Le Sprite World

"Haru"

2010-11-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Ink, watercolor, Photoshop.

Just posted this, and a few new works on my newly updated website! Please take a look:
www.sarahchristoff.com

Front312 - October Posters

2010-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Front312 is kind of blowing up.

I handle most of the design for the major events, in addition to promoting and DJing several events a month. Thus, I've been pretty busy lately.

Fun, rewarding, and keeps me in practice- plus I constantly see my art around the city, not a bad gig :)

Here are the recent posters for our big October events. I have to say, personally, these are my favorites so far:

Front312 Main Event (October 22nd)

detail
("I'm" to the left, look how creepy I am :P)

Ceremony (October 28th)

detail...

To learn more about the Chicago based art/music collective Front312, visit our website:
www.front312.com

"Conditioning"

2010-10-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

First finished portfolio piece in a long time. Pretty darn happy with the result :)

detail

Lots of pieces in the finishing process, stay tuned for more!

2010-09-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Took a long hiatus from producing anything remotely new, but my creative freeze has finally begun to de-thaw..

first new sketch in a long time (that I like) busting out the sepia ink:

"Birds"

Front312 July poster - getting my hands dirty again..

2010-07-12T19:13:00.001-07:00

Losing my photoshop temporarily has been somewhat of a blessing in disguise, as it has forced me to delve back into the world of traditional media. It's not that I didn't particularly LIKE using paints and watercolor, but since being in school and getting used to the quickness of digital illustration, I have to admit I became somewhat lazy.
I never really use much mixed media, but in this case of running out of watercolor somewhere around 4am (only a few hours til deadline.) I had to resort to other measures..

I ended up using inks and watercolor for the foreground, acrylic for the background, adding shadows and highlights with colored pencil and charcoal. I pulled the pieces together in photoshop, retouched briefly, then added text.

The ending result is a piece with vibrant color, and different textures adding levels of depth and dimension I haven't seen within my artwork in a while. It reminds me, that the effect of hand-drawn and painted artwork, almost impossible to replicate with the computer, not to mention a sense of satisfaction scrubbing down my paint-caked hands.

It's good to be back :)

Inspiration..

Linework:

Watercolor:

Whoops, outta watercolor... add acryllic for background!

Layering the foreground/background with touches in photoshop, and..

Voila!

Front312 is back - old school style

2010-06-16T18:12:00.001-07:00

Front312 is the Chicago based music/art collective I am a part of.
I DJ, promote, and do their design work.
This flyer is for and upcoming event on June 25th.

For this installment in Front312 flyers, I kicked it back old school, and busted out the watercolors.

The illustration and the logo are all hand drawn, painted, and inked.
This was my first attempt at hand-lettering. I'm not crazy about it, but it was a decent try.

Sometimes, the death of one's computer (and subsequent use of all design programs) can be a good thing...

Introducing: SPARKLEPONY!

2010-05-17T02:01:00.000-07:00

Made from pure love and glitter, this lovely creature has already found a fitting home with a very lucky girl..

Isn't she pretty?

LOVE this fabric..

I've never done a horse plushie before, so the pattern was kind of hard, and took a bit of research. It was initially inspired by an old stuffed calico horse from my childhood. I stitched it all by hand, on account of the incredibly delicate fabric.

Although the fabric and this design are one of a kind, look for variations soon!

Etsy account to emerge in the near future (I promise.)

Preview

2010-04-29T03:39:00.000-07:00

Took a short hiatus, being rather busy with work, events, and general craziness...
However, I have many new pieces and commissions in the works (to be finished soon) so stay tuned!

sneak peak:

"Conditioning" (progress shot)

Front312 at Neo - debut poster!

2010-03-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 26th, my DJ/art collective Front312 will be debuting our new night at club Neo, in Chicago.

In creating the poster design, I took my inspiration (and color palette)from Russian propaganda posters, constructivist art, and oldstyle woodcuts.
I drew and inked the entire illustration by hand, to create an authentic, "vintage" feel. I touched up the lines, type, and color in illustrator, then adding texture and finish in photoshop.

Finish:

Process:

For more information on Front312, visit our website:
www.front312.com

Join the force...

