Happy!

A doodle! The Japanese symbol on her chest means "fun!"

Star Power!

So I think it's been long enough that I can post these here without any trouble. When I graduated college in 09 I got scooped up pretty quickly by Converse (The shoe people) to work for them as a designer on the Chuck Taylor women's team. I worked there for almost two years before leaving to work in animation (My twue wuv), but not before making a literal mountain of shoes for ladies and children. Believe me, I have my samples from China I rescued all shoved into a huge storage box.
Anyway, the best, longest project I got to work on was an initiative for girls that was character based. I worked on it for a whole year all by myself, from concept, character design, color, patterns, promotion, to branding, Chuck Taylor pretty much left me giddily alone in a cubical to do whatever I want. I even created a custom font for the project, which has long been a salivating want of mine. I named the project "Star Power", a line of customizable shoe's for girls. I am really tickled to death that it took off and did super well in market, and even got an awesome write up in seventeen magazine, which is hilarious to my inner awkward teenager in huge baggy hoodie. Here is the write up if you're interested. The image I've posted above are the original colors, which were modified a bit to fit specific pantone colors for fabrics. Please check out the whole project at the Converse site here! Below two of the many promo things from the web.

There was even early on supposed to be an exclusive poster print that comes with each, but it got vetoed for problematic shipping reasons. I designed the posters myself, and each girl had a spotlighted edition with special colors and an embarrassingly cutesy poem I wrote myself that was read out loud in a room full of global marketing while I contemplating jumping out the window screaming.

I am very proud that I can finally post all this here after having had to keep it wrapped up for a couple years. I made a big effort to create each character with positive traits and design elements, as well as subtley making them of diverse ethnicities without being it being overt. Something I often do in my own work that I wanted to bring here (other then the obvious vinyl toy love, haha) was to make all of their skin bright, fun, intense colors. I didn't want any particular girl not to be able to identify with a Star Power character on a purely racial basis. I hope I was able to achieve this in a positive way.

And they are EMBROIDERED. Titter titter.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some more of my Converse work soon. Cheers!

Damask Lady

Two hours in photoshop. Texture and Damask pattern are internet freebies!

Egg-citing Post! (haha)

Listen to the egg, the egg has wisdom beyond it's years.

3 hours in photoshop.

Baman Piderman - Dis is Season 2 Opener

Alex and myself are officially kicking off the second season of our series, hosted by our pals MondoMedia. This is the most animation we've ever violently stuffed into a singular episode, though it's a bit shorter.

When we were talking about how to get back into the show after such a long absence, a regular episode didn't sit quite right with me. I feel like we needed to prove to people we mean business about making good stuff. I tried to construct it in such a way that you see all of our little friends again, and laugh again at the running gags that permeated the first 12 episodes. A reminder of sorts. Here it is, I hope everyone enjoys it. It was a flipping doozy to animate and color.

Tufts Magazine Spot Illustrations

Here are a set from a recent editorial illustration freelance gig I did for Tuft's Magazine. It was sort of a rush job because of the holidays, but I'm pleased with the colors. It is very tough to go back to doing whimsical backgrounds when I've been designing patterns for over a year for Converse now. A little out of practice! I'm working on getting back to my fighting weight though. Haha! Most of the freelance I get is character design related, so it was nice to go back to the balmy old song and dance of editorial.





I'm also going to post the initial sketches, before client changes here, simply because I think they're kind of fun. I am particularly mournful of the loss of the "Treasure Trunk" mass of magical dudes and sparkles, because come on.

Listen; When it's time to draw robots you better get on board.

Made for something specific that didn't end up getting used. Posting here because robots in underpants.


In other news; Gosh I am pretty sick of Illustrator right now. I need some more Photoshop in my life.

Afternoon doodle

I usually don't post many of my sketches here, but I really liked this one I doodled up of Veronica and I having fun.

I've been caught up in freelancing and being a new little wife. I'm back to Converse this coming Wednesday, so I expect to be shoes on the brain again fairly quickly.

Cheers!

Wishin' on a Comission

Just a little piece a (business) lady commissioned from me for her resume. She is a business super hero. A Stapler queen. The pride of the office brigade. Protecting us all from toner outages and such.

Er.. here.

Hello Little Friends

Here's a recent piece Alex and I worked on together for our friends Andy and Veronica. I'm really glad we can finally show everyone!
Andy and Miss V are getting hitched next month, and Alex and I worked on an animated invite for them. Their request was them dancing together on a beach.



