New Website! New News Blog!

It’s been a few years since I redesigned my website, and with a couple of new books coming out in early 2016, it seemed like a good time to spruce things up.

Ever since I launched my illustration career around six years ago, my news blog has been located at a separate url. Well, no longer. In an effort to enter the 21st century, I’ve now integrated a news section into my main site.

So when you’re wondering what in the world I might be up to, I hope you’ll redirect your attention there. Thanks for following me here over the years, and thanks for checking out my new site!

ny times: the picky eater who came to dinner

I have another piece in the Sunday New York Times—this time in the Sunday Styles section. The story is about how difficult it is to entertain these days with all the restrictive diets Americans impose upon themselves. You can read the full article here.

Just for the record, I’ll eat everything pictured, aside from the milk and table settings. 

a very worthy cause

I finished a painting today that I’m really happy with...and guess what? It could be yours.

For the third year in a row, I am participating in “Postcards from the Edge,” a show and sale of original postcard-sized art to benefit Visual AIDS. Emerging and established artists contribute works on paper, all priced at $85, that are hung in an egalitarian exhibition at a Chelsea gallery. Each work is signed on the back. Meaning: buyers—if they know what they’re looking for—could walk away with an original piece by the likes of William Wegman, Kara Walker, Yoko Ono, or [*a-hem*] Anna Raff. (No spoilers here, sorry; you’ll have to guess about my imagery. Hint: it’s not a bird.)

The Preview Party is Friday, January 6, 2012. For more information, visit the “Postcards from the Edge” website.

the last day of ornithoblogical (almost)!

A little over a year ago, I created a project for myself that I wasn’t certain I could finish. 366 birds later, today’s image marks the last posting of Ornithoblogical on a daily basis. At noon, resolution (seen here at left) will go live along with a heartfelt missive to fans.
It has been a great journey, and a lot of fun for me. Until further tweetings, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

365 write up

The birds of Ornithoblogical got a nice mention yesterday in the blogosphere. Artist Noah Scalin, creator of his own 365 project Skull-A-Day, and author of “365: A Daily Creative Journal” posted a nice selection of my bird images. You can see his blog, and explore other projects by people as crazy as me here.

ornithoblogical news

The birds of Ornithoblogical are pleased to announce the publication of Ornithoblogical: Selections from the Showcase of 365 Birdies on My Brain. Featured in this 7" square paperback are 22 illustrations from the first part of this year (hence “volume one”) including such favorites as “Swami,” “Scribe,” and on the cover, “Dot the Chicken.” Take a look at a preview of the book by clicking here.

Also this week, birds-watchers have been flocking to the new Ornithoblogical Facebook page to share the love. If you are on Facebook, and would like to get highlights from the blog in your news feed, click here. Select the “Like” button next to the heading.

You can also subscribe to receive a bird each day by clicking the orange RSS feed button located on the upper left-hand corner of my bird blog home page.

I’ll be hatching more bird-related events in the coming weeks, including the “Bird Call for Entries,” a contest to celebrate the fast-approaching day 300 of this year-long project. And there will be prizes! Details coming soon...

illustrationmundo editor's favorite

For a little over a year, I have posted to illustrationmundo, a great online resource for illustrators and art directors for all things illustration. The other day, I was selected as an “Editor’s Favorite” by the site’s creator, illustrator Nate Williams. Needless to say, as a huge fan of Nate’s, I’m very pleased. You can share the love by going to the IM home page here, scrolling down the right hand column until you see my “Henna” image under my name and clicking on the heart. There is an incredible wealth of talent to peruse on illustrationmundo, so be sure to take a look around the site. Thanks Nate!

sva illustration as visual essay: “we tell stories”

Fresh off the dvd press is the new MFA Illustration as Visual Essay promotional video from the School of Visual Arts. Directed by Department Chair Marshall Arisman, “We Tell Stories” features several of the program’s past alumni. I am very proud to be among this illustrious (ha!) group which includes Nathan Fox, Yuko Shimizu, and Sam Weber.

I was also asked to design the new packaging, showcasing a gorgeous cover image by Steven Tabbutt, class of 2006. 

kiwi magazine - june/july 2010

Ever wondered how to corral a lime into submission? Hmmm....or maybe to instruct your child in the proper way to zest said lime? Well, look no further than the current issue of Kiwi Magazine (June/July 2010). Once again I’ve illustrated a series of spots for their “Cooking Class” section, in addition to the image for their back page essay (detail seen below).

