Anna Raff

wrapping up 2011...rapping about 2012

2012-01-13T16:42:00.001-05:00

I must admit, in many ways, 2011 was quite kind to me. In case you missed my earlier blatherings, here are a couple of highlights:

A few birds from Ornithoblogical found their way into some exhibitions and illustration annuals, and I began work illustrating two children’s books.

The first book (mentioned here previously) is a collection of poems by J. Patrick Lewis, the current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate. Published by Candlewick, World Rat Day is due out in Spring 2013. The second book, Sylvia’s Spinach, with children’s publishing startup Readers to Eaters, will be available this Fall.

As usual, throughout 2012, you’ll see more birds—hopefully several each month—and updates on my other illustration projects.

And I wanted to followup on my last post about the piece I made for the annual “Postcards from the Edge” exhibition and benefit. Great news—Visual AIDS raised a record $82,200 this year! And since the blind auction and sale are over, secrecy is no longer necessary. Here is my piece below—although, where his current home is now, I do not know yet. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

a very worthy cause

2011-12-08T21:47:00.001-05:00

I finished a painting today that I’m really happy with...and guess what? It could be yours.

For the third year in a row, I am participating in “Postcards from the Edge,” a show and sale of original postcard-sized art to benefit Visual AIDS. Emerging and established artists contribute works on paper, all priced at $85, that are hung in an egalitarian exhibition at a Chelsea gallery. Each work is signed on the back. Meaning: buyers—if they know what they’re looking for—could walk away with an original piece by the likes of William Wegman, Kara Walker, Yoko Ono, or [*a-hem*] Anna Raff. (No spoilers here, sorry; you’ll have to guess about my imagery. Hint: it’s not a bird.)

The Preview Party is Friday, January 6, 2012. For more information, visit the “Postcards from the Edge” website.

a more mobile-friendly ornithoblogical

2011-11-27T15:53:00.001-05:00

Ornithoblogical is now even easier to follow while you are on the go. With a new mobile-friendly interface, you can quickly scroll through the latest birds on your phone, as well as read or add to the comments section.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the latest installment of Thanksgiving-inspired birds. Looking over the comments, I see no one has yet cried fowl. ;v)

cold and flu season - group health cooperative

2011-11-14T20:50:00.000-05:00

If you live on the East Coast, you no doubt heard, or perhaps directly experienced that crazy nor’easter over the last weekend of October. Earlier that week, I completed an illustration assignment that really put me in the mood—albeit not too literally.

I was asked by the Group Heath Cooperative in Seattle to create an image for their cold and flu season outreach, encouraging members to get their flu shots. Below are a few of the sketches. The final solution (above) is more straight-forward, but the message is less dire than say, skiing off a stuffy nose mountain, or fending off a storm of birds and swine. Although, I think you’ll appreciate the humor of those sketches (below). Here’s to staying healthy this winter!

your holiday prep...rescued!

2011-11-14T10:40:00.000-05:00

If you’re like me, you sometimes get so caught up in holiday hype, you forget how to do even the simplest of things. Thankfully, the folks at Kiwi Magazine and I are here to help.

Yes, now you’ll never have to stress about remembering how to shape a cookie. Available on newstands—if not now, soon—here it is in print, complete with step-by-step illustrations. So even if you forget how to read, your holidays table won’t be ruined by square cookies. And anyway, if I were you, I’d be more worried about that bossy walnut with the ruler.

big night

2011-11-11T12:07:00.001-05:00

Last night I had the privilege of attending two great Illustration Week events in NYC. Chair of the Masters in Illustration Department at the School of Visual Arts, artist, mentor, saxophone player, and my occasional boss, Marshall Arisman was one of the honorees at the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame Gala. Just being in the same room with luminaries of the design and illustration worlds, such as Viktor Koen, Steven Heller, Louise Fili, Massimo Vignelli and Paul Davis, to name a few, was a thrill.

Next, doing my best impression of a jet-setting New Yorker, I jumped into a cab to head over to “The Party,” which marks the publication of American Illustration 30, and to hobnob with my fellow illustrators and celebrate our inclusion in this years annual. Needless to say, I’m a little weary today.

of potstickers and sleep apnea

2011-11-04T18:58:00.001-04:00

A changing of the guard always brings with it the potential for growing pains, but I’m pleased to report my delight with the tear sheets that arrived in my mailbox today. The current issue of Kiwi Magazine on newsstands marks my first collaboration with their new creative director, Ridge Carpenter.

As usual, my illustrations are featured in two sections: accompanying the essay on the last page, and in a series of spots for their “Cooking with Kids” section (above). The latter is now much more cleanly designed and, lucky me, my images are larger.

So for the latest techniques on how to fold a potsticker, and to learn how a dad copes with the dangerous mix of parenting and sleep apnea...Well...you know the drill.

national day on writing - nytimes.com

2011-10-21T00:38:00.000-04:00

Thursday, October 20th was the official National Day on Writing, and the Twittersphere was abuzz with writers, educators, journalists, students, and poets (to name just a few) answering the question #whyiwrite. Above is my illustrated contribution, as featured on Ornithoblogical and The New York Times Learning Network blog. You can learn more about the day, and read some fantastic quotes here.

of rats, sloths and other notable creatures...

2011-10-07T23:18:00.001-04:00

In case you’ve been wondering why you’ve been seeing fewer birds and other such imagery up in my slice of the blogosphere of late, it’s because I’ve been hard at work on an exciting new project.

A few months ago, I was approached
by Candlewick Press to illustrate a collection of animal poems by the hilarious and prolific J. Patrick Lewis, the current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate. As you might imagine, I jumped at the chance. The book, due to be released in Spring 2013, allows me to immerse myself into the minds of rats, bulldogs, sloths, and mata-mata turtles, to name just a few. While I can’t share much about the illustrations until publication, I will occasionally throw a little detail at you here and there...like here, in the sketch at left.

