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.
Tag: acrylic
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!
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.
Totoro and Hamtaro, Take 3
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. These two seem to have that certain something — those great big, round, maniacal eyes seem to say, “take us home so we can stare at you from that presently blank spot on your wall!” I have sold two variations on this theme this year already, so I thought I would make another one for an upcoming show. I’m not sure if their paths would actually cross in their bizarro Japanese pop culture worlds, but I’d like to think so,
Knit Cow
5″x7″ acrylic, 2009. This little painting is of one of the L’attitude Enfant series of adorable yarn animals that we got at Target. It is also another example of a toy that I think is irresistable and that Sonja really couldn’t care less about. We have a whole posse of these things and she barely acknowledges them. Hey, guess what her newest, proudest, loudest word of the week is? ELMO.
Abby
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This is the second toy-and-painting gift combo I’ve done this fall… I think it’s a great idea. This portrait and the doll who sat for it will be a Christmas gift for Amelia, Thomas and Nora‘s cousin who lives in California. Although none of us old Sesame Street purists can understand the charm of Abby Cadabby, little Amelia goes completely bonkers whenever this rather quesionable female archtype shows up on TV. No Amelia, you cannot be a fairy when you grow up.
Toy/Portrait
8″x10″ acrylic, 2009. This painting of my daughter Sonja sort of qualifies as a toy portrait, in that she has a toy car in her hand. I’ve been known to depict the occasional human, so bring on any combination of toy, person, animal, and/or object you like and I’d be delighted to paint it for you!