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Artist Spotlight: Dylan Mierzwinski October 22, 2019

We are so excited to have one of our newest artists, Dylan Mierzwinski in the RCC Artist Spotlight today! Dylan is a graphic designer-turned illustrator from Phoenix, Arizona, a master of retro floral and botanical designs, as well as a savvy sewer/pattern designer and chef. Dylan’s happy, colorful work for Red Cap (those gift bags!!!) is making us all giddy. We had the chance to interview Dylan about her life, work, and a burgeoning YouTube series that she has created for up-and-coming artists as well. We are so happy to properly introduce her–Dylan and her work are a wonderful ray of sunshine.

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Tell us about a day in the life of Dylan!

Dylan’s days…okay I’m not going to do third person. My days are ever-changing as I begin to get better at crafting a schedule that works with my tendencies. In short, even though I love love love my job, I still procrastinate. Most of my scheduling woes come from trying to trick myself to get working sooner, because once I get going, I’m hard pressed to stop until it’s done (I suspect my brain might know this, hence it being hesitant to get going on something…it knows it’s going to have to work!). In general though, my days are super awesome. They involve waking up without an alarm clock, being in my quiet apartment alone, and cycling through admin, creative, and client tasks. A few important key things that have helped me lately are:

Going for a one mile walk in the morning
Starting easy. Contrary to 2019 productivity beliefs, I don’t begin my day with the most important work (re: procrastination station), instead I enjoy some quick wins with admin tasks to ease me into the day
Exploring my art early. I used to put client work first, but it’s crucial to the health of my heart and career that my personal art practice is prioritized above all else; no client comes before it. After my morning admin tasks I sit down with a brush or pencil and get to work.

Other key players: tacos, Parks and Rec reruns with my babe, waving at dogs in our apartment complex, reading too many murder mysteries

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What defines you as a person and an artist?

Easy! (Not). As a person I think I’m defined by my transparent nature and weird sense of humor. Those things are echoed in my art, usually manifested through a shared moment of humility or growth with animals and rosy cheeked characters (like the drawing of me being naked at home when a delivery knock comes at the door, or a group of animals pushing a scared elephant on a skateboard that he really wants to learn to ride). I think my art is most marked by a happy balance of nostalgia and real life; this comes through in my retro and sometimes clashing color palettes, and the inky line work that carves out bouncy petals and firework stamen shapes. It’s as beautiful and rich as those real life things that inspire me, but not too beautiful, because it’s the weirdness that draws me in. For what it’s worth I’m also like 400 years old on the inside.

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Do you remember being artist as a child? Do you have a specific memory of when you really knew what you wanted to do?

I did a lot of artsy fartsy stuff as a kid. I’ve always loved the office supply and art supply aisles at stores, and since my mother was an artist, it felt very natural to always be painting, drawing, sand-arting, and making our halloween costumes. It’s not that I always knew I’d be an artist, I just knew I felt comfortable in that world. If anything, becoming an artist has been more about crossing things off the list that I’m not. For example, in first grade I moved to a new city, and it seemed like literally every kid in my school was on some soccer team called “The Lightning” or “The Stingers” or what-not. Standing on the sidelines with my dad as we watched them play, a very calm and accepting voice in my head said ’this is not for me.’ That feeling kept re-emerging, and eventually, returning to art and those long aisles of pencils and palettes felt like a homecoming. It’s not that I thought I was an excellent artist, but I never felt out of place wandering through that world. In fact, I wanted to get deeper and deeper.

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More recently, though, after a few years working as a graphic designer (aka as someone else’s hands), I was sad to feel so uncreative in my creative industry. I owned paints and sketchbooks but never used them. In the privacy of my apartment I took on my own 100 day drawing challenge, and with each push and day done I knew this was the challenging work I wanted to continue. I was meant to be creating something. You can actually see the evolution of that challenge here.

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Who or what is your greatest inspiration?

Things that look old and bring me feelings of nostalgia – that warm remembrance and familiarity feels soooo good to me, and I try to bring it forward in my work. My work reminds me of my mom’s house in the country with Bob Dylan leaking through the windows, or my grandma getting ready while 60s Motown hits stream from her small bathroom radio. Old floral sheets, candid pictures of families at birthday parties, shared moments that connect us as people, vintage advertisements for contraptions long forgotten – all of it holds a bit of gold that I like to collect. Some of my favorite artists include Edward Gorey, Ed Emberley, Rachel Ruysch, Mary Blair, and Henri Matisse (is that a given?)

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Tell us about your creative process in terms of both illustration and pattern design. What are your favorite aspects of making art? What do you find most difficult?

I really enjoy my workflow being a hybrid between ’traditional’ analog media (pencils, pens, paint, paper) and digital media (Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate). I joke that if I were a better artist I would be able to just rely on the former, but I think that’s a cruel way of minimizing my own work. I love the real feel of my pen scratching against the paper, and the unpredictable line quality and blobs of ink – but I also enjoy being able to really push and ‘correct’ a piece on the computer. I wouldn’t want to have one without the other. The parts that prove most difficult are: starting (every time! So silly), and composition. I’m fairly middle brained and when my left, linear thinking brain tries to get in there my compositions become contrived and overworked – it’s something I regularly have to work on in illustrations and surface designs. It’s like a fun puzzle though, I know there’s a solution to be found.

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Tell us about your Youtube series, Hey Dylan!

My YouTube series “Hey Dylan” is just getting off the ground, and is here to be the casual wisdom that an older sister may carry. It’s a conversation between creatives where listeners write in their questions and I answer them, unscripted. It isn’t official legal advice or business strategy, but more a place for creatives to have their very specific questions answered, while sharing the information for others to use, as well. Sometimes Google isn’t able to fill in all the gaps, and so I like being able to share a bit of my experience and strategic brain to help others along. The best part is a lot of the questions are fear based, and so the answers I give aren’t anything groundbreaking, but more of a reminder to the asker of what they already know. Usually: you already have what it takes, stop being so hard on yourself, and get to work. As of this writing only one episode is actually published, but a big push this fall means quite a few more episodes are ready to calm, share, and encourage.

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Do you have a favorite piece you have created?

One of my favorite pieces is called “Inky Florals” and it will always be a favorite because it’s one of the first times I really embraced my ‘ugly’ color choices and stumbled onto a color combination that felt absolutely perfect and weird. After that point I had no qualms about throwing in a muddy brown or shock of blue.

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What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Besides the golden rule, which I could talk about all day, I love the quote “Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them.” Richard Bach may have been the first to pen it, but I heard it while listening to Elizabeth Gilbert’s, Big Magic. You don’t get brownie points for having a really good excuse, you just have an excuse in your way. I’m more interested in busting through and getting to the goodness on the other side of that limitation. If you think you can’t do something because you don’t have the time, money, talent, resources, etc, guess what, you won’t be able to do that thing. Sad sad sad. Prove whatever evidence you’ve gathered wrong and throw it out the window.

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Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?

Not to be a real dud here, but you know how people for ages have longed for an elixir of life? Well there is one and it’s called water and the healing and nurturing it does is INCREDIBLE. So water. And then orange pop.

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Thank you so much, Dylan! We love you! You can view Dylan’s collection for Red Cap Cards, here.

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Photos courtesy Dylan Mierzwinski.

Hot off the Presses: French Fold Cards! September 8, 2019

We can barely contain our excitement over this new addition to the Red Cap collection: the long-awaited french fold cards! These vintage-inspired cards are a nod to the treasured notes that we used to receive when we were children from grandparents and pen pals. With special details such as uniquely-textured Italian paper, die-cut edges and windows that reveal a peek of the little scenes inside, these cards are pure magic. Each card is folded into quarters from one continuous 8.5 x 11 sheet, and opens into a tiny celebration all its own. Take a look at a small selection below and then click over to see the entire, new collection here.

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Artist Spotlight: Nolan Pelletier June 20, 2019

We are so excited to be interviewing our newest debut RCC artist, Nolan Pelletier, for this special Artist Spotlight post! Nolan is a breath of bold, bright, and beautiful air. He is a master of colorful and detailed work–often reminding us of styles and themes from many different eras of amazing art. If you haven’t had a chance to check out his styles of gift wrap, greeting cards, and bags–you WON’T want to miss them. The colors burst off the page, and inspire us to live our most colorful life! Read on to learn more about his work, sources of inspiration, and of course, his favorite drink. Thank you, Nolan! We love you!
– Nolan Pelletier –
Tell us about your life in Canada! How did you end up there from Connecticut?
As a pre-teen I loved the charmingly low-budget 80s Teen Drama Degrassi Jr. High. I convinced my parents to bring me to Toronto to visit the filming locations, and thought Toronto was exotic and fun and exciting. In 2007 I moved here for art school. Now all my friends and my wife (Kaley—she’s also an illustrator) are here, so I’m stuck in Canada!

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Did you always want to be an artist? Did you have any other aspirations in childhood?

Growing up I really wanted to be an animator. By the age of 10 I had a subscription to Animation Magazine, binders full of interviews with animators that I’d printed off the internet, and I’d decided I wanted to go to Cal Arts to study animation. As I got older I realized that being an animator meant drawing the same thing over and over, and I don’t think I have the skills or patience to do that!

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Your art pulls from so many incredible eras of art and is so vibrantly detailed. Which eras or artists are the most inspiring to you and why?

My work pulls from lots of different eras of art, but it’s always filtered through an appreciation of mid-century design. The illustrators and designers from that era borrowed heavily from different historical periods, but updated it with a modern design sense and colors. I try to apply that same ethos to my own work, and pay homage to both the historical art I love, and the mid-century illustrators who helped foster that appreciation. It gave me a good blue print for how to borrow, adapt, and steal!

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My absolute favorites from that era are Naiad and Walter Einsel, Joseph Low, and John Alcorn. I was lucky to have the opportunity to get to know Naiad Einsel in the last few years of her life, and her art and life are a constant inspiration.
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What is your favorite piece of work you’ve created?
Probably the newspaper I illustrate, design, and publish, The Somnolent Garden Rambler. I distribute it for free around Toronto and New York. It was bumming me out that all my personal work was only being seen on tiny phone screens, so I wanted to create something that was tactile. I’ve put out two issues so far, and would like to start work on the 3rd soon. It’s nice to have complete control over both the form and content of the publication.

If you didn’t work as an artist, what would you be doing?