Meanwhile, I’ve also been working on two pieces for the November issue of the South African magazine Migrate. Since we’re almost halfway through October, I’ll be able to share those in just a few weeks. In the meantime, here’s a detail from one, titled Above. Happy Autumn!

etsy updated, and a little etc.

2011-09-07T10:06:00.000-04:00

Summer’s end finds me busy with several small, ongoing projects and one really big one. But more on that in a later post. In the meantime...

It’s been a while, but I finally updated my Etsy shop. There you’ll find a selection of digital prints from Ornithoblogical, as well as some etchings and other goodies. This batch features “cock a doodle do” and “cock a doodle drew” (seen above), as well as some perennial favorites.

I take requests, so if there’s a piece that is not available in the shop, just let me know, I’m happy to put it up there.

kiwi magazine - august issue

2011-08-25T21:41:00.000-04:00

We’re all told not to play with our food when we’re little. But when it comes to the Cooking Class section of Kiwi Magazine, I can’t seem to restrain myself. This month is no exception, so in the off chance you need to teach a little one how to properly empty a muffin pan, you know where to go...

And as usual, you can also find one of my illustrations on the last page of the magazine, accompanying this month's essay on homeschooling.

3x3 children’s show winner

2011-08-18T19:20:00.000-04:00

It seems the fine folks at 3x3 Magazine didn’t think one of my birds was decorated enough. So...pin another award to the little guy’s chest! In addition to American Illustration 30 and Print Magazine Hand Drawn, “In General” has received a Merit Award in the 3x3 Children’s Show and will be included in their Illustration Annual No.8, due out in December. Bravo to one of my favorite illustrators, Gary Taxali, for winning Best in Show, and to all the other winners!

blue canvas magazine

2011-08-03T15:38:00.000-04:00

The current issue of Blue Canvas Magazine includes an article on the MFA in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts, and I’m tickled to be amongst the distinguished alumni (John Hendricks, Nathan Fox, Brian Floca, Yuko Shimizu, Sam Weber, Daniel Lim, Martin Wittfooth...the list goes on) whose work is featured.

make something 365 interview

2011-07-26T19:34:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was interviewed by artist/designer/entrepreneur and all around great guy, Noah Scalin, for his 365 blog as a follow up to my ongoing Ornithoblogical project.

He is also the author of 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life! and creator of his own award-wining, year-long blog Skull-A-Day.

As you know, I’m still creating birds, so it was rewarding to take stock with Noah, and muse a bit about where it all started and where it has taken me so far. You can read the interview here.

a collaboration with mom

2011-06-18T09:50:00.000-04:00

Last year, when my friends announced they were expecting a baby, I never expected my mom to suggest learning how to make a quilt as a gift. “You design it, and I’ll make it,” she said enthusiastically. And so we did, but most of the credit goes to Mom, who did all of the heavy lifting.

The centerpiece of the quilt is my portrait of Sadie, our friends’ beloved 16-year-old pointer, familiar to some from invitations and Christmas ornaments over the years. The cityscape and row of evergreen trees represent the move they made a few years ago from New York City to Portland, Maine.

Earlier this week, I was privileged to present the finished product to Meghan and Jim, and their gorgeous, little girl on behalf of my mom. It seems like Claire approves. Thanks Mom!

the new york times: magnetic poetry

2011-05-27T10:09:00.001-04:00

T. S. Eliot had it wrong. April was not the cruelest month—at least not for me—unless you count the weather in NYC. In addition to getting into some illustration competitions and being selected “Pick of the Week” by Illustration Friday, April was National Poetry Month and brought with it a new collaboration with The Learning Network blog at The New York Times. For the second year running, editors Katherine Schulten and Holly Epstein Ojalvo held their Found Poem Challenge. And what you see above is my illustration for the announcement of the winners this week. A reinterpretation of the old novelty gift magnetic poetry, the hand-lettered words represent the wide range of subjects submitted by student poets. Many thanks to Katherine and Holly, and congratulations to the 10 poets whose work will be featured on the blog.

gallery nucleus - illustrated type

2011-05-04T18:02:00.000-04:00

If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area between May 14th and June 6th, make your way over to Gallery Nucleus for their “Illustrated Type” exhibition. I was invited to contribute a letterform of my choice, and decided to make a new piece featuring my “M is for Monster” character—originally created for LetterPlayground—who at post time, was crawling his way across the continent. Among the other luminaries showing their wares will be John Hendricks, Jessica Hische, Josh Cochran, and my SVA buddy You Byun.

evil dewars on the rocks (reprise)

2011-05-02T14:57:00.000-04:00

This morning, my mom reminded me of this piece that I made a few years ago, and—in light of today’s news—I thought I’d repost it here. The subjects are meant to be generic, but the message is the same.

illustration friday pick of the week

2011-04-22T11:29:00.000-04:00

From time to time, I post images to IllustrationFriday, a website dedicated to the illustration community, where a weekly subject is posted to spur artists on to create images. This week, I’m very pleased to have one of my birds selected as the “Pick of the Week.”

And—if you’d like to take her home with you—she’s available as a signed print on my etsy shop.

american illustration 30

2011-04-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

Excellent news received today: two images from Ornithoblogical have been selected to appear in the American Illustration 30 Annual. There were more than 7,000 pictures entered this year, but only 316 actually make it into the book. For more information about AI-AP, click here. That makes three birds (if you include me) who will be attending the AI-AP party later this fall. Woop!

the bathers

2011-04-15T18:21:00.000-04:00

What exactly is going on here? You’ll have to pick up the April/May issue of Kiwi Magazine and find out...

(Apologies aux Messieurs Cézanne, Renoir et Seurat.)

MoCCA tees tease...

2011-04-08T16:28:00.000-04:00

Here’s a sampling of my hand-painted t-shirts on sale at MoCCA this weekend (details below). Come see me at Table #i-13.

