8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. This Ty Pluffies monkey is adorable, but let’s face it — the most interesting thing about him is his association with a stuffed hedgehog. Wendy commissioned portraits of the hedgehog and monkey, which are the favorite toys of her two children. Check back tomorrow for the hedgehog portrait!
Tag: acrylic
Pinkie
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. Six-year-old Lily has adored this doll, “Pinkie,” since she herself was a small baby. Lily’s aunt, Stacy, describes Lily as having an ever-present smile and as being a family hero as she struggles each day with cerebral palsy. “As she transitions to ‘big girl-hood,” Stacy writes, “I know this portrait will be perfect for her.” For Christmas, Stacy commissioned portraits of each of her two nieces’ favorite toys. Pinkie was a true pleasure to paint as I am seldom asked to paint traditional babydolls!
Freddie
This OBVIOUSLY well-loved orange bear belongs to 33-year-old Lisa. Her father Frank tells me that “Freddie” has been Lisa’s constant companion all her life, but was misplaced and found several times. During one of his disappearances, two unsuccessful substitutes were brought in. They came to be known as “Freddie II” and “Guys,” the latter so named because he was purchased at the now-defunct Two Guys department store! “The substitutes held minor positions in Lisa’s stuffed animal cabinet,” Frank wrote, “but Freddie was always Prime Minister.” Fisher Price sold this “Freddy Teddy” toy from 1975-1981. Lisa altered the spelling of his name to the much more distinguished “Freddie” herself.
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Asparagus
8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. This bunny’s comfortable pose is the result of twenty-three years of love from Samantha, who recieved him as a gift when she was a newborn. He was given his ridiculously charming moniker “Asparagus” because it was California in the springtime, and that was reason enough. “Sam especially loved to run her fingers across the silky grain of the pink ribbon around bunny’s neck,” Sam’s mother Barbara wrote me. “This calming action always helped Samantha fall asleep with a sense of peace and security.” Asparagus remained by Sam’s side through college, and now has a place of honor on her bedroom bookshelf out of reach of a golden retriever puppy.
Floppy Blue Dog
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. Hey, remember that blue dog snuggled up to a little lamb blanket a few days ago? Doesn’t this dog look JUST LIKE IT? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together? As a matter of fact, I know of at least three people who have. They would be five-year-old Sophia, eight-year-old Alex, and their grandmother Michelle. Each child has a floppy blue pup, and Sophia also has a gorgeous stuffed lamb/blanket. Michelle will give these little portraits to Sophia and Alex for Christmas.
Giraffey
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. Like her brother Zachary, three-year-old Summer favors the companionship of both a blanket and a stuffed toy at naptime and at night. Here are Giraffey and the pink blanket, perhaps bonding over their shared spotted condition. Lee Ann will give portraits of the children’s favorite toys to Summer and Zachary as Christmas gifts.
Snoopy and Lila
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. It’s pretty fabulous when a child’s beloved toy was orignally his mother’s own favorite! This Snoopy belonged to Lee Ann when she was small, and now he is her seven-year-old son Zachary’s constant companion. Snoopy is seated upon a small blue blanket which Zachary calls “Lila.” Zachary sleeps with Snoopy and Lila every night. Lee Ann commissioned portraits of both her children’s best-loved toys and will give them as Christmas presents to the kids.
Hedgehog
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. I’m going to bet that the child whose favorite toy in all world is a stuffed hedgehog is one interesting kid! For me, it was a delightful change of pace from dogs, bunnies, and bears to paint this funny little creature. We have one in our house, too, but we’re pretty sure it was intended as a dog toy — his fur is not very soft and he makes a funny snort/grunt when you chew I MEAN SQUEEZE him. This is the second of two portraits commissioned by Wendy as Christmas presents for her two children. Click here to see the other portrait, which features a sweet-faced monkey.
Blue Dog and Lamb
5″x7″ acrylic, 2011. As I head into the final stretch of my busy holiday season, I am listening to lots of stand-up comedy on Youtube to stay sane while painting. And so this little portrait of a stuffed dog and lamb will forever conjure Margaret Cho for me, as she happened to be keeping me company while I made it! This is one of two portraits commissioned by Michelle for her grandchildren. Interestingly, the two kids each have the same sort of floppy blue dog, but Sophia, who is five, also has this fabulous lamb blanket-head. I adore the mixed patterns of the flowered blanket and checked scarf on the lamb!
Longly
8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. Recently the wonderful Saratoga Mama blog, which provides info and discourse relevant to my area (near Saratoga Springs, NY) and my current position in life (mama,) was kind enough to host a toy portrait giveaway! I was thrilled when the winner, Becky, let me know that her 6-year-old daughter’s beloved toy is a stuffed giraffe — one of my very favorite motifs! This adorable Gund giraffe was hanging out in Calli’s crib when she first arrived, just waiting for her to notice him and fall in love. This she did, and he has been at her side through thick and thin ever since. After accidentally leaving Longly at Calli’s grandmother’s house, it became clear to Becky that there needed to be a back-up giraffe, just in case. Longly #2 now sits on a shelf in Calli’s room, and he occasionally comes down to play. (If you follow this site at all, you may have a prediction about how that situation will turn out!)