Just a little something I saw in Austin Kleon’s book, Show Your Work 🙂
Good advice for social media, art & life!
I’ve been drying a couple of sprigs from the garden in my studio and Burl Ives came to mind this morning! Happy Wednesday!
No, watercolor painting is ALL I’ve been doing this summer! I thought it might be good to share some of the client work that has recently launched. This is my fourth year to have the opportunity to design the New South Weekends design suite for the Starkville Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Fall series centers around annual Friday evening events held during Mississippi State University home game weekends.
This year, I wanted to design something that had a very “college football” look, but also a little edgy to follow some of the flavor of the Starkville brand we’ve established. I went on a search for vintage football imagery for inspiration – very fun. I ended up taking an illustration from a 1938 Amhearst College football program that I found in the public domain, and giving it a more maroon (go Dawgs!) and modern feel. Here’s a look at the vintage illustration and a couple of the 2014 New South Weekends pieces. I hope to see you in Starkville this Fall for some of the great events!
[1938 Amherst College Football Program]
[2014 New South Weekends Poster – Starkville, MS]
[Mobile Site Graphics]
I think I’ll always associate this quote with Robin Williams because of how inspiring it was in the movie, Dead Poets Society. Since this day is all we have and we will never get it back, let’s make the most of it!
Freehand lettering is sometimes a work in progress. I drew light pencil top & bottom guidelines, and I did a little more photoshop work on this one. Mainly, the sizing of “seize the day” was off and I didn’t have room for all the letters on the painting. So, I fixed that a bit before posting — just a little behind-the-scenes confession 🙂
Good morning, Monday! I’m getting started with a new adventure for the Fall this morning. I’ve been wanting to experiment with more watercolor lettering, both freehand and more tailored, so I’m trying to add that to my morning routine. I’m calling it “Morning Letters,” and I hope to share some of the adventure (and to hold myself accountable for this new discipline).
We started school last week, and my first-grader has been telling me that she gets to draw and color before they begin morning work each day. What a concept! I know in my own routine, just doing something with my hands to put marks on a page seems to jumpstart my creativity and get my brain thinking about possibilities. Â So, here goes!
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.
NEED A FROG KISSER?
Phone: 662.312.4001
Contact Haley to dive in