I’d probably be an archivist! Since I was in high school I’ve loved collecting ephemera—and that’s led to some jobs in archives over the years. One summer I helped catalog and locate 1930s Works Progress Administration paintings at the Connecticut State Library, and I spent another summer digitizing the director David Cronenberg’s archive. I still love scouring the stacks for obscure reference material, or visiting archives to read through an artist’s papers. There are so many great resources that you can’t access online that are ripe for the plundering. Visit your local library!

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Any upcoming projects you’d like to share?

I’m working on a few record covers at the moment, and some boxes for a cosmetic company.

Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?

Avery’s White Birch Beer! There’s this tiny soda company near where I grew up that has been bottling soda in a little red barn since 1904. My Grandfather would always have a wooden case of them in the basement, and they came in thick vintage bottles they’d been re-using since the 40s. When you pick up a case you can watch them filling up the bottles on an old rickety conveyor belt. For alcoholic drinks, maybe a Tom & Jerry? But only at Christmas time.

Fun News! Red Cap Cards in Frankie Magazine June 6, 2019

We are so happy to report that Red Cap Cards is making an appearance the newest issue (90) of Frankie magazine! We love you, Frankie! For those of you in Australia–guess what!–you don’t have to wait. Pop over to your favorite fantastic newsstand and pick up a copy of Issue 90. For those of us stateside, we sadly need to wait just a teeny bit longer to catch this issue. The issue lands in the states on August 12th. OR, if you can’t wait, just order a copy here and they’ll ship it right out to you!

In this issue, Daren Thomas Magee‘s awesome card, “You’re Doing Great,” is being featured for it’s positive and inspirational attitude. Doesn’t it just make you feel good? “Positivity and support is crucial. I feel like there can never be an over abundance of it. The aim of my work is to give some one the chance to feel good about themselves. Even if it’s in the smallest way, it can have a big impact. And the ripple from that is immeasurable. A simple positive affirmation can do a world of good no matter who is giving it or who is receiving it.” –Daren Thomas Magee We love you, Daren!

Check out the rest of the issue too, with some other stellar articles like the victorian-era language of flowers, a cool recipe zine, a section on inspirational folks’ positive life mottos, and more. Take a peek!

Our Early Summer Release is Here! May 30, 2019

Our new release is finally here, and we can’t wait to show you some of the fantastic things we have been cooking up for you with our talented RCC artists. Summer is right around the corner (just a few weeks away!) so we wanted to get you started on some wild and colorful fun for the coming heat. And it’s going to be hot… Today, we’ve got new styles of cards, gift wrap, and gift bags, plus we are thrilled to introduce two new artists: Nolan Pelletier and Dylan Mierzwinski.

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A bit about this release’s featured artist, Nolan Pelletier: A Toronto-based illustrator and designer, Nolan Pelletier is an artisan of fine detail and a master of color. Buzzing with chromatic vibrancy, Nolan’s work conveys elements of a variety of bygone artistic eras. Dabbling in detail from medieval themes all the way to the groovy pattern and color of the 1970s, Nolan’s art is always bold, bright and full of fun!

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We pulled a small collection of photos from all of the artist’s new designs below, but make sure to take a look at the full Early Summer 2019 catalog, here, for even more goodies -or- head over to the shop section to see all of the new designs. Thank you so much for your support of RCC and all of the amazing artists that we collaborate with! Keep the love flowing!!

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Ceramics by Danielle Kroll, Josie Portillo and Yelena Bryksenkova May 23, 2019

Our artists never cease to amaze us: in their artwork, in their lives, and in their other creative projects. We’ve been falling head over heels for some of the ceramic work by a few of our brilliant artists and couldn’t wait to share it with the world! Josie Portillo recently had a show at the Xiem Clay Center in Los Angeles and we fell down the rabbit hole of inspiration! Check out a few of these amazing pieces that she has been working on:

“I think this is my favorite porcelain piece I’ve made. It wasn’t meant to turn out this wonky.” -Via @josie_portillo

Also creating enviable ceramic works is RCC artist, Danielle Kroll! One of the founders of the collaborative art collective, Beech Hall, Danielle often dabbles in playful ceramics like planters, baskets, bowls and vases. “Ceramics is a happy place because I don’t take on commissioned work in that medium,” she says. “Which also means that I don’t get to work with clay that much since it never takes priority. I still feel like I’ve only tapped the surface with that.”

Yelena Bryksenkova has also shared a bit of her ceramic work after a hand-building class at Still Life Ceramics, and we are in love. Tiny little handmade vessels, full of life and character. Head over to her Instagram to view more!

Josie, Danielle, and Yelena, each of you amaze us! Keep up the fantastic work!

Mermaid Dreams + Krista’s Creative Process April 18, 2019

Lucky us! Two fantastically fun things this week in one post, from two talented Red Cap artists: Kate Pugsley and Krista Perry. This week, we are excited to be showing off Kate’s brand new children’s book from Tundra Books, Mermaid Dreams, plus an inspirational artistic process tutorial from Krista Perry. Read on for more!

Have you caught a glimpse of Kate Pugsley’s new book, Mermaid Dreams? We are entranced! Full of color, brilliant sea creatures, and with an embossed cover (oh my, check out that detail) this is one we are going to pick up for certain! Am I the only one that held my ankles together in the pool as I swam and pretended to be a mermaid? It probably looked more like flailing than swimming, but the magic was there, right!?

The story: “One sunny Saturday, Maya and her parents visit the beach. Maya loves the beach: the warm sand feels wonderful between her toes. But it would be more fun if she had a friend. Too shy to say hello, Maya watches the kids play nearby, and slowly her eyes droop closed . . . When Maya awakens she has been transported to a magical underwater world. Maya admires the sea creatures flitting around her, and she discovers that she too has a beautiful tail. Maya is a mermaid! But who is calling out a greeting from behind that coral? Whose bright eyes are peering at her from the sea grass? Whose laughter does she hear? Could it be a new friend? Or just another sea creature?”

Mermaid Dreams by Kate Pugsley, Tundra Books, 2019. Preorder now–the book comes out on April 30th. We can’t wait to get our hands on it! The perfect gift to get a little reader ready for those summer swims.

Up next, how amazing to have a little in-progress tutorial from RCC artist, Krista Perry! Each of our artist’s processes are so different and we love being a fly on the wall, able to catch a glimpse and learn a thing or two. Krista offered to guide us through her process in the creation of a personal piece, and we jumped at the chance… Take a look below, and thank you, Krista!

From Krista: The steps that I use to make a painting can be extensive, but nonetheless rewarding! I usually start with a couple quick thumbnails and then turn them into a finished drawing. When I’m sketching for a new painting, I usually have a pretty solid color scheme in mind, but still make color studies just in case experimenting with color changes my mind. Color studies also make the painting process easier to begin because you’re essentially making a color-by-number for yourself.

After drawing or printing my sketch to the size I’d like, I transfer it to the surface. I like to use red Saral brand transfer paper! Next, I paint all of the solid colors in. With most paintings, I’ll paint small details and line work last. This is a fairly straight forward technique that I’ve been following ever since I was in art school.

All of my Red Cap Cards work also follow these steps! I love working like this because it keeps me easily organized so I can focus on the best part — painting! KP

See videos of her process on our Instagram stories today, and definitely follow Kate and Krista for even more inspiration and art.

Sister | Sister : Marsha and Michelle Robinson Pictorial April 4, 2019

We wanted to write a post just to celebrate the amazingness of these two! Marsha and Michelle Robinson are twin-sisters and are both fine artists. Marsha Robinson (aka Strange Dirt) is a Denver-based RCC artist, with a beautiful collection of cards that we just can’t get enough of. Her work plays with the line between fluidity and order, and combines an architectural quality with nature and earth.

Michelle Robinson is a Seattle-based fine artist who utilizes boldly-colored geometric shapes and metallics to honor beautiful, organic bodies and abstract shapes and forms. Each artist creates work that is vastly unique to themselves, and because of this, we are so enamored by the fact that they are twins! How much talent can fit in a womb?

The artists have a joint art show coming up in June–more details on that to come, so stay tuned! In the meantime, enjoy the work of Marsha (top) and Michelle Robinson (bottom) below, and do visit their websites for more, linked above and below.

And we had to show off a few of our Red Cap Cards by Marsha Robinson as well! You can view her entire collection for RCC, here. Take a look below:

All images of Marsha Robinson and her work, courtesy her Instagram and website.
All images of Michelle Robinson and her work, courtesy her Instagram and website.

Kind: A Book About Kindness March 28, 2019

When artists band together, they can change the world! We are very excited for this upcoming children’s book from Scholastic UK’s Alison Green, Kind: A Book about Kindness, with a forward by Axel Scheffler (The Grufflalo), and pictures by 38 kind illustrators.

Each of the 38 artists gifted their work as a celebration of kindness to this project in order to benefit Three Peas, a charity which helps families that are forced from war-torn countries, specifically Syria. A donation from the sale of each book benefits the work that Three Peas does in these countries. Illustrators include our very own Red Cap artist, Lizzy Stewart (!), Melissa Castrillon (see her gorgeous illustration of a “kindness jar” below), Sir Quentin Blake, Chris Haughton, Birgitta Sif, Britta Teckentrup, Marianna Coppo, Nick Sharratt and more! You can get your own copy here, soon to be available at more locations. We can’t wait to get our hands on one, and are inspired by the kindness, beauty, and love that art can inspire. See below for a statement from Alison Green. Way to go, artists! #keeptheloveflowing

Publisher Alison Green says: “Kind is one of the most important projects I’ve ever worked on. I’m thrilled to be raising money for Three Peas, to support their vital work, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from all of the illustrators. I’m incredibly grateful to them for their generosity in donating the artwork for the book, and would like to thank Axel, in particular, for all his support in championing the project. This feels very much like the right book at the right time. With so much division in the world, it seems more important than ever to talk about kindness, and to offer children a positive, hopeful and empowering message.”

Art work and Image courtesy of Melissa Castrillon

Art work and Image courtesy Birgitta Sif

Red Cap Cards in Bright Lite Magazine! March 13, 2019

The newest, long-awaited issue of Bright Lite magazine has finally arrived in the mailbox! This month, Bright Lite features four amazing and talented female Red Cap artists in their colorful and gorgeous, matte pages, as they discuss art, life, and mental health. If you haven’t taken a look inside this treasure trove–definitely get to your newsstand quickly!! Bright Lite is an independent magazine created for girls, ages 10 – 16, and we are so inspired by the the magazine’s mission. Here’s a bit about them straight from the source:

“Every issue, we strive to give young girls a place to express their experiences and reflections on a central theme. We, at Bright Lite, strongly believe that it is never too early to start communicating and connecting with one another.

