December Desktop Calendar (2015)

I can't believe that 2015 is almost over.
Can.Not.Be-lieve.It

But until the new year, let us celebrate the continued holiday season with a festive desktop background!  I have two designs waiting to dance into your inbox tomorrow morning (December 1st, 6:00am EST), all you need to do is make sure that you are subscribed to my newsletter, and the rest will take care of itself!

Blooming Graphic Design — National Flower Show 2015

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the National Flower Show with the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades.  I had a blast—a challenging project, but with great team and rewarding results (the best kind of projects!).  So I was elated when they asked me to partner with them again this year.

Each year has a theme, and this year it was the "Oscars"!  While my role was not quite as exciting as in previous years, it was sill fun to work on the graphics and see some photos of the finished look (being 3 states away, I was unable to venture out and see it in person).

The main illustrative element that I needed to create was the flower that mimicked the statue (seen below).

Photo Credit: Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

After that, the rest was comparatively easy, though the company logos that obviously did not fit into the general theme were a bit annoying at times...  especially for the brochure.
Kinda hard to keep it strictly classy when there are large logos all over the place, but we made it work :)

Brochure—Inside flap, back and cover

Brochure—inside

There were also a series of smaller informative posters (or "panels"), the first of which can be found "in action" at the top of this post, and below are two more of the designs:

Simple, informative design.  We wanted to mimic the brochure and so I pulled out the film strip that was decided upon previously and allowed the "captured" images to emphasize and demonstrate the "Gold Medal Plants" in each category.
These panels were placed within Gold frames that further mimicked the Oscar's theme

All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission            

"Spring-Boots" Watercolor Print

Available as both a 5x7 and 8x10

Another print added to the shop this week—I'm already dreaming of days when the garden is overflowing, the air is warm, and the ground is wet and new (instead of slippery!).  If you're as hungry as I am for the green to replace the snow, feel free to pick up one of these new pieces, here.

Also, I'm thinking about coming up with a note card design—what do you think?


 

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Summer's Cage... unfinished

    Another unfinished piece... maybe in the next few weeks, but I have a project that I'm working on (not to mention, grades are due in the next few weeks so I'm going a little crazy around here)   Feedback as I prepare to complete this piece would be great!  Thanks     All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Is It Spring Yet?

 Another one that I have added to the shop this week:

I'm so ready for spring summer!   All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

A Botanical Snow Day

Last week, I really, REALLY enjoyed some time being "snowed in" with my husband.  Our Christmas was hectic and the week after was dedicated to working on getting ready for the next semester... oh, and laundry and cleaning and all of the things that need to happen when you haven't been home and you have accumulated new "stuff".

All that being said, the unexpected time to just relax a little was glorious—I feel so refreshed and so ready to tackle this new year!

Get your own HERE

During our snow day adventure, I spent some time working on a piece that has been playing around my little brain over the past 3 years or so.  Above is the finished piece—a simplified version of what I have long envisioned.  I still think I will try another version of it or two at some point in the future, but until then, at least it has begun.

Text from Matthew 6.

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

See Ya' There

Another week without much painting, though I am hoping to get back into it next week.  Until then, here is a small piece that I made on Wednesday and casually dropped on my husband's desk with a sticky note that said "see ya there..."

In case you're wondering, yes, he took the hint ;)

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Botanical Ballerinas

My botanical dancers, featuring the "Poppy"(left), and the "Black Eyed Susan"(right).   

 

In my opinion, there are two types of girls in this world.  Either they a) have dreamed of being a ballerina at one point in their life, or b) they are lying.

 

 

Well, regardless of what I think,  I have really enjoyed my ballerina drawing obsession over the past few days (you will probably have noticed that I switch between obsessions quickly).  It has been a 2-day passion this time (so far), resulting in many sketches of ballerinas yesterday(examples shown above), and transferring 2 into watercolor form today.

Now is when you should sympathize with my husband, who hasn't gotten a well-thought-out meal in a few days due to my drawing motivations.  Oops, sorry honey!

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Initial Thoughts

I've been obsessed with floral watercolors lately.  Seriously.   I dreamed that I was painting them the other night.

I feel like I finally figured out how to work out these flowers—how to make them look the way that I want, or at least a whole lot closer than I have been doing.  And it is also starting to feel so much more natural to me.  I am almost feeling my way along rather than trying to force my hand to work.

Though this I am also feeling braver with color.  While I have always loved a variety in hue with in my artwork, but the saturation was muted—I don't feel as timid, as though I need to "test out" my stroke in a soft tone before rushing in with the full vibrancy of the color.

Considering adding a personalized section to the shop.  What do you think?  Would you be interested in initial-ed or monogrammed stationery like the item I have listed above?

  All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

One Flower, Two Ways

Just a quick post—as my life is getting crazier with the holidays coming quickly!

The other night I took a break from "life" (aka, dishes) and I enjoyed playing around with a couple different styles.  While I can't seem to understand watercolors, I can't tare myself away from them!
I LOVE it when other people paint with watercolors—their loose and expressive methods make me swoon!  But I can't do it. Haha, I'm a realism girl who dreams in an impressionistic style.

Anywho, both of these styles are not exactly like what I typically do—which do you prefer?

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Sketchbook: Peonies

Peonies are my very favorite flower.

I just love the romantic design that they have—voluminous petals that are so dainty and soft.  Even though it's fall (and peonies bloom in the SPRING), peonies are what I gravitate towards when I itch to draw a flower.

Thank goodness for photography!

      All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission

Botanical Illustrations—National Floral Show '13

In January of this year I spent the majority of my time in bed (thanks to the many germ-y elementary students that I surround myself with) or with these botanical illustrations.

These illustrations were designed to mimic the 1700s style of illustrations for a display about John Bartram and his work with the northeastern native plants.  This display was put on by the Williamson Free School and their main marketing client contacted me about the illustrations.  While the work was difficult (mostly because of the short deadline and the sickies), I really enjoyed getting to draw again—before this my freelance work was largely digital graphics, though now I am asked to illustrate more frequently, which is great :)

Below are a few of the illustrations that I did for the event:

Franklina Flower

Fothergilla Flower

Representation of the work of
Carolus Linnaeus

Biological Pest Management

 

18th century map

 

 It was also cool to research the event that the illustrations were displayed—the National Floral Show in Philadelphia.  This is the largest flower show in America and my work was seen by about 300,000 people!  Talk about exciting!  Not only that, but the exhibit that I was a part of won 5 awards—including the Special Achievement Award, for a unique feature or design element.  Read more about that here.
 

Below is an image from the specific exhibit that my work was in (you can see my drawings on the posters in the back!!!).
 

"Stole" photo from here

   

All Items are (c) Katrina Crouch. Do not use without permission