NICE: Write-up at MAKE Magazine

My vintage pencil mobiles got some love over at MAKE Magazine this week! Fun!
You can see the feature here.

THINGS I LIKE: Picasso's "Light Drawings"

Click on images to enlarge. All images © Life Magazine

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: Jump

This little yeti loves a thrill! 

click on image to enlarge

THINGS I LIKE: Caine's Arcade

photo by Nirvan Mullick

I just watched Nirvan Mullick's short film on 9 year old Caine and his DIY arcade. It is so inspiring and sweet and fun, especially seeing Caine's reaction to a flashmob lining up outside his LA arcade (built within his dad's auto parts shop). I cannot wait to get back down to LA and go play some games.

This film really struck me for a few reasons. Primarily, I think it resonates with so many of us and our own childhood dreams and wild imaginations. Caine is incredibly creative with great problem solving skills (he made his own claw machine!) and maybe the very best is a supportive dad and growing community. Simply put, Caine is a super cool kid. See for yourself!



You can learn more about Caine, the arcade hours and location as well as donate to Caine's college fund HERE. Imagine what this kid could do with an engineering degree! You can also find out more on the Caine's Arcade facebook page.

** Update** Since posting this early this morning, thousands and thousands of people have fallen for Caine and his arcade. His college fund has already come up to $56,000! What is most inspiring to me about this is how a small film and one imaginative kid can stir the enthusiasm and generosity of thousands of people. If only all budding young artists could have such a global community cheering them on. 

THINGS I LIKE: Ian Ruhter

Ian Ruhter's artwork takes the wet plate collodian process (a photographic technique developed in the 1850s) to another level. He spent his life savings transforming a delivery truck into a massive camera and, using the collodian process, is able to capture images onto large coated and sensitized plates. He develops them on the spot as there are only about 15 minutes before the plate dries. 

Below are some beautiful images from his Foursquare Wet Cellodian Project, with a spectrum of landscapes, skateboarders and snowboarders, and an awesome video below for a much clearer explanation of his process, as well as some real inspiration. 

- click on images to enlarge -

All images by photographer Ian Ruhter

Here is the beautiful short Silver and Light by photographer Ian Ruhter.




Ian is driving his truck / camera on wheels across the States. See more of Ian's work here or get in touch through Ian's Facebook page to get involved. 

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: Shades

As per this week's theme, here's a watercolor of Jerry Muskrat in his finest shades. He is a part of a series I did to illustrate the classic Old Mother West Wind Stories by Thornton Burgess.

Happy Friday!

THINGS I LIKE: Antique Dutch Darning Samplers

I am in the midst of a new illustration project that has me researching everything from sloths to Hmong Hill Tribe fabrics. My brain is having a blast! I was recently looking for some traditional Dutch textile patterns to incorporate into my drawings and I came across these beautiful antique samplers.


Darning Samplers were prevalent in the Netherlands in the late 18th and early 19th century as sewing was a vital skill for 12 - 17 year old girls to learn. Young girls were taught how to embroider by their mothers as well as in school. Working as a linen seamstress could provide a steady living for these young women and their families. It was especially important for the girls in orphanages to master these skills so they would have an occupation to support themselves upon leaving the home. The training was so serious that these darning samplers were considered a sort of final exam in the orphanages. Because of the bright thread used to show the stitches and craftsmanship more clearly, the patterns and layers of color make beautiful combinations!

Sources: Samplers 1-3, Sampler 4, Sampler 5, Sampler 6 

THINGS I LIKE: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson

(Photography by Chris Cassidy / PBS)

To know him is to love him. That's how I feel about Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. To put it simply, he's a super cool dude. He is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, has been hosting Nova scienceNOW on PBS since 2006, and is a regular guest on the Daily Show, Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher, breaking down crazy science for the rest of us! 

He was asked in an interview with TIME magazine in 2008, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This was his answer.

The Most Astounding Fact from Max Schlickenmeyer on Vimeo. 

(Hubble Images)

The man knows how to give a pep-talk!

For more of Dr. NdGT's thoughts, you can go to his site and follow him on facebook or twitter. 

(Photography by Dan Deitch)

THINGS I LIKE: Moonrise Kingdom

I am so excited for this movie to come out. I feel like Wes Anderson and I live in the same little world. I love his aesthetic, his humor, his color palette, his art direction, his casting- I could go on. It's all too perfect. His last movie, Fantastic Mr Fox, was a mix of three of my very favorite things, stop-motion animation, Roald Dahl, and foxes. Thank you, Wes! This time around we have a camping and scouting adventure!

Hello there, new favorite movie!

For updates on the movie and release dates you can go here.

NEW WORK: PET PORTRAIT

Introducing - Enzo the King! 

Enzo's portrait was a holiday commission and I am finally getting around to posting him! His crown and robe were inspired by King Henry VIII and it was so much fun researching all the patterns, jewelry and embroidery. I really love it when I get to use my teeny-tiniest brushes for the obsessive compulsive detail work!