Proud Mama

This is totally unrelated to my latest illustration work, but I have to announce that my little cat, Griff, had his modeling debut as one of "The South's Greatest Pets" in The South Magazine! The issue was just released, and he looks as debonaire as I had hoped. Photographer Angela Hopper was a total trooper and made sure that Griff got a good shot even after he was a tad shy at first.

Griff was so proud, he slept with his copy of the issue last night.

Test prints

I finished carving and printing the pink lemonade mason jars tonight. They came out pretty well. I scanned them quickly and played around with the images. I can't put together the entire pattern until I have the peonies carved and printed as well. That's what tomorrow is for!

Peonies and Pink Lemonade

I am working on a new set of patterns for summer, and one is based on pink lemonade in mason jars and peonies. What a great combo! Below is a sketch of the design.

HWS Custom Print

I recently did a custom design for a makeup bag order. The bags were purchased for a group of lovely ladies who are graduating from William Smith College (part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges) this weekend. The request was for the print to include some of the girls' favorite places on and around campus. 

I really enjoyed working on this project and getting to learn more about HWS. It seems like a really beautiful place and like it's a lot of fun! I hope the graduates enjoy their new makeup bags and that the pieces help serve as a reminder of their wonderful college experience for many years to come.

CONGRATS GRADS!

If you are interested in getting a custom print made for your upcoming special occasion, email lis@lissartori.com to inquire about pricing and to place an order.

Memory Lane

As you might have noticed, the art of printmaking has a huge influence on my work, seeing as I work primarily in the printmaking process of linocut block printing. Two weeks ago I was working in the SCAD Atlanta office and had the opportunity to tour the amazing Printmaking Department. It is such an impressive facility that is equipped to teach so many different forms of printmaking that it made me nostalgic for my earliest memories of experimenting with this art form.

My first experience with printmaking was during my undergraduate studies at Union College when I took part in a study abroad program with the college in Paris, France. We spent every other day drawing from life in the Louvre, and on the alternate days, we worked in the Atleier de l'orme, a cooperative print shop in Paris. We learned dry-point etching, and I loved every moment of it. When I came back to campus after that trip, I enrolled in a linocut printmaking class, and the rest is history.

A little fun fact about my time studying in Paris is that a fellow student in the group was Mr. Danny Taft, who is not only a part of my Union College family, but is now part of my SCAD family as well, as he is wrapping up his Masters in Industrial Design and Design Management this Spring!

And, yes, I am proudly rocking my Tridelt sweatshirt in that throwback photo!

Jadeite Repeat

Above is the jadeite pattern I have been working on this week. It needs a few tweaks here and there, but I am very happy with the way it turned out and can't wait to figure out what to use it on!

Mom's Collection Inspiration

Last summer, my mother proclaimed that she would like to begin collecting jadeite after she read a story in Martha Stewart Living about the beautiful collection Martha's daughter, Alexis, had amassed over the years. Shortly after reading that piece, she dragged my father to a flea market while they were on vacation in Florida, and she found a jadeite bowl that started it all.

Since then, I have made it my personal mission to snatch up any and all jadeite I find in my travels. The best part of collecting something like jadeite is not the items themselves, but the memories of the experience finding a given item. Because I have had such a great time searching for jadeite, I couldn't help but let it inspire my illustrations, and thus I have been working on a new pattern design based on the creamy green dishware.

Below is a sketch of the pattern. I should have the final version for your viewing pleasure by next week.