Speaking Easily...

Hello Lovelies~

This could quite possibly be my biggest post ever. I haven't posted in a couple of weeks and things have been building up around here! So much to share...

To start, things are humming along as usual over at STAG Vintage. A lot of great vintage clothing is going into the shop very soon, including the amazing St. Patrick's Day tie below that's hand-painted with a harp, a pipe and a shamrock. (Nothing says: Erin Go Bragh like a leprechaun tie, amiright?) Also, that buffalo plaid hunting hat makes for sharp, early spring headwear and it's in great shape to boot! Stop by often, new things are always posting...

What else? Oh! I haven't done an original digital illustration in a long time. But, our Portland Buy Local directory (that shows local businesses and what they sell here in Portland) was running a cover contest and I decided to throw my hat in the ring. Below are some process shots, but the basic concept was to take a map of the downtown streets of Portland and incorporate some of the local goods people enjoy when they visit: seafood, artwork, great food and drinks, clothing, etc... all with a sort of worn, 1960's children's atlas feel. What do you think? Cross your fingers for me, I feel good about this one!

In photography news I have a ton of stuff to share as well! To start, I have been doing all sorts of head shots lately for all sorts of clients: real estate agents, insurance brokers and even a couple of authors! It's no secret that I adore photographing faces and making people look comfortable and their best, so doing head shots is a joy for me and because different professions require different looks, I'm learning new things as I go, too! Take a look at some of my latest work:

Another client job I'm really excited about is a Sea Bags shoot I did last fall for their Spring 2014 line that was just released today! For those of you not familiar with Sea Bags products, they are, as the name suggests, bags of all types made from sailcloth and other vintage nautical materials sold up here in Maine. They are really high-end and nice looking so it was a wonderful opportunity to shoot some lifestyle/product photography using great product and working with a ton of great models, stylists and another photographer who shot with me. Take a look!

Eeks! I did the most fun thing this past weekend with my Sweetie and our good friends! We got all dolled up and went to a 1920's Speakeasy fundraiser to benefit a local theater up in Brunswick, Maine. Well, it was a theater, so every last person was decked out and there was music and drinks and snacks and games of chance... and live goldfish. I have no idea why there were goldfish, but it was such fun! Don't we look dashing?

And speaking of speakeasies and Prohibition-era libations, I have come across an amazing design company that specializes in liquor bottle label design. Stranger & Stranger do such a beautiful job channeling that vintage vibe with their typography and illustrations, don't you think? Wow...

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Meat-B-Gone...

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you are all doing well out there. Things are busy as usual over here. To start, my latest work is finally done and posted! Meat-B-Gone is a funny modern reversal of the misogynistic advertising of the 50's. Instead of husbands spanking their wives over stale coffee or chastising them for burning dinner, here is a product marketed towards housewives to take care of that pesky philandering issue. Funny stuff. This piece is available as a fine art print in the shop or in many other archival formats over at Society6! (I actually offer quite a few prints over at Society6 to give my customers additional format options, peep it out.)


What else? Oh, more items have been listed over at STAG my Pretties! Including some neat vintage nautical signs like the one below made out of brass (these are the real deal), a ton of great book lots by topic, including this lot of vintage scouting guides. But the neatest thing listed this week is this old Eastman Colorator from the 20's. It can be placed on the lens of a 16mm projector and lenses can be pushed down to add color tints to the B&W film! It's definitely a rare piece and something that a collector of vintage film items might appreciate. Things are selling like crazy over there, which is great! I'm always adding new, quality items, so stop by often.

I have a ton of fun shoots coming up, but one that I'm particularly excited about it a luchador related one that I hope to shoot in the fall. Thanks to a helpful and very sweet blog reader, I have added 3 more masks to my collection and I will be using all of them for this shoot which should be... hilarious. If you're local and interested, shoot me an email or comment below. I would ideally like 2 males and 2 females. Pass this image along... I think it says it all. Ha!

Enough about me, I have some great things I've found that I want to share with you faithful readers. First off, I am absolutely in love with the Men's Fall Prada line and I don't even really follow or like designer labels. Why do I love it? Let me count the ways. First, I think placing Willem Dafoe and Gary Oldman beside two younger models was a stroke of genius. It gives the line gravity and a unique spin. Secondly, the man in the white vest absolutely has the face of a late 19th Century man of the world. And, lastly the clothes. Those reds, those purples, the cut, the tailoring. Le sigh. I wish modern society wasn't so lazy some days.

Oh! And check out this breathtaking dark circus wedding shoot, you guys. This wasn't a real wedding, it was merely a show of what this group of artisans can do if you decide to hire them... and it's amazing. (And to think I sometimes meet with resistance here in Maine when I suggest to my clients that their engagement shoots should be styled at all!) California is a totally different (and wonderful) world, I guess.

And lastly, I have come across a great illustrator over on Deviantart who I wanted to share. I just adore his line work and I have actually decided to commission a piece from him very similar to the first one below because well, I love Halloween, I love costumes and especially love his execution of the above 2 things. Don't you? I'll share the piece just as soon as it's done!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...

Big Hairy Apes...

Hello Lovelies~

I hope you are all doing well out there. A lot to share as usual. To start, I added some close-up shots to the Okoterru pieces I listed in the shop so you really see what you're getting. They're cute, they come framed and matted, and about half of them have sold, so don't delay too much longer or they'll be gone!

What else? Oh, I am venturing back into the studio this weekend to work on a new mini photo project that I think you'll find hilarious. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I'll give you a hint, it has to do with this:

And speaking of corny, vintage-inspired mayhem, have you seen the work of Jon Kelly Green yet? His work is sort of a throwback to 1960's cereal boxes and he does this fun thing on his blog where he creates characters almost daily and pits them against each other. I really don't know where he comes up with so many different ones. It's a little daily treat for me. Take a peek:

Tom Whalen is another illustrator with a bright, ingenious style that I really can't get enough of lately... He's a master of vector art, and his layout and design as well as his typographical choices are really top-knotch. I want his The Fly poster so bad I can taste it... eww. Take a look!

And I'd like to wrap up this week's post with a picture a friend posted on my Facebook wall the other day. I have no idea who took it (disclaimer), but I loved it and wanted to share!

Until next time: unpleasant dreams...