Our bi-annual magazine will be a collection of submissions from girls all over the world, including photos, interviews, articles, recipes, crafts, journals, music and advice curated just for them.

Bright Lite is a safe space for you, me and everyone else. This is a place where you can express your thoughts, feelings and everything in between. We’re kind of like a giant shared journal.”

This month, the central theme is HEALTH. We had the pleasure of interviewing Kate Pugsley, Bodil Jane, Krista Perry, and Dinara Mirtalipova to discuss how art helps to center their lives and work as women and artists. Definitely pick up Issue 8 and check out the interviews, plus so so much more, like an amazing coloring page by Krista Perry, recipes, comics, articles and more. ALSO, make sure to take a peek at their super-cool website which has fun quizzes, horoscopes, stories and articles that are so fun and inspiring for young girls.

Thank you so much, Bright Lite, for including us in this issue. You are a sparkling gem!! See below for some pictures of this amazing new issue:

Artist Spotlight: Cressa Beer March 7, 2019

We are beyond delighted to introduce to you a special guest collaborator, Cressa Maeve Beer aka @beeragon! She is a self-described: “stop motion artist, video preditor, and queer dinosaur living in Brooklyn,” and has produced content for Refinery29, New York Post, Hearst, and MTV among others. We are so honored that she has used her amazing, breath-of-fresh-air talent to create a special series of stop-motion videos for Red Cap Cards! You may have seen a few popping up on our Instagram here and here with fantastic music by @a_sarr — but we know you want to know more! Using her trademark stop-motion Godzilla characters to perform haiku greeting cards by Johnathan Rice for RCC, she has created the most enchanting films that are pure wit and joy. Just take a look below! And read on to hear about her life, her creative process, and the best piece of advice she’s ever gotten. Be sure to check out her other work on her Instagram, @beeragon, or her website, cmbeer.com.

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Tell us about a day in the life of Cressa!
My mornings are really important to me – I tend to get more work done, and I can think a little more fluidly. Creativity comes a little more clearly too. I usually get up at 5 AM and try to exercise while I’m too groggy to realize that I hate jogging. After that I have a small daily ritual of making a pot of tea, journaling, meditating, and gratitude. Then I make breakfast (and on weekdays cook my lunch to take with me to my day job) and do a little personal work, whether that’s writing or editing a stop motion project – sometimes I’ve even managed to squeak out a short shoot before having to catch the train. During the week I work as Head of Post Production for the video team at the New York Post, where I’ve been editing and occasionally producing the last few years.

Here are some of my best pieces that I did, if you want to see what I shoot outside of stop motion:

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After work varies daily, but some of my favorite things to do are seeing a show at House of Yes, peruse Strand Bookstore, catch up with a friend over ramen, or just take a walk with my partner. Weekends tend to see me cozied up with movies, books, and probably hours spent with a camera and a little monster.

What defines you as a person and an artist?
I honestly have a hard time with self-definition, but if I were to aim for something, it would be to become a bed of flowers for people to discover and give them a smile when they need it most.

Do you remember being an creative/artist as a child? Do you have a specific memory of when you really knew what you wanted to do?
I was that kid on the playground who would dream up entire worlds and characters with elaborate backstories, subsequently bossing their friends around to act things out in just the way I would envision. My parents were serious movie buffs, showing me Godzilla vs. Mothra and La Strada in the same day, which I feel shaped a lot of who I am. I used to play Ray Harryhausen VHS’s, specifically Clash of the Titans, until the tape no longer worked. That, alongside catching Wallace and Gromit on PBS, got me massively into stop motion. I used to hijack my parents’ camcorder to create little frame-by-frame movies with my LEGOs, and usually that’s what I would end up turning in for school projects.

I also have a very vivid memory of when I knew I HAD to be a filmmaker. I was 14, and my parents decided to show me Apocalypse Now. I just remember being completely struck by the editing, particularly in the opening sequence, and having that be the first time I noticed a movie was the sum of its parts, and those parts could be manipulated into countless ways to create new meaning and illicit all sorts of emotions from the audience. I recall turning to my parents when the movie ended and saying “This, this is what I want to do.” They weren’t surprised.

Who or what is your greatest inspiration?
My inner child has become my greatest inspiration and source of energy and creative output. It’s sad, but I feel as though as I got older, I ended up suppressing myself in a multitude of ways – in order to not be ‘weird’, or to just fit into a certain mold. Even if I was experimenting creatively and ambitiously pressing forward, I really put a restraint on who I was. I wasn’t able to really understand this until just recently. When I let my inner child free, and allowed myself to come out to play in the sunshine, things became brighter – fog lifted in my everyday life, and I was able to create things from a source of purity. It’s hard to describe. I’m an incredibly sensitive person, but I let myself be sensitive to any sort of joy, no matter how simple; the way a leaf perfectly falls from a tree above me, the soft smile of a stranger on the subway, the coincidence of finding a book on the wrong shelf in a store that ends up becoming your new favorite. I aim to view my life as my four-year-old self would: new, magical, and full of possibility.

Tell us about your stop motion filmmaking process. What are your favorite aspects? What do you find most difficult?
It’s a tedious, tedious, tedious, tedious process – but it’s extremely meditative, too. The movie standard is 24 frames per second – so that’s 24 pictures to create one second of animation. But it’s also not quite that mathematically simple either, because then things would be too robotic. It’s an odd balance of intuition and craft.

I’m sure I make a lot of other stop motion artists pull their hair out in frustration, because I tend not to do too much planning when creating something. I’ll have a general outline, and I’ll see it all in my head, but a lot of the final product doesn’t shows up until I’m in in the actual act of creation. A minute long piece might take me 10 hours to shoot, depending on how complicated movements are and how many subjects have to move in one frame. I also feel a lot of things out and change my mind constantly based on what I’m seeing happen – after so many hours, your subjects tend to take on lives of their own, and their personalities illuminate and guide your project. I’m certain that makes me sound a little crazy, but bringing these things to life and letting them ‘live’ in front of me is the whole payoff for hours of tedium. I suddenly have a sunny little world with little monsters to play in.

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Do you have a favorite piece or film you have created? Include link or photo if possible. I think the pre-screening bumper I made for Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn (above) is my best work, but my favorite is one of the bumpers I made for Cinepocalypse film festival in Chicago (below) that my darling friend Ryan Oesterreich runs.

It’s like everything I wanted to happen as a kid.

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What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
During an especially low point in college, a friend stroked my head and said ”It’s okay to be vulnerable.” I try not to forget that.

Any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?
I just did a shoot with one of my favorite rappers, Fat Tony, and I have some other collaborations with artists I love popping up. And then some very special things for the upcoming Godzilla King of the Monsters movie, but I can’t quite be detailed yet about those. Mwahaha.

Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?
My inner child is also an old lady, so my favorite drink is my first cup of green tea in the morning (right now it’s Kukicha from Physical Graffitea on St. Marks).

Thank you so much, Cressa! Again, be sure to check out her other work on her Instagram, @beeragon, or her website, cmbeer.com.

Artist Spotlight: Daren Thomas Magee February 21, 2019

It’s finally time to shine the spotlight on Daren Thomas Magee–another of our newest artists that is now a member of our tight-knit RCC family! Daren is an introspective and visionary illustrator and designer from Ojai, California. A master of blending the natural with the supernatural, Daren creates thought-provoking work that inspires us to become closer together as humans and, in turn, connects us to a higher consciousness.

His RCC card designs have been flying out the door and that’s no surprise to us! Read on to learn more about Daren, his work, and his inspirations. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, Daren!

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Were you an artist as a child? What is the first memory you have of realizing your artistic creativity?

I have very early memories of drawing little scenes that I would play along with, I would make sounds and envision action happening within the scene as I drew. I haven’t thought about that in a long time. Thanks for that! I think there has always been some creative outlet for me growing up. I’ve always enjoyed creating, bringing things that didn’t exist into existence. I think that’s our greatest gift in this existence.

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Who or what is your greatest inspiration?

My greatest inspiration is existence. I am in constant awe of the fact that we exist. Be it divine intervention or a seemingly impossible complex series of natural events that led us to being right here right now, we’re here and that blows my mind. I am using my fingers to tap little plastic squares that translating my thoughts into 1’s and 0’s communicating my answer to your question and displaying it on a screen…..whoa! Yeah, that’s inspiring.

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Tell us about your artistic process. Technically speaking, and inspirationally.

Before my child was born in March of ’18 most everything I did was hand drawn with paper and pen. Very detailed, stipple based work. As the reality set in that I would no longer have the luxury of working so intimately I decided to put more effort into creating more simply and move my process over to the computer. I discovered that I was able to create at such a faster rate with a computer and was fortunate enough to figure out how to emulate that hand drawn look within a digital scape. So it was a very fortunate thing to have been pushed out of the place I knew so well and be forced to adapt to my new surroundings as a father.

Inspirationally speaking, I never go into a piece knowing what its going to be. I always start off with a blank canvas and will throw a shape or a line on the screen, move it around, distort it, mirror it, just play with it until something strikes me. Inspiration born out of a lack of direction.

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What is your favorite piece you’ve ever created and why?

I think this piece called ‘Pleasant’ may be my favorite, not because of what it is, but because of what it represents. This was the first digital piece I made after the realization that I wasn’t going to have time to create the way I use to. It embodies the simplicity that was all I had the time and energy for. I surprised myself after it was finished at how something so minimal can be so pleasing. It opened my eyes to a whole new world of creation and gave my artistic drive and new voice to speak from.

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What was the most important piece of advice you have ever been given?

‘Always speak your truth.’ My Grandmother was a very outspoken woman. You always knew where she stood on things. This is something I still struggle with but when I am able to pull it off the feeling I get is ‘right.’ It lifts the weight that hangs on my shoulders from not speaking my needs for fear of putting someone off or causing ‘trouble’ for someone. We are all sovereign creatures and we all have needs and theres no reason those need shouldn’t be met.

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What story does your work as an artist and a designer have to tell?

