a new year, a new sketchbook

I’ve made mention of the Art House Co-op on my blog many times before, having participated in several of their incredible projects over the last 3 years. They are an amazing studio/gallery/initiative based out of Brooklyn, NY and their most notable project has taken the world by storm: The Sketchbook Project. A collabration where artists from all over the world fill in blank sketchbooks and send them back to be part of a large, touring, library-style art exhibition (2012′s tour is currently still on until November! Click here to see if there’s a show near you). This will be my third year participating in the project. Above are the little zines I created which chronicle my previous submissions: 2011′s Figuring You Out & 2012′s I Remember You. I also participated in their Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition earlier this year with my piece The Wise Owl. Art House will soon release a publication which will feature a spread from each artist who participated in the SBP:LE. If you are interested in seeing more of my past sketchbooks click here for my blog’s “sketchbook project” search feed.For 2013′s sketchbook I am particularly thrilled, as one of the themes was right up my alley: Creatures! My mind is already racing with ideas!!! Can’t wait to share my progress with you in the near future. If you’d like to get in on the fun, then click here.

incredible & inspiring creatures

Wherever I am, animals are always on my mind. My vacation to sunny Mexico graced me with the opportunity to encounter so many wondrous and beautiful creatures; even animals that I never imagined that I’d get to see in real life, let alone hold and touch some of them!  My heart was truly aflutter when I encountered the following critters… In order from above: a bee eater on the edge of the swim-up pool, the intimidating praying mantis, flirty tabby cat (one of the resort’s resident hunters), a sleepy baby leopard, a cute and clumsy baby striped tiger, a gaze of white nosed coatimundi (adorable members of the racoon family). Also seen during the trip, but not photographed: melodious blackbirds, iguanas, geckos and seven different types of fish while snorkeling in the fresh/salt water mix of the local marshlands.