8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This bunny belongs to Billy, and the portrait was commissioned by his father. “Boo Boo” bunny is ridiculously adorable, but I felt compelled to try to honor the masculine aspect of this father-to-son gift by painting him in a conciously non-cutesy way.
Category: Toy Portraits
Custom portraiture and paintings of Sonja’s toys
Homer
8″x10″ acrylic on canvas, 2009. You and I should be so lucky to be the object of such devotion as this cute stuffed dog! When ten year old Christopher was four, he had a hysterical crying jag. When it subsided, he told his mom Pamela that he had been thinking about what would happen if Homer were lost in a house fire and he would never see him again. Although Christopher can certainly sleep without him these days, he still prefers to have Homer’s company when traveling. And maybe at home too.
Okapi
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. Ah, another case of a child spurning the hand-made toys provided by her stylish parents in favor of a most unexpected lovey! This stuffed okapi was given to Lark on her 1st birthday by a family friend who purchased it at the San Antonio Zoo gift shop. The okapi quickly rose to Number One Lovey status for Lark, who has just turned 3. At her preschool, he is known as “Mr. Coffee” for toddler pronunciation purposes. Lark mostly calls him “‘Kapi” or just “‘Kap.” Lark’s mom Gillian asked her what she likes most about him, and Lark anwered, “his ears.” “He’s my very best friend, Mama,” she added. Chin up, Etsy, some other child will love your hand-knit sock monkeys.
BearBear
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This stuffed bear has been with Kelly since she was two, but she commisioned this painting for her mother! Bear Bear has had a long life filled with unusual purpose. Kelly’s mom is very fond of Bear Bear, and when she is feeling low, Kelly sends him to her for comfort. When Mom comes to visit Kelly and her husband, the bear sleeps in Mom’s room. Kelly is hoping that the portrait will bring Bear Bear’s presence to her mother even while they are apart.
Grover and Bear
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. These are the favorite toys of Paul, an old friend of mine and an ADULT! I’m extremely psyched to be asked to paint time-tested toys that have hung around so long that they have come to subtley exude their owners’ style and character. Trust me, this Grover does just that. Also, I’m pleased to get to paint a classic Sesame Street personality after recently tackling nkotb Abby Cadabby!
Little Bubba
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This beautiful stuffed dog, Little Bubba, belongs to Libby, who is Avery’s sister. Bubba presented a challenge to me that I had not previously encountered: He’s pretty realistic. Consequently, it was difficult to make a painting that is clearly a portrait of a toy and not of an actual dog. I suppose what matters is that Libby sees her beloved toy pup when she looks at this picture!
Dottie
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. Ahh, another filet-o-stuffed animal blanket! I am beginning to feel like a neglectful parent since my own child does not have one of these things… they clearly inspire passionate devotion in those lucky children who possess them. Here is Dottie, a cute duck/blanket belonging to Avery, draped luxuriously over a cushion. See portraits of other blanket/animals here, here, and here.
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. Now that’s what I’m talking about! This thing, whatever it once was (a monkey?), has been loved to pieces! It is the childhood toy of Logan, husband of Melissa. Click The Work Lion
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. Certain people tend to anthropomorphize stuffed animals more than others, and those people are sometimes adults — adults who might happen to be married to me. And other people with the same tendencies might happen to be employed by my husband. And so a bizarro transaction took place involving this lion. Said employee had two identical lions. One was at home, and the other she kept at work because if they were together they “might fight.” Greg was concerned that some harm would come to the “work lion” if left there, and so he convinced the lion’s owner that he would give it a good life in the care of our Sonja. So far the poor lion has been working long hours modeling in my studio, but I think now I will set it free in the wilds of the nursery.
Bowling Pin Pig
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This pig is from our AMERICAN baby bowling set, the one with recognizable animals. I was discussing the wackiness of our Australian set with my sister today, and she figured that it was constructed by Indonesian child sweat-shops working with whatever random fabrics were available (hence red and blue monkey-type animal, and something that might be a blue rhino). Or, we’re boring.