MoCCA Fest 2011

(benefiting the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art)

Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th

11 AM – 6 PM

@ the Lexington Avenue Armory

between 25th & 26th Streets

New York City

MoCCA Festival 2011 - April 9th & 10th

2011-04-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

Come on down to MoCCA Fest 2011 this weekend! (Table #i-13)

I’ll be launching three limited-edition, hand-bound books featuring art from Ornithoblogical: Bird Food, Jail Birds, and Bird House. Each includes nine full-color illustrations, and an original stab-stitch binding I’m fondly calling “bird feet.”

Also on offer will be flocks of signed bird prints, in addition to perennial book favorites such as The R. U. Fauna Department Store Catalog, and Ornithoblogical: Volume 1. And never fear—if you had your eye on a set of Gazers at last year’s festival, I have a few pairs left. Who knows? If all goes well, you might even get your hands on a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted tee.

As in past years, I’ll be sharing a table with the fabulous Sophia Weideman, who will be launching her latest comic, the next installment of The Lettuce Girl.

MoCCA Fest 2011

(benefiting the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art)

Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th

11 AM – 6 PM

@ the Lexington Avenue Armory

between 25th & 26th Streets

New York City

on the walls of lake isle press

2011-03-14T23:46:00.000-04:00

The lovely people at Lake Isle Press have excellent taste in wall paint—don’t you think? And they serve delicious cookies at meetings.

Ornitho-Blog-of-Note-ical

2011-03-04T09:20:00.001-05:00

One day last week in the Twitter-sphere, Blogger, the blog-publishing service that is brings you this post and all of my birds, chose Ornithoblogical as a “Blog of Note.” What exactly does that mean, you ask? Well, in less than a week, subscribers, followers, and (let’s not forget) kind commentary on the site has tripled. And guess what that means for me? Yep...I have to make more birds! So back to the drawing board I go for some analog tweeting. And thank you!

cabin fever and other adventures in illustration

2011-02-17T00:59:00.000-05:00

When I was asked to illustrate a 4-page special section for the March issue of Kiwi Magazine called “Beat Cabin Fever,” little did I suspect I would come down with a serious case myself!

This plum assignment—in addition to the regular cooking class spots and end-of-the-book essay pieces (see Measuring Up, above) that I’ve been illustrating for over a year—kept me furiously busy at my drawing board for a few weeks.

The feature includes games, puzzles, a recipe, and a pull-out fortune teller (above) to help kids decide what to do when the weather (or illustration assignments) forces them indoors.

Unfortunately, one of my favorite spots wound up on the cutting room floor, but I’m showing it here in all its glory. It was to go with a piece on recycling household materials into cool craft projects.

And finally, that athletic troupe of dried beans you see is part of this month’s cooking class: How to Measure Ingredients. It’s always a challenge to find an adventurous twist in what can be a pretty mundane subject. Speaking of which, this month we’re washing spinach!

nytimes.com—the learning network

2011-01-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday’s posting on The New York Times’ The Learning Network blog featured “100 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Day of School” with oodles of creative ideas for teachers, students and schools to mark the occasion.

Unbeknownst to me—while I was marking the occasion with a 100+ fever—Ornithoblogical got a great mention in #9. Now that sure made me feel better!

While the power of social networking sites like Twitter can more dramatically (and importantly) be measured by the events currently taking place in the Middle East, I have to acknowledge my own little learning network experience here. Through Noah Scalin’s 365 blog nod to my birds on Twitter, Katherine Schulten, one of the authors of The Learning Network, and I were virtually introduced. It just goes to show that “tweeting” is not just for the birds...or is it? Thanks Noah and Katherine!

print magazine hand drawn competition

2011-01-22T11:45:00.001-05:00

Print Magazine, the venerable, bimonthly showcase of visual culture and design announced the winners of their first ever Hand Drawn Competition this week. I’m so pleased that “In General”—which ran on Ornithoblogical on day 177—has been selected as an Inaugural Illustration Competition Winner and will be featured on their website in May. A-Ten-Hut!

postcards from the edge

2011-01-04T22:49:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to be among the artists who have anonymously donated work to the 13th Annual Postcards from the Edge benefit for Visual AIDS, on view this weekend and hosted by the CRG Gallery. Beginning Friday with the Preview Party, buyers can view the over 1400 postcards on display. It’s an excellent chance to get your hands on original works of art by established and emerging artists. See if you can pick mine out of the crowd. You might even see me nearby, plotting a purchase of my own. Click here for more details.

the last day of ornithoblogical (almost)!

2010-12-31T09:20:00.001-05:00

A little over a year ago, I created a project for myself that I wasn’t certain I could finish. 366 birds later, today’s image marks the last posting of Ornithoblogical on a daily basis. At noon, resolution (seen here at left) will go live along with a heartfelt missive to fans.
It has been a great journey, and a lot of fun for me. Until further tweetings, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

365 write up

2010-12-21T09:21:00.001-05:00

The birds of Ornithoblogical got a nice mention yesterday in the blogosphere. Artist Noah Scalin, creator of his own 365 project Skull-A-Day, and author of “365: A Daily Creative Journal” posted a nice selection of my bird images. You can see his blog, and explore other projects by people as crazy as me here.

not quite 12 days of christmas

2010-12-16T01:06:00.000-05:00

Followers of Ornithoblogical may have noticed a theme developing in these last few weeks of December. I never realized how much great bird fodder could be found in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” However, since the official 12 days start on Christmas Day, and the daily aspect of Ornithoblogical ends on December 31st, I decided to include just a select few, scattered throughout the month. Pictured above is a subscriber favorite from last week, “Eleven Pipers Piping.” Happy Holidays!

a little process blogging...

2010-12-05T00:54:00.001-05:00

With the latest Kiwi Magazine hitting newsstands this week, it seemed an ample time to describe a bit of my my illustration process for this issue’s essay piece:

In “My Special Boy,” a mother navigates a labyrinth of special needs education schools to help ease her socially-challenged son through nursery school. I was excited about the opportunity to illustrate this subject because it allowed me to explore a more serious tone in my drawing.

