Sarah Anderson

I've just discovered the work of illustrator Sarah Anderson.
She's recently started her etsy shop to raise funds for her daughter's
overseas trip to France. I love her foxes which link nicely to the pop
up fox of yesterday.

I also can't believe I haven't raved about Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr Fox"
yet which I've seen twice. The man's a genius. It's beautiful in every way
and I like Sarah's homage to it.

1 Canoe 2 and Aurélie Guillerey

Good morning. On this really dreary Monday in Brooklyn
I'd like to add some sparkle by showing 2 great 3D projects.

First up is the design duo 1 Canoe 2 who are based out of Missouri.
They make wonderful woodcut and letterpress prints from their barn.
They recently produced this great letterpress paper house kit called
Chandler Lane.

And next is the lovely work of French illustrator Aurelie Guillerey.
These pop up pages were produced for the magazine "Les Belles Histoires" by Bayard .

Nous Vous

Nous Vous are a collective of graphic designers and illustrators.
Alongside their commercial practice they work on self-initiated
projects and exhibit frequently.

Simon Peplow

After my post last week about The Exquisite Book
I started thinking about all the other illustrators who are
involved and I'll hopefully get to meet at the grand launch party
in the Fall. I have admired a lot of these artists for some time now
and again am super happy to be in such great company.

One such illustrator is Simon Peplow who's beautifully simple
illustrations have appeared in many a publication worldwide.
Here is a glimpse of his work.

And I apologize if my blog has felt a little neglected recently.
I assure that there will be some surprises coming up soon -
a fantastic giveaway on April 1 and some wonderful new products
just in time for Earth Day.

March's Second Recipe

Next up from Sung this month is this delightful raw recipe.

Crunchy Cabbage Slaw

Use this dish as a condiment to perk up a simple meal.
As we move into spring, start adding more raw foods into your diet;
allowing your body to respond to the changes in
the weather and detox from heavier winter foods.

This slaw uses a technique using kosher salt to draw out moisture
from the cabbage, and although the texture softens,
the result is an extra crunch and zing to the slaw.
The addition of heat from either chili pepper and a spicy herb like
basil will add a nice level of heat and flavor.

Ingredients:
1/2 medium head of Green, Napa, Savoy cabbage, shredded
1 heaping TBSP kosher salt to coat and soak
3-4 scallions, greens and whites sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 inch ginger, crushed and diced
2 tsp agave nectar or sweetener
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds, crush while adding to the mixture

optional:
1 tbsp course chili pepper
2 tbsp basil, crushed or chiffonade

* Shred cabbage and place in non-reactive bowl.
* Salt generously to coat cabbage and toss. As brine develops, turn over cabbage so that it sits in the brine every so often.
* Let sit for at least 2 hours.
* The cabbage should be limp when you begin to work with it.
* Rinse under running water and squeeze excess liquid by squeezing handfuls of cabbage in batches.
* Place in large mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients.
* Can be served immediately, but flavors integrate more after a day

2010 Buy Local Calendar on Sale

My calendar is now on sale at 50% off for $12.
There's only 10 left so get them while stocks last.

And also now available as a print is my Balloon Girl.

Karla Sharin

I've come across the beautifully simple digital drawings by Karla Sharin.
At 17 years old she's definitely a talent to watch out for. She lives in Jakarta,
Indonesia and draws things that as she puts "tumbles upon".

Exquisite Book
Last year I was contacted by the talented Julia Rothman and asked if I'd like to
participate in a book project she was working on with Chronicle Books.
The book idea is loosely based on the game started by the Surrealists in the 1920’s called the
Exquisite Corpse. This version is played by 100 contemporary artists, illustrators,
designers and comic artists.
For a full description of the project visit here.
The proof of the book has just come in and Julia has given us a sneak
peek of the back cover. It's so exciting to be part of this.

Above is a sample page of 2 spreads. From left to right-
Mike Perry, Camilla Engman, Lab Partners and Nick Dewar.

More New Work

I've sat and watched my children endlessly draw with colored
pencils but it's never occurred to me to try this medium for myself.
Until now that is and I'm so happy with the results.

First up is another from my travel series. These kids were gathered around a
man who had just shimmied up a palm tree to retrieve a pile of coconuts.
We all sat and drank the delicious milk from those nuts.

And next I felt inspired by the amazingly beautiful day in Brooklyn where Spring
really feels like it's sprung. The innocent joy a large, bright bunch of balloons
can evoke in a child again drawn with some good old colored pencils.

March's First Recipe

Here's our next wonderful side dish from Sung that's
guaranteed to warm the soul.
And I'd also like to direct you to Jaime's blog.
Jaime has decided to make our entire 24 recipes over the course
of this year and it's great to read her reactions to the cooked versions.

Pan Braised Orange Carrots

Carrots with their bright orange color brings a little sunshine into our
lives while we wait to burst through to longer days and foliage on trees.
These pan-braised carrots are glazed simply with the juice of an orange
and have a savory edge with the addition of rosemary.
The sweetness of the carrots will be enhanced the longer and slower
they cook, so keep them in the pan as long as there is
some liquid to keep them from burning.

* 2 bunches slender carrots with the tops on
* 2 tbsp. butter
* 2 tbsp. olive oil
* juice of 1 orange
* fresh rosemary, minced
* salt and pepper to taste

1. Snip off the green tops of the carrots, leaving about 1 inch of green.
2. Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high.
3. Once the butter is melted, add the whole carrots in a single layer and let brown, turning once or twice, for about 8 minutes.
4. Add the rosemary, salt, pepper and orange juice plus about 1⁄2 cup of water.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes, adding more water if necessary.
6. Uncover and raise the heat to let any remaining liquid bubble away.

New Work

Here are some studies for a large project I'm
embarking on. Apologies for the hush hushness
of it but all will be revealed soon enough.
All i'll say is it involves multiple journeys on public transport.

Traveling in Dominican Republic

As you know I recently returned from a lovely week in
the Dominican Republic. Though the tan and the feeling of
warmth under my skin is fading my memories of the
beautiful country are still there.
I've been having lovely moments in my studio
working on some pieces from my travels.
I hope that you enjoy them.
There's more to come.

Yunmee Kyong

Today I'd like to share the work of Yunmee Kyong who's work I've just discovered.
She was raised in Korea, ventured out to study art in London and now lives in New York.
Her paintings are full of vitality and humor and her drawings have a beautiful,
wandering line quality.
She does illustrations for magazines and children’s books.