The story that I would like for people to pick up on in my work is that this existence is so utterly mysterious that it can’t and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. No one knows for sure how we got here or where we gone when its over, just that we have this time in the middle to be in these bodies, to have these capacities to create, to think, to innovate, to play with our environment. I think its an extreme honor to have this limited amount of time to really experience this existence as profoundly as possible.

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To view more of Daren Thomas Magee’s work for RCC, click here to visit our shop, or visit his website, Real Fun Wow.

Artist Spotlight: Jacqueline Suskin February 14, 2019

We are so excited to introduce the next volume of our three-part Artist Spotlight series, with an interview with one of the newest members to our RCC family, Jacqueline Suskin. A remarkable poet and educator, Jacqueline believes that words have healing powers to both our minds and souls.

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She is the author of three books: The Collected (Publication Studio, 2010), Go Ahead & Like It (Ten Speed Press, 2014) and The Edge of The Continent Volume One (Rare Bird, 2018). Since 2009, her project, Poem Store, has allowed Jacqueline to produce over 30 thousand spontaneous, improvisational poems for patrons around the world on a portable, manual typewriter. She has written for Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, Cheryl Strayed and more, and was honored at the White House as a Turnaround Artist by Michelle Obama. For even more on Poem Store, definitely take a look at the videos below (there are even more on her YouTube channel), as well as her fantastic TED Talk (below).

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We are honored to have Jacqueline’s inspiring and thoughtful work in our newest collection, and are so excited that she took the time to answer our questions here. Be inspired! Thank you so much, Jacqueline! To view her full collection for RCC, visit our shop, here.

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Have you always known that you were a poet? Is there a first childhood memory of the words awakening?

Before I knew how to write proper letters, I was filling up notebooks with cryptic language. I have those journals still and I’ve translated them to the best of my ability. The first poem to appear was about a fox. I later went on to write an entire journal of love poems dedicated to Vincent (the beast from the 80s TV show Beauty & the Beast). I was in third grade when I created that and that was the moment I knew that I was a poet.

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Who or what is your greatest inspiration?

Planet earth is my greatest inspiration. I’m an ecstatic earth worshiper and fully dedicated to this beautiful place we get to call home. All of my work is based on my belief that if humans can heal, if we can transform and become aware of the perfect bounty that is the natural world, then we will actually honor it and care for it properly.

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Tell us about your writing process. In terms of writing–is creating work a more fluid, spontaneous process or do find yourself honing the skill of writing–doing it daily at a certain time?

I have a dedicated writing practice, but I’m not rigid. Creation comes in waves for me and sometimes I need to rest. I’ll work on writing a book every day, editing and tweaking every line for months and months, and then when I finish it I take a break. My spontaneous poetry project, Poem Store, requires me to show up constantly, but those poems are very different from the refined, finished products that arrive after months of editing. I like the mixture provided in these different practices, the balance of the craft that I got a degree in and the magic of Poem Store, which relies on my connection to a patron who stands in front of me as I create a poem just for them.

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What was the most important piece of advice you have ever been given?

There are no mistakes. I have a few regrets, not buying the ranch I used to live on in Joshua Tree because I didn’t understand money at the time and 60k seemed like A LOT, sending back the very first copy of my first book to the publisher to have the binding re-glued and they accidentally threw it away…I regret these things, but I don’t believe in mistakes. Even the worst things shape and inform the course of one’s life. No need to get hung up on what I should have done or which turn I could have made, everything is just as it should be. How could it not be?

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Tell us a bit about your amazing recent event, “The Long Conversation” at the Smithsonian.

“The Long Conversation” is a phenomenal experiment from the magical mind of Rachel Goslins who invited me to speak this year. Basically, she brings in people from around the world to discuss why they are optimistic about the future. Scientists, poets, drag-queens, artists, actors, and policy-makers, all of us on stage talking about experiences in our unique fields that inform us on a brighter future. It was so inspiring. I was paired with activist Mily Treviño-Sauceda (click to view a video of Jacqueline interviewing Treviño-Sauceda) and Cheech Marin, two wonderful humans who really care about what they do in this world. I talked about the human condition as I see it through my work with Poem Store. Writing poetry for all demographics, I get to witness our indefinite willingness to transform and our shared desire for depth. This gives me hope that we can turn the whole thing around because even now, even in these truly difficult times, people still turn to an ancient tool like poetry for help.

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Any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I have about four books in the making and an opera brewing as well! I’m really excited for the second volume of my series about California to come out this spring. The Edge of the Continent Vol. 2 – The City is about my time Los Angeles. The first book in the series is about my time living in Humboldt County and the third will be about Joshua Tree. This collection is so close to my heart and a dream come true for me.

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Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?

Honestly, my favorite drink is water. There is no beverage that makes me happier than a cool cup of plain, clean water. No bubbles, no ice, no straw, just water. But I’m pretty partial to a tequila soda with lime as well.

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Artist Spotlight: Johnathan Rice February 5, 2019

We are so very excited for our first of three upcoming Artist Spotlight posts, highlighting the newest artists, designers, and writers in our RCC family. We love these short interviews, because it gives us a chance to dip a toe into the minds of such brilliant creative forces.

First up: Johnathan Rice. A singer, producer, and writer living in Los Angeles, Rice has spent his adult life inhabiting different corners of the entertainment industry. Signed to Reprise Records at the age of nineteen, His debut record “Trouble Is Real” arrived in 2005, the same year he played Roy Orbison alongside Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash in Walk The Line. He spent the next ten years making records and touring the world.

In 2016, Rice started posting haiku poems on Instagram. The haikus gained a rabid following and led to the publishing of Rice’s first Book Farewell, My Dudes: 69 Dystopian Haikus by LA’s Hat & Beard Press. It became the fastest selling book in the company’s history, buoyed by celebrities like Mandy Moore and Anne Hathaway’s “readings” of their favorite haikus on Instagram and Rice’s appearances in bookstores, comedy clubs and concert venues nationwide. W Magazine called Rice “the beat poet of the Instagram generation.”

Do you remember being an writer as a child? Do you have a specific memory of when you really knew what you wanted to do?
I always remember being interested in words and particularly the combination of words and music. I always thought of sentences in a melodic and rhythmic way. I grew up between Virginia and Scotland, and I think that made me very conscious of the different ways people speak and all the varieties of accents, slang, patois, etc. I always pretended that I was a musician, and then eventually I became the thing I was pretending to be. I loved the musicians who took daring risks with their lyrics: Shane MacGowan, Dylan, Townes Van Zandt. Even though I’ve spent the majority of my adult life as a musician, I think at my core I’m really a writer above all other things.

Who or what is your greatest inspiration?
There is a feeling inside me that I come into contact with sometimes. It’is somewhat elusive. It’s not happiness or sadness or something I can even fully describe. When I am inspired, I am in contact with that feeling and everything feels right. I felt it when I was a child, and I can still feel it now. I don’t know what it is. Do you?

Tell us about your writing process. In terms of creative work–is time spent working more spontaneous or do find that it is regimented like a job?
It’s both. Sometimes the best writing is very spontaneous and comes from an unconscious place. However, some ideas are meant to be explored beyond that initial flash of inspiration and chased around until one can fully understand and possess them. It’s a somewhat mystical thing, and I think that’s why so many artists are superstitious. Bad writing is also very important. You gotta write some real garbage sometimes.

You are very successful in a wide variety of mediums including music and film. What is your favorite and why? Or do they each serve important elements of your life?
I don’t have a favorite. I consider whatever medium I’m working in to be part of the same body of work. I feel very lucky to have experienced so many different modes of expression.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“To live outside the law you must be honest”

Any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?
I have a new record called The Long Game that’s coming out this summer. I’m very proud of it.

Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?
Gin and Tonic.

Thank you so much, Johnathan! To view more of Johnathan’s cards for RCC, visit his shop page here, or click over to his website, here.

Christian Robinson’s First Solo Picture Book! January 24, 2019

*Another* by Red Cap Cards artist, Christian Robinson. Photo by Christian Robinson

We are so proud to help share this fabulous news from a long-time member of our Red Cap Cards family. Christian Robinson, award-winning illustrator of many books (Rain!, School’s First Day of School, Last Stop on Market Street, Gaston, and so many more…) is now debuting the cover and release date of his first solo picture book project: Another from Atheneum Books!!

Debuting on March 5th, 2019 — mark your calendars! — Another tells a story of perspective through wordless illustration. In “Alice-in-Wonderland” form, a little girl follows her kitty down a hole into a magical world all her own. And in a fun twist, you may find yourself holding the book upside-down and twisting it all around!

‘”When I think about stories that I gravitated toward as a child, I think of narratives that take you on adventures to other worlds, places in which anything is possible,” Robinson said in a promotional letter he wrote for the book addressed ‘Dear Observers,’ which he says “feels like the most accurate name for someone viewing a wordless book.”‘ (Publisher’s Weekly)

We absolutely can’t wait to get our hands on a copy and are delighted to see another creative project from such a wonderful human and artist. Hurry up, March 5th! We love you, Christian!

See below for some of our favorite shots of Christian’s work for Red Cap:

Little People Wrap by Christian Robinson

Life in Kitty Carols by Christian Robinson December 13, 2018

Time to take a look at one of our favorite Red Cap cards through the “real-life” lens! Our Life In posts are some of the most fun to play with and this one was just as sweet. Kitty Carols by Christian Robinson for Red Cap cards has been making holiday smiles for years, and today is no different. Check out the fun we had below!

• Three little kitties required for this scene: one grey, one striped, and one orange. Fun fact: most orange cats are male!

• Some boughs of holly. Or in this case, fir.
• A sweet, mid-century piano stool, but you’ll have to custom cover this one with that blue pin stripe!
• An upright piano, of course!
• A vintage, holiday piano song book.

Arlo’s Book Club: The Holiday Edition December 7, 2018

Ho Ho Ho! It’s time for another Arlo’s Book Club: The Holiday Edition! And don’t forget that you can always look back to some of Arlo’s holiday picks from 2015, 2016 and 2017, for some awesome holiday cozy-up-with-a-book ideas. This year, we are feeling jolly and have some fantastic holiday picture books that we can’t wait to share with you. Grab a blanket and a friend and let’s snuggle up!