Primarily, the mother’s frustration lay in a system with limited resources that assumed the worst in her son. I submitted three sketches (two of which you see here). In the sketch on the right, the super-imposed words—those used to describe the boy—would loom ominously over an otherwise innocent looking child. Yet it seemed to me, the way to express the emotion of the piece was through gesture rather than expression. Luckily, the art director agreed, and we went with the idea on the left. Here is the finished piece—not far from the original sketch:

now available in ye olde etsy shoppe...

2010-11-29T00:09:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Cyber Monday, I’ve added more prints to my Etsy shop. Newly available are Ornithoblogical favorites Flight, Jays Jaunt, Pluck, Birdcode, and Lift Off (right), along with my bestseller Mixer. These signed, high-quality, digital prints are ready for framing, and make great gifts. Click here for more.

a thanksgiving feast

2010-11-26T23:17:00.000-05:00

There has been a virtual feast of Thanksgiving bird imagery over at Ornithoblogical this week, a few of which are pictured below. The convenience of a national holiday centered around a bird is certainly not lost on me. And I certainly will be giving thanks for all of the ornithological imagery opportunities that come with Christmas. Stay tuned as I wrap up my year-long marathon!

some “designy” stuff (on wheels)

2010-11-20T14:20:00.002-05:00

The resumés of Vibrant Design principals Christopher Landy and Ellen Waggett—full of lighting and art direction assignments for TV shows and concerts—will make your head spin. These days, Ellen is the Production Designer for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” while Chris recently finished work on several episodes of “The Marriage Ref.” So it was a great pleasure to design the identity for Vibrant a few years back.

This year they’ve created GreenGripGear.org, a leasing service for environmentally-friendly lighting equipment. Best of all, they acquired some wheels to make it mobile. Here is their “trucklette” in its nature environment of Dumbo, Brooklyn, sporting yet another one of my logos.

annaraff.com—updated

2010-11-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

As of this week, and after a few months of neglect, there are now several new (and new-ish) images up on my website. Incidentally, Mayor Bloomberg has officially proclaimed this “Illustration Week.” Thanks Mike!

Look for lots of work from the past few issues of Kiwi, along with some political concept pieces, and of course, birds like this guy at right, named “pluck” (a new favorite). Click on the children’s and editorial sections.

political punting...

2010-11-01T11:20:00.001-04:00

Don’t jump into an empty cup! Vote on Nov. 2!

not just for the birds...

2010-10-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

By the look of this blog over the last month or so, you’d think all I’ve been up to was corralling a loony menagerie of birds. Today, I’m happy to share several recent projects that involved nary a winged creature.

My work for Kiwi Magazine continues. Pictured above is the essay piece for their October-November issue about an unreligious family who find value in saying grace, and below, two spots from their Cooking Class section which I turned into a cookie crust construction site. (Yes, the workers are building a pie crust out the pieces of their brethren.)

This month I designed my first app—a game developed by Little, Brown and Company to promote a young adult novel they will be publishing this winter. More details to come once the app is released.

I was also hired by my pals at Vibrant Design to create a logo for their new offshoot company, GreenGripGear.com, promoting more environmentally-friendly, theatrical lighting equipment. I’m hoping to score some pretty photos of their shiny, black “trucklette” sporting both the GreenGripGear and Vibrant logos soon. As far as I recall, my work has never before appeared on a moving vehicle.

And last but not least, my newest client is Lake Isle Press, “Publishers of Books for Cooks.” They will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary at the Rubin Museum of Art here in New York City in November, so I was thrilled to be asked to illustrate and design their invitation to the big event, a detail of which is seen above.

That’s all for now. Happy Halloween!

ornithoblogical day 300: bird call for entries WINNERS!

2010-10-26T12:01:00.046-04:00

Day 300 of Ornithoblogical is upon us! At noon EST today, the winners of the Bird Call for Entries were announced. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated.

Entries were received from four continents, and as you can see below, that global scope is reflected in the winners. It has been very inspiring to me, especially as I enter the latter part of this year-long, bird illustration marathon.

I’d especially like to thank my distinguished jury—Matteo Bologna, Alex Mathers, Martha Rago, Stephen Savage, and Larry Smith—without whom the Bird Call for Entries would have been as flightless as an emu.

Enjoy the rest of the year!

1ST PRIZE Winner of a portfolio of ten signed, digital prints of her choice from Ornithoblogical.

“Re-tail Featherpy”—Elaine Hurford, Prince Albert, South Africa

5 RUNNERS UP Winners of an official Ornithoblogical button.

“Sacs in the City”—Anne Louise Tate, Cleethorpes, England

“Tweet Street”—Richard Harrison, Montmirail, France

“Birds of a Ferragamo”—Monica Mayper, New York City, USA

“Carrier Pigeons”—Mark Rosenblum, Temple City, CA, USA

“Chickin’ Out the Competition”—Anne Louise Tate, Cleethorpes, England

the bird call for entries! (part 2)

2010-10-15T17:48:00.000-04:00

With a flock of over seventy entries from four continents, the Bird Call for Entries is now in the hands of our distinguished jury. At noon EST on day 300, October 26th, 2010 the winners will be posted on Ornithoblogical.

Thank you to all who participated—it has been great fun for me to see what the subscribers and followers of the blog have come up with, and especially inspiring as we enter the latter part of the year, and the end of my birdie marathon. Good luck!

the bird call for entries!

2010-09-10T12:25:00.003-04:00

In celebration of fast-approaching day 300 of my year-long daily bird illustration marathon, I’m holding a competition for the best title to accompany the image posted above.

HOW TO ENTER:
Go to the contest page here to read about rules and what you can win.

JURORS:
MATTEO BOLOGNA is the founder and principal of Mucca Design, a multidisciplinary branding and design firm based in New York City. He is a board member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and is the treasurer of the Type Salons for the Type Directors Club.

