ELEANOR GROSCH for Light Farms Eleanor's illustrations appear in the sales brochure and on posters, postcards and website for the Texas-based housing community. Light Farms won best signage, sales brochure and website at the McSAM Awards, which recognizes sales and marketing excellence in real estate development.
Eleanor Grosch, Bella Pilar and Red Nose Studio each contributed artwork to the 19th Annual Children's Book Art Silent Auction, part of BookExpo America at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. All proceeds from the auction support efforts opposing the censorship of children's books and authors, including The Kids' Right to Read Project, Banned Books Week and the ongoing legal efforts working on behalf of children’s books and authors nationwide.
The auction takes place on Wednesday, May 29th from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the River Pavilion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The art can be previewed online with some of the pieces available for bidding prior to BookExpo America as part of a special online auction, opening Saturday, May 18th at 9am and closing Friday, May 24th at 9pm.
Eleanor Grosch created a series of illustrations for Après Vélo, an Australian company that specializes in cycling apparel and accessories. The beautiful and bold illustrations – there are five in total – celebrate the 100th anniversary of the infamous Tour de France. Prints are currently available with a line of t-shirts for men and women to be released in the very near future. Printed on linen paper and measuring 12x18 inches, they are available individually or in sets of five.
Eleanor Grosch created a line of holiday ornaments for the Land of Nod. The hand-painted, one-of-a-kind ornaments are available in sets of six and are inspired by the Otomi people of central Mexico. The Land of Nod released Eleanor's Animáles Grafico children's bedding and Otomi Light Years table shade earlier this year.
Eleanor Grosch was one of several international artists asked to create start screen and wallpaper art for Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 8. Eleanor's bold design features graphic cheetahs, giraffes and parrots sitting among rich botanicals. Both the start screen and wallpaper are customizable, allowing users to choose their own color palettes.
Eleanor Grosch will be exhibiting hew work at Philadelphia's Chapterhouse Cafe & Gallery. The show is called Australis and features work inspired by Eleanor's recent travels to Australia and New Guinea. It opens Friday, October 12th at 7pm.
Chapterhouse Cafe & Gallery, 620 S. 9th St., Philadelphia, PA
Eleanor Grosch's textile designs are now available from Cloud 9 Fabrics. Inspired by the Mixtec region of Mexico, the collection features graphic rows of sophisticated sparrows and big, bold toucans layered over one another. Available in two colorways – rose and azure – the collection is printed on 100% certified organic cotton with eco-responsible low-impact dyes. Visit the Cloud 9 blog to read their feature on Eleanor.
Eleanor Grosch's best loved illustrations are now available as canvas wall art from GreenBox Art. To celebrate the launch, GreenBox Art interviewed Eleanor about her early career designing rock posters, bicycles and the Aesop's Fables that inspire her. The interview is featured on the website's homepage and can be seen here. A line of Eleanor's children's art is also available from Oopsy Daisy, a brand of GreenBox Art.
This summer, we're presenting a selection of our artists' favorite books. From dark, to funny, to just plain strange, this summer reading list gives you a peek inside each artist's life, likes, and literary predilections.
ELEANOR GROSCHThe Road by Cormac McCarthy. "Disturbing, horrific, and somehow hauntingly beautiful." The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. "Really fun with a nice dark quality."
HENNIE HAWORTHCall the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. "Recently I've been enjoying reading a book called Call the Midwife. It's the true story of a midwife working in London's East End in the 1950's. Having just had a baby in East London, it had a particular interest for me, but it's a very popular book and was recently made into a TV show by the BBC (but the book's much better). It's really startling how much life and medicine has changed in such a short space of time."
BELLA PILAR20th Century Travel: 100 Years of Globe-Trotting Ads. "There is always a Taschen book on my list of favorites. And this is my latest fave. Travel through the history of travel ads. I am beyond inspired by the gorgeous colorful artwork filling these pages - the images, design, colors, its the total package. These colorful ads are filled with storytelling imagery that remind me how big the world is outside my little art studio. They will make you look at a train, plane, and automobile in a whole new light." 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. "Always one of my faves. Beautiful artwork to gaze over. And a fact filled blurb of info on each page. What a treat to look at the history of fashion presented this way. Each fashion illustration tells its own little story. It's fun to see the progression of style and trends (fashion and art) over 100 years all wrapped up in one little book."