"Emergence" - upgraded

2010-02-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

During a mass portfolio revamp for my website debut, I revisited one of the poster designs I attempted a few months ago.
This particular design uses one of my own, favorite illustrations titled "Emergence." The event it advertised was presented by my music/art collective Front312. Headlining that night were my friends from Detroit, the DJ group Dethlab. That weekend was definitely one of the more fun, memorable escapades of 2009.

In re-editing the flyer, I took any miscellaneous copy not necessary for a keepsake edition (drink specials, ect...) leaving only the names of the headliners and the respective DJ's of the evening.
I also changed the font, using a typeface that was more legible, yet still carried a cold, industrial feel ("Datatrash," thanks to www.dafont.com).
Finally throwing in some more texture and contrast... voila! Makeover challenge complete:

view the original here

Ceremony Poster

2010-02-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

"Ceremony" - the title of a nightlife event I am hosting in Chicago, Thursday the 25th of February.
The border was hand drawn and inked. I then reflected the image in photoshop, also adding background and text.

Sketches and thumbnails

The event is presented by Front312, a music and art collective I co-manage based in Chicago Illinois.

Originally formed as an "industrial music," party, Front312 has expanded into a network of underground musicians, photographers, artists, and creative enthusiasts.
Alongside Adam Black, Mr. Automatic and various other talents, I DJ, promote, and help provide the visual element of our business.
Check out the Front312 website for articles, music, art, and event updates.

Woe-Bot

2010-01-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

Wookin for wuv in all the wrong pwaces...

He just wants a hug!

Test

2010-01-01T17:33:00.001-08:00

this is a test...

Vampire Bunny Plushie!

2009-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

*as seen in self portrait

Rarr!

Wing action

V.Bunny and Snowbat(bff)

Plushie edition #3 - Sparkle Ghosties

2009-12-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

Lovely ghosties made of sparkly white fabric with pink puffball eyes

X-mas ornaments, keychains, whatever you want...
more to come, but these guys already found a home on my friend's tree :)

Etsy account coming soon after this post, all plushie updates will be directed there.

Plushie Attempt II: Keyboard Gollum

2009-12-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

A much more successful end result, i should say...
Plushie keyboard coming soon ^___^

Perhaps a series of these with different instruments? Maybe...

Plushie attempt I : Glitter Failure

2009-12-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

Quote Anjali: "'Sparkle Abortion'- aka why Sarah and Anjali are banned from the craft store"

Pink felt + fabric glue malfunction = Glam Ghostie

Portraits and Caricatures

2009-11-23T06:34:00.001-08:00

Time to get real...

Caricature of Tom Waits and portrait of Herman Hesse, respectively.
Both composed for editorial illustration.

Narsicistically Yours...

2009-11-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Stylized self portrait with vampire bunny and impromptu fake tatoo.
(vampire bunny plushies coming soon ^__^)

Candy Coated Enchanted Forest.

2009-11-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

Following up the 'Hansel and Gretel' themed flyer for the electro/goth dance event entitled "Candy Coated Chaos," I took an excursion into the realm of 3D.
Using elements from the flyer (trees, plants, forest animals) I extended the fairytale concept into a life size, hand painted forest installation, used as decoration for the evening.

After 3 days of no sleep, lots of paint and multiple trips to blick and home depot, the vision was realized on Saturday Nov 7th (2009) amidst loads of candy and Christmas lights.

The installation included 2 8-foot trees, 'shrubbery,' and one evil looking squirrel..

All the forest cutouts were created with acrylics painted onto foam core, which I cut out with exacto knives and a box cutter. The trees were cut into 4 parts that were secured onto two giant pieces of lumber fastened by hinges to create a triangular support.

This was my first attempt at an installation piece, all in all I think it went well. At least, nothing fell apart...

Although it was an exhausting process, and I can't wait to do this again :)

Hansel Und Gretel

2009-10-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

I created this illustration friend's dance party entitled "Candy Coated Chaos,." The theme of the month was, well guess...

The Brothers Grimm are far too creepy and fun to be left alone, so I've decided to expand the project into a fairytale story series, which will include character designs and multi-panel illustrations accompanied by narration.

Hansel, Gretel, and Witch characters designs in the works. Check back soon for updates.