ALEX MATHERS is an illustrator and designer based in London, and regular contributor to Design Taxi, the 99%, and Mashable. He is also the creator of the contemporary illustration blog Ape on the Moon and the Red Lemon Club, a blog about online promotional methods for creatives.

MARTHA RAGO is Associate Creative Director of HarperCollins Children’s Books where she oversees the development and design of picture books, including those in the Rayo and Katherine Tegen imprints, the estate programs of C. S. Lewis and Shel Silverstein, and the Balzer & Bray imprint. Prior to her position at HarperCollins, which Martha has held for seven years, she was the Creative Director at Henry Holt.

STEPHEN SAVAGE is the award-winning illustrator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Polar Bear Night and The Fathers Are Coming Home. His editorial work regularly appears in The New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, and The New Republic among others. In 2008, he was the recipient of a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators.

LARRY SMITH is founder and editor of the personal storytelling community SMITH Magazine (smithmag.net), creators of the Six-Word Memoir project and bestselling book series. He is a contributing editor of ESPN the Magazine, former executive editor of Yahoo Internet Life,and has written for numerous publications including Men's Journal, The New York Times, Popular Science, and Salon.

ornithoblogical news

2010-09-01T11:51:00.000-04:00

The birds of Ornithoblogical are pleased to announce the publication of Ornithoblogical: Selections from the Showcase of 365 Birdies on My Brain. Featured in this 7" square paperback are 22 illustrations from the first part of this year (hence “volume one”) including such favorites as “Swami,” “Scribe,” and on the cover, “Dot the Chicken.” Take a look at a preview of the book by clicking here.

Also this week, birds-watchers have been flocking to the new Ornithoblogical Facebook page to share the love. If you are on Facebook, and would like to get highlights from the blog in your news feed, click here. Select the “Like” button next to the heading.

You can also subscribe to receive a bird each day by clicking the orange RSS feed button located on the upper left-hand corner of my bird blog home page.

I’ll be hatching more bird-related events in the coming weeks, including the “Bird Call for Entries,” a contest to celebrate the fast-approaching day 300 of this year-long project. And there will be prizes! Details coming soon...

annaraff.com version 3.0 is live!

2010-08-22T18:07:00.000-04:00

After a few fits and starts, I’ve finally completed the relaunch of my new html-based website. Earlier this year, I decided the time had come to let go of my old, animated flash site, to speed up the experience and make it readable for people with mobile devices.

The new site showcases my portfolio with cleaner navigation, and the help of thumbnails and slideshows.

Also featured, is a new books section (see below) which allows viewers to page through portions of my books and links to places where they can purchased.

If you miss the little animations, never fear. No doubt, I will be making more of those in the future. In case you’ve never seen one, here’s a little something I made for National Pencil Day back in March.

kiwi magazine - august/september 2010

2010-08-10T18:37:00.000-04:00

The people at Kiwi, the magazine of organic parenting, have been keeping me busy with another back page essay piece (above), and five spots for their cooking section (below) in the latest issue. Their recipe for “chicken fingers minus the chicken” looks delicious. I had a great time working on these—it’s not often one gets to draw a block of tofu shimmying in a bowl of eggs, or wearing a winter coat.

illustrationmundo editor's favorite

2010-07-28T00:12:00.000-04:00

For a little over a year, I have posted to illustrationmundo, a great online resource for illustrators and art directors for all things illustration. The other day, I was selected as an “Editor’s Favorite” by the site’s creator, illustrator Nate Williams. Needless to say, as a huge fan of Nate’s, I’m very pleased. You can share the love by going to the IM home page here, scrolling down the right hand column until you see my “Henna” image under my name and clicking on the heart. There is an incredible wealth of talent to peruse on illustrationmundo, so be sure to take a look around the site. Thanks Nate!

sva illustration as visual essay: “we tell stories”

2010-07-21T18:23:00.000-04:00

Fresh off the dvd press is the new MFA Illustration as Visual Essay promotional video from the School of Visual Arts. Directed by Department Chair Marshall Arisman, “We Tell Stories” features several of the program’s past alumni. I am very proud to be among this illustrious (ha!) group which includes Nathan Fox, Yuko Shimizu, and Sam Weber.

I was also asked to design the new packaging, showcasing a gorgeous cover image by Steven Tabbutt, class of 2006.

connecticut college magazine

2010-07-01T20:16:00.002-04:00

Back in March, fellow Connecticut College alumna Arielle Shipper interviewed me for a profile in the current issue of CC Magazine. We met in the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel over tea (my suggestion, of course—very old school), while I reminisced about my experience at Conn and beyond.

I’m not sure why there is no complete version of the magazine available online, but a few of the highlights are quotes from Marshall Arisman, chair of the MFA Illustration Department at the School of Visual Arts (my other alma mater), and one of my clients.

“Among her assets,” Arisman says, “Anna is a born leader...My admiration for her is that she did this at a time when many people would worry about...where this would go. It's a success story.”

I'm still blushing...

daniel cooney fine art | emerging artists auction: june 18th—july 8th

2010-06-16T19:09:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Chelsea gallery owner Daniel Cooney, of Daniel Cooney Fine Art, to submit something for his “Emerging Artists Auction.” He chose “Moon Ice,” a piece I made last fall, shortly after NASA found evidence of ice deep in the craters of the moon.

Curated by Cooney, this online auction at iGavel, begins on Friday, June 18th and ends on Thursday, July 8th. All lots start at $200.

My one of a kind digital print of “Moon Ice” is signed, dated, and completely archival, thanks to my fellow freelancer-at-arms, the amazingly talented photographer and designer Symon Chow.

I celebrated my delivery of the piece this afternoon with a stop at nearby Billy’s Bakery to partake in one of their stellar red velvet cupcakes. Now that’s something that sends me to the moon!

kiwi magazine - june/july 2010

2010-06-15T23:22:00.003-04:00

Ever wondered how to corral a lime into submission? Hmmm....or maybe to instruct your child in the proper way to zest said lime? Well, look no further than the current issue of Kiwi Magazine (June/July 2010). Once again I’ve illustrated a series of spots for their “Cooking Class” section, in addition to the image for their back page essay (detail seen below).

