we're making rye bread right now. a delicious, and ambitious, eight hour affair that will hopefully yield the type of rye bread hard to find at your local grocery store. fingers are crossed. in the meantime, i've been working to finish my website. i may have prematurely debuted it–if you've looked around, you'll have noticed the lack of sketches and et cetera. no more! lydianichols.com is fully complete!


back to nova: origins and winter kittens.

another t.shirt design for whole foods market. i had to put this together relatively quickly (a few hours), so there are definitely some things that could use tweaking and refining, but i'm not sure i'll have the opportunity to do so. it's not so atypical to receive assignments at work that require an incredibly fast turn around!

also in the works: a series of farm illustrations (for wfm as well). i am incredibly pleased with how they are turning out, but want to wait until they're completed to post. beyond that, i'm planning several personal pieces, mostly utilizing some sort of print technique like relief, xerox transfers, or screen printing.

and more more more winter olympics!

it was a wonderful weekend all around, from freshly baked challah and cookies (courtesy of my absolute favorite, smitten kitchen) to sunshine and walks 'round town. because i didn't have any assignments, i was able to focus my energy on some personal work. ever evolving goals include the exploration of architecture and exterior/interiors. on the horizon: landmarks of the world. starting with: the taj mahal. to be posted: soon!



i might have to blame the sunday times market for the need to do a mid-century influenced interior.

cowboy done and on the run! wobbly legs and all. i wrapped this up while watching the vancouver 2010 opening ceremonies last night. while i adore the olympics in general, i particularly love the winter events, so every four years it's a real treat to watch them. last winter olympics i was fortunate enough to be studying abroad in italy and made my way from firenze to torino to watch slittino (luge). it was one of most fantastic adventures i've ever had.

here's to the weekend and more drawing/illustrating.

mail is a beautiful, wonderful thing. e.mails are always nice, but nothing says hello like a piece of mail...especially royal mail! oh, the uk! granted i ordered the items pictured above, but it is always lovely to see how an artist packages their work.

1/ esther aarts (back left, center) the push your luck postcard series can be summed up as amazing. the eight postcards done using mimeograph techniques on a heavy speckled paper showcase a wide sampling of esther's illustration and typography skills. bonus: i got to receive mail from the netherlands!
2 / lizzy stewart (back right) this lovely little gocco print (now sold out) features a somewhat androgynous figure reminiscent of bacchus. it's simple, bold line work with a splash of color is too sweet to pass up. check out lizzy's etsy shop for other fine gocco prints.
3/ ammo magazine (front center) print publications live on in the form of ammo. issue #2 features several illustrators from around the globe, all with varying styles. a real treat for illustrators, designers, and admirers of illustration alike.
4/ stuart kolakovic via art bureau (not pictured) i've already mentioned stuart's amazing work (i think he has quickly risen to one of my favorite illustrators) but i need to mention the fine print i recently bought. there. it's mentioned. check out stuart's shop for prints, postcards, and badges or art bureau for other awesome artists.

that's it! phew. i have acquired a number of beautiful pieces this month. inspiration as i push forward with my own work.

it seems i don't often post sketches, especially not while a piece is in progress. time to amend such oversights! just last night i initiated this illustration of a cowboy running through a mountainous, cacti-filled desert (not yet shown). i like the idea of a cowboy so happy and contented that he'll run on his own two feet, no horse required. i imagine him to be a good conversationalist, and a superb listener. grab a pint with him at the local saloon!

stamps are like tiny portable printmaking devices, which is probably why i like them so much. while these are mostly for envelopes and promos, i can't help imagine the possibilities. it's not much different than using relief techniques on linoleum or the like, except with lasers you can get incredible detail on such a tiny scale. the exactness! hmm...perhaps i'll mull this over a bit more. the sun is like a little illustration already...what more could i do?

another new york spirit illustration for an article entitled, here comes the sun: a yogic guide to spring cleaning. it's about renewal; physically, spiritually, and mentally. everything from cleaning house to cleaning soul. i really had a lot of fun with this piece, and i mean that with a nod of my head. it felt good to try new things, to try to challenge myself a bit. i've realized that most of my work is spot illustrations (not that this one strays far from that), so i'd like to focus more on full figures and backgrounds.

this weekend i plan to do a series of three illustrations. to explore and play, just for fun. i miss doing that.

it is the first day of the second month of the new decade. i only point this out because it feels like time is moving quickly.

i spent the weekend sketching, but sadly in that disappointed way where nothing seems to turn out right. success was had, however, when it came to cleaning and organizing the studio. after several months, it finally feels like an inviting space. j has put her loom into action and there's nothing quite like weaving.

this week i'll be working on another social workout project and an illustration for new york spirit. i will be sure to post once completed!

in the meantime, a little something i found in the files. happy monday/february.