RED NOSE STUDIO "Last fall, I picked up 2 kids' books that still resonate pretty strongly with me. If folks want to get in touch with their animal instincts they should give these a go." I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. "Beautifully brown and full of blank expressions, what's not to love about this story of a bear going gumshoe and tracking down his misplaced hat." In the Woods by Tana French. "And just in case folks want something to read for a couple weeks, I recommend In The Woods by Tana French. Sitting inside the head of an Irish detective as his wits deteriorate around him will make you appreciate the humor in the above two books even more."
GRAHAM ROUMIEUThe Bet by Arthur Bradford. "One of my favorites is just a short story from a McSweeny's but is probably the funniest thing I've ever read."
Eleanor Grosch's artwork can be seen on a line of children's bedding from Land of Nod. The line, Animáles Grafico, is available in three colors — teal, lavender and yellow — and is inspired by the traditional patterns of the Otomi people, an Indigenous group from central Mexico. Adorned with animals of all shapes and sizes, this beautiful bedding is rich in both design and tradition.
Eleanor Grosch's playful arrangements of line and form are sleek, minimalistic experiments in geometry. Whether it's an arched beak, a meandering tail, or the sleek lines of a bicycle, Eleanor's illustrations rely on sparsely articulated lines to convey shape and motion. Her understated colors complement the subtlety of her forms and soften her sleek geometric compositions. Well-known for her unique modernist perspective on the feathered, the furry, and the scaly, Eleanor brings a designer edge and distinct mid-century aesthetic to all of her artwork.
Eleanor draws inspiration from sources as diverse as the Spanish abstract painter Joan Miro and modernist illustrator Charley Harper. In 2010, Harper's estate asked Eleanor to redesign charleyharperprints.com. Eleanor's prints have even appeared on the site alongside Harper's work and that of Harper's descendants Edie and Brett Harper.
Eleanor was named one of Print Magazine's New Visual Artists of 2008. The New Visual Artist Review introduces and profiles thirty of the most promising rising talents in graphic design, advertising, illustration, digital media, photography and animation - all under the age of thirty. The competition is by invitation only with entrants being nominated by art directors, designers, critics and industry professionals. In the article, Emily Gordon writes, "Grosch walks a cheerfully nonchalant line between cute and cool, using [...] a menagerie of whimsical imagery."
Always the 'class artist,' Eleanor began developing her style, and a fascination for animals, in her early teens. "I'd draw during class and then more when I got home," she remembers. One thing that hasn't always been constant has been her confidence in pursuing art as a profession. In an interview with Philadelphia Magazine, Eleanor recalls hearing a professor say, "'In five years, only one person in this room will be making a living doing art." As a fledgling art student, Eleanor remembers thinking, 'It's not going to be me.' She jokes that, "My big goal was, 'I hope one day I get a chance to make something for someone for free.'" Since then, Eleanor has learned that a confidence in your work is essential. "You have to have good self-esteem about your work. Assuming someone's going to like you is a good start."
Shortly after graduating from art school, Eleanor landed her first gig illustrating and designing a poster for the Orpheum in Tampa, Florida. "I used to dance there, and I remember seeing my poster up for the first time!," she says "What a thrill!!" The design was for the first of many band posters, the sum of which ultimately caught the attention of an editor at Nylon Magazine. Since then, her work has appeared in magazines, books, products and packaging, as well as in corporate advertising campaigns. Eleanor has worked with clients such as Keds, The San Diego Zoo, Oxfam, Starbucks, Chronicle Books, Land of Nod, Urban Outfitters, and Shutterfly.
