A spoonful of sugar is all it takes.

Happy Autumn to everyone! September is always such a great, busy month. I feel like it's trained into us as we grow up and go through school, starting school is almost like a new year, a rebirth. When I would start a fresh new school year I remember the new clothing, the new backpacks, pens, and binders. I remember the resolutions made at the start of a school year... this year I would stay more organized, do all of my homework early, get straight A's. Five years out of college, I still make those resolutions. This fall brings a big change to me, as I am moving from Rochester, the city I've lived in since I transferred to RIT seven years ago, to start a new adventure in Portland, OR. I've been incredibly blessed to be busy with projects up until I leave, with some projects on deck for when I get out there. To begin with, (585) Magazine published a wonderful article about yours truly and the poster work that I do. Below, a photo of yours truly in my current studio.

Halloween is on its way! It's always a pleasure to be involved with the group shows at 1975 Gallery. This is my piece for the skull-themed "Volo Calvariam". I love drawing skulls, but I needed a new challenge. I took some inspiration from Edward Gorey, and decided to challenge myself with fitting in as many skulls as I could. This piece features EIGHTEEN SKULLS!

I've loved Andrew Bird for quite awhile. I also enjoy doing portraits for my warm-up drawings. Finally, I love the rain.

I did a series of tee shirt designs for The Barn Owl. These were a lot of fun!

I'm so excited to be working with Righteous Babe Records on some new projects. Below, a tee shirt design for Ms. Ani. I was incredibly intimidated to draw a portrait for her, but I do love to challenge myself.

I'm finishing up some last minute window paintings. I was lucky enough to sell all of the ones that I had before shipping out West, as windows do not travel well.

This past April I attended the National Poster Retrospecticus when it came through 1975 gallery here in Rochester. I was STUNNED by the show... as a poster artist, it was so inspiring. I told my friend who was with me that I wanted to be in that show in five years. This summer, I emailed the guy in charge, asking how one goes about this. He emailed me back, asking me to send over some prints of my moon mice to be part of the show! Sometimes, all you need to do is ask.

Finally, a piece I did for Mindful Rochester.

Writes on most surfaces.

Somehow, the summer has almost passed us by. How does this happen so quickly? At the beginning of the year, I heard this quote for the first time. It kept coming back to me, and back to me, so I finally made it into a poster. This poster will be available on my etsy.

Another new project; I'm very excited to work again with The Barn Owl, a wonderful birding and nature center located in Penfield, New York. I spoke with the owner about their growing number and species of animals there, and this was truly a joy to create.

As always, I'm still drawing new anatomy work. I'm having an opening of my anatomy show at lululemon athletica Rochester next Friday, August 16, from 4-6pm. I'll be doing some live painting from a model, then filling in some muscles and bones... and talking about what's inside us, and what drives us.

Don't forget to breathe.

Today marked a real honor in my illustration career, as I hung my work at the Lululemon Athletica Rochester Showroom. About five years ago, I started going to the gym on a regular basis while I had the wonderful RIT gym to work out in. It marked a turning point in my life. I grew up as a chubby, sensitive kid who quit things easily. I can remember the few times that I did sign up for sports just not working out. For some reason, at age 25, it clicked for me. I lost weight, gained confidence, and gained a healthy outlet for tension in life. As I left college and entered into the "real world", I no longer had a gym membership. I became obsessed with my bike. Each year I became stronger and did more, it became a way to set goals for myself as well. About a year and a half ago, I came to yoga. My New Years resolution was based on three factors; I was training for a 100 mile bike ride, I had hurt my lower back that fall, and I was transitioning out of a dying relationship. I came to yoga for purely physical reasons, but my practice soon became so much more to me. My mat became a refuge, a home base, and as I travel, my mat goes with me. The community that I have met through my home studio, Tru Yoga, have become some of my favorite friends. Sharing the commonality of yoga, we all come from different areas of life and we all have wisdom to share. My outlook on life has changed dramatically through my practice as well. Finally, my practice inspired me to start doing anatomy studies this past fall. The human body is so amazing, and I've really enjoyed putting this show together, and I hope to continue this show as a traveling show that is always evolving. I will be having an opening reception for this show, date TBA. Below, some shots of the show hanging:

Got the flavor.

Dear blog friends, I had a great last month. I launched my website! Carla Bartow (.com) is IN FULL EFFECT! I have to thank my friend Carly for being a huge help, thank you!!!!!

Of course, I made a new business card to match, because that's how I roll. You may recognize this bear from an earlier tee shirt design for Righteous Babe Records.

