To New Waves

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

Monday, February 16th, 2015 | Drawings, Felix | No Comments

This piece was created for a friend, who requested that I draw her a peacock most of a decade ago when we first met. Although it took me six or more years to fulfill the request, I did finally create this finished work. For inspiration, I looked to the work of Alphonse Mucha, the Czech painter whose style is among the most distinctive in the art nouveau canon. Because painting and color aren’t my forte, I stuck with simple linework and added the patterns and texture that I can’t seem to resist.

481/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper)

Inflorescence

Sunday, February 15th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

I found this in my notebook — I’m not sure of exactly when or where I drew it, though it looks to be a year or two old. The motifs are all spring unfurling, which is what’s going on everywhere in the Pacific Northwest right now.

471/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper)

FreestyleScales

Saturday, February 14th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

FreestyleScales leggings in “Siren Blue” flavor. Photo by Priya Alahan.

My fourth (and currently final) design for Bombsheller, FreestyleScales is a response to the variety of scaly leggings I’ve spotted for sale. I’ve seen fish scales and dragon scales, but mostly they all look the same. What if each scale were dramatically more unique? What if each one were lovingly illustrated with its own theme? The completed design has 64 unique scales that clad the legs lovingly — not quite mermaid, not quite dragon, but rather striking nonetheless.

FreestyleScales is available in two flavors: the “Siren Blue” is a purple and blue gradient, while “Silver Fin” is all in shades of grey.

469/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper, digitally colored in Photoshop, reproduced on textile)

A side view of FreestyleScales in Silver Fin. Photo by Priya Alahan.

Detail of the scales.

Detail of the scales (continued).

This photo was taken as I worked on illustrating the scales.

A closeup of the scales once printed on leggings.

Gamble Everything For Love

Friday, February 13th, 2015 | Drawings, Felix | No Comments

This piece is an illustration of a quote by Rumi, the wonderful 13th-century Sufi poet. The full stanza reads:

“Gamble everything for love,
if you are a true human being.
If not, leave this gathering.
Half-heartedness doesn’t reach into majesty.”

This is an early foray into hand-lettering — an art-form that I’ve long admired, but hadn’t begun to attempt until very recently. I’ve acquired a few brush pens, which makes practicing fun!

457/1000 (Kuretake No. 8 Brush Pen on Paper)

Wisteria Vines

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | 1 Comment

This illustration was a commission for the wedding invitation of two close family members — the wisteria vines framed the fanciful text inviting people to their special event.

453/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper, color via Photoshop)

FloraMandala

Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

Photo by Priya Alahan.

My third design available from Bombsheller. These leggings were designed for high-contrast, to be visible even in the vivid, colorful chaos of a tropical jungle. Because I don’t spend a lot of time working in color, creating the color palettes was an extremely time-consuming process for me and involved a lot of iteration. Unlike the previous leggings, they’re only available directly from Bombsheller in two flavors: Harmonious Commotion and Serene Sunset.

450/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper, digitally colored in Photoshop, reproduced on textile)

Harmonious Commotion, back view. Photo by Priya Alahan.

Harmonious Commotion and Serene Sunset flavors of FloraMandala, shown alongside Priya Alahan’s InfiniteEyes. Photo by Priya Alahan.

Floral mandalas in the Harmonious Commotion flavor.

Floral mandala for ankles and waistband.

Small mandalas were added to balance the larger, more detailed ones.

An unused color palette that was a bit too evocative of Lisa Frank’s luminous rainbows and unicorns.

A crop of the FloraMandala leggings in the Serene Sunset color scheme.

Chicken Scratch

Monday, February 9th, 2015 | Drawings, Felix, Life-Drawing | No Comments

I created this illustration as a potential logo for the branding of our farm. We didn’t end up using it, mostly on account of it not being one of our favorite breeds of chicken. Still, I’m pleased with how it turned out.

434.5/1000 (Micron Pigma and Sharpie on Paper, color via Photoshop)

Gilded Butterfly

Sunday, February 8th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

Another of the finely-detailed collaborative series — this time in somewhat lepidopterous form.

432/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper)

Cephalopods

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

Here’s another design available from Bombsheller, the Seattle-based leggings future-fashion company. These cephalopods are a collaboration; my contribution was mostly shading and coloring on this design — I can’t take credit for most of the line-work. As with EndlessWaves, if you like it, you can buy it straight from their site or from Amazon. There are two colors available from Bombsheller, but only the more exciting red variant is on Amazon.

427/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper, digitally colored, reproduced on textile)

An earlier draft of the cephalopod.

The original black and white ink drawing.

Cephalopod in the mood of red.

Photo by Priya Alahan.

Photo by Priya Alahan.

Cephalopod in the mood of blue.

Photo by Sequoia Emanuelle.

Wind & Waves

Friday, February 6th, 2015 | Abstract, Drawings, Felix | No Comments

This is a detailed view of a collaboration — unfortunately, the finished piece didn’t have quite as much focus as I’d hoped it would. The color here is provided by different Micron Pigmas used alongside the standard black.
417/1000 (Micron Pigma on Paper)