Eleanor's first experience with licensing was when Keds launched a line of her shoes in 2006. Modeled in print ads by Mischa Barton, known for her role on the TV series The OC, the shoes flew off the shelves and Eleanor Grosch as an art brand had arrived with a splash. Since then, her work has appeared on a variety of licensed products, from Giro helmets and Alien Workshop snowboards, to wall art for Muralstick and stationery for Marian Heath and Tiny Prints. Her gulf-inspired luggage tags for Zehno also appeared in Print Magazine's 2011 Regional Design Annual. Sale of Eleanor's tags benefitted the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, a non-profit organization that advocates for Louisiana's wetlands.
Marian Heath recently released a line of nine glitter-embellished greeting cards featuring Eleanor's artwork, which they describe as featuring her "smart, hip aesthetic and trademark graphic style." Her feathered friends are on trend in the UK as well, with seagulls and skimmers appearing on Printermakers cards by the publisher Art Angels. The biggest volume of card designs can be found at Tiny Prints with dozens of print-on-demand custom stationery and card products.
In addition to her work as an illustrator, Eleanor also runs Pushmepullyou Design, an online shop selling art prints, t-shirts, accessories, and housewares. Inspired by Dr. Dolittle's two-headed llama, the name 'Pushmepullyou' captures Eleanor's love of animals and her whimsical sense of humor. For all things Eleanor, from greeting cards and magnets to wallets and tote bags, visit http://www.merchline.com/pushmepullyou/.
Eleanor's work has also been featured in Grain Edit, Design*Sponge, Philadelphia Style, Philly Mag, NYLON Magazine, and The Art of Modern Rock. Eleanor has been a guest speaker at the 2010 HOW Design Conference and at Dallas AIGA. Eleanor is also a recipient of the PETA Libby Award, which is awarded for the quality of animal-friendly products as well as the nominee's enthusiasm for animals.
Wherever she looks, Eleanor is drawn to clean lines and striking colors. To see more of her work, visit www.justeleanor.com.
Click here for downloadable items - desktop wallpapers and a high-res printable letter sized promo.
Q&A with Eleanor Grosch
Use three words to describe your style. Simple, bold, colorful
What is a typical work day like for you? How do you portion off your time? I usually start at 8 with a nice breakfast and then get right to it; I find I'm most productive in the morning. Then I gotta move around a bit so I clean the house for about 30 minutes or go to the gym. Afternoons I usually need a break also, so I watch some TV for another 40 minutes or so in-between working. I try to stop at 5PM these days, but I find that I'll often draw something in the evening.
A genie grants you three wishes. What do you wish for? Probably a quick-travel system of some sort, slightly longer hotter legs, and a never-ending income stream for my Mom so she could retire right away.
What is your ideal assignment? Anything where I get a solid concept. I love the challenge of conceptual thinking. You're dressed like a mime on the front page of your website. What's the story behind that? That came from a fun photo shoot with my friend, photographer Brae Howard. I think I've always loved mime makeup, so we went for a couple of shots with that look and it turned out to be my favorite photo. Plus, it makes me look fun, which I think I am most of the time!
What's the best way to get over a creative block? Do something completely unrelated - take a bike ride, do something physical. It usually straightens me out really well.
What's one tip you have for other creative professionals? Never, ever, stop making your work. Someone will like it eventually! I think the people who "make it" are those with staying power.
What is your favorite part of living and working in Philadelphia? I love the small, cute scale of the city. It's bike-able and walkable and has lots of the cool things that NYC has but in a cheaper and less tiring way. I'm just not cut out for a place like NYC, so it's nice to live in a city where there's a slower pace.
If you were reincarnated as an animal, which animal would you be? Definitely a flightless bird. Probably an ostrich - big legs, long neck, fidgety. I've even been dressing like a female bird more and more lately: beige, gray, brown - dull colors for safety.
Do you have a favorite movie? For the past 10 years, it's been The Fugitve. We'll see if something tops that...
I hear that you're also a trapeze artist. How did you get started? Is it hard to balance your passion for trapeze with your illustration career? N/A - I quit since I was so awful at it!
