Fashion Illustrations and Wearable Art
These large format illustrations give the ideas and inspirations behind real wearable art piece that I created. Some of them are based on characters from books, some are created based on a specific plant or location.
This series of illustrations and art pieces were shown at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Various pieces were commissioned for events hosted by TED Global, Universal Records, and Autodesk. They have been worn in performances all over the US, Europe and Russia.
Hand-drawn Maps
Maps are a mild obsession. Over the past two years, I've started to create larger maps. Some of these correspond to stories and real life journeys, others were commissioned "life maps" that show places and events that have significant meaning to the owners. I like to think I am channeling monastic cartographers when I sit down for a long night of drawing. Luckily I have electricity and itunes.
Portraits | Pen & Pencil
Structures | Pen & Pencil
Analog Design
UnChronicled Explorations
The Unchronicled Explorations is a multimedia project consisting of photographs, illustrations, and maps, telling the fictional story of two female explorers. This project is a collaboration between Caitlin Strom and Missy Washington.
Last fall we were awarded residency with Jentel Foundation in Wyoming. We started a fundraiser for the art project and with a little love from friends and family, were able to spend a month this past spring traveling all over the beautiful state of Wyoming, setting up and shooting photographs, developing this concept and finally working on the initial plans for our book. We've released the first set of photographs on our website - www.unchronicledexplorations.com. All graphics, layouts and illustrations were created by me.
Packaging designs for Elizaveta
Poster designs, album artwork, illustrations and assemblage, merchandise and promotional materials.
Clients: Universal Records, Itunes, and Autodesk.
Packaging Design
Vintage inspired designs for Unchronicled Project. www.unchronicledexplorations.com. All photographs by Caitlin Lambstrom
Hand-Drawn Scientific Illustration
I studied proper anatomy (and physiology) with medical students for a few semesters. Creating detailed drawings made absorbing the nomenclature much easier.
Though graphic design is used almost exclusively for educational illustrations, hand-drawn diagrams and images are still close to my heart. It brings to mind the excitement that the first scientists like Alexander Humboldt must've had discovering new species.
SKETCHBOOKS
El Salvador
I developed an interest and relationship with El Salvador first during college as part of a relief mission, and second working with the Salvadoran community in Los Angeles.
During and after college I was a part of two trips to El Salvador. I organized art activities while our mission staff orchestrated dental clinics. It was on Salvadoran soil that I first learned about Monsieur Oscar Romero and the tragic civil war. Returning to school, I began studying Salvadoran history in detail. This book by Harry Mattison was a big inspiration and began my interest in war photography. Tons of research found its way into my sketchbooks. I ended up doing my final thesis on Salvadoran political history in the form of graphically painted, handmade ceramic tiles. The tiles were shown in New York, Virginia and recently again at Bergamot Station in Los Angeles.
By coincidence, when I moved to Los Angeles after school, I found myself working with the Salvadoran community in Echo Park. Many community members that I met were refugees from the civil war in the seventies, a tragic byproduct of the Cold War.
I was fortunate to learn about this beautiful country from quite a few perspectives. Documenting these impression in this book began a style of art that has stayed with me since.
A Year in Cambodia
From 08 to 09, I worked as the Communications Director for Aziza's Place, a nonprofit learning center for children from Phnom Penh’s landfill community. I returned again in 2010. At AP, I worked with 21 lively children. We went on field trips to draw local temples and one big 6-hour trip to Angkor Wat. Nothing could beat art class at those iconic temples with kids excited out of their minds to see this cultural pride that they had been hearing about all of their lives. I fell in love with Cambodia and its people. It's hard not to.
Kilimanjaro / Tanzania
If you like to suffer, I definitely recommend Kilimanjaro. Just kidding, it wasn't that bad. Climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. Totting my sketchbook up Kilimanjaro is one of the most not enjoyable things I’ve ever done! But I will admit that sketching and writing at night captured so many things that would’ve been fleeting or gone when we finally finished the mission and were cozy a sea level again.
If you want to read the whole story with photos, check it out here. I promise it's not a boring play by play.