The Gingerbread Man
by Bonnie and Bill Rutherford
Whitman Publishing Company, 1963
This classic cookie tale by powerhouse illustration couple, Bonnie and Bill Rutherford, teaches an important lesson: never trust a fox. Delicious freedom is everything to the gingerbread man…until he meets a violent end! If that’s supposed to teach us something, we’re decidedly ignoring it! So, pull out those cookie cutters and get your baking on after reading this one, and pay extra special attention to those intricate, colorful, vintage illustrations. Those endpapers! Plus, it has been rereleased by Golden Book, a classic for a new generation.

Josie and The Snow
By Helen E. Buckley, Illustrations by Evaline Ness
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Inc, 1966
The color palette of this book takes the cake! Stylized tones of pink, orange, aqua, lavender and grey make the aesthetic of Josie and the Snow super-special and a standout pick. We follow Josie as looks for an outdoor playmate (all of the animals are a no-go) and then as she explores the wintry outdoors, feeding birds, sliding down hills and making snowmen. A mid-century delight!

The Nightmare Before Christmas
By Tim Burton
Disney Press, 2013
Most probably know the story of Tim Burton’s, The Nightmare Before Christmas, but some smaller kids may be able to handle the picture book version a bit earlier than the film. Jack the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town sets out to “steal” Christmas (he means well), with disastrous results–don’t worry, Santa “Claws” come to the rescue. A creepy, silly, and brilliant story. Readers will recognize the whispy illustration style of Tim Burton.

Red and Lulu
By Matt Tavares
Candlewick, 2017
Two tiny winter cardinals are separated when their tree is chopped down to be the official Christmas Tree in Times Square. The birds are separated and it takes a Christmas miracle to reunite them again. Gorgeous, peaceful illustration that offsets the tension of the story. A celebration of New York City, love, and the spirit of the season.

Another Night Before Christmas
By Carol Ann Duffy, Illustration by Marc Boutavant
A new version for the ages! Former poet laureate to Britain, Carol Ann Duffy, writes a follow-up to “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore (1822) with fun and vibrant illustration by Marc Boutavant of Mouk fame! This time, the story is told from the perspective of a little girl, and can be found in a version illustrated by Rob Ryan.

Artist Spotlight: Emily Isabella September 13, 2018

If you haven’t had the opportunity to take a good look at artist, Emily Isabella‘s new collection for Red Cap Cards, definitely make the time to take a look at her bright, beautiful, and sometimes cheeky work! Nothing thrills us more than sharing our artists’ personalities and unique perspectives, and we are happy to have Emily in the Artist’s Spotlight today. Read on below to hear about her inspirations, her fantastic new studio, and more, and make sure to click over to her website to see even more brilliant work. Thank you, Emily! We love you!

Tell us about your life in the Hudson Valley. What are your favorite parts about where you live?

My husband, Paul, and I moved to the Hudson Valley five years ago and have spent that time living in a tiny 200 square foot cottage and looking for property (we found it!) and building a structure to house our creative endeavors. It’s taken a bit of time because we built it ourselves without much help from contractors. Paul wanted to build it himself and I admire all the work he’s put into it. This is something we’ve been talking about doing since the early days of knowing each other and we’re about to move in. Any day now! We’re looking forward to working on our 15 acres and hope to collaborate on projects together in the studio. The Hudson Valley is unique in that it’s a rural community with easy access to NYC. There is a nice community of artists and younger people who have moved here to get away from the craziness of the city. There are so many interesting things happening to this area and it’s fun to be involved in the resurgence of the region.

Do you have any aspirations to live somewhere else?

Who knows! We are excited to start this next chapter in our new studio but we are always open to what the future may hold.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I kind of work all the time! If I’m not working at my little desk in our cottage, I’m helping Paul across the river at our studio. My main job is to paint! Lately it’s been windows, walls, ceiling, floors, trim – we’re using all natural materials and mixing the colors ourselves so there are lots of added steps to the process. Last summer we painted the exterior, one board at at time. It took awhile. My days off are typically spent with friends. My job is solitary so I always jump at the chance to see people. NYC is a quick train ride away and I often go there for meetings or to catch an exhibit at the Met. I use my days off to get inspired. I take my sketchbook everywhere and often record moments from those times away from my desk. Maybe it’s the colors I spot on a drive or maybe an older lady on the street sparks my eye. These little bits go into my sketchbook and often turn into something down the road.

Did you always want to be an artist? Did you have any other aspirations?

I remember being in the hallway of my first grade classroom and having an epiphany that I wanted to write and illustrate books! I grew up in a family of artists so as I grew older, I felt the need to have my own identity and being an artist seemed too expected. I finally gave in to the fact that I wouldn’t want to do anything else and went to art school but I majored in Fibers which seemed different enough.

You work in a wide variety of mediums. What is your favorite and why?

I really love gouache. I was taught how to use it in my textile design classes and although it’s my main medium as an illustrator, I like that it ties into my past. I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between flat shape and line and gouache is a great medium for this sort of exploration. Also, it dries almost immediately so it’s great for working on deadline. However, there is an oil stick factory close to where I live and after touring the facility, I was hooked. I haven’t figured out a way to work it into my commercial projects but it’s so much more forgiving than gouache! I used to make a lot of weird dolls and sculptural things and I’m looking forward to having the space to get back into that too. This is a hard question! I just like to make things – the medium isn’t a huge factor.

What is your work process like?

My process is pretty simple. For my commercial work, I always sketch out my ideas on scrap paper and once the idea is solidified, I’ll go straight to paint. The way I paint depends on the end use. If something will be used for screen printing, sometimes I’ll paint the layers separately. If it will be printed digitally, I can paint it all right on the paper. After I scan in the painting, I might clean things up in Photoshop or change some colors around or put it into a working repeat if it’s a pattern.

What inspires you most? In work? In life?

I’m always on the hunt for beauty in the unexpected. This makes my life more interesting because even mundane day-to-day tasks provide inspiration. I love drawing people and watching them too. It would be nice to have a spy camera.

What is your favorite piece of work you’ve created?

I painted this one morning as Paul was waking up. I love drawing him – he’s easy to capture.

What was the best piece of advice you were given when starting out?

I remember my mom advising me and saying, “Even when you don’t have work, work.” The only way to improve is to practice.

Do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists and illustrators?

Don’t be too precious with your work. Experiment, explore and move on to the next thing. Keep a sketchbook like a diary, for your eyes only. This helps to take the pressure off and allows you the freedom to work through your process.

Who are your role models in terms of art or otherwise?

My parents have always been really amazing role models in art and life. I’m fortunate in that they both have advised me in different ways. My mom’s passion for art is contagious and growing up, most of our travels revolved around going to art museums or exhibits. Both my parents travel with their sketchbooks. We don’t have many photos but there are shelves of sketchbooks that document my childhood. My dad taught me a lot about the business side of art. He’s also really good at using a computer and figured out a way to pull me out of high school half days my senior year to teach me how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. This was invaluable since I didn’t learn those things in college and they are tools I have to use every day for my work. My parents also taught me to love the natural world. I grew up on 40 acres and they always encouraged me and my brother to play by ourselves outside. As far as famous artists, I love Vuillard for every reason. My other favorite artist is Toulouse-Lautrec. His flat colors, lines and the way he depicted people has always captivated me.

If you didn’t work as an artist, what would you be doing?

Maybe I’d have a marionette theater.

Any upcoming projects you’d like to share?

This winter I’ll be working on a solo show of paintings for the spring.

Any pipe-dreams?

I’d like to make my first grade dreams come true and publish picture books.

Obligatory Red Cap question: favorite drink?

Sparkling wine, any color.

Photos courtesy Emily Isabella

How To: Make a Beautiful Liner for Your Red Cap Envelope August 30, 2018

We’ve always loved the elegant touch of a lined envelope, and now we have found a way for you to create your very own if you’d like to experiment with papers and cards and a teeny, tiny bit of crafting along the way.

You will need:
• A sheet of Red Cap gift wrap
• A Red Cap card and envelope
• This handy-dandy printable liner template (print at 100%)
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Pencil

Step One: With your freshly printed and cut-out template (I used a cardstock version so it would be more visible), trace around the edges of the template onto your sheet of gift wrap with a pencil. Don’t forget to line the desired pattern up just right!

Step Two: Cut out the traced liner, along the interior of the pencil line.

Step Three: On the back-side of the liner, carefully line only the top edge of the liner with double-sided tape. Take care to get that tape all the way across the top, and flush with the edge of the paper. Snip off any excess tape.

Step Four: Gently guide the liner into the envelope and adhere the taped edge just below the gluey envelope edge.

Step Five: Fold the envelope flap down, allowing the paper to move organically into place, to create a nice, clean fold line and voila–it’s complete! Write a loving message and send that card out into the world!! #keeptheloveflowing

Why We Love Libraries August 9, 2018

Recently, Forbes magazine published an op-ed by economist, Panos Mourdoukoutas, about why we should do away with public libraries as we know them, and replace them with Amazon Bookstores. You heard me correctly! The article detailed the taxes levied toward keeping public libraries afloat, and the opinion that libraries “don’t have the same value they used to.” All of the services provided by libraries (according to Mourdoukoutas) have been replaced: community and wifi are now provided by Starbucks; video rentals by Netflix and Amazon Prime; and books by Amazon.

Needless to say, the article has since been redacted by Forbes, with apologetic comment: “Forbes advocates spirited dialogue on a range of topics, including those that often take a contrarian view,” a Forbes spokesperson says in a statement. “Libraries play an important role in our society. This article was outside of this contributor’s specific area of expertise, and has since been removed.”

Illustration by Red Cap Cards artist, Christian Robinson, for the San Francisco Public Library, courtesy Chronicle Books

Regardless of the disastrous article and subsequent backpedaling by Forbes, the article did it’s due-diligence in getting people talking about libraries again. What are they, why are they? Are they important. The answer, it seemed, was a very loud YES from across the internet and country.

Here is what a library means to us:

• Fosters a love of reading, education, and art in children and adults.
• Provides access to a world of art and illustration materials that teach as well as entertain
• Gives free access to media materials, internet and computers for all citizens regardless of class and pay grade.
• Offers jam-packed programming schedules with classes such as ESL, citizenship, writing, cooking, and more.
• Offers free tickets to museums, zoos, aquariums and other experiences
• Schedules after-school programs for kids and teens
• Archives genealogy and historical materials.
• Acts as a community safe haven for those in need.
• and so, so much more.

