The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee

I just came across this in the process of cleaning up & backing up some files and can't believe I didn't post it before now. The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee was a project I worked with Bento Box Interactive on two years ago. It's an interactive music/journal/game app by Alicia Keys and BBI, revolving around a little girl named LeeLee and her connection to her Grandmother and music. It's such a beautiful concept, and a personal project for Alicia Keys (of whom LeeLee is a reflection).
It was an honor for me to be able to contribute and end up having some of my designs a part of the final product.
Here were some of the many rough logo concepts:

 

And ultimately the final, still used today.

The yellow oriole bird character is a big part of the story and because it was to be used in the logo I was able to submit some character designs for her.

Alicia Keys ended up liking one of my designs and it was chosen to be used as the final.
Here was an early color version but it was too dark and masculine:

And the cute final version!

Here were also some visual/branding concepts for the inner journal pages and animation.

 

And that's it!

A Chicken

Per Bimba Beatrice

This is a hanging mobile (I think that's what they're called?) I made last year in Italy as a present for my boyfriend's niece, Beatrice. They are hand stitched little birds perched on & hanging from branches I found in Urbino on one of our walks. (They sort of resemble fish, but shut up, they're birds!)
Beatrice's mom tells me that she runs in the room, yells "Pio, pio, pio!" and she has to run and hold her so that she can play with them.

Here they hang in her room, by a magically sturdy hanging device my boyfriend's father made and it turned out perfectly!

Here's the little cutie! I'm glad you like it, Beatrice!!

 (PS: It's 2011?)

Birds

Can't...stop...drawing them....

Have you heard?

Everyone's heard!!

So, this is one of a series of little birdies I've been making this summer for friends as birthday gifts. This one is property of the lovely Maurene. I wonder if she named him/her.
(Btw - the grey drop is his little poop.)
I'll post more when I get some photos.
I intended to make a whole bunch (along with other plushies, books, prints, etc) to have a presence at APE Con in San Fransisco this year, but alas, things didn't work out that way. Not enough time to prepare for it, since it's happening in less than a month! These things take time, you know! And I have tv to watch! Just kidding, I'd really like to try for next year though...
Mmm boppa mmm mau mau, mmm boppa mmm mau mau....

Update: Here is little Mandy's birthday bird (sorry it's not as a great a shot):

The Flight

This is a piece I did for the "Friends of ISM" show a couple of weeks ago. The branches are cut strips of paper and each bird is on a ripped piece of arches, pinned to the canvas backing. It was a lot of fun for me to do and I think I'll be doing a series of these based on this ripped & pinned concept.

Here is a closeup of some of the pinned birds.

And a closeup of the lone bird taking it's flight.