22 Wednesday May 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
Did this one on one of those nights when drinking coffee and listening to good music while back. These will make great birthday presents. Posters of individual defects available printed on French Archive Matte 200g 8.5 by 11. Super bright colors. For inquiries, contact info@elsora.com.
10 Wednesday Apr 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
Nobody wants you. Except if you are a princess of course.
Working on a fabulous kid´s book project – very creative one and it gives me endless artistic freedom (is that a good or a bad thing?). And of course, more will be reviled – soon. 
06 Saturday Apr 2013
Posted in Animals, Design, Illustrations, Patterns
Finally, finally I designed a pattern! I haven’t really done any computer work for 10 months due to hypersensitivity to electricity or EMF sensitivity (crap situation if you’re a designer) and that is a tough one to recover from, but I am well on my way to good health again. I’ve almost forgot how to use the Adobe products let alone how to use this blog!
This pattern was made from a drawing I did on a paper bag while ago, and it found its way on my blog. You can tell I am always inspired by beautiful California, where I live. You will be hearing & seeing from me more and more from here on. Happy summer!
17 Wednesday Oct 2012
Posted in Design, Illustrations
Finally got better images shot by a professional of the interior space of San Francisco Travel Center at 900 Market st. Overall, great interior work by Gensler and yes, definitely very juicy and orange illustrations.
06 Monday Aug 2012
Posted in Illustrations
Tags
Realistically, I think these prints would be ideal wedding presents, and would look nice on any wall, in nice frames, as an inspiration and maybe a great reminder.
They are for sale for $15 each, and measure 8.5 by 11 in. ( 21.6 cm by 28cm). They are signed and printed on durable 310g Canson Rag paper and shipped in a hardcover sleeve. Email me for inquiries at info@elsora.com
28 Saturday Jul 2012
Posted in Design, Illustrations
I went to SF Visitor Center yesterday with my friend Frida, for a quick look of my first public exposure, couple of illustrations of five famous Painted Ladies and a graphic representation of San Francisco. It was quite an experience to see my work from a computer screen, to a wall graphic. Nevertheless, well worth the visit. The images are rather embarrassing, but thanks to my Iphone I have at least some evidence of this.
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Illustrations, Patterns
I love patterns and their possibilities, that are in my opinion, limitless. Much of my patterns are inspired by my surroundings, whatever may get my attention each and every time.
This one was however, not inspired by daily walks or trip out of town. It was intended as a spread for a magazine but was never used. I think it would look very cool as a gift wrapping paper, or even a wall graphic in a public restroom.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Another piece I illustrated while back, inspired by a great short story about music, (who doesn’t love music?) with lots of different types of drums.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
Posted in Illustrations, Patterns
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I did this personal three panel piece in 2008, yet to be silk screened, while watching the presidential elections. Been moving on greatly since then in my personal and professional life, there are elements to be added. For example, one of the things that I am very proud of, is that I am playing the guitar now, and doing pretty good, considering I’m on day 21 today.
I’m packing down my guitar for a camping trip to the Redwoods and I can’t wait, especially for the fact that I now can play few folk songs, including some Johnny Cash songs.
11 Wednesday Jul 2012
Posted in Animals, Design, Illustrations
For the past month I´ve developed an extreme sensitivity for light and electricity. That basically means that the computer is an absolute no no, and so is the iphone, TV and all other artificial light and the sunlight. At times I´ve had to wear a scarf wrapped around my eyes and stay in bed. Not fun and very scary at times. Then, thankfully, the day came that it started to subside and still is. I am far from being back to normal from this yet, but this is my first blog post that I´ve done in about 5 weeks. I was working on my first children´s book project when this hit me, but I really like it and will continue on it when better. This story is about a little girl who has the ability to talk to the animals.
04 Monday Jun 2012
I´m often asked if I know this or that program as a designer.
I do. I took my first Photoshop lesson in 1996. Illustrator followed when I faced my vector fears about a year later. I´ve been using them ever since and I love those tools, but I see a lot of horror out there and I´ve been there, done my share.
Despite many easy options to manipulate graphic elements, the computer tools can´t hide the obvious lack of experience. Overused and overly manipulated graphic design is everywhere. Many of those graphic overdoers don´t know that there are even more options that the computer can´t do.
