patterns & paws returns

I did a little happy dance when I went to the postbox today to discover an envelope from Maryland sent by Anika Starmer (@aisforanika). Yes, I was excited to get an envelope of treats from a good friend, but I was more so thrilled because I knew our current collaborative sketchbook projects were concealed inside. To catch my new readers up: I initiated this project patterns & paws for the two of us about a year and a half ago now. The idea started to blossom 3 years ago when I drew the filigree deer in my first Art House Sketchbook Project that I started in late summer 2009. The concept evolved further when I finished my “animal patterns” series of moleskine notebooks and continued with my Sketchbook Project the following year. I was thrilled to see the interaction of animals with pattern; so with my love of paws and with Anika’s love of patterns, I thought our work would be a great way to continue this initial idea of mine. The first post I wrote about this collaboration includes the specifics of the project while the following four posts here, here, here and here, chronicle the additions as the two sketchbooks have progressed. Essentially we create diptychs (she draws on the left, I draw on the right) as well as 2 page spreads where we create on both pages. I am thrilled to share Anika’s fantastic new additions to the project and I’m stoked to have them back in Canada so that I can add some pretty little paws to her patterned pages. I already have ideas churning in my head about what to add to her awesome markmaking, so stay tuned to see what I contribute to these pages. It has been so incredible to watch this project evolve and grow and I value our friendship so much, because we foster it with such great art and creativity! Do you love the new pages? And if this is your first time seeing patterns & paws, what do you think of the project?! Comments are always appreciated! Thanks for reading :)