And this week, I’m working on pieces for August/September, so it’s feeling a bit like fall here at annaraff.com these days. Published by the May Media Group, Kiwi can be found at Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.

ripple blog

Occasionally, I participate in IllustrationFriday, a website where illustrators share images on a given topic. This week is very special—we are doing our part to raise money to benefit wildlife effected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Ripple Blog was created by illustrator Kelly Light, as a place where artists can post images on the subject for sale as 2.5" x 3.5" “sketchcards.” Here’s what she says...

“[The sketchcards] will be made available for a small donation of $10.00 to either  The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies or The International Bird Rescue Research Center. I have no affiliation with them. Every penny will go. When the cards sell, We ask for a donation confirmation and [artists] will be asked to sign the back with a thank you...If we all do small acts together—we can cause a ripple—and it can grow. We can DO SOMETHING. Thank you, thank you for checking this out and thinking about it.”

I’m contributing one of my illustrations from “Ornithoblogical,” (titled, “Tastes Like Chicken”) that I posted the day before learning about Ripple.

think faest!

There’s more crowing going on amongst the birds at Ornithoblogical with their mention on the uber-hip Faesthetic blog yesterday. The nod comes from Dustin Hostetler curator/editor/ publisher of Faesthetic, “one of the best Art zines in the universe.” Just sayin’...

subtraction.com by khoi vinh

The birds at Ornithoblogical are all a-flutter with their write up on Subtraction.com yesterday, May 22nd. Subtraction is the blog of nytimes.com Design Director Khoi Vinh. Here’s a direct quote from the three-star rating:

“Every day this year, illustrator Anna Raff is posting a completely charming illustration of a bird to this blog. It’s 22 May already, so there a 144 drawings for you to peruse right now.”

Tweet!

featured on pikaland

Here’s a big shout out to one of my favorite blogs, Pikaland for featuring me and my bird blog, Ornithoblogical in a posting today!

In the words of editor/curator Amy Ng, “Pikaland is a blog about living the illustrated life.” If you’ve never visited it before, check it out. I’m thrilled to be in such great company!

picture-book.com portfolio

As part of my Portfolio Honor Award at SCBWI earlier this year, I won an online portfolio at picture-book.com, a source for publishers, authors, and art directors seeking children’s book illustrators.

Images are big and splashy, which is always good, and they have big online presence in the world of children’s publishing. Here’s a little preview of what you’ll see on my page. Click here and enjoy!

kiwi magazine - april/may 2010

Next time you’re in Whole Foods or Barnes & Noble, check out the current issue of Kiwi Magazine. In addition to the illustration for the back page essay, I did another series of spots for their “cooking class” section. This month, they’re teaching kids how to roll out pizza dough.

And just a few moments ago, I finished the cooking spots for their next issue—but more on that in a later posting.

mocca art festival 2010 - table G13

Come on down to the MoCCA Art Festival this weekend!

Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th, 11 AM—6 PM

69th Regiment Armory at Lexington and 26th St.

Table #G13

Every year comics lovers and creators converge at MoCCA to show their latest work. Once again this year, I’ll be sharing a table with the fabulous Sophia Wiedeman (featuring her latest comic, The Lettuce Girl—her best one yet, I think) and the extraordinary Dunja Jankovic. 

As for me, I’ve got a few new offerings. Hot off the presses (see above) is a book of selections from my daily bird image blog “Ornithoblogical” along with old favorites like The R. U. Fauna Department Store Catalog, Alphabetic Ballyhoos, and lots of handmade stationery, and more! And come pick up your official Ornithoblogical button. I hope to see you there!

happy national pencil day!

Certain humble holidays demand a little extra attention. Click here and be sure your volume is up. Enjoy!

100 top new creatives: cmyk magazine no. 46

Several months ago, I entered a few illustrations into CMYK Magazine’s “Top 100 New Creatives” competition. I was thrilled to learn that three of my editorial pieces were chosen (above right), and will be featured in issue no. 46, due to hit newsstands (Barnes & Noble, and other stores) on March 15th!

LCS-the illustration news portal

Yesterday, I was featured on the Little Chimp Society website and newsletter!

scbwi winter conference 2010

This weekend I attended the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators 2010 Winter Conference here in very wintery New York City. It was a marathon of seminars, speeches and interactions with other professionals in the field of children’s publishing. Some incredible authors and illustrators were there, such as Jane Yolen, Jacqueline Woodson, Peter Sís, Kevin Hawkes, the hilarious Jim Benton, and Paul Zelinsky. And best of all, I entered my portfolio in the illustrators’ competition and won 2nd prize! 

Now I’m really looking forward to a full night’s sleep. And then it’s time to make pictures again—no rest for the weary!