Shea Cadrin Graphic Design & Illustration

The Boston Tree Party ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ New Work

No updates lately because I’ve been busy traveling up and down North America, getting ready for my move to Austin, TX to work at Thirteen23, and designing the identity for an awesome organization: The Boston Tree Party. The site launched yesterday, so go check it out!

About the project: “The Boston Tree Party is a collaborative campaign to plant 100 pairs of heirloom apple trees in civic spaces across Greater Boston. As an urban agriculture project, the campaign creates vital gathering places, builds community connections, and improves community health. As a conceptual art project, the Boston Tree Party engages with metaphor and symbolism, and playfully reimagines patriotic and political language, imagery, and forms of association. And as a symbolic political act, the project takes a stand for universal access to fresh, healthy food; for greening our cities; cleaning our air and waterways; reducing our city’s carbon footprint; creating habitat for urban wildlife; and for protecting the biodiversity and heritage of our food.”

Keep your eyes open for more cool things from the Boston Tree Party, coming soon!

Link to The Boston Tree Party in my portfolio.

Holiday Cards ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Illustration

two color linoleum block print

Had a great time block printing my holiday cards this year and loved playing with different inking techniques.

Thought this texture created by reusing the ink from an already used block was pretty cool.

Sorry if I wasn’t able to mail you one. The project was subsidized by my mother with the agreement that the majority of them go to family.

Not a Hand Turkey ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles⁞⁞⁞ Illustration⁞⁞⁞ Thoughts

sharpie on tracing paper, colored in photoshop

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday of the year for the sheer fact that it forces us to do nothing but eat, drink, and hang out with family, but it’s also a reminder that there are two sides to every story, and the one we’re all accustomed to may not be the most realistic version. Check out this article deconstructing the myths behind the holiday and a suppressed speech from Wamsutta James to get you thinking.

But then get off the computer and go be grateful!

Things I Find ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Photos

Totally hopping on the “Things Neatly Organized” train. These are some things I’ve found during the past few months.

snail shells from Mashpee-Wakeby Pond

all from various beaches on Cape Cod, Long Island, and Brittany (France): bird skull, shells, fossilized shark tooth

rosary & heart charm from parents' attic / feathers, key, and playing card from woods / piece of door from friends' house in DC

Things I Like: “The Nine Eyes of Google Street View” ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

Artist Jon Rafman has one of the best collections of images found in Google Street view, and they’re definitely worth checking out. The photos range from artistic and beautiful to bizarre and sad, but all are captivating and left me happy to live in such a strange world. Read Rafman’s essay on the project here.

via yewknee

“The fathers may soar, and the children may know their names.” ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles⁞⁞⁞ Illustration

detail, pencil on paper, colored & collaged in photoshop

title from Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison

Things I Like: The Work of Ryan Mosley ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

Ryan Mosley, "George and the Dragon", 2007

I had the opportunity to quickly visit London last week and was able to stop at the Saatchi Gallery to check out the “Newspeak: British Art Now” Show. There were a lot of great artists represented, but my favorite by far was the painter Ryan Mosley. His work is playful yet sinister, erotic yet childlike. The stories that are depicted evoke fairytale and folklore, but leave you wondering what’s actually going on (i.e. Tag Team). Check out more of his paintings at Saatchi here, although, if you get a chance, check them out in person. These photos don’t represent the obvious effort of painting, erasing, scraping, and more that goes into the works, nor Mosely’s subtle color choices.

Earth’s Eye ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles

photos of Mashpee-Wakeby Lake in Mashpee

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” —Henry David Thoreau

Thinking About the Immortality of the Crab ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles⁞⁞⁞ Illustration

Inspiration Tumblr ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

I’ve been trolling the internet too much lately and keeping track of the fun things I find via tumblr here. Been loving ruraldelia’s blog.

Things I Like: The Work of Hollis Brown Thorton ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

Love the work of Hollis Brown Thorton. I’m a huge fan of 70s wallpaper, permanent markers, and vintage photos, so it’s right up my alley. The work is whimsical, nostalgic, and just plain strange sometimes. Be sure to check out his flickr and if you’re really interested, he explains his pigment transfer process here.

“Hey pal, nice crazy notion, let’s go have a beer.” ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles

from "My Flamboyant Grandson" by George Saunders

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Doodles

Things I Like: Sailor’s Valentines by Gregg Roberts ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

The Cotuit Center for the Arts has a nautical-themed Americana Folk Art show up until July 25. There’s a lot of great stuff, but I’m loving the Sailor’s Valentines by local Cape artist, Gregg Roberts. It’s hard to tell in the photo, but these octagonal pieces are made entirely of tiny seashells and twine. Learn more about the craft, which dates back to the 1800s, or check out more of Roberts’ work here.

Things I Like: The Work of Dr. Lakra ⁞⁞⁞ Blog⁞⁞⁞ Things I Like

Dr. Lakra "Sin título / Untitled (Pedro Infante)," 2007.

At the ICA Boston right now: Dr. Lakra is a Mexican tattoo artist who draws over found images and objects. A lot of his work uses vintage pin-ups, but I love the ones that manipulate the pictures of politicians.

Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. The Charles LeDray show is equally impressive.