An independent art studio just outside of Asheville, NC, Singing River Studios showcases a love of the natural world in playful mixed-media collage and photography. The author/artist behind the studio sells her "artistic affirmations" as cards and prints on Etsy and her website.
I provided editorial and book design for "Tell Me Something Good, Volume 2," her second published anthology of photography, poetry, and mixed media art. The artist sent me the visual art and poems, which I arranged using InDesign. She gave me freedom to creatively arrange the different elements, as long as the photographs remained the focal point. I isolated portions of the images in Photoshop so I could layer the photos and poetry together, mimicking the layers in her collage work. I also wrote some lettering and poems by hand in Procreate to add variety and lend intimacy to the design.
To accompany the new book release, the author wanted to update her SquareSpace website with new content and a fresh design. The old site was a little confusing to navigate, originally created just to promote and sell the first book she published. She wanted a design that could flexibly showcase her studio work and sell multiple types of media.
The new design is easier to use and better reflects the author's sense of style. Dark blues and browns allow the artist's work to shine while avoiding a sterile, black and white design. The typefaces -- which I also used in the book -- create a sense of whimsy and intimacy. The site's banners and backgrounds frequently make use of the artist's photography. The idea was to make the website as much of an art piece itself as a place to sell/ showcase art.