What are some sites you have bookmarked in your browser? I love my brother's blog: www.lifeisrealgood.com - he's biking around SE Asia right now. Sounds very cool but very tiring and difficult. I love his writing style; it's super funny with short sentences. Also, catalog-choice, an opt-out service for those annoying catalogs companies keep sending us all.
Do you listen to music while you work? What's the best and worst type of music for getting things done? No, I usually watch TV or have silence. Music, for me, is better for home-repair jobs. Sundays I get my little groove on to R&B while I'm painting or fixing or cleaning. So fun!
If you could be anything besides an illustrator, what would you be? I would love to be a smart computer person or someone who does hard physical labor part time. Or maybe a house cleaner? I'm really good at cleaning.
What is your ideal studio like? It's my couch!
Eleanor Grosch has released a line of three cards - Shallows, Wild Cheetah and Gull - with UK-based stationery company, Art Angels. The cards are part of the Printmakers series, which uses art from original artist screenprints. They are sold in packages of six and include buff-colored envelopes.
Eleanor Grosch's cover for Computerworld Magazine features a green leaf as a motherboard. The sleek and simple metaphor visualizes what it means to be "Hardwired to be Green."
Eleanor Grosch's Gulf-inspired luggage tags for full-service marketing firm, Zehno, were recently featured in Print's 2011 Regional Design Annual. The tags were part of a holiday promotion for Zehno's clients and friends with a donation to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana being made in honor of all recipients. The luggage tags can be seen in the December 2011 issue of Print magazine. Congratulations go out to Eleanor and everyone at Zehno!
Eleanor Grosch is thrilled about her upcoming line of greeting cards with Marian Heath and they must be just as excited as she was a featured artist on their recent market mailer (including the splash page for their website) and was profiled on the Marian Heath Facebook page last month.
This January, they will release a collection of nine greeting cards featuring Eleanor's smart, hip aesthetic and trademark graphic style. With foil and glitter embellishments, these cards measure 5 x 5 inches, making it hip to be square!
Eleanor Grosch's popular Love Birds print was featured in a recent issue of Philadelphia magazine in a section about home decor and Philadelphia-based artists.
New from Wedding Paper Divas, the Beautiful Love Save-the-Date cards feature Eleanor Grosch's iconic lovebirds set against a sweet pink heart and nestled in the center of a tree. The curving branches and graphic leaves form a round silhouette, complimenting the card's unique circular die-cut.
Modern Nest is a recently released set of Baby Shower invitations from Tiny Prints featuring the contemporary bird design that Eleanor has become known for. The clean shapes and bold pops of color make this card a terrific option for the modern mom-to-be!
Eleanor Grosch is thrilled to be featured on Philadelphia website, Philly.com. In her interview with Caroline Tiger, Eleanor shares all sorts of interesting tidbits about her career, crediting a plush seal she favored as a child for her lifelong fascination with animals and an ex-boyfriend who first encouraged her to submit her work to a popular design website for her current success as an illustrator. Click here to read the entire interview.
Photo courtesy of Ron Tarver.
Eleanor Grosch was recently commissioned to create this adorable ABC photobook for Shutterfly. Her graphic animals and bold embellishments allow you to preserve your child's most cherished moments in an inspiring, playful format that is sure to be treasured for years. Shutterfly is one of the leaders in digital scrapbooking, allowing you to upload your own photos to create unique stationery items which are then delivered straight to your door. The photobook is bound and printed in the U.S. using the highest standards for paper and printing and recently won Shutterfly the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for the best website for photobooks.
Eleanor Grosch recently created pet-themed patterns for a special issue of STIR magazine, a Sherwin-Williams publication for architects and interior designers.
Grosch's art was featured alongside an article about consumers' growing taste for custom design materials -- from upholstery to wallpaper to flooring. Digital textile printing companies like Spoonflower and Fabric on Demand market their ability to create anything from bacon-inspired patio furniture to greyhound-themed wallpaper, color-picked to match Fido's favorite chew toy.