In 2016, one of our own beloved artists, Christian Robinson, partnered with the San Francisco Public library and Chronicle Books for a program called “Summer Stride.” Check out that awesome swag (below)!! The program “encouraged all ages and abilities to have fun reading and learning” during the summer. Here are some amazing images from that program:

This summer, the program is up and running again, this time with work by Shawn Harris. Check out their awesome video, and “stop by a neighborhood library and check out books, comics, eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music and more. Plus, choose from more than 800 programs (all free!) to deepen reading enjoyment, spark STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) passions and learn through active, outside exploration.”

We love you, libraries. Don’t ever change…unless you want to start offering free coffee and drinks too. We’re good with that.

And sidenote: if you need ideas, you can check out my handy-dandy hashtag on Instagram: #overduelibrarybookoftheweek for the best books that I’m going to end up paying $0.25 a day for.

–Andie

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Arlo’s Book Club: What Was Old is New Again August 3, 2018

Don’t worry, kids! (And sorry, parents.) There is still a whole month until school starts–if you’re lucky that is. That means that summer reading is in full swing, and if you’re about to head out on your family vaca to the Grand Canyon, make sure you’ve packed some of these to get those minds molding in the back seat. The theme for this edition of Arlo’s Book Club is “What Was Old is New Again”… re-releases of old treasuries, a new spin on an old tale, or a new depiction of a classic story. We’ve chosen some new and old favorites to inspire some page-turning, so check them out below and enjoy! Happy Summer!

Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strips – Book One
by Tove Jansson
Drawn & Quarterly, 2006
If you’ve been a long-time reader of our blog (check out our 2014 Scandinavian Dreams post), or a classic illustration enthusiast, you may know a lot about the late Tove Jansson. Jansson was a Finland native, responsible for creating the wildly popular The Moomins in the early 1940s. The Moomins appeal to young and old alike, with simplistic yet deliberate drawings paired with satirical and witty comedy, these characters and comics continue to stand the test of time. Don’t forget to check out another recently re-released classic by Jansson about a Moomin named Susanna who is bored with her life in The Dangerous Journey (April, 2018).

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Over the Ocean
by Taro Gomi
Chronicle Books, 2016
For the younger set, Taro Gomi is a must to pack into any suitcase. The bright and unmistakeable illustration is enough to keep this on the bookshelf for life! Originally published in Japan in 1979, Over the Ocean or Umi no Mukô wa depicts the visions of a young girl standing at the seashore and thinking about the worlds she is connected to via the ocean. A beautiful and timeless treasure that we are so glad Chronicle Books picked up!

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A Werewolf Named Oliver James
by Nicholas John Frith
Alison Green Books, 2017
Written and illustrated by our own Red Cap Cards artist, Nicholas John Frith, A Werewolf Named Oliver James is finally available in the USA after it’s original UK publishing in 2017. The protagonist in this twist on a timeless, spooky tale, Oliver James, unexpectedly turns into a werewolf while traveling home from school. A possible metaphor for more relatable social quirk, Oliver’s “werewolfness” is a source of anxiety for him, until he finds his way back to his loving family where he completely and utterly belongs.

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
by John Boyne with new illustration by Oliver Jeffers
Knopf Books for Young Readers, reissue 2016
The Holocaust novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, was originally published in 2006, and focuses on a 9-year old boy named Bruno who develops a relationship through a barbed wire fence with another young boy, Shmuel, while Shmuel is imprisoned in a concentration camp. Recently, the novel was released with new illustration by world-renowned illustrator and artist, Oliver Jeffers. The heft of the story is balanced by the thoughtfulness of Jeffers’ illustration, and creates a heartbreakingly lovely new work for a younger generation to enjoy and experience.

The Lauren and Arlo Show (aka The Show With No Name) + 2 Fun Things July 19, 2018

We are in the middle of the dog days of summer, and I don’t know about all the kids out there, but we are in need of a hot weather pick-me-up. Enter: The Show With No Name, aka The Lauren and Arlo Show! Keeping it weird on YouTube, the super talented and hilarious Lauren Duarte has teamed up with kidboss extraordinaire, Arlo Mertz, to make a silly show to inspire fun! And check out that dollhouse by Duarte Dollhouses with Red Cap wallpaper by Danielle Kroll! They’re aiming for 1 million subscribers, so let’s get on this, folks! Make sure you stay tuned to hear Arlo’s amazing (and eerily accurate) horse ‘neighs’ and dollhouse fun. Follow the show on Instagram for news on new episodes and happy photos, and watch the full episode below:

Lauren doll and Arlo doll, with wallpaper by Danielle Kroll for Red Cap Cards

Need some more summer fun? Check out these two other fun things to keep you and the kiddos busy during the hot hot heat:

Issue 3, with cover art by Red Cap Cards artist, Bodil Jane

Have you had a chance to check out Bravery Magazine yet? Started by pals Elyse and Ashley, Bravery focuses on highlighting positive–and brave!–role models for young girls. Gorgeous illustration (yes, that’s Red Cap Cards artist Bodil Jane’s work on the cover!) coupled with powerful stories and ideas empower young children to find the bravery inside themselves. You won’t regret this one, its a must for summer reading!

Need more dollhouse fun? This one is a super-fun book to get those little minds thinking creatively: Treasure Hunt House by Kate Davies and Red Cap’s Becca Stadtlander! Releasing August 2nd, Treasure Hunt House is an interactive children’s book about two children who receive an invitation from their great-aunt Martha to visit her incredible house. From there, they set out on a treasure hunt to solve as they explore the rooms! Readers can lift flaps and solve the riddles on every page as they join them on their treasure hunt, learning about famous historical and cultural objects. We can’t WAIT to get our hands on this one.

Keep cool!

Artist Spotlight: Krista Perry June 21, 2018

My goodness, Krista Perry is a true gem. This interview had us in stitches!! What a creative and artistic soul. Krista Perry is the newest member of our Red Cap family, and we couldn’t be more ecstatic! From her vibrant, retro-inspired color palette to her imaginative wellspring of ideas, Krista adds a new perspective to our artist collective that we absolutely adore. We had the happy opportunity to throw a release party in her honor recently at The Social Type, and get to know her in person in sunny Los Angeles. So much fun. Check out her website here, and view her new designs for Red Cap here. Welcome, Krista! We love you!

Tell us about your life in Boston!
I lived in Boston during college and eventually graduated from MassArt in 2015. I moved back home for two years and focused on replacing nearly all assignment work on my website with illustrations that better fit the types of clients I wanted to attract. Eventually, my boyfriend and I moved back to the city. We’re starting this year off in a new apartment which is exciting because I’ve never had so much space to make art. We’re eager to take better advantage of being so close to the city and I’m hoping to really get out and experience more of the creative spaces that Boston has to offer.

Do you have any aspirations to live somewhere else?
I’m not really sure where I’ll end up at this point! Prior to visiting Los Angeles this June, I thought for sure I’ll end up there. But right now I’m kind of just figuring out my next step. I loved the creative atmosphere that LA offered but I’m not so sure how I felt about all the traffic, haha! LA was great but I totally LOVED the desert. When we were visiting, we spent a decent chunk of time in Yucca Valley and even made the long trip out to Salvation Mountain! It’d been a dream of mine since forever to visit! But anyways, I think my #1 priority before I move somewhere drastically different is to pay off all of my student debt.

What does a typical day look like for you?
For the time being I am a coffee slinging barista. All through the process of creating my debut collection with Red Cap Cards, I worked opening shifts nearly every morning. I’d set a “warning” alarm at 3:30, and usually allow myself a luxurious additional 30 minutes to sleep until I really had to get up at 4. Getting up super early was tough to get used to but it afforded me the freedom of the rest of the day to work on illustration projects after my shift. When I get out of work, I usually eat lunch and relax a bit to recover from the morning, haha. When I start working on illustration stuff it’s usually pretty easy for me to get lost in it. I like to pick out a favorite record or find something to listen to like a documentary or podcast to get started.

Did you always want to be an artist? Did you have any other aspirations?
When I was six, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Yup, I wanted to teach dolphins how to do flips in the air. I also wanted to do something with horses at one point or another. I was probably the token horse girl in your 3rd grade class…

What is your work process like?
I like to start with lists!! I have about 7 active idea lists on my phone right now!! Sometimes I’m just minding my own business and a super funny idea will pop into my head. I write it all down because I never know what’ll be my next funny illustration. Another great idea generator is keeping a sketchbook! I can’t encourage young artists enough to keep a sketchbook! You can make anything you want in those suckers! I usually have at least two going at the same time. I have one to do whatever I want in i.e. sketches & random typography practice, and one that I like to treat more importantly where I try to make completed pieces of work on each spread. If I’m working on a project that I was hired to do, I start by researching and drawing super rough sketches, then I draw more detailed versions of whichever sketches are chosen. Once narrowed down, I create color studies for the best ideas. Since getting an iPad Pro, this process has been much easier to do. After approval, I get to work on the final piece! My very favorite part of the process is working on the small details of the painting. I like to see how realistically I can render things. It has always been a super fun challenge for me.

Speaking of sketchbooks, here’s one now!

What inspires you most? In work? In life?
Sunshine, a good color palette, laughing….

It’s tough to narrow down what inspires me the most… if you visit my Pinterest you will see a disgustingly large amount of organized imagery that I love to stare at. I like to collect old magazines and I also keep a Fun Shit box where I throw all of my favorite little things into. Feeling the urge to create something is very empowering. When I feel inspired it’s almost as if I can’t control myself. I feel like I’m being tightly embraced by it in the loveliest way. Inspiration is like a breath of fresh air, it fills me with life. When I see someone doing what they love, or explaining why they enjoy it so much, it often rubs off on me and I think “wow I need to work on something pronto!!!”

What is your favorite piece if work you’ve created?
It’s not necessarily my favorite thing I’ve ever made, but I discovered who I was when I painted Ocular Garden during my second semester of senior year at MassArt. I was a little stuck. I had spent the entire previous semester researching and painting for my thesis project on the Manson Family. I knew I wanted to break out of that shell a little bit but also knew that I was still clearly very inspired by motifs of the 60s. I felt a lot pressure to focus on strictly editorial work, but since I was still a little confused about how I wanted to be making art, I was lost. I would completely over-think the editorial assignment and waste so much time getting frustrated. I decided maybe I wanted to create something fun for my new website that would garner possible licensing work. I liked the idea of making pretty designs that didn’t have to be full of hidden messages like an editorial assignment might include. I bought a huge piece of black paper (which was very different for me) and just started painting. Months prior, I bought a tub of gold gouache and decided I finally wanted to try using it. This piece was cool because it had little to no planning whatsoever. I just remember thinking “wow this is really exciting,” and the rest is history. I think when I brought it to critique, I knew it was the beginning of something pretty cool.