On a personal note, I saw Mister David Byrne for the first time in my life about two weeks ago. The influence that this man's music, art, and writing has had on me... I can't start to describe. The choreography of the set was amazing, and the music... well... I'm still buzzing.. I am truly blessed.

My latest project has been for The Driftwood Sailors' goodbye show. I am sad that I get to know this band through their last show, as the nautical theme is a favorite of mine. While working on this print, I moved studios, which was pretty major. Below, the first print that I made in my new studio.

Ladies and gents, the final product! I'm really, really happy with how it came out.

She was a young American.

I've been working more on my Thom Yorke self-promotional illustration for my website launch! The website is still being finished up.... it's almost there! In the meantime, I did create an etsy for my posters. Here is the print of the Thom Yorke illustration:

Here's the final illustration! I got a little obsessive about the diagonals in this composition, and I'm quite pleased with the "flow".

I'm still drawing anatomy! I've been thinking about the sternocleidomastoid muscle, that beautiful muscle that connects between the back of the ear and runs diagonally down to the collarbone. I remember learning about this muscle from an old illustration friend in undergrad, and how drawing it makes people look awesome. I also recently overexerted mine during a pilates class.

Also from the sketchbook, what's not to love about a young, handsome David Bowie?

My latest poster is for a wonderful show that's coming up, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at the Bug Jar! What a treat to do a poster for a band that's been bringing it for over twenty years. I can't wait to see them! This poster also helped me to confront my fear of Koi Fish. I had to go to the conservatory to shoot reference of them, and when they come above water with their mouths it unsettles me. When they swim and keep their weird mouths underwater, however, they are quite graceful. Below, the original sketch:

The original print:

The final product! Cheers!

Finally, my illustrations have made it overseas! The band Phly Boyz have printed up some stellar cards!

It's arithmetic, baby, 123.

Spring is here! The "Your Body" Anatomy Show opened at Orange Glory this past Saturday. Since I haven't updated in quite awhile, there's quite a bit to catch up on!
Below, some sketchbooking. I had some projects that I was working on which included likenesses to the people involved, so some facial sketchbooking was in order. Cameron Diaz, anyone?

This is the last piece that I made for the Anatomy Show before I hung it up! Sadly, and happily, it has already sold.

I had the privilege of working with my first international band recently! Phly Boyz are a really fun group of guys, based out of France, who travel throughout Europe (and beyond) to play private parties. Their videos showcase the energy and charisma that the band encompasses! Below, the concept sketch:

The final illustration:

On the drawing board, currently, Mister Thom Yorke. This image is for a self-promotional mailer coming out this month with the launch of... CARLABARTOW.COM! It's almost finished, and I can't wait to get it out there and become one step more professional... and start marketing my illustrations to more music publications and record labels.

Another piece that went into the Anatomy Show, since I love skulls, and diver's helmets, and of course, flowers.

One of my best friends is moving to Florida and opening up a restaurant in the fall! I'm so proud to be working with them in this new venture in their lives.

I'll close out with two more anatomy drawings, arguably some of my favorites in the show. It's amazing to me, when working on a themed show, how different periods of working on the show take on their own sub-genres, and these two belong in a sub-genre of their own.

Please excuse me but I've got to ask, are you only being nice because you want something?

Right now, two musicians that I'm really into have some new music out. Not only is the new music good, the art for their albums is done by linocut artists like myself. First of all, Stanley Donwood has done Radiohead merch illustration for YEARS. His fold-out cover of The Eraser has been on my studio wall since the album came out, I just adore his work. Atoms for Peace's new album, Amok, features his illustrations in the packaging and in some of the music videos.

The second artist that has a new album out I first saw at SXSW at the Palm Door in 2010. I more recently saw her in Buffalo with the Punch Brothers. Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer's "Child Ballads" came out less than a week ago, featuring the art of Peter Nevins. Nevins' earlier album cover that he illustrated for Anais, "Hadestown", was nominated for a Grammy for the album cover design! That's pretty swanky, if you ask me.

Speaking of album cover art, I created the back illustration for Liana Gabel's new album. The type will go under the umbrella for the track listings.

I also created an "evergreen" poster for Liana to tour with for this album.... kind of the fill in the blanks poster.

I got the Anatomy Show poster all finished up! The show is coming up on May 11. It's time to make flyers and get advertising that show.

I'm really excited to see old and new friends at this show in April at Abilene! Record Store Day is such a wonderful hipster holiday. I can't believe how much it has grown in the past few years. I played around with different color layerings in my final output of it... and I can't choose a favorite, I guess I'll let the client do that.