Been playing around with features around here (new contact page!), with Mark’s guidance… For better or worse (mostly for better) I’ve thrown myself into a lot of work lately, an eye always on future projects before the current one is finished. (sigh) One of the simple things I like to do to keep truckin, or to make sure my work environment accurately reflects what I’m feeling, is to make a new playlist. Sometimes I like to trade with faraway friends, but I usually keep them to myself mostly because they’re all my goofy comfort songs for singing or dancing when I’m in a certain mood–driving, working, cooking, blue, happy, whatever. I made a little mix for these low key summer nights (but have we even broken 90 yet? I hope we never do!), drawing or mapping or printing in my living room studio. (also working on a loud driving hot weather jams playlist, forthcoming) These songs conjure night time stoop-drinks, cut-offs shorts, flip flops with a worn-in dent at your big toe, witbier, stealing tabletop flowers to tuck behind your ear, smiling and walking with your favorite person, summer clammy arms linked.
[note to friends reading via reader/RSS: you'll most likely have to click out to this, because there's a playlist widget that doesn't always appear in reader/feed organizer things. sorry!]
I feel like my life has erupted with gifts, some tangible and some not, in the last 48 hours.
I discovered this great artist, Julia Pott, via Book By Its Cover, and now I have a total brain/girl-crush. I am, by nature, a little over-critical of how illustrators use text/humor/emotion with their work and I admit that I may prematurely dismiss something as a bit too “twee” for my tastes, but GOSH. I love her funny animals and squinched up faces and quick passing thoughts in messy block letters. They almost seem even more honest that they’re against these drawing collages. She’s even got an Etsy shop where you can purchase some of her prints. Do check out her pages and animation, I think her work is just so charming:
ooh and if that weren’t enough, I come with more! I have been working with Mark on new goodies for this here blog, and we now have a widget for making playlists! I doubt I’ll have time to make a regular mix every week, but I’m always picking up/gifting/receiving new tunes and I like to share. This week is just a two-song shorty, as I keep playing around with the features. Enjoy a little soul in your step. (oh by the way! if you’re reading this via Reader or a feed, you may need to out-click the link to view the widget player thing. sorry for the inconvenience!)
…and probably no more blogging till next week, as I head out on an adventure to the Hudson River Valley. Nature and my favorite people! yes!