When I designed the layout I was thinking about how a postcard style thing would be fitting, considering it's a destination wedding of sorts to Cape Cod. I also thought breaking it up into some smaller, subtle animations would make it feel rich, and be kind of unique in an animation. I wanted to include details that would speak to Veronica's personal aesthetic and wedding vision (Cupcakes and fun hand-made things), as well as the location. Hence good ole Sagamore Bridge, the ocean, and a soft Cape sunrise. Animating the waves proved to be surprisingly one of the more challenging things. I did a few different versions of it that looked absolutely insane, and totally distracting. There was also going to be a jumping fish but then I was like, "NO NO ABORT." Alex came up with a good solution for us, however, to tone it down and it ended up looking pretty nice.


Here's the original designs I did for them based off of Veronica's mood board she made (pictured above) and color palette she provided us. I definetly went a little hog-wild on the whole "IT'S A BEACH PARTY CRAZY BEACH WEAR!! AAAAHHHHHHGHGHG!!!" and ended up toning it down a bit for some more traditional wedding attire.

Total production time was around three weeks I think. Alex and I both enjoyed ourselves on the project, and wouldn't mind working on wedding type art for people in the future.

Mazel tov, Andy and Veronica!

Red Head Bed Head.

Illustrator stinks to doodle in, Photoshop containing my superior vector sketchbook. But here's one from the ole illustrator files. Ten mins and a sleepy head. It's.. a green kid. I love red heads. Maybe he's a pixie? Let's ask him.

Throw da Party

The new episode of Baman Piderman is out:



We worked super hard on this one, so I thought I'd post it. Thanks for watching!

Lindsay

Street Fighter

I wanted to draw some Street Fighter 4 characters for Alex, since he and I have been spending a fair (large) amount of time going through the arcade mode of Super since it just came out. I wanted to make these really simple, but visually descriptive of their personalities. Then it kind of made sense to do them as character stamps. Why? A MYSTERY. I think I'll finish out the cast, but here's everyone's favorite go-to dudes.




The best thing about Street Fighter is it makes no sense, and it's hokey to the point of hilarity.

PS: Stupid Ken= Best Ken.

Caroline

Caroline drew a picture of me, so I drew her one too. Done hastily in the ten free minutes I managed to squeeze out of today.

I had to look up the name on the google. MATRYOSHKA.

It's hard to find time to do anything as of late, but here are some quick Russian nesting dolls I doodled up in illustrator. You see these things everywhere now! They're pretty cute.

Sketchin'.

I used to watch a lot of anime when I was wee. Though there is nothing as frustrating as thinking something is so cool in your head, then realizing in the midst of explaining it out loud just how ridiculous Ronin Warriors sounds to your mom.

I think about Ukiyoe prints a lot and how to modernize them, which I was kind of toying with while doodling this here, albeit barely, haha. Alex and I used to Go to the MFA Boston weekly to look at their collection of them. I miss having free time..

Oh hello. Salutations. How are you and so forth.

These past few months have been bone shatteringly intense, bringing forth the biggest changes in my life since I stopped eating play doh and learned to ride a two-wheeler.

"SO LAST WEEK THEN, HAW HAW" you say to me chidingly, your saucer sized pupils glazing over with a vacant look as you elbow me suggestively in the solar plexus. I offer a withering look that suggests long suffering.

Glad we could get that out of the way. Anyway. Why I haven't been around.

Number 1: I got a job! Since August I've been working at Converse full time as a designer for Chuck Taylor, which has been an amazing experience so far. It's tons of work, which is why I'm rather scarce, but rewarding and I'm learning intense amounts of stuff to cram into my already swollen skull. To sum up: I make-a the shoes.

Number 2: Baman Piderman. Baman Piderman eats up large, LARGE quantities of my time. Time that normal people spend eating and regularly visiting the restroom. The latest episode took about 784 years due to various factors (namely Christmas, work, moving, being sick, being away on business, etc), the main factor being that we finished the episode initially and then scrapped it entirely. There's a whole separate fully animated, 3 minute BP episode that we sealed away in the archives never to be seen by humans, then simply started again. We luckily have the best, most patient fans who sat tight. Each episode takes so long to make, especially with just two people doing every single thing. We love making them so much and sharing them, it just takes a while.

