Inspiration Post: Retro Holiday Cards!

Hey everyone!! Well, it is time for my FIRST Holiday related post of 2012. If you celebrate Christmas or love gift giving, decorating, baking, etc I want to get you into the Holiday spirit!! And what better a time for artists to get some exposure then sending around their own custom cards for the Holidays!! So that's why this month's inspiration post is all about "Retro Holiday Cards!!"

 

Who doesn't love getting a card in the mail?? I have always love commercial art since I was a young child. Christmas cards like these are the kind that I grew up being mesmerized and inspired by. In fact when I was little I loved picking out what cards to give to people in our family but hated seeing them go in the post; I wanted to keep them all!! Keep scrolling for some of my favorite Holiday imagery on cards of yesterday!

"A Pair of Warm Wishes" Greeting Card sold by poshtottydesignz on Etsy

Cats love getting into decorations and these two kittens are just too cute!! Their giant heads and teeny tiny eyes and noses are just darling. If I tried to stick my own cat into a stocking and photograph him I'm sure the result wouldn't come out nearly as pleasant. But that's the beauty of this illustration, it is the perfect picture of curious kittens ready for the holidays!! Although I am unsure of the original artist's name it is dated 1950 according to it's Esty listing.

I stumbled across this card on Pinterest looking for inspiration for the Holiday Helper magazine cover. It immediately became one of my favorites with it's sweeping style of illustration. The bright pink sparkling figure skating dress is so glamorous!! And you got to love the scared little bunny sliding across the ice. The added glitter as an embellishment really makes it shimmer and shine!! I especially like the fact that it's more of a winter wonderland with no glaring reference to CHRISTMAS. If I received this card from my mother I would treasure it for ages!! No idea who the original artist is though :(

Strawberry Shortcake Holiday Card sold by PinkCarnivale on Etsy

This card is from 1983 and if you are an 80s kid then you should recognize that pint sized little ginger girl on the front; it's Strawberry Shortcake!! Not only am a fan of this card because I grew up with Strawberry Shortcake but because it involves baked goods!! Looks like Strawberry and Custard, her pet cat have stopped on their stroll to eye up some cakes, cookies and cupcakes through the shop's window!! The attention to detail on this illustration is impeccable!! Even the border is filled with Holiday sweets like candy canes and gingerbread!! 

 

Vintage Christmas Card photographed by Neato Coolville on Flickr

This cute little snowman is in touch with his feminine side sporting a striped pink scarf as he lets his little birdy friend perch on his top hat! What I like most about this card is it's simplicity; the simple stylized pupils, the little tree with simple ornament balls and the small sprinkling of snow surrounding the outside of his portrait.It shows you do not have to go all crazy with details to execute a card design.

Rainbow Brite Holiday Card by PinkCarnivale on Etsy

And the best for last!! Since I featured Strawberry Shortcake, I can't forget my absolute FAVORITE 80s girl, Rainbow Brite on her Holiday card!! These cards were printed as one single sheet and can be split apart by tearing along the perforated edge. I always wanted to be Rainbow Brite when I was little, riding around on Rainbow Horse spreading cheer and color to everyone with magical star sprinkles!! Here Rainbow Brite and her friends are getting ready for the Holidays, wrapping gifts, trimming the tree and just throwing and candy around for no reason.

That's all for this month everyone!! I hope these images inspired you to get a jump-start on the holidays. If you have never tried making your own cards before, why not give it a shot?? They don't have to be perfect remember this Holiday season, it is the THOUGHT that counts!! Hope everyone has a super weekend and stay tuned for next month's inspiration post!

Cassandra and Tracy DiMarco Cartoon Portrait!!

Hey everyone just wanted to update the blog with a digital portrait I did. This was for a special little lady named Cassandra!! Her mother, Jennifer, got in contact with me after an event we met all, (the Women Supporting Women event I posted about) to create a portrait for her daughter for a surprise birthday present!!

Cassandra is a huge Jerseylicious fan just like I am!! So why not commemorate her and her idol, Tracy DiMarco?? Regardless of what you might see on television Tracy is truly a doll!! She always makes times for her fans, Cassandra being one of her biggest!! Here is what I came up with for the portrait:

I think it came out so cute!! Cassandra was so polite and chatty at the event!! She is such an awesome little girl and Theresea is truly blessed to have her for a daughter :)

I am sure her new cartoon brought her a lot of joy!! I have a few more portraits to post this year!! And stay tuned for lots of Holiday posts as well. Hope everyone has a great week!

Artistic Fitness: Magical Poptart Unicorn!

Hey everyone!! Sorry for the blase atttiude toward updating lately. This week was my birthday and I did so many fun and amazing things with my friends and family. Also, Thanksgiving is coming up so I have been prepping for that as well.But why am I posting today? Artistic Fitness of course!