Nostalgic Inspiration Pt. II

2009-10-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from the Raggedy Ann and Andy movie. I used to watch this all the time when I was little.
I think it had a profound influence on my art.... and my brain.

Why aren't cartoons this cool nowadays?

NOTE:
- Raggedy Ann and Andy movie...1977
-King Crimson "Court of the Crimson King"...1969
album cover:

Coincidence?

Sketches and such

2009-10-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Creatures, girls, creepy shapes ;)

Cell Head

2009-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day! Le Gasp! Making up for lost time due to internet drought -_-

I resurfaced this four page comic I drew for my cartooning class two years ago. Looking back, the art could be better, but it's definitely one of my favorite projects i've done. The plot is cute and demented, and still so relevant...

The dialogue still makes me laugh. A lot. Oh, how funny I am.

This particular short actually serves as a teaser for my comic in progress, entitled "Rewired" (the girl is a character from the series, and the creepy phone element ties into the storyline.)

Expect future comic updates soon...

Blue Flowers

2009-09-05T16:15:00.001-07:00

Dr. Octagon + too much caffeine =
Hip Hop Walrus

Word, son!

Wanna come to my partyyy?

2009-07-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

I occasionally DJ and host parties around the city of Chicago. Lately I've been doing a lot of flyer work for both my own events and those of friends. Here's a few from the last year or so;

Portfolio Pt 1.

2009-06-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

I'm posting installments of my existing portfolio in groups based on style and content. Here are some of my more abstract works...

First piece is a personal project, taken from a freestyle sketch playing with organic forms.
The second illustration of the girl/ fire was composed based on a lyric from The Smiths. (See if you can guess the song ^_^)
Lastly, the black and white image is a set back-drop I created for a remake of the 1920's German film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari."

Neon Fever

2009-06-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

A lot of my work is inspired by music.. this was conceived and finished to Felix da Housecat : )

Hollywood Schmollywood

2009-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

So I watched the movie "Vantage Point" the other day. It came highly recommended, people told me it was SOOOO good and plot twisty that I just HAD to see it. It had Forest Whitaker and Dennis Quaid and.. that "Lost" guy...

Frankly, I don't even remember what that movie is about. It seems the more fast paced, politically intriguing, plot twisting, audience -shocking bullshit directors try to cram into 120 minutes, the less interested I become. It's not just because I have a short attention span; to me it's like having to look at those yuppie women wearing over $2,000 worth of clothing, who still manage to look like a complete train wreck.
If you don't have the sense how to carefully, masterfully put something together, no amount of glitz and high-production can cover it up.

Anyways, I got the idea in my head of Forrest Whitaker and Dennis Quaid having the ultimate action-packed political/SciFi movie superstar love-child:
Forest Quaid? Or Dennis Whitaker?

Summer Hipster Monsta

2009-05-21T13:13:00.001-07:00

After the first near 90 degree day in Chicago, someone I know made a comment about hating the heat and longing for winter again...

Really, 10 months of shitty weather wasn't enough? Be careful what you say, or you might anger the dreaded Chicago Summer Hipster Monster...

T-shirt Design #1

2009-05-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

YETI'S!! Rarrr!

I've been working on a series of T-shirt designs to send out to various people who may want to print them. This is the first of three...

The snow monkeys are my favorite part ^___^

Air Fish!

2009-05-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been watching a lot of Planet Earth and drawing a lot of studies of sea creatures, especially those that you find at the bottom of the ocean. I find it fascinating that most of these critters are smaller than my thumb, yet up close in pictures they resemble prehistoric monsters.

I thought it would be a fun idea to reverse the size and environments : )

Color version coming soon

Unico and the Island of Magic

2009-05-11T00:33:00.000-07:00

This was my favorite cartoon when I was three or so, I watched it everyday on repeat until the high pitched voices drove my mom insane.

The overexposure helped carve the defining aspects of my art and my personality ^_^<

Le sigh...

2009-05-05T22:13:00.000-07:00

So here is my blog. A decade later than the rest of the world... only because I'm still too technologically incompetent to get my website up and running.

My (long) term goal is to create a regular comic blog, but till I get my own scanner it will most likely serve as an outlet for my impulsive art and brain splatterings....

all to ensure my brain doesn't implode or eat itself alive.

Enjoy the randomness