Like, Like…… Love: The New UnFacebook “Like” Stickers from Iskra Design
© Iskra Design
To download the UnFacebook personalized “Like” stickers as a pdf go here.
Alphabet Road Trip | the blog of Iskra Design
Category: New Work
Watercolor and Ink Illustration from The Rollercoaster of Love
You have probably noticed that this is the month with the red heart in the middle, and you will be consuming flowers and chocolates at a frantic rate in advance if not on the Day. Of all consumer holidays, Valentines Day ranks as one of my favorites. It is built on true emotion and complicated sentiment, starting right in kindergarten when a child starts to wonder if the little SweeTart glued to a piece of constuction paper (from That Boy) "means" something.
I promise you something very interesting is coming to Alphabet Roadtrip on Valentines Day. But in the meantime, who doesn't love an amusement park? Especially one that has a little cafe called February where you can think about life and write in your journal. Croquill pen with India ink and watercolor.
© Iskra Design
How Do You Say Coffee? Expressive Mixed Media Calligraphy
When I do expressive calligraphy, expression wins out over technique and traditionally beautiful lettering design. What matters most is the personality of the words, and in this case, the personality of the coffee customer.
I live in Coffee Town USA, yes, that would be Seattle, and I am a confirmed devotee. I do love to watch how people order their favorite drinks. Particularly those people who request the "no-foam-no-caf-non-fat—latte?" I mean, what is this? This is not a latte. It's simply a state of denial. But then I'm in the camp of coffee-is-a-vehicle-for-cream, or why bother.
This piece is done in watercolor, guache, felt pen, pointed pen, brush and a variety of brushes. It was created as part of my ongoing fascination with letterforms as an expression of voice. I see my job as a contemporary lettering artist as being a channel for character. I'm not a stylist with a "hand" but a character actress, making visible the intangibles of tone of voice, personality and unique DNA.
See more expressive calligraphy and calligraphic illustration at www.iskradesign.com.
Snow Day in the Studio: Expressive Calligraphy
It snowed this week. Power was intermmitant and I had to shut down my computer for awhile. It gave me time to look out the window and slow down. It was truly lovely, especially at night, when I went for long walks. In the morning the light in the studio was luminous and bright, and I didn't need to turn on any lamps.
I mixed some water the color of the sky and the snow and the stellar's blue jay on the roof, and did some loose expressions of "SnowDay." Often my work is highly refined for reproduction, and must be absolutely legible. My only task here was to please myself and it did not matter if the words could be read from thirty feet away. It's like skiing, using a pen this way. The paper is just like snow, velvety and welcoming, and forgiving you if you fall.
Edged Pen with Pelican Tusche and Cobalt Blue on Teton Cover and Karma Cover.
See more expressive lettering at www.iskradesign.com
New Calligraphic Icons, Work in Progress
©Iskra Design
Icon project for an art center: different approaches to representing dance, by way of the classic ballet slipper.
About Iskra
Designer, calligrapher, lettering artist. Read more 