Friday Finds
Photographer and environmental artist Kajal Shah documented the elaborate, iconic architecture of Barcelona, Spain in this 2018 sketchbook. Shah goes beyond mapping out the geography and the usual sites of this city, instead choosing to dive deep into the creative histories present there. She includes quotes and facts about the numerous accomplishments of architecture Antoni Gaudi in this celebration of his trademark Catalan Modernist style. Based in London, and having grown up in Kenya, Shah is fascinated by architecture and while her work not only celebrates the cultural beauty of her travel destinations, she’s also deeply invested in telling the stories of these regions (like her ongoing series of paintings that examine the poaching of endangered species across the African continent). You can see more of her work on her website or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Sabine Remy’s 2013 sketchbook, “I cut therefore I am,” is a great look at collage’s potential for artistic experimentation. For this series, the Dusseldorf-based artist created seventeen collages that each tell unique, surreal stories through rearranged vintage and archival imagery. In her description of her book, Remy writes, “For me the process of cutting and pasting is as important as the result” and we hope that her sketchbook inspires you to transform photographs and still images into whole new works of art through scissors and glue. Since her sketchbook, Remy continues to create collages, zines, and mail art, and her works have been exhibited not only Germany, but internationally as well. You can see more of her pieces on her blog and check out her Instagram.
Stephanie Marihan’s 2013 sketchbook, “With love, sugar and family,” is one that will fill you with warmth and nostalgia. With so much time spent completing commissions for clients, Marihan was feeling disconnected from her personal creative interests. The Sao Paolo-based artist writes, “At this time, I have decided to make something without worrying about the results, if good or bad, and i have done what was really in my heart.” Each page is a whimsical spread of different designs, layers of geometric lifework and bursts of color, utilizing different techniques and styles. This emphasis on the handmade, on creating a labor of love, shines through. Marihan continues to work as an illustrator, among them large-scale murals across Brazil with a focus on botanical designs, and her studio has completed projects for the Olympic Games, McDonalds, Ray-Ban, and more. You can learn more about her career by checking out her website and following her on Instagram.
In 2013 after a moment of creative block, artist Rosie De Lise began filling her sketchbook, “Animals That Live In Or Around Water,” with swirling ink illustrations of coastal and sea creatures. This unique technique is accented by soft, vibrant washes of watercolor that evoke the prismatic hues one might see with rising and falling tides. Created in Eugene, Oregon, De Lise now works in Troy, New York, and continues to use this trademark style in her whimsical illustrations and apparel designs. You can request a commission on her website, follow her on Instagram, buy pieces through Society6, or checkout in-depth looks at her process by subscribing to her Youtube channel.
