8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. My old friend Richard commissioned this portrait for his niece Evie. After the family experienced code red panic when Bug Bug went missing for several days recently, Richard thought it might be wise to immortalize Evie’s most significant toy in paint! The portrait will be a gift for Evie’s upcoming third birthday. But since Evie is described as “three going on thirteen,” I hope she’s not already to too cool for it!
Category: Custom Portraits
Katherine’s Bear
5″x7″ acrylic, 2010. The worn patches on this old bear are as important as any of his features, Katherine wrote me when we were discussing this portrait. I’m learning that how the wear and tear on a toy should be handled varies from painting to painting — some people prefer that the toy be “restored” for its portrait, and others treasure the aged, rubbed appearance as a testament to it’s loved-ness. Katherine has been sleeping with this bear for 27 years, it shows, and that’s awesome!
Duckie
9″x12″ acrylic, 2010. Emma is away at camp, but when she returns this week, this painting will be hanging in her room as a suprise from her parents! Emma’s mother Jennifer commissioned this portrait of “Duckie,” who I suspect might actually be a pelican… he’s a little ambiguous, but I love how kids see what they want to see in their toys! Below is a watercolor study I did from another of the many great photos Jennifer sent. I tucked it into the package as well — I intend to send any studies I make along with the main paintings from now on as a little bonus!
Roar, Monkey, and Blankie
5″x7″ acrylic, 2010. I can’t believe that this is the first sock monkey to come my way for a toy portrait! I hope there will be more! Monkey, Roar, and Blankie all belong to Sephanie’s son Graham, and this little painting is a gift for his upcoming birthday. Apparently there is no heirarchy among them, as Graham carries all three around the house all day and into bed each night. The blankie has its own voice, a bubbly, loopy, wordless language, and also a special spot on it which Graham insists is its “mouth.” What an imaginative kid!
Honey
8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. This blanket and stuffed dog named “Honey” are both objects of great importance from Georgia’s 25-year-old daughter’s youth. Georgia commissioned this portrait as a gift to honor her grown daughter’s favorite childhood things in a suitably adult way!
Retro Firetruck
8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. This awesome firetruck was purchased by Jon and Sarah as inspiration for the nursery decor for their soon-to-be-born second son. Sarah was the winner of the recent toy portrait giveaway on www.designmom.com, and this painting is one of two that made up that prize (check in tomorrow to see the other one!)
Pookey Bunny
8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. There is something so meta about a toy sporting a shirt with a picture of another toy on it! This painting was commissioned by Peter for his wife as a fifth anniversary gift. Pete bought the bear for her when they had been dating for a year, and it has since become, as he very eloquently put it, part of their “shared mythology.” They have a baby on the way, and the painting will hang in their nursery!
Panda
5″x7″ acrylic, 2010. This panda portrait was commissioned by very thoughtful friend Angie for Louise’s 40th birthday. And yes, that is a hospital band around his wrist! When Louise’s panda lost an eye and began to come apart at the seams he was sent off to a “teddy bear hospital.” He is surely deserving of such care, as this toy has been a source of comfort to Louise throughout a childhood that was rather frought with illness. As a newly-forty-year-old myself, I was extra pleased to support this commemorative gesture!
Sweetie
8″x10″ acrylic, 2010. The portrait of this stuffed dog was commissioned by Matthew as a gift for his grandmother. She gave “Sweetie” to him when he was eight, but it was her own toy for some time before that. What a great way to return Sweetie to her in spirit!
Lilly and Froggy
12″x12″ acrylic, 2010. A fun challenge from Wendy, who commissioned a portrait of her daughter Lilly together with her recently lost favorite stuffed toy! Poor Lilly and Froggy O’Froggy had been inseparable ever since she was born. Froggy is a variation on the very popular blanket/head theme in contemporary stuffed animals, but this is the first one I’ve encountered that consists of a whole animal holding a blanket in his hands — very clever and cute! Very thoughtful of Wendy to immortalize and commemorate Froggy for Lilly in this way… but I hope he turns up!