And this week, I’m working on pieces for August/September, so it’s feeling a bit like fall here at annaraff.com these days. Published by the May Media Group, Kiwi can be found at Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.

ripple blog

2010-06-13T16:08:00.000-04:00

Occasionally, I participate in IllustrationFriday, a website where illustrators share images on a given topic. This week is very special—we are doing our part to raise money to benefit wildlife effected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Ripple Blog was created by illustrator Kelly Light, as a place where artists can post images on the subject for sale as 2.5" x 3.5" “sketchcards.” Here’s what she says...

“[The sketchcards] will be made available for a small donation of $10.00 to either The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies or The International Bird Rescue Research Center. I have no affiliation with them. Every penny will go. When the cards sell, We ask for a donation confirmation and [artists] will be asked to sign the back with a thank you...If we all do small acts together—we can cause a ripple—and it can grow. We can DO SOMETHING. Thank you, thank you for checking this out and thinking about it.”

I’m contributing one of my illustrations from “Ornithoblogical,” (titled, “Tastes Like Chicken”) that I posted the day before learning about Ripple.

think faest!

2010-06-08T00:12:00.007-04:00

There’s more crowing going on amongst the birds at Ornithoblogical with their mention on the uber-hip Faesthetic blog yesterday. The nod comes from Dustin Hostetler curator/editor/ publisher of Faesthetic, “one of the best Art zines in the universe.” Just sayin’...

my etsy shop is open for business

2010-06-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

I’ve finally set up an Etsy Shop, where my etchings, aquatints, digital prints, and other handmade items are available for purchase. And I’m adding more stuff each day. If there is a particular image you don’t see there—say your favorite bird from Ornithoblogical—just send me an email, and I’ll be sure to post it for you.

annaraff.com version 3.0—under construction!

2010-05-29T13:46:00.010-04:00

After months of planning, annaraff.com is officially under reconstruction! During this time of transition, you can see virtually all of my work by going to annaraff.com, and clicking on the links to various portfolio sites and blogs. For those of you who just can do without your dose of the sandwich—and have flash player capabilities—click on the lunch lying on the lower right of the home page. Or click HERE.

subtraction.com by khoi vinh

2010-05-23T23:13:00.004-04:00

The birds at Ornithoblogical are all a-flutter with their write up on Subtraction.com yesterday, May 22nd. Subtraction is the blog of nytimes.com Design Director Khoi Vinh. Here’s a direct quote from the three-star rating:

“Every day this year, illustrator Anna Raff is posting a completely charming illustration of a bird to this blog. It’s 22 May already, so there a 144 drawings for you to peruse right now.”

Tweet!

featured on pikaland

2010-05-13T09:22:00.004-04:00

Here’s a big shout out to one of my favorite blogs, Pikaland for featuring me and my bird blog, Ornithoblogical in a posting today!

In the words of editor/curator Amy Ng, “Pikaland is a blog about living the illustrated life.” If you’ve never visited it before, check it out. I’m thrilled to be in such great company!

picture-book.com portfolio

2010-05-11T21:15:00.001-04:00

As part of my Portfolio Honor Award at SCBWI earlier this year, I won an online portfolio at picture-book.com, a source for publishers, authors, and art directors seeking children’s book illustrators.

Images are big and splashy, which is always good, and they have big online presence in the world of children’s publishing. Here’s a little preview of what you’ll see on my page. Click here and enjoy!

kiwi magazine - april/may 2010

2010-04-12T21:39:00.001-04:00

Next time you’re in Whole Foods or Barnes & Noble, check out the current issue of Kiwi Magazine. In addition to the illustration for the back page essay, I did another series of spots for their “cooking class” section. This month, they’re teaching kids how to roll out pizza dough.

And just a few moments ago, I finished the cooking spots for their next issue—but more on that in a later posting.

mocca art festival 2010 - one more thing...

2010-04-08T16:30:00.003-04:00

Need a dose of reanimation? Searching for new ways to enliven your daily routine? This could be the answer to all your anthropomorphizing needs! With a pair of handmade “Gazers” you can bring all the inanimate objects in your home to life! Available at the MoCCA Art Festival (table #G13).

MoCCA Arts Festival

Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th, 11 AM—6 PM

69th Regiment Armory at Lexington and 26th St.

ornithoblogical: day 100 and counting

2010-04-08T15:54:00.000-04:00

Speaking of Ornithoblogical, today marks the 100th day of my year-long, daily bird blog! You can see today’s posting, and catch up on any you’ve missed thus far by clicking here.

mocca art festival 2010 - table G13

2010-04-08T09:29:00.005-04:00

Come on down to the MoCCA Art Festival this weekend!

Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th, 11 AM—6 PM

69th Regiment Armory at Lexington and 26th St.

Table #G13

Every year comics lovers and creators converge at MoCCA to show their latest work. Once again this year, I’ll be sharing a table with the fabulous Sophia Wiedeman (featuring her latest comic, The Lettuce Girl—her best one yet, I think) and the extraordinary Dunja Jankovic.

As for me, I’ve got a few new offerings. Hot off the presses (see above) is a book of selections from my daily bird image blog “Ornithoblogical” along with old favorites like The R. U. Fauna Department Store Catalog, Alphabetic Ballyhoos, and lots of handmade stationery, and more! And come pick up your official Ornithoblogical button. I hope to see you there!

handmade folios

2010-03-31T15:23:00.005-04:00

A few months ago, one of my former teachers at SVA asked me if I knew anyone who could make some custom-sized folios for a series of prints. Before I knew it, I heard myself say, “Sure, I can do that.” I wasn’t certain what I was getting myself into, other than a guaranteed few days of work away from my computer. The end products turned out well enough that I’m posting photos here. There really is no substitute for good old fashioned handmade stuff.

happy national pencil day!