Number 3: Moving. Alex and I moved into a new apartment this month, and are still trying our best to juggle unpacking with our full time jobs. It's a nice place even though SMOKING LADY NEXT DOOR I HATE YOU STOP SMOKING WITH YOUR DOOR OPEN SO THAT IT LEAKS YOUR STINK INTO MY HALLWAY I WILL EAT YOUR CERAMIC FIGURINES I SWEAR IT I WILL. Our living room is purple.

Number 4: As most people who know us in the real world are aware.. Alex and I got engaged and will be married this coming August, making my name even sillier when hyphenated to Small-Butera. Planning a wedding is a lot of happy work, and we're not even nearly there yet. We're very happy, and I'm even more happy to share this news with everyone.

I'm going to make an effort to post here frequently, since I miss making art for myself. I'm going to start by posting doodles from my sketch file. I never draw on paper, only directly into photoshop. I find sometimes just drawing directly with shapes and color really warms up my hand and mind for working on projects. I get paranoid about only sharing super finished long-term pieces on here, but I'd like to break that habit. Here's a quick warm up I did today:



Cheers!
Lindsay

Post POST gallery things.

The gallery talk was lot's of fun. Here are the four caballeros, Andy saying something meaningful about Dr. Grood.
On a whole it went really well, barring the fact that I can't really articulate why I have a fascination with robots. I just do! YOU WANT TO FIGHT ABOUT IT.

Anyways. It was extremely flattering and wonderful to be coupled with three other amazing artists. The show comes down Saturday morning, making room for the next one featuring the wonderful Fish McGill, fellow robot enthusiast and all around cool guy. Recommended!

So lately I'm freelancing a bit here and there, eating some yogurt, and staring at the walls. What more could you want out of life? I'm waiting to hear back from some potential jobs, so in the meantime I've been inspired by miss Alycia Garcia and have taken up embroidery. I have some tea towels and some ideas and you better watch out man, because I'm going to sew some stuff.

Also: I've taken part in a blog meme, which is pretty cool. I already received a gorgeous little piece from Veronica, so now it's my turn to post this:

I will make something for the first 5 people who comment "I'm IN!" and who commit to do the same on their blog. Just read below and if you feel up to the task, and copy the following...

1. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world, not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful.
5. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
6. Send me your mailing address after I contact you.

Good times and fun!
-Lindsay

Space 242: Artist's Talk

Just a heads up for anyone in the area that's interested, the artist's talk for the "Atomic Hearts and the Electrical Brain" gallery showing at Space242 came up quick. So quick, in fact, that it seems to be tomorrow (Tuesday)
Giving short lectures and answering Q&A from 7-8pm will be Andy, Veronica, Allison, and myself. I am very nervous. I knew I would have to do this as soon as I agreed to be a part of the event, and it's been sitting on the back of my brain. I've never really had to talk about my work outside of a classroom setting where it's pretty much just technical mumbo jumbo and "I like blue, do you like blue? I think I'll use blue".
So I'm nervous! But I'm very excited too. I'm very privileged to be alongside such talented folks. If you're there, and I start slowly rolling towards the exit during the talk, please roll me back towards the table.
More info about the event is available here. If you plan on going, please make sure you RSVP! There is going to be some sweet limited run silk screens available at the talk, featuring all our work is a mashup piece. It's pretty awesome.

A big thank you to everyone who came to the opening, and a preemptive thank you to anyone planning to go to the talk. It means a lot to me.

The lack of regular posting continues as I work on a few freelance projects. Stay tuned for our next episode: Gee I should probably finish my website. Be there!

Post Gallery Round up.

So the Space 242 opening came and went this past Friday, and it was a pretty intense experience. I've never had so much work shown at once and to such a large crowd. I was nervous but had a ton of fun. I'm very grateful to all those that came out to support me. My dearest friends and comrades.



The show will be up till the end of July, so go check it out! The fine works of Allison, Veronica, Andy, and myself.
Now that the opening is over though, I'm going to talk about a couple of the new things I made for the show.

The first one I struggled with for quite some time, but ended up being fun and cathartic in the end. I've decided if I really want to break into vinyl toys and the pop scene, I should start showing my style in that vein.



This piece, titled "Ardent Love" was a huge exercise in pretty much.. doing whatever the heck I want. It felt awesome to finally allow my imagination to be uncontained and just design the heck out of something with no rules and stipulations. I suppose that's what it's like being out of school and doing art for yourself. It was fun, but also a huge self struggle. In the end we wind up with more bubble clouds and lotus's. Awwww yeeaaaah.
I have a fixation on religious iconography and Indian miniatures, and of course long vertical pieces. It's different. What do you think?



