I Love Letters

No, not the kind you get in the mail. I’m talking about the alphabet baby. I started doodling words and names when I was younger. My school notebooks became portable galleries for my experimental letterforms and sketches.  I left only minimal space for note taking of course.

Growing into the graphic design profession, I’ve really taken that interest and branched into calligraphy, stylized typography and hand-lettering.

Illustrating quotes has become a great way to practice this skill. When thinking about my next quote illustration, I try to choose quotes that I can personally relate to. And do my damnedest to avoid all those clique expressions of “reaching for the sky” and “never give up on your dreams.” Barf, right?

If I’m struggling to find a great quote, I focus on well-known people that I find interesting, eccentric, beautiful. People like Julia Child who inspires me in the kitchen everyday or Hunter S. Thompson who makes me feel like it’s perfectly ok to be a little “off.”

From there, I start sketching with pencil, considering the mood of the statement. The way you illustrate the quote is of just as much importance as the quote itself.

If want to see more of my illustrated quote posters, check out the Etsy shop.

Cheers,
Biebs

Hungry? Build Your Own Burger

Well, I can officially cross off one of my 2015 Bucket List items.

3. Launch a Kickstarter Campaign

Today, is the official start day of the “Build Your Own Burger” Poster Design Campaign. Pledge your support to make this Limited Edition print come to life. You’ll get your choice of a tasty Burger Poster!

I used pencil, ink and watercolor to create illustrations of popular burger components. The artwork was then digitized and made-ready for print production.

Click here to view the campaign. Check it out today!

FREE Illustrated Typography Wallpapers for YOU!

You really need these illustrated wallpapers. Why?

Because they’re awesome.
Because they’re created by hand.
Because they’re FREE!

Various versions and sizes available below. Enjoy!
Check us out on Facebook – LIKE US for a chance to win a printed typography poster!

Click to Download High-Def Desktop 1366×768

Click to Download Standard Desktop 1024×768

Click to Download iPhone 640×1136

Click to Download Tablet 1024×1024

Click to Download High-Def Desktop 1366×768

Click to Download Standard Desktop 1024×768

Click to Download iPhone 640×1136

Click to Download Tablet 1024×1024

Click to Download High-Def Desktop 1366×768

Click to Download Standard Desktop 1024×768

Click to Download iPhone 640×1136

Click to Download Tablet 1024×1024

Bieber Design is now available on Etsy!

I’m excited to announce that I’ve launched my Etsy store!

Currently, all of the hand-illustrated quote poster prints are available for $25 (11×14″). They would make excellent one-of-a-kind gifts or artwork pieces for your home/office.

Soon, I’ll be adding a few original paintings for 30% off the gallery price, so stay tuned!

Check out Bieber Design on Etsy!

What If I Fall?

I just finished up a new hand-lettered typography poster last night. As I finished it and was harshly critiquing it from a distance (as I do with all of my work) – it suddenly occurred to me. Why did I choose this quote? I admittedly spent far too much time perusing the internet in search of the next quote I wanted to letter. After compiling a long list of possible subjects, I picked this one. It was actually the first one I wrote down.

It occurred to me that the reason I chose this quote had a lot more to do with how I was feeling emotionally – not just the letter count, the word flow or any other design aesthetic reasoning. “What if I fall?” I’ve asked myself that question so many times. Not in those specific words. But to be truly candid, as an artist, I am incredibly insecure. What if no one likes this painting? What if this design isn’t good enough? What if I can’t do it?

I think the insecurity all stems to the root of what design and art is. When an artist paints or a designer designs, they are pulling from an internal source of inspiration and creativity. They are pulling a part of themselves out and displaying it to the world. To be judged. To be criticized. To be hated or to be loved. Art is personal.

“Oh, but my Darling, what if you fly?” I love this. When I find myself wavering, question or swimming in self-doubt, I remember that you’ll never fly unless you confront the fear of falling. Another wise person once said that if you don’t make something that someone hates, no one will ever love it. So let the haters hate, because “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” (Hint Hint, that’s probably going to be the next poster in this series).

Facebook Giveaway: Because Every Likes Free Stuff

I like to create stuff, people like to win stuff – It’s a WIN-WIN!

The Art of Illustrated Typography

I have an entirely unhealthy obsession with typography. I love it. This would explain why my online shopping cart never contains clothing or jewelry, cosmetics or the like. It contains fonts. All kinds of fonts-  scripts, serifs, blocks, calligraphy… Actually when I think about it having a font library is a lot like your wardrobe. You have to choose the right outfit for the occasion and a good selection is essential.

It’s nothing new for a designer to be obsessed with typography. It comes with the territory. But as an artist, I’m exploring ways that I can combine my love of typography with my physical work. To begin this exploration, I’ve started a series of illustrated quote posters. I wanted to choose quotes that aren’t your run-of-the-mill cliques – “Keep Calm and Carry On” type of stuff. I selected quotes from a few people that have captivated me, a sort of eclectic bunch.

Here are the first 7 posters from the series:

Quote from Walt Disney

Quote from Julia Child

Quote from Henry David Thoreau

Quote from William Wirt – but chosen because it’s the favorite quote of my best friend.

Quote from Hunter S. Thompson

Another quote from Hunter S. Thompson

1961 Song by The Shirelles

Only 3 of the 7 posters are left at the Gallery so I better get to it! I’ve got some good ideas brewing!

A Fun Alternative to a Wedding Guest Book

If a traditional guest book is just not your style, consider getting a custom Guest Book Tree from Bieber Design Wedding!

Instead of having your guests sign their names in a book you’ll probably just stash away and never look at again, they use an ink pad to stamp their thumbprints onto the branches of a hand-illustrated tree – then sign their name by their print.

Many brides will choose an ink color to coordinate with their wedding colors. The leaves don’t have to be green – think purples, pinks or blues! Gorgeous!

Each and every Guest Book Tree is hand-illustrated so you can be sure that yours is truly one-of-a-kind. You can choose the lettering style, ink pad color and even add unique details to your tree.

Here are a few of the different lettering styles you can choose from or work with the designer to match one to your personal style.

If you’re getting married or know someone that is, check out Bieber Design Wedding!

The Daily Sketch: First Episode

Alright folks, as promised, today I will begin The Daily Sketch project. Every Sunday, I’ll post the week’s list of sketching topics.
Then commit to sketching whatever comes to mind with that topic for at least 10-15 minutes each day.

Should you choose to accept this mission, you may sketch along privately, or share them with Sarah Bieber Design on Facebook or Tweet them to #TheDailySketch @Bieber_Design

Ok, enough small talk, let the creative sparks fly.

THE DAILY SKETCH: EPISODE ONE
Monday 12.29.2014. Day One. Houses
Tuesday 12.30.2014. Day Two. Fast Food
Wednesday 12.31.2014. Day Three. Birds
Thursday 1.1.2015. Day Four. Super Heroes
Friday 1.2.2015. Day Five. Mr. Potato Head

FREE Printable Hand-Drawn Holiday Gift Tags

With all the illustrations I’ve been doing lately, I’m finding myself wanting to hand-drawn everything. Admittedly, I’ve spent entirely too much time “illustrating” my grocery list. Anyway, as I was finishing up my Christmas wrapping the other day, the thought occurred to me that this was the perfect opportunity to illustrate something that might be of some use to someone, besides myself at the grocery store. I hope you enjoy these hand-drawn gift tags that you can print from home! Happy Holidays!

Click here to download the printable PDF: 2014 Holiday Gift Tags