The Sketch Book — February

4:30 am. Every morning Elspeth walks the fifteen frigid blocks from her apartment to the Flower District to scout the best selection of flowers before sunrise. She loses herself amongst the cut amaryllis, Indian shell ginger in full bloom, frothy fields of maidenhead ferns, the riotous bursts of giant dahlias. These quiet, cold, predawn walks amongst delicate living things is a form of ritual for Elspeth. She loves the way she can feel the flowers souls vibrating like the chords of a violin, still alive with the energy drawn across their sinews by a bow.  She loves the way that...

 We made it through January, it's time to flip the page to a new month and slip into something a little racier, grab your pet jungle cat and head out to a three martini lunch. Why not? This is the wonderful world of illustration and anything is possible!This sketch is an ode to the kind of woman who doesn't return emails, who elopes or just adopts a british accent for the day. There's something so feminine about being a little bit crazy and unpredictable - a little bit like a jungle cat. It is something I can't claim to have...

Happy February! Or as it will now be known, croissant love month. Why not?I really don't know how this image ties into anything that has to do with winter or the month of February. I guess she's wearing red for Valentine's day. But regardless of her seasonal relevance, I really like her and her croissants.Which is rare.Usually I hate the illustrations I create after I finish them. I'm such a tortured artist. But I actually like her! And am pretty excited about this month!Get out there and start the weekend right, go wild with pain au chocolat  

Time to change the calendar! This month's illustration is inspired by a beautiful cashmere look by Michael Koors and of course by my love of artfully arranged bookshelves. Or, rather I should say, by my hatred of formula-induced bookshelves. You know, when you walk into someones home and the book shelves are scattered with African artifacts that bring out the browns in the carpet (even though they've never been to Africa) and entire volumes of books that you sense are there simply for color (not because the owner has read them). That is the worst. It takes years to create...

Yipeeeee time to change your calendar again! Last year I started off February by telling everyone how I don't like the month in general. and I am here today to say... February, I'm sorry. I was being closed-minded and judgmental. You really aren't so bad. I mean, what is so bad about one last month of the depths of winter to make sure you got proper use out of your furry black hats and awesome heeled boots? And if it were all hot and sunny out, girlfriend above wouldn't have needed to travel with her entire fleet of suitcases. Any...