2010-03-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

Certain humble holidays demand a little extra attention. Click here and be sure your volume is up. Enjoy!

illustration friday: expired

2010-03-20T21:32:00.003-04:00

illustration friday: subterranean

2010-03-12T19:00:00.002-05:00

This week’s subject for Illustration Friday is “subterranean” which made me wonder: if there weren’t so many rats beneath NYC, would galactic worms stand more of a chance? Hmmmm...it has been a long week.

100 top new creatives: cmyk magazine no. 46

2010-03-11T23:49:00.008-05:00

Several months ago, I entered a few illustrations into CMYK Magazine’s “Top 100 New Creatives” competition. I was thrilled to learn that three of my editorial pieces were chosen (above right), and will be featured in issue no. 46, due to hit newsstands (Barnes & Noble, and other stores) on March 15th!

LCS-the illustration news portal

2010-03-05T11:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I was featured on the Little Chimp Society website and newsletter!

illustration friday: perspective

2010-02-28T20:49:00.004-05:00

This week’s Illustration Friday word is “perspective.” You guessed it—I am killing two birds with one image. For more birdie imagery, check out ornithoblogical.

artafacta: quierómetro

2010-02-20T17:24:00.001-05:00

This month’s word from Artafacta was “quierómetro.” One never really knows the true meaning, but that is half the fun. Do you think my wintertime cabin fever is showing a bit? If you’d like to see what the other artists came up with, click here.

illustration friday: adrift

2010-02-15T17:36:00.005-05:00

valentine rebus (this year, it moves!)

2010-02-14T10:00:00.004-05:00

annaraff.com/valentine

turn up the volume!

scbwi featured illustrator

2010-02-12T09:00:00.004-05:00

This month I am the featured illustrator on the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators website!

kiwi magazine - february/march 2010

2010-02-11T22:13:00.002-05:00

The February/March issue of Kiwi (the organic parenting magazine) features two pages of my illustrations. Once again, I was delighted to be asked to create a piece for the essay on the last page. And, in case you need a refresher course, there’s a handy, pictorial step-by-step on how to crack an egg.

scbwi winter conference 2010

2010-01-31T21:45:00.002-05:00

This weekend I attended the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators 2010 Winter Conference here in very wintery New York City. It was a marathon of seminars, speeches and interactions with other professionals in the field of children’s publishing. Some incredible authors and illustrators were there, such as Jane Yolen, Jacqueline Woodson, Peter Sís, Kevin Hawkes, the hilarious Jim Benton, and Paul Zelinsky. And best of all, I entered my portfolio in the illustrators’ competition and won 2nd prize!

Now I’m really looking forward to a full night’s sleep. And then it’s time to make pictures again—no rest for the weary!

illustration friday: clumsy

2010-01-26T15:38:00.004-05:00

This week’s word is “clumsy,” and yes, it’s only Tuesday. I’m getting a jump on things in preparation for the SCBWI conference here in NYC on Friday. Until then, I’m steering clear of toy cars.

illustration friday: wilderness

2010-01-21T22:37:00.002-05:00

annaraff.com—the big onion

2010-01-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Announcing some changes at annaraff.com: I’ve updated my illustration portfolios, and added new links within the news section. Aside from the big onion, I’ve added direct links to this blog, and to my daily birdie blog, ornithoblogical.

Speaking of news...real news, I will be participating in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Winter Conference here in New York City at the end of January. I hope to see you there!

killing 2 birds, or more, with...

2010-01-12T00:18:00.001-05:00

This week I’m finally joining in the fun at Illustration Friday, with an interpretation of the word: confined. Handy that it relates to my recent imagery, isn’t it? For more of that, you can check out my birdie blog, ornithoblogical.

my six-word memoir

2010-01-05T17:53:00.005-05:00

About a year ago, I submitted a six-word memoir to Larry Smith of smithmagazine.net, creator of "Not Quite What I Was Planning," a collection of very short missives by the famous and obscure, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. With full awareness of what category I fit into, I was hopeful that my piece would make it into their next book.

Lucky me! Page 152 of "It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs" features my loonball radar piece seen here, right after Daily Show correspondent Rob Riggle. Also included in this edition are Art Spiegelman, Gloria Steinem, Tony Kushner, Bob Barker, David Heatley, Malcolm Gladwell, and Gay Talese.

the long wait for spring...

2010-01-05T09:07:00.001-05:00

mini lake louise

2010-01-04T13:21:00.005-05:00

This miniaturizing thing is really addictive. Here’s a photograph from my trip to the Canadian Rockies a few years back.

world headquarters

2010-01-01T12:38:00.040-05:00

Happy New Year!
For those of you who haven't seen it, here is a view of my studio. If it looks a little like a photo of a dollhouse, that's for good reason. This morning, I learned how to make images look “miniaturized” in PhotoShop.
If you'd like to try it yourself, here's the tutorial.
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2010!

snow shadow shorts

2009-12-27T12:52:00.015-05:00

Take two teenagers, a novice animator aunt, a snowy beach, and a VERY sunny Christmas Eve, and this is what you get.

artafacta: ocultura

2009-12-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

“O” already? Ocultura, this month’s Spanish word mash-up from Artafacta, could be my favorite yet in terms of possible imagery. Maybe it's my devilish nature, or maybe it's just the wacky way it “translates” to English, but this one was a lot of fun. “O” also stands for opera, which makes me think: one man's cult is another man's high art. Oprah, anyone?

the artist at work

2009-12-08T20:25:00.007-05:00

I've been doing a bunch of quick little wash drawings lately. I think this little guy will become part of a narrative somehow.