So. Here is the thing that is good for you if you tend to overdo it in Photoshop and if you truly hate and are embarrassed by your stuff (and its a possibility that you should listen to your little inner voice in that respect)
De-Photoshop yourself and focus on it for a while. Find a sheet of paper, print out some nice text on it (in my case I used the text “The Obscene Typographic Machine” by Philp Meggs). Print out few copies and make something with it. Photograph it and then see if you can build it in Photoshop like the photograph. If you can, go your merry way and keep on using your Photoshop skills with dignity. I´ll promise I won´t bitch about it.
01 Friday Jun 2012
Posted in Design
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An important ritual before I start a new project is to clean my desktop. I found some logos there I’d done in the past, for others and some are for my own projects. No better place to exhibit them then right here on this spot.
01 Friday Jun 2012
Posted in Design, Illustrations
24 Thursday May 2012
Posted in Design
Tags
In 2005 (feels like a long long time), when going to graduate school. It was most of the time tough, sometimes inhumane! Sleepless nights, loneliness, stress. Most of the classes were rigorous and demanding, except Book Arts class on Wednesdays. There we could go and make books of all sorts. Loved it. An oasis is the graduate desert.
There was this overwhelming urge to express yourself and the opportunity presented itself through books.
I’m really not sure what was going on in my mind while doing this book, but I had an eye for accidental street art. And in San Francisco you can find plenty of that. And honestly, it brings back good memories from The Mission in SF, where I lived.
19 Saturday May 2012
I apologize. Truly. I´ve been busy, and that is good!
In the meantime WordPress made some significant changes to the interface of my blog. Friends broke up. Someone had a baby. Thousands of status updates on FB. Well, that only means that I´ve been away for too long.
Thankfully, I remember why I started this blog. To keep my creative energy going, because after all, I draw inspirations from all around me. And I keep on doing that and post it here.
I wanted to create this pattern for a long time. The sketch has been sitting in a sketchbook for almost four years. And finally, after flipping through it, I proceeded. I love the bell-shaped flowers from this otherwise not to elegant brush/tree, and then it decides to bloom in the fall… and the flowers are the most gorgeous ones and they hang on for over a month for me to enjoy.
Posted by Elsora Draws | Filed under Uncategorized
16 Wednesday May 2012
Posted in Illustrations, Uncategorized
Who doesn’t love FREE?
I am giving away free downloadable illustration of Iceland Poppies. Yes, I did say FREE! It is large enough for you to decide on size, in a nice res. All you need is a printer, a sheet of paper and you don’t even have to stand up from your computer. They are going to look so beautiful in a nice frame, I promise!
03 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in Illustrations, Patterns
I am in constant awe of the transformation that takes place every day. It´s been a wonderful spring. Glad I´m walking in it. Dandelions are growing everywhere. And the pink pattern is derived from a plant that grows so happily in a pot outside of The Sports Basement, that happens to be my next door neighbor. More to come.
22 Thursday Mar 2012
Posted in Animals, Illustrations
I made illustrations of about 20 plants and living creatures, that are found around me, here in the hills and the open spaces. Then, I decided to open an Etsy shop in the beginning of March, for the heck of it, print my illustrations from home and sell it. In the meantime, I worked on couple of large interior illustrations for Gensler in San Francisco.
And now since that is done, I am going to turn my thoughts to maybe slightly different subject, such as geometric/organic patterns or city scenes, but it will be a subject that is a source of inspiration on a day to day basis.
16 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Spring is in the air. I´ve been taking walks every day, through seasons. Passing ducks, frogs, birds of all kinds. Been four months since my stroke and these little guys are my life savers, they keep my attention away from me, and what I´ve been trough and most of the time I don´t even want to think about it.
Today has been rainy. A lot of rain finally, and the trees and the plants are happy.
12 Monday Mar 2012
Posted in Design, Illustrations
Cleaning out my design closet. Some of it, has become pretty outdated, in fact, quite embarrassing. Other stuff, I find really neat like this illustration for an article about a clothing – obsessive girl in SF, for an online publication in San Francisco. 
