The Christoph's: Grandpa

The Christoph's of Erie, PA, are an untapped literary goldmine. You wouldn't believe the stories... But before we get into that, I want to focus on the cast of characters. I introduce to you Frank Christoph, the patriarch of the family, avid train enthusiast, and honorary city council member. He prided himself in his collection of stamps, lps, model trains, and lava lamps. Stern, Teutonic (I know I'm being redundant there), and possessing a biting wit, Grandpa was a proud union man and FDR Democrat. I knew him at the end of his life, when diabetes had taken his eye sight and hardened his shell, but deep inside, pumping insulin throughout his giant frame, was a heart of gold. In addition to raising eight children, he and my Grandma cared for 63 foster children. More to come!


Blue Sky and Gleaming Monuments





A couple weeks back we headed down to the National Mall to check out the newly restored District of Columbia War Memorial. It's long been one of my favorite spots, tucked away in a grove of trees off the main strip. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves as to the beauty of this little temple glowing in the afternoon sun. I will just say, you half expect to see the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream prancing about and that I wish I could have one of my own.

Letterbox remix




The other day I was playing around in photoshop, reformatting recent jobs to look like scenes from old movies. It was fun seeing them take on an entirely different context, just by dropping in the two black bars and adding the 'out of focus' background lights.

two things...


original version (they flipped her in the magazine, so glad she still held up! ; )

There's finally a nip in the air and the leaves are just starting to show their colors. On that note, I thought it would be a good time to show these. The first is the latest little fashionista for Family Circle, I believe it's out on the racks now (a fun fashion tip for all you ladies and cross-dressers out there). The second grouping arrived in the mail earlier in the week from Berlin. It's part of a funny named calendar produced in Germany featuring illustrators from around the World. I believe they found me on here through Tumblr. It's truly becoming a smaller world, so happy to have been included in the collection! You can see more illustrators and buy copies at Gestalten.com.

the latest from Washington...

Somehow it's all ready Fall again. Although it's my favorite time of the year, I have dreaded posting anything new. How do you move on? ...from that last post and in general? My dear Mom is one tough act to follow but as some of you have kindly expressed to me, Mom's creative spirit lives on in my own work. (and Sarah's too!) I really like that concept.


While I was in Florida I had plenty of time to think back on the world I was just getting to know in Virginia/ D.C. I began working on these at that time and so I thought I'd share them today. You probably know by now how fascinated I am with George Washington and his story, but what you may not know, is how fascinated the first President was with architecture and interior design. George was the sole designer behind Mt. Vernon, overseeing extensive renovations and making furniture purchases from the front lines of the Revolutionary War. The White House design was a sort of pet project, he took up on the side while serving as President. In selecting architect James Hoban's design, Washington set the aesthetic standard for all government buildings in the new Federal City. In contrast to the palaces of Europe, The White House's humble yet stately size was also attributed to Washington, as was it's color, white stone instead of the fashionable red brick of colonial Virgina. I know I'm crazy but for some reason I've always gotten into this stuff and Mom was always right there cheering me on.




my moment with Mom


To honor my Mom, I thought I'd share this video I made two years ago to the day. I cannot remember why she started showing me how to draw the Anhinga bird but I'll cherish this moment forever. It's classic Mom, or Miss Christoph, as she would have been known to her beloved students. If only I had fully known how little time we had left... Words cannot express the love I feel for this creative and beautiful woman, how less joyful and colorful, our world will be without her.








I also thought I'd share a few wonderful pieces of children's art created by my Mom's students at Alturas Elementary School. More beautiful examples of her student's artwork can be viewed at Artsonia. Take a moment to explore the various galleries, it'll melt your heart.

Peter & Wendy


My friend Brian Marshall and I worked on this for Caryl Crane Children's Theater back in Cleveland. It was a sort of update on a design they used previously. I just thought it was cute to give Peter Pan green hightops. Break a leg guys!

where shopping is a pleasure



I've been back in Florida for a bit and found these out on the gift card rack at Publix. I worked on this a while back, but never saw the final product. To all those, who haven't had the benefit of shopping at the quintessentially Floridan grocery store chain, they rock! ..and I hope to get to work with them again. : )

NY Times: Theater




So they ran it after all- I'm so happy! Check out the article here for my ridiculous quote, gosh do I really talk like that!? Ha! Big thanks Brian, for connecting me with Erik and for the heads up on the article being out there. It's funny seeing all of our pieces together, similar little trendy hats and lettering, all tapping into that vintage aesthetic - thanks for that Urban Outfitters!

mother F




Not sure if you happened to watch the Tony's last night, but what a welcome change!? Compared to other such award shows, it was surprisingly funny and entertaining! Because I'm beginning to doubt they will ever be printed, I though this might be a good time to share these. To make a long story short, a fellow graphic designer friend referred me to a theater editor at the NY Times. The editor had the fun and interesting idea, to reinterpret the Mother F***er with the Hat poster, the new play on Broadway with Chris Rock. The end results were to be published in an article demonstrating how illustrators work (from concept sketches, to graphic design etc...) I didn't know the first thing about the play but chose to focus on it's themes of alcoholism and conflict, as well as it's explosive dialogue. I'm posting the sketches too, only because I liked something about them that was lost in the finishes. The last I heard, these were well received but that the article was getting pushed back a couple weeks - that was like a month and a half ago. Ha! Oh well, win some lose some.

Sunshine at Foundry



Shortly after the move, I was contacted by David Lanford, an accomplished designer and active member of Foundry United Methodist Church here in Dupont Circle. He had stumbled upon my blog and expressed wishes to use these Sun designs in the church's upcoming Summer promotions. I was of course, very excited, you may remember, President Clinton regularly attended Sunday services at Foundry in the 90's. I love David's bright and colorful design and am happy these Suns found a home nearby (by coincidence, the church is only a few blocks away). You can learn more about the Summer Sermon Series here.

city boy yesterday and today



I snapped the top pic during a recent visit home. It's a painting I had done in kindergarten of the downtown Raleigh, N.C. skyline. Notice the yellow blob in the bottom left corner. I think it was in those inner-city bus rides, that I developed my love for architecture and cities in general. The manhattan sketch was done quite a few years later, in a staff meeting back at AG. Ha! Just thought it'd be fun to contrast the two.

U Street




I was walking home along U street the other night and heard a magnificent sound. Live music coming down from the second story window of a little club called Twins Lounge. Merging harmoniously with the honking and chatter on the street, it stopped me in my tracks. It's in moments like these that I feel literally, 'in tune' with the new surroundings. I came up with these the other day, playing around, in between jobs.

White House Panorama





Tonight, we're heading down to the White House!


We'll climb up one of Lafayette's trees,

wave old glory, and sing 'oh say can you see'.

Together, let's shout out a great cheer!

Not at the death of our cowardly enemy,

but at this extraordinary moment of unity.

For in this fleeting moment at hand,

again, we are one.

God Bless this beautiful land.


you can see more pics here on Flickr.

Tree


I just got back from my second (ever) yoga session. We didn't do this pose, nor did I have my hair in a bun ; ) but it all made for a relaxing enough start of the week. Just thought I'd share this little spot.