What was the best piece of advice you were given when starting out?
I think the biggest piece of advice I received in school is that you really are in control of your own destiny. Once you’re out of school, you have nobody but yourself to rely on to keep you going. When you’re in school, you’re sort of corralled with other illustrators and artists who have the same or similar goals as you. You’re also getting constant assignments to work on and gallery shows that you must be in. It was really strange after graduating because I took a couple months off from art and then thought “oh shit, I need to get going!” For me, there was this constant need to stay relevant and active. I truly love making funny, weird, and different art. It makes me happy to be actively creating.

Do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists and illustrators?
Kick your own ass into gear, and literally never stop. If you truly want this, it’ll force its way into your life one way or another. Keep your eyes on the prize!! It’s really, really easy to compare yourself to others. In a world where social media is so important, it’s good to remember that what people post is just a super small chunk of what’s going on in their lives. My biggest word of advice is to remain focussed on yourself and your own story. Theres nothing worse than getting tangled up in other people’s success. Another biggie piece of advice is staying as true to yourself as humanly possible. BE YOURSELF & HAVE FUN! Having your own unique voice is key. It’s really exciting once you start to figure out what works for you in terms of process, work ethic, and style.

Favorite mediums to work in?
When I’m working on a full illustration, I usually prefer to paint with Holbein Acryla Gouache. They have THE BEST COLORS!!!! They’re so yummy and beautiful!! Sometimes, I like to practice with traditional gouaches (the kind that reactivates when water is added). They each provide their own special qualities that I get way too excited about. I’ll never forget the first time I was introduced to gouache. It was in a Media Techniques class at Massart, taught by one of my former mentors and good friend, Mister Reusch. That class was really cool because it required young illustrators to experiment with different mediums. I knew from the moment I painted with it for the first time, that it was my medium of choice.

If I feel like drawing, I also looove: Gelly Roll gel pens, POSCA paint markers, Tombow dual tip markers, Permapaque markers, Prismacolor markers, my metal mechanical pencils, and many more!

Who are your role models in terms of art or otherwise?
I think really anyone who takes their dreams seriously and makes them a reality. It’s awfully morbid but I always think about dying someday so I need to make it work (and start focusing on my own happiness for once). I feel very grateful for the cool stuff I’ve been able to work on so far.

If you didn’t work as an artist, what would you be doing?
Oh man! I bet you didn’t see this coming! I would love to work as a forensic scientist or something relating to coroner’s work. I am completely obsessed with horrible diseases and true crime. I love watching documentaries and researching famous crimes and serial killers. Honestly, the more gruesome the detail, the better. I wanna hear the good stuff. I actually recently started listening to two podcasts in particular; Sword & Scale – a more serious, down-to-business kind of show, and Last Podcast on the Left – which is equally as detailed as it is hilarious. I often have to pause so I can get all of my laughing out. I’m at the point now where I listen to it so frequently that when I walk to work in the morning and hear something, I assume I’m going to get murdered. It’s usually just a rat.

Any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
Nothing big right now… but, I’d like to expand on my definition of illustration. Up until now I’ve really only worked on 2D pieces. In the future, I’d like to explore with other mediums such as fiber arts and sculpture. I’d also love to go beyond what little comprehension I currently have for basic animation. Whenever I’m working on something, I sometimes imagine how I would animate it if I knew how to. I was really into super funny shows like Ren & Stimpy, All-That, SpongeBob, and other classic Nickelodeon gems as a kid so I’d love to work on funny videos or skits of some sort. I do have a little experience creating gifs in Photoshop which has been incredibly fun! Now that we are back from our vacation to California, I’m excited to start making new work for my website & promotional materials to send out to possible future clients. I’m also working on a new special sketchbook!! It’s different from any other because this time I’m giving myself a prompt. I want the pages to go in rainbow order, start to finish! I recently started making compilation videos of my completed sketchbooks too. Other than that, I’m excited to settle into our new space more.

Any pipe-dreams?
Open my own roller rink, split a pizza with John Stamos, and QUIT MY SHITTY DAY JOB !!!

Obligatory Red Cap question: Favorite drink?
A nice cold strawberry milk from Wrights Dairy Farm in Smithfield, RI!!! You can visit the sweet the cows and stock up on yummy pastries there!! Strawberry milk is a special treat that I let myself have once in a blue moon.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Fusco.

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“The Stepmother” May 23, 2018

Red Cap Cards is proud present, “The Stepmother.” It is the first in our Keep the Love Flowing (#keeptheloveflowing) film series, starring Arlo Mertz and Lauren Duarte. Directed by Carrie Gifford, the film was shot and edited by Earl and Echo, with original music by Jayden Lee. Costumes by Shop Gordon, with hair and makeup by Dorados by Tony.

Collaboration is the heart of what we do at Red Cap and we believe that love and gratitude is the pulse that connects us all. Thank you to our amazing collaborators, dear friends, and artists who continually inspire us and are always game to play. Most importantly, we raise our glass to you, our family, friends, fellow makers and fans! Keep the Love Flowing..

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Keep the Love Flowing May 18, 2018

Animation by Red Cap artist, @kristerpelly

Perhaps you’ve been noticing that we’ve been repeating a certain phrase a lot lately. Keep the love flowing: a simple sentiment that we have found ourselves living by for a while, in our day-to-day projects and overall life and work outlook. Its origins are special, however, and not just a simple hashtag we stumbled upon. I got a chance to talk with Carrie a bit about why she keeps the love flowing, and what it means to Red Cap Cards:

During his journey with cancer, Carrie’s late father, Doug Gifford, made it his mission to connect family and friends through a series of blog posts that lifted up his ultimate epiphany about life: keep the love flowing. This was the mantra he would say at the end of all of his writings. It was his thought to leave us with, the gift he was giving us, his wish for a better tomorrow and his way to remind us that we are all connected.

“My father taught me a lot about good old fashioned love,” Carrie told me. “He gave love, he shared love, he accepted love, he was love, and in the last year of his life, he continually reminded us to celebrate love.”

That’s it, and truly all that is important in every aspect of everything. It is the answer to every question, and that’s how Doug asked us to continue. And so we have! You’ll find it peppered here and there on this blog, and on our Instagram. You’ll find it in our upcoming catalog and in the overarching theme of all that is Red Cap Cards. We desire to keep the love flowing through our work, through our artists’ work, and in our relationships with the talented, amazing people that we come into contact with every day. With every card we make, with every card we give, with every card we receive, we hope to keep the love flowing.

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Artist Spotlight: Michelle Morin April 19, 2018

“I am easily influenced by the seasons; they truly dictate how I spend my free time. Come spring I am taken over with gardening plans. My desk becomes a heap of seed catalogs and garden schematics. In the summer all I can think about is hiking, kayaking, camping, and swimming with my dog. Then fall happens and I become a nut. It’s my favorite season (color, temperature, and food-wise), but since it seems to happen so fast I feel a need to rush. I slow down and cook, sew and think over cold crops while watching old movies. When winter hits, all I think about are snow activities, hot beverages, good books, and the ritual of unwrapping all of my vintage ornaments.” –Michelle Morin

We’ve been loving having the amazingly talented Michelle Morin as one of our newest collaborating artists, and are happy to add her to our Artist Spotlight series. Her beautiful, scenic watercolors of natural environments and ethereal landscapes absolutely take our breath away. Michelle’s background designing and maintaining gardens continue to inspire her work: “My paintings are an attempt at finding a balance within the complexities and subtleties of nature using texture, pattern, and narrative elements throughout.” -MM

On top of beautiful works of fine art, Michelle is also a creative innovator in illustration and surface design. Just check out her brand Spring line of children’s wear that just debuted at H&M! How much do you wish these were in grown-up sizes??

Check out the awesome commercial (with some talented kiddos to boot) and photos below, plus some shots of Michelle’s independent art work and her Red Cap Cards designs. We love you, Michelle! You are amazing. View more on Michelle’s website or her artist page here.

“I was able to apply my greenhouse knowledge to a tight, two-acre garden that became my sanctuary for two years. I came to realize that this garden, while full of hundreds of plant species, was also home to countless animals, including owls, hawks, hummingbirds, box turtles and numerous insects. Witnessing their daily routine gave me the inspiration to make paintings that referenced the colors, patterns, habits and curiosities in this world. I took it all in during the day and painted it by night.” –MM

“Cheetah Garden” Photo via our Instagram

“Cheetah Garden” gift bag Photo via our Instagram

“Perfect Flamingo” Photo via our Instagram

“I come from a family of makers. Like a lot of artists, it was the environment I grew up in that inspired me to be creative. On weekends everyone in my family was joyfully busy with their own projects. My parents and brother each had different ways of expressing this creativity, and it generated a nice balance in the house. My dad could be found tinkering with anything from a new shed to a backyard ice skating rink, my mom and grandmother would be busy with one of their numerous projects, from building spool dolls, to sewing quilts, to canning pickles. All the while my brother studiously practiced his piano in the background. I fit into this picture anywhere and was happy to hop from one activity to the next. Over time, with the help of great teachers and talented friends, I learned how to focus this creative instinct into a more artistic career.” -MM

“Desert Landscape” Photo via our Instagram

“Greatest Octopus” Photo via our Instagram

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Four Shops We Love! March 9, 2018

It’s been a minute since we talked up a few of our favorite shops, so this week we are focusing on four Shops We Love two from the East Coast and two from the West. Scroll down to learn more about some of the most innovative, creative, and stylish brick-and-mortars around–and they just so happen to carry Red Cap Cards!

Shorthand is a Los Angeles-based, gem of a stationery store. Owned and operated by the founders and amazingly talented designers at Iron Curtain Press, the shop’s mission is “to feature simple and beautiful desk and office supplies; from inexpensive to luxury, from the serious craftsperson to the youngest artist.” (Sidenote: here’s a fun story about them from their Seattle days, by our own Andie Powers in Uppercase Magazine!) Bonus: you’re in luck if you aren’t local–they have an online shop. Enjoy!