Exercise number 5 was drawing a horse. But horses are boring I'm much more of a unicorn person myself. And this isn't just any unicorn it's a magical poptart unicorn!! She was gifted with the ability to zap up toasty fresh cherry flavored pastries in seconds for hungry breakfast enthusiasts everywhere!! Hope everyone has a great Holiday!

Artistic Fitness: Solid Chocolate Panda

Hey everyone!! Just continuing my efforts to sketch new and exciting things from the book I had laying around. Exercise #3 is a rolly polly panda bear gnawing on some bamboo. Hmmm how could I make a panda more appealing?? How about just making it out of solid milk chocolate.

Mmmmm! I think I'm going to start posting my illustrations on my Tumblr blog as well. The problem is I can't remember my screen name for my Tumblr. Oh well! I'll try to figure it out today. Have a super day everyone!

Artistic Fitness: Breakdancing Snail

Hey everyone!! I already made it to the second exercise in the "Artistic Fitness" book, that means 48 more to go! It was all about drawing a snail. I didn't attach an original sketch of the first exercise but I figured I would this time. The book teaches you to draw and shade things very traditionally or more "realistically" than my style.

For my doodle, snails are typically thought to be these slow, boring, creatures. But I am sure than is at least one snail out there who decides to dream big. My snail wants to be a breakdancer. He doesn't let any "haters" get him down as he spins on his shell with his oversized boombox.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Artistic Fitness: Rebellious Penguin

Hey everyone just wanted to update the blog with a silly and strange little doodle I created over the weekend. Unfortunately for me I am currently unemployed being laid off from my fulltime job so I need lots of things to do during the day. What better to do than to draw?

I have a book on my shelf I got several years ago called, "Artistic Fitness." It's a book for people who are interested exercising their creativity and improve their technique with 50 different exercises. I thought this would be a productive time waster and give me an opportunity to draw things I wouldn't normally draw.

The first exercise was drawing a penguin. I sketched out the traditional penguin from the book was pretty bored with it so I decided it needed to be a rebellious penguin. Not only did he dye his feathers and decide to fashion himself a mohawk he has multiple piercings and a temporary heart tattoo on his fin. He might just give his penguin mom a heartattack! Hope everyone has a great week!!

Another Happy Couple! Annette's Illustrated Portrait!

Hey everyone just wanted to update teh blog with another illustrated portrait I created for another happy couple this year. This one was for a girl named Annette who contacted me after seeing some of my work and sent me a lovely photo to work from. I think it is so cute that they are both wearing green!

And here is what I came up with:

Another masterpiece!! I made sure to capture subtle details like her makeup and patterned shirt. What a cute couple!! I had a copy printed and sent to her and she assured me it is hanging up and efinitly gets a lot of compliments!!

I hope everyone is having a great week! Everyone keeps talking snow around where I live. We shall see!! And remember if you would like an illustrated portrait of your own be sure to check out the contact section of my website, Violet-Ink.com!!

LDN Twitter - Print Ads

Hey everyone! Just wanted to update the blog with another inhouse newspaper ad I created for the Lebanon Daily News. The publisher was looking for two different sized ads to help promote LDN's twitter account as well as the editorial employee's twitter feeds.

The two sizes ended up being 2x5 and 1x8. I did the 2x5 first. I love Twitter's branding and wanted the ad to evoke the same fun effect by creating a graphic environment of clouds and a little bird I made in illustrator carrying the daily news!

Once I got the look of the 2x5 approved and cleared away creating the 1x8 was just a matter of resizing and moving the elements around. Both ads are able to run in black and white and color and I am really happy with how they turned out!

If you have twitter be sure to follow me, @lawlzlaura or the website updates at @violetinkdesign. I hope everyone has a good day!

Happy National Candy Day!

Hey everyone!! Another day and it's another awesome Holiday in the month of November. Today, November 4th is National Candy Day!! Another excuse for me to draw candy. I really channeled my inner "Lisa Frank" with the colors on this crazy candy heart graphic:

Treat yourself to something sugary sweet to celebrate! And with Halloween and Trick-or-Treat just ending I'm sure you can find candy around your home. Or just raid your friend's home (with their permission of course)! But rembmer never EVER EVER EVER take ANY candy from strangers!!

Hope everyone has fun celebrating, stays safe and has a great weekend :)

Happy National Sandwich Day!

Hey everyone!! Since Halloween is over time to celebrate some of those in-between obscure Holidays. So put away all those fake spider webs and rotting jack-o-laterns and get ready to celebrate NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY!

Yes! November 3rd is National Sandwich Day. The origin of this day actually coincides with the birthday of the inventor of the sandwich, John Montagu. I'm not a big sandwich eater but I am always down for a yummy Peanut Butter and Jelly! So get out your bread, cheese, lettuce and whatever else you like on your sandwiches and celebrate!!