8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. I LOVE this crazy, knit chicken! It is part of the L’atitude Enfant series of stuffed animals, as are our other knit friends Don Gato and this cow. I bought it at Target for Sonja when I was about two minutes pregnant, having been waiting for an excuse. But Sonja is frustratingly diplomatic with her toys, and seems to select a new one or two each day to dote upon. She is working methodicly through our collection and has yet to show much interest in poor Louise. When Sonja was a newborn I would often waggle the chicken in front of her face, babbling in high-pitched french — maybe Louise has already had her moment in the sun.
Author: Jennifer At Your Toy Portrait
Stuffed Bear/Real Cat Challenge
9″x12″ acrylic, 2009. This was a very tough asignment! As a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, Jonathan asked that I paint a portrait of her childhood teddy bear next to her beloved, recently deceased cat. In order to keep the project secret, Jonathan was only able to provide me with blurry, tiny photos of each of them. We had a couple of discussions about relative scale, and then I just dove in and did my best. I hope that what might have gotten lost in the details comes through in spirit!
Hoo Hoo
5″x7″ oil, 2005. Our Sonja, who is almost two, is under the impression that owls and penguins are the same animal. She’s not as familiar with real owls and penguins as she is the abstract variations of illustration, animation, and toy design, so I guess it’s understandable. This little owl is one of a the elite group of toys who live in Sonja’s crib. She is extra interested in him right now because she likes Little Bear (the show and the books) and is convinced that Little Bear’s friend Owl can fly to the moon.
Knuffles
8″x10″ oil, 2004. Here is a “early” toy portrait that I painted several years ago of my sister’s childhood favorite, Knuffles. He was about 6″ high, I believe made by Gund, and pretty ambiguous about his species. There were many heated family discussions regarding what sort of animal he was… a cow? Hamster? Guinea pig? A nutria, even? His amorphous, squishy body made him a go-to living room battle projectile whenever the need for one arose.
Ellie
5″x7″ acrylic, 2010. A tiny portrait commissioned by Kara for her nephew Nici — Ellie T. Smith was bought by his grandmother at a Carter’s outlet when Nici was one, and is being immortalized in paint because she is already showing a lifetime of wear after only two years. Nici’s mother suggests that Ellie may embody some yin to the yang in Nici’s personality: she notes that one of her favorite photos of her is of Nici and his friend wearing baseball hats, and Nici is carrying Ellie. “I think she represents his sensitive side,” she writes. Kara made the poignant observation that, as Nici grows older and she looks back on his childhood, she will always think of Ellie. I love that this portrait has significance for the grownups too!
Iuppa
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. You may assume, because this is a painting of a stuffed dolphin, that those round things along side of it are supposed to be bubbles. But in fact they are pearl onions! Elizabeth, who commissioned this portrait for her husband, suggested that I work an onion or two into the picture. Her husband has had Iuppa the Dolphin since childhood, and when he was small he was really into pearl onions. One day when he was little, he told his parents that Iuppa was very upset. When they asked him what would make the dolphin feel better, he said, “Give him an onion!” I don’t think that would work for me, but what I guess there is a lot I don’t know about wildlife.
Pink Bunny
5″x7″ acrylic, 2009. When he commissioned this little painting as a gift for his girlfriend, Ben requested that in the portrait this bunny be restored somewhat to it’s former pinkness. She has had this much-loved toy since childhood, and in the photos provided it does indeed appear to be a worn-out white. So hopefully the rosey tinge to the fur in ths painting will bring back some nice memories!
Catherine’s Doll
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This little doll holds special significance to her family. “Dottie” is a small, soft doll that was given to Catherine by her grandmother shortly before she passed away. Catherine’s aunt, Mary, commissioned this painting as a Christmas gift for Catherine, and also to honor her mother’s last gift to her niece. I was lucky enough to get to get to be present when Catherine first saw the painting, and it was a thrill to see the recognition in her face!
Twinkles and Dusky
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This portrait of Twinkles the cat and Dusky the golden retriever were commissioned by Darby for her sister Annie. Annie was in on the project, and she shared some nice background info about these two. They have both been with her since childhood and through the lifetimes of several beloved pets, including two golden retrievers. She says that Dusky has been wonderful physical stand-in for her dogs whenever she can’t be with them (at college for example,), and is also an eternal reminder of how adorable they were as puppies. I had the pleasure of their company in my studio while I painted them (rather than photos) as Darby and Annie were kind enough to lend them to me.
Golly
5″x7″ acrylic, 2009. This little painting was covertly commissioned by my husband for his sister for Christmas. Golly, Kris’ childhood bear, now sits overlooking our 3-month-old nephew Kevin’s crib. Amid some extended family chaos, Greg and I abducted Golly and absconded to a bathroom to take pictures for me to work from. And in keeping with family tradition, no one has any explanation for Golly’s exclamatory name.