Fresh in the Shop: Notes for Random Folks

Halle Cisco is a Portland-based designer, illustrator and educator. She recently printed these quirky Scout Books and we liked them so much they’re now available here in the Friends section of the Scout Books shop! Halle shared her thoughts on the process of creating Notes for Random Folks. Be sure to check out the amazing interior shots of this Scout Book; the glory lies in the inside.

I was never formally trained as an artist or a designer. It was just something that has always been in me. I was constantly drawing and making things for as long as I can remember and still make cards and gifts for friends.

What’s your favorite type of creative work to do?

Since I am on a computer all day, I like to take a break and make things by hand. My favorites are letterpress, screen printing and of course ink drawings. The process makes me slow down and really think about my work. For my illustrations, I do sometimes go back to the computer to color them digitally.

What’s the idea behind Notes for Random Folks?

I like to create studies of people and animals, the more the better. When I began drawing Random Folks, I was on a mission to draw as many people as I could at the time… and ended up with a sketchbook full of them.

The people in this Scout Book are amazing. Are any of them based off of real-life people?

People have been a consistent part of my artwork, some made up and some based on people in my life. They are not completely accurate representations, but do have some of their characteristics.