Go visit Shorthand:
Shorthand
5030 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90042
shopshorthand.com
Or, follow Shorthand on INSTAGRAM
-and-
Iron Curtain Press on INSTAGRAM

This family is one of the hippest on the block! Another Los Angeles-based treasure, The Reckless Unicorn is a magical place for the coolest kids and the coolest parents. Annie Segal and Derek Reckley opened the space because they “saw a big need for a one stop shop for all the families in and around the area. Together, they wanted to sprinkle a little unicorn love through out their community.” From clothes to toys to awesome books–this place is fabulously enchanting. We are IN!

Go visit The Reckless Unicorn:
The Reckless Unicorn
2124 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, California 90027
therecklessunicorn.com
Or, follow them on INSTAGRAM

Happen to be in or near Charlottesville, Virginia? Well you’re in luck. Stationer and gift shop, Rock Paper Scissors, should most definitely be on your star map. This community staple (pun intended) has been bringing the joy of fine paper and desk accessories since 2002. Plus, those window installations–to die for! Those are just folded envelopes! Stop by for the chicest in office accoutrement and more.

Go visit Rock Paper Scissors:
Rock Paper Scissors
321 east main street
charlottesville, virginia 22902
thinkrpscville.com
Or, follow them on INSTAGRAM

A boutique named after two dogs is obviously going to be amazing. Gus, the Brussels Griffon and Ruby the lab/hound mix are the namesakes for these two shops–Gus & Ruby Letterpress–located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine. The owners, Samantha and Whitney, met while working for a small advertising firm, and decided to follow their dreams right into a letterpress studio. We love these kinds of stories! Portsmouth is a diamond in its own right. You’ll find their New Hampshire shop nestled between designer clothing boutiques, cozy coffee shops, and inspired art galleries.

Go visit Gus & Ruby Letterpress:
Gus & Ruby Letterpress
29 Congress Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
-or-
28 Exchange Street
Portland, ME 04101
gusandruby.com
Or, follow them on INSTAGRAM

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Arlo’s Book Club: Reading Toward Mindfulness March 1, 2018

Arlo's Book Club: Anna Emilia Laitinen

Arlo has missed you! We’re back with a brand new edition of Arlo’s Book Club, and we can’t wait to connect with your tiny readers as they learn about and examine their surroundings through the written and visual word. In light of the recent political and social climate, we wanted to spread some love to the people around us. Times are tumultuous–peace and mindfulness has been at the forefront of our thoughts, and feeding those we love is important. Who are we and what is our purpose? How can we spread love to all that we come into contact with on a daily basis? Mindfulness starts with a seed. A favor. A compliment. A picture book. We picked several of our favorites to promote mindfulness in our tiny successors. Sponges. Bright lights. Enjoy:

Breathe and Be
by Kate Coombs, with pictures by Red Cap artist, Anna Emilia Laitinen
Sounds True, 2017

“I breathe slowly in,
I breathe slowly out. My breath
is a river of peace.
I am here in the world.
Each moment I can breathe and be.”

Nothing connects us more strongly than the bond we have with nature. Our earth is our home, and through it, we may see others’ experiences and joys. Breathe and Be is a collection of poems by Kate Coombs with illustration by our own Anna Emilia Laitinen, that lends an ear to the quiet nature that goes on around our bustling lives and conflicts. A beautiful reminder of where we fit on the planet.

Singing Away the Dark
by Caroline Woodward, with pictures by Julie Morstad
Simply Read Books, 2017

Not just a simple picture book about a frightened girl walking home from her school bus–Singing Away the Dark unwittingly captures an undercurrent in today’s society about fear, consequence, and light at the end of the tunnel. This is a gorgeous work of art that offers quiet solace to a long walk toward more joyful times.

They All Saw a Cat
by Brendan Wenzel
Chronicle Books, 2017

What do others see? What do they feel? Who would I be if I walked a mile in someone else’s shoes? They All Saw a Cat offers picturesque perspectives of what a wide variety of characters view when they see a cat. This is a beautiful book that offers the first existential explanation of “the other’s gaze.” Let us all seek to understand what others see and what they feel.

You Belong Here
by William M. H. Clark, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Compendium Inc., 2016

“And you belong where you love to be,
and after each day is through,
you will always belong right next to me
and I’ll belong to you.”

We have a soft spot in our heart for this one, as our own Red Cap artist, Jill Labieniec, served as art director along with Heidi Dyer. This beautiful narrative shows us the different home environments of mammals and birds and fish and humans. The different places that we “fit” on earth and amongst each other. A beautiful reminder that we are but a piece of a magnificent, ever-moving puzzle.

Horton Hears a Who
by Dr. Seuss
Random House., 1954

Quite possibly the poster boy for mindfulness, kindness, and respect, Horton Hears a Who follows an elephant who stumbles upon an entire town that lives on a simple speck of dust. The story follows the existential realizations of the elephant and of the town, as they learn about what makes a person a person, and what equality truly means. A brilliant, encompassing picture book for every reader, young and old.

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Artist Spotlight: Marsha Robinson February 8, 2018

“The black ink is the blood of my work. It gives my pieces life. They become so alive…you could almost hear a heart beat.” –Marsha Robinson

We are beyond thrilled to finally have Marsha Robinson‘s beautiful and intricate botanical abstracts as a part of our Red Cap collection. Marsha lives and works in Denver, Colorado, where she has created an art portfolio that spans beyond the page into tactile forms, such as wall hangings, textiles, apparel and glassware. Her work is reminiscent of an other-wordly, botanical art-deco era, and it makes us think that Frank Lloyd Wright would most definitely be taken with it.

We thought we would show off a bit more of her work, as well as some wonderful written profiles she has had recently, as a little twist on our usual Artist Spotlight interview. Check out the cover of this month’s Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine (below), plus a few quotes from fabulous sources that tell a bit more about Marsha’s art story. Enjoy! We love you, Marsha!

“When Strange Dirt’s Marsha Robinson discovered a box of gouache paints her mom had kept under a bed, the Denver artist had no idea it would be the key to her creative destiny. Robinson was interested in art throughout high school but knew art school was out of the question because it was too expensive. Instead, she opted to dive into administrative work but something kept telling her it wasn’t the road she was meant to take. ‘I was moving away from home with my first love and my mom gifted me the box of paints. I was surprised she had kept it but there was a reason for it and I’m so grateful she did. I had an itch to pick up the paintbrush and see where my hands wanted to take me. So I opened up that box and the rest is history,’ Robinson said. Using gouache, an opaque water color, would lead her up to using ink, her main medium today. Even after dabbling in art shows at local venues and selling pieces, Robinson felt her work still needed a stronger focus. Frustrated with working in the food industry, she took the leap and decided to pursue art full-time.” – 303 Magazine

“The finely inked botanical drawings and textiles of Denver artist Marsha Robinson, aka Strange Dirt, seem suspended in a time warp, inspired by science and symmetry and maybe a touch of William Morris, yet they belong to no real period of art history. Distinctly personal, Robinson’s works are clearly the product of a decorative inner vision, beautiful and elegantly contemporary.” – Susan Froyd, Westword

“The botanical world fascinated me–I think of it as the ultimate example of true, natural beauty.” -Marsha, via Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine

“When I moved to Denver I tried to live in collective houses and met a lot of people who were anarchists. I saw a lot of patches on hats, denim jackets and backpacks and they all meant something very important to the people carrying them, and they were so dirty and so loved. I wanted [these] patches to have a life and last longer than a year. I wanted my work on garments but I didn’t want to find a t-shirt I created in a thrift store because of fashion trends changing with seasons. I want for people to hold on to the patches as long as they could.” -Marsha Robinson, via 303 Magazine

“My mission as an artist is simple–to spread beauty.” -Marsha Robinson, via Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine

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Arlo’s Book Club: Holiday Cheer Edition December 7, 2017

Arlo's Book Club: Holiday Cheer

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to dust off the old bins of holiday decorations and cheer, toys, knick-knacks and ornaments you swore never to put out again, but your kids just love them, and so there they hang. And at the very bottom of the box are the holiday books, which get more and more special and exciting every year, when they are pulled out and loved once again. For this edition of Arlo’s Book Club, we have some new and old selections to add to the bottom of that box of treasures. Enjoy!

William’s Winter Nap
by Linda Ashman, with pictures by Chuck Groenink
Disney-Hyperion, 2017

The 12 Days of Christmas
by Greg Pizzoli
Disney-Hyperion, 2017
You can already sing along with this one, as Greg Pizzoli’s new picture book, The 12 Days of Christmas, illustrates the treasured holiday song in a new and hilarious way. Elephant loves receiving the gifts, until they start piling up and taking over the holiday! Brilliant, modern illustrations and fun imagery that you can laugh along to with the kids.

Pick a Pine Tree
by Patricia Toht, with illustrations by Jarvis
Candlewick, 2017

You may recognize this one from the recent giveaway we did with Book Bloom, and we’re happy to add it to Arlo’s Book Club! This book celebrates the joy of picking the perfect Christmas tree to take home and decorate, and the warmth that it creates as families gather and enjoy. Sparkling illustrations and rhyming text add to the fun of tradition, ritual and celebration.

When Santa Was a Baby
by Linda Bailey, with illustrations by Genevieve Godbout
Tundra Books, 2015

This one reminds us a bit of a tall tale (think Paul Bunyan or John Henry). Baby Santa has a loud, booming voice, stands in front of the refrigerator to cool off, and is already giving his gifts away to all of the boys and girls in the neighborhood. His loving parents don’t know what to think but are proud all the same. The retro illustration and color scheme allow this one to fit right into your vintage collection.

The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker
Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2017

The classic Nutcracker tale is told musically, in this interactive book with illustration by Jessica Courtney-Tickle. The magical twist: press a button and hear Tchaikovsky’s original suites that go along with the story. Read along with the story and listen to the songs that accompany the Nutcracker battle, the Sugar Plum Fairies andthe Land of Sweets!

White Snow, Bright Snow
by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

“The policeman said it felt like snow, and his wife said her big toe hurt, and that always means snow.” Sweet, matter-of-fact prose coupled with Roger Duvoisin’s bold illustrations are cozy and bright in this Caldecott Medal award-winning picture book. Read along as a quiet town goes about their business in quiet awe of the falling snow. Duvoisin’s winterscapes in in soft blue with bright splashes of yellow and red give the story a magical touch.

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