When I look down, I just miss all the good stuff, and when I look up, I just trip over things.

From the sketchbook: drawing some mice for a project that may turn into a different project. I've been listening to Ani's "As Is" so much lately, and yes, she infiltrated my non-Ani sketches too.

Finished commissioned painting for the owner of The Barn Owl to put in her new store, opening later this month! You may remember a poster I did for them recently, or, if not, you can keep on scrolling and find it in an older post.

My first Ani tee shirt design! My assignment was to work with the quote "I don't need anyone to hold me, I can hold my own". This quote totally hit home as a single and fabulous lady who supports herself happily. I really embrace my independence (most of the time), and I wanted to illustrate the joy of self-legislation. After some research, I learned that many cute animals are solitary in their adult lives, including Polar and Grizzly Bears. I had a really fun time explaining this illustration to a girl in my yoga class who had a tattoo of balloons on her back. How many times do you get an over-exuberant girl coming up to you telling you that they drew a bear holding balloons earlier this week? I'm very excited to see this tee shirt in print!

My little brother got married last weekend, and it couldn't have been more perfect. I had such a fun time with new and old friends, and family. The wedding was located in the Hudson River Valley, and I got to take a trip down memory lane seeing many places that I used to explore with my grandparents. In this photo, taken behind the church, the river is directly behind us!

Maybe I was an outlaw, or the law itself.

I completed my first poster for Righteous Babe Records this weekend! Yay! The assignment was to create a poster for Ani Difranco's October tour. About a week prior to starting this assignment, I had a great yoga class where the theme was animals. We discussed how many yoga poses are named after animals, and how sometimes during your practice it is essential to ignore your frontal lobe and go with more basic feeling. For example, when you see a dog or cat get up from a nap, they don't just shuffle to the bathroom, they get up and stretch, yawn, they listen to their bodies. In our constant reasoning we forget to listen to our bodies. I digress.. when I recieved the assignment I went to work listening to Ani interviews and live performances for days. Ideas bounced around, as they do, until I sat down and thought, "What kind of animal would Ani be?" She's strong, fierce, independent, beautiful but "not a pretty girl", outspoken, and amazing. I felt a lioness would fit her perfectly. I also wanted to give you guys a peek into my process. The first thing I do with my lino is a detailed full size (11X17) drawing of the poster, including type. I then put tracing paper over and trace everything. Below, you see the traced picture.

From there, I flip the tracing paper and transfer the backwards image onto the linoleum to cut it. Below, you see the linoleum all cut out and inked for printing!

After printing three colors, I scan them into photoshop and layer them there. I could cut more out of the linoleum, but I really like to keep the integrity of my block, I feel that it in itself is an art form. I have trouble letting go. As for the color scheme, you may have noticed the change of season. As an Upstate New York girl who loves autumn, I decided to embrace the colors of the season. Voila!

I also got time this week to visit a group show that I'm a part of, Rochester Art Supply's Invitational Show at the High Falls Gallery. I fell in love with a silver brick wall behind Mr. Yorke.

And... some sketchbook pages.

Someday you might find you are hungry, and eating most of the words you just said.

Happy autumn, y'all! It's been a crazy month so far, but the most excellent month as well. I'll start out with an in-progress painting for 1975 Gallery's annual Halloween show, this time the theme is "Haunted". This is my second year as a part of this collaborative show, and it's a ton of fun to take part in. 1975 just moved into a new home and totally renovated the space. I was lucky enough to attend an opening there this weekend, and it's AMAZING to see my friends do such a good job!

My latest project that just wrapped up a poster for The Barn Owl, a new store in Penfield that will specialize in bird and science stuff. We had a lot of fun working together! Below, the original sketch:

And the final product!

Here's where the blog gets sentimental, kids. It has been the most wonderful week I never even knew I could ask for. I took down my art show from the Owl House on Sunday. On Tuesday, I received an email from a representative of Righteous Babe Records who had visited the Owl House while my show was up and was interested in having me design for the company. When I was wrapping up undergrad, four years ago, I made it my goal to make art for musicians. It was all that I wanted to do. I first learned about Righteous Babe in high school, when I first got into the music of Ani Difranco. Never, ever, in a million years did I dream I would be working on the project that I'm working on now, a poster for her October tour. Stay tuned for drawings for the fabulous lady and her beautiful company.

I am just a landscaper...

So I went out to Portland and had an ultimate Carla vacation. Life was excellent for a week, and I returned refreshed and inspired!

Some sketches from the journey to Portland. Airports are excellent places to sit and draw, no one bothers you, and it passes time so wonderfully.

A new project I just finished for Brady Dillsworth. Below, the first layer:

And the finished product!

Finished poster for Hatch!!! EEEEEEEE!

New painting, old muse. Thom Yorke for a group exhibition at the High Falls Gallery for the Rochester Art Supply Invitational. When I submitted, the neon of this painting contrasted greatly to the sea of still lives and figure studies in oil.

I don't own a horse, but I'll be back in the saddle.

I'm blogging mid-vacation at the moment! I enjoyed a weekend in Brooklyn and Manhattan this weekend, seeing some family and old friends. Tomorrow, I leave for Portland, OR, to, amongst other things, check out the Pickathon Music Festival and ride a bike as much as possible :)

Here's my latest and greatest, working with Adrian DiMatteo on a business card that truly reflects his artistic vision. I was very pleased with the results on this, I feel that we really hit the nail on the head. Front of card:

Back of card:

Some sketches for a project that I'm working on with a favorite client of mine, the lovely Miss Liana Gabel!!!

Cornbread and butter beans.

UPDATE SUPREME! What I've been up to: Working on a poster/cover letter for Hatch Show Print. I want to intern there for the month of January, they are a slick letterpress shop that really have spanned the history of music posters. It's a really strange feeling to carve your face out of linoleum. I haven't done a self-portrait in years!

A recent freelance gig for photographer Brady Dillsworth, Americana themed, my favorite! Below, the original print:

And the digital composite:

Currently, my art is on display on BOTH FLOORS of the Owl House restaurant. It's a huge honor for me to have a show here, and it was very intimidating to fill the entire space, but I did it! The opening reception was a blast :)

I did my first landscape painting as a commission for a wedding gift. The newlyweds will be vacationing in Quebec, which is the subject of the painting as well!

I'm heading out to the other coast for the Pickathon bluegrass festival right outside of Portland, OR. Who's ready for vacation? THIS GIRL!

I heard from someone you're still pretty.

Update! What I've been doing: Working on paintings for my upcoming show at The Owl House (Opening July 9 6-9pm).

Hiring unpaid interns in the studio. This little lady is my favorite drawing buddy!

Working on letterpressing my lil bro's wedding invites. Interior layer 1:

Interior layers 1 and 2:

Riding my first century with my team (I'm in the blue helmet). It's such an empowering feeling to know that you can do that!

Re-designing my business card for the first time since 2008!!!

Working with one of my favorite girls for some album-cover art, Miss Liana Gabel!