This one, "Hell Yeah Robots!", was a surprising throw back to when I used to spend hours at my desk with tiny tiny scissors, cutting paper into the wee hours of the morning as I questioned my sanity and life choices. I guess I just felt like working with my hands again, something tangible. Cut paper takes way too long, is horrifically frustrating, and probably the most annoying aggrivating thing you can do. But it looks so neat.
Anyways, this one is pretty tiny, 7" x 7", making it the smallest piece I've ever made for show. It was rather funny, bringing all my three foot tall framed pieces into the gallery space.. and then this little teeny precious frame.
Anyway. The whole thing is a big throw back to my old way of working, stylisticly and media...ly. I was actually sore to part with it. Unlike digital work, it's hard to say goodbye to something you physically made and can't reproduce by calling the printers.

So yeah, some new stuff. Now I'm deciding what to do next. I'm assisting Alex with some of his animation projects, but I need a new project of my own. It's very strange, not having homework dictating my schedule.

This came up fast.

The show is tomorrow! Featuring lot's of never before blogged work by Andy, Veronica, Allison, and myself. Come out with us and have fancy drinks while talking about fancy art in a fancy gallery. Forecast is predicting a large amount of fancy in the vicinity.

Make sure to rsvp!

Aye Aye Aye, Your Eyes hypnotize

Snip snip. Preview of things to come.

This is image heavy and I have no remorse for your connection.

So I've been asked to make a silk screen for a limited edition print run for the upcoming gallery show I'm in at Space242. The theme was space and astronauts!



It's my first time making one, and I realize now I should have added more red parts. Somehow I got it into my head to make it very simplistic and easy to read. You don't have to make silk screens that way apparently! Dohohoho. Hohoho.

Anyways. My sister got the married (of which I was the maid of honor), so I've been scarce due to ridiculousitude. Which is now a word henceforth.



Here is the bride and I, looking as unrelated to each other as possible. We are like grape juice and white grape juice... which is a simile I've only just come up with now on this thirsty, thirsty evening.
Speaking of my sister's wedding, I might as well post these now seeing as how it's finally concluded. I did some art here and there, due to me loving her and all. The first was originally the invitation for her wedding shower, later converted instead to a poster due to print problems.



Her wedding had a Cinderella theme if you were wondering. It was placed on an easel at the entrance of the hall for people walking in, as thus:



I also designed the tee shirts for the bachelorette party, which as a must have if you want every one yelling at you while you're eating at restaurants. It's supposed to be a companion to the above Cinderella poster. Cindy gets Sinful I suppose.



The names of the girls were also on the back for maximum cat-calling and harrasment. Modeled here by the lovely Barbara and Stephie.



Senior reviews, senior gallery, and senior portfolio night came and went. I also won this cake:



The "You take the cake!" award for massart illustration. It was both delicious and an honor.

Oh, Also:



I KNOW RIGHT.
I graduated college after two majors and six years. There is not much I can say about it until I reconcille my feelings and all this free time to play playstation.

The Last at Last.

Here is the final piece in my senior thesis at Massart.



A year of work and research, five solid pieces of Degree Project. The show is tonight, FYI.



I was chosen to be featured on the poster art. A little tweaking to one of the earlier pieces and viola. Slathered all over the school. All are welcome to come be fancy with the senior illustration class.

Thank you to everyone for the support I was given during this semester from hell. Special thanks of course to Alex, who's tireless efforts to buy me snacks and drive me to places while I spaz out in the passenger seat were very appreciated.


You are a stand up gentleman, mister Butera.

Quiet Goals

I haven't told a ton of people, because I feel as through saying it outloud will make it more real somehow.. but I've finished my tailored portfolio to apply to the Pixar Summer internship. My mouth is literally open in a silent scream right now even typing that. I repeat. I sent my PORTFOLIO and RESUME and COVER LETTER to

PIXAR

. It is a long shot, and I'm trying not to get my hope of hopes all riled up, but how does one resolve staring their life's dream right in the face and showing it robots in casual wear?

Here are some pics before I send it off with love and magic kisses.







Very, VERY special thanks to Jamie for all her support and help. We can do this! Dooohhhh!