In other news: stay tuned for the launch of my Etsy store—that wondrous portal for all things handmade. There you'll be able to purchase original etchings, silkscreens, watercolors and other stuff from the comfort of your own desk. Hopefully, if the proper cyber handshakes take place this week, I'll have it up by the weekend.

switzerland bans minarets

2009-12-01T20:54:00.005-05:00

This past weekend, the “neutral” people of Switzerland voted to ban the building of minarets. Sometimes, images design themselves—I certainly felt that way about this one. I'm glad I have a place to editorialize my non-neutrality on the issue.

mtvu woodie awards–december 4th

2009-11-21T11:14:00.015-05:00

Lucky me! On Wednesday night, I went to the MTVu Woodie Awards at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC...all I can say is WOW! Christopher Landy and his team at Vibrant Design did an amazing job! Matt and Kim opened the show by riding into Roseland on bicycyles, then took the stage while my little guys started marching across—I don't know how many screens. It was a big thrill. And to top it off, Matt and Kim won in their category for best video.

MTV will broadcast the entire show on December 4th at 10 PM, ET.

kiwi magazine - november/december 2009

2009-11-18T14:06:00.009-05:00

The last page of the latest issue of Kiwi, a terrific, bimonthly parenting magazine (with no connection to New Zealand) features one of my illustrations. I picked up a copy last night and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Best of all, last week I finished two additional pieces for their February/March 2010 issue.

mtv woodie awards animation

2009-11-10T00:14:00.029-05:00

Ever heard of the MTV Woodie Awards? Well, I hadn't until about a week ago when my lighting-designer-guru friend Christopher Landy of Vibrant Design called me. He wanted an animation of some figures to project along a 48' balcony for the awards show at Roseland Ballroom in New York, behind nominated band Matt and Kim while they perform their song "Lessons Learned."

So I spent the better part of last week on it. (See below, where you can watch a beginning clip.) If you want to see Matt and Kim's nominated video and hear their terrific song, check it out here on YouTube.

There were definitely some lessons learned on my part technically, but over all it was really fun. I can't wait to see what Chris and his crew do with it—they're going to add lots of color and other effects.

The show will be broadcast on December 4th—more details to come in a later posting.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition—Sunday at 8 p.m.

2009-11-07T19:01:00.014-05:00

Get out the popcorn and the Kleenex box! Yes, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” airs this Sunday, November 8th at 8 p.m. on ABC.

I doubt my work will cause any unnecessary weeping on the part of the lucky homeowners, but my sources tell me anything on this show can induce tears. In fact, a friend this week told me she and her family call EMHE "The Cry Show." I know what you're thinking, "Oh, goody—just the thing I need to start my work week."

I'm almost certain you can see video highlights (and maybe some stills) on the EMHE website the day after the broadcast. So, if you're busy blinking, taking a potty break, or...ahem...watching “The Amazing Race,” you can still check out my handy work in situ.

You can even buy the bumble bee mural for your own bedroom. No foolin’! Here's the link.

the big sibling book

2009-10-28T12:08:00.021-04:00

The Big Sibling Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal hit stores this month, and I just got my copies in the mail. While finishing up my thesis at SVA this Spring, I created a series of over 100 spot and sticker illustrations for the interior. Published by Potter Style (a division of Random House) Big Sibling is a write-in album for a child to record milestones in the life of his or her newborn sibling. (FamilyCorner.com gave it a very nice review this week.)

All the sales materials were released before I was brought in, so you won't see my work on Amazon or the other online vendors, but the images here give you a pretty good sense of my part. The palette was changed sometime after I turned in my final art, so while not exactly what I'd intended, the overall packaging of the book is very nice. Maybe next time, I'll get a stab at a cover.

extreme secrecy no longer!

2009-10-26T22:08:00.015-04:00

At long last, the broadcast date for that home makeover show featuring my artwork has been revealed! Tune into your local ABC station on the evening of Sunday, November 8th, at 8 PM EST. My contact tells me they spent more time in "my" room than the other kids' rooms...which probably means a few seconds, so watch carefully! I created a wall mural, and several smaller framed animal portraits for a one-year-old's nursery.

new work on the web

2009-10-23T21:57:00.007-04:00

In addition to my fake fiction series, I’ve been working on a bunch of new, issue-driven editorial pieces which I’ve just posted to my website.

Speaking of fake fiction....

Has anyone out there been tossing around titles for your own great American novel? If so, send them to me, and I’ll illustrate a virtual book cover. (You are not required to have written a single word of said novel. ;>) The titles I’ve been working with these last few months are taken from various readings or conversations that have inspired me visually. It has been lots of fun for me—I hope that shows in the work.

And stay tuned....

I am told that in early November, the episode of a home makeover TV program featuring my work will be broadcast. Specifics to come in a future posting.

fish fetish

2009-10-19T19:06:00.004-04:00

artafacta: nicotinta

2009-10-15T21:21:00.006-04:00

We're up to the letter "N" with this month’s Spanish word mash up: “nicotinta.” (And you know how I feel about smoking.) You can see the entire fanzine and interpretations by other artists at the artafacta website. A few of my favorites are by Joan Negrescolor, Milan Rubino, Oscar Ángel Rey, and especially Pep Boatella. Simply gorgeous!

a (very short) collaboration

2009-10-12T00:45:00.010-04:00

My 13 year-old nephew and I collaborated on our first animated short (very short) last evening. While he was director, producer and screenwriter, my primary role was facilitator/key grip. You can view it here. Be sure to have your sound on. Enjoy!

fake fiction - part 1

2009-10-05T17:23:00.007-04:00

MORE in the playground

2009-10-01T15:16:00.005-04:00

As you can see, my obsession with letterplayground continues!

letter playground

2009-09-19T01:38:00.005-04:00

Recently, illustrator Nate Williams created a site called “Letter Playground” for those of us who love type and playing around with it. There, illustrators, designers and photographers can post their interpretations of their favorite letters or digits. Today I joined, and uploaded a number of images including my complete set of caps from “Alphabetic Ballyhoos or Crotchety Draconian Expletives.” My black and white "T's" you see here were created for a collaborative student project at SVA last year.

artafacta: musicópata

2009-09-04T23:22:00.007-04:00

This month’s word for the artafacta fanzine is musicópata. I don't think I've ever had reason to make blood splatters before—they're kind of fun...heh, heh, heh...