to share these new "lash menu" sketches I was commissioned to draw for Lash Affair Lounge. They asked me to illustrate an assortment of lash extensions offered in the new salon. I had no idea you could get lash looks ranging from a natural, soft and pretty lash boost, like "The Beauty" shown above, to intense dramatic fullness like "The Diva" shown below.

Whats funny for me about illustrating a lash menu is that I was taught not to draw tiny details like eyelashes, nails or teeth in fashion illustrations. In the past few years, especially with all my bridal illustration clients and the dramatic lash making a comeback, I've rebelled and began adding lashes to my sketches but I have to admit I feel guilty every time and wonder what my professors would say. Crazy right! (Its true, every-single-time I sketch a lash I see FIT Professor Steven Stipleman shaking his head at me.)

This was my first foray into illustrating a lash menu (hair and nails, I've drawn a few.) I'm really proud of how all these lashy ladies came out and I'm pretty sure the client, Lash Affair Lounge, loves them as well. Now I just need to get myself up to Edmonton Cananda to try out their lash services like mink lash extensions. I mean how luxuriously Oprah would that be? Fingers crossed theres a Lash Affair Lounge hitting Manhattan in the not so distant future because my lashes could use a boost.

Illustrated Invitations

Recently I've worked on illustrations for a bunch of new client invitations and announcements and when these two arrived in my mailbox I couldn't wait to share. 

The first one (above), a stylized wedding illustration of a bride and groom is near and dear to my heart because its actually a save the date announcement for my brother. They're a playful and fun couple, and they liked this bride and groom I drew in the past, so we decided to go with stylized "bobble head" illustrations for their save the dates. They were thrilled with my depiction of them and have been getting glowing reviews from all the guests about my sketch.

This second invitation is for a bridal shower luncheon and uses my Gwen print from my bridal illustration shop Brooklit Bride. The mother-of-the-bride and luncheon host contacted me because the illustration resembled her bride daughter. She bought the usage rights to my illustration and made these gorgeous invitations. This invitation so strikingly lovely in person. The bridal illustration is printed on a velum overlay, the shower/luncheon information is printed on a gold edged card stock beneath, and the two pieces are held together with a actual ribbon bow tied at the waist! Its beautiful.