5″x7″ acrylic, 2013. This bear was a gift to Lindsay’s step-father from a friend decades ago, and has adorned her parents’ bed ever since. Lindsay notes that Hank is secure enough in his “masculine bear-ness” to be comfortable wearing jewelry. That he sports a Paddington bear charm seems appropriate, because why wouldn’t a bear be a fan of other celebrity bears? It’s like that Morrissey pin on your denim jacket, or that Seinfeld necklace your aunt wears. As we planned out a color scheme for the portrait, Lindsay made it clear that her step-father loathes neutrals, particularly what he refers to as “hot-dog brown.” Fortunately, Hank is posed against cheerful light-blue fabric, which brightens and compliments his inherent brown-ness. It was a treat to paint so much color, texture, and history!
Tag: blue
Woobie
8″x10″ acrylic, 2013. A couple of years ago, I painted a white stuffed tiger for Jen’s then-two-year-old daughter Samantha. Now that Samantha’s baby brother Jack is old enough to have made his allegiance clear to a particular beloved toy, Jen commissioned a portrait of Jack’s monkey blanket-head “Woobie!” Jen asked me to be sure to include the worn white tag attached to the blanket, which, as you might be aware, is the most important part of the toy. When he is falling asleep, Jack rubs the tag against his face (or has one of his parents perform this soothing ritual.) As I’ve mentioned in many other posts, the phenomenon of baby tag obsession is quite familiar to everyone in our household!
Screwver and Blue Shobel
8″x10″ acrylic, 2012. And now for something completely different! Just like any beloved stuffed toy or blanket, these unlikely loveys were taken to bed, bath, daycare, family trips, and beyond by 11-year-old Sofia! The screwdriver came from a toy workbench when she was two, and the plastic shovel was also chosen as a favorite during her toddler years. The famiy never left home without “Screwver” and “Blue Shobel” throughout Sofia’s childhood. This portrait will be a Christmas gift to Sofia from her mother, Caroline.
Cookie Monster
8″x10″ acrylic, 2012. I’m thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with two full boxes of Barbara’s family treasures to paint! Most are beautiful wooden pull-toys hand made by her late father, but among them was nestled this well-worn stuffed Cookie Monster, which belongs to her grown son Benjamin. Barbara tells me that Benjamin, the oldest of five children, was obsessed with Cookie Monster and carried this toy with him everywhere — into sandboxes, riding on Big Wheels, and, of course, to bed. He has even survived being completely drenced in grape juice. So beloved is the toy that, when he left for college, Benjamin took along a stand-in Cookie Monster for fear of losing the original!
Spike, Kitty, Blue Bunny
8″x10″ acrylic, 2012. In this “symbolic” family portrait, the family members are represented by their favorite stuffed toys. This is one of two portraits commissioned by Paul for his wife Kathleen as gifts for Mother’s Day and her upcoming birthday, although Paul ended up growing impatient and gave her both on Mother’s Day! The droopy, laconic Spike has always been Kathleen’s favorite Peanuts character, and she’s had this stuffed toy since she was ten years old. Paul’s blue rabbit was a given to him on his first Easter. This stuffed cat only recently emerged as three-year-old Asa’s favorite, and Paul reckons that it’s because he resembles their own cat “New Kitty” (who retains his title beyond his actual newness!) I have the pleasure of knowing this family personally, and I can tell you that these toys strike me as amusingly accurate and appropriate stand-ins! Check back tomorrow for my portrait of adorable, red-headed, train-obsessed Asa.
Pup-Pup
8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. Richard reckons that his nephew George attached to this stuffed dog partly to parallel his big sister Evie’s beloved Bug-Bug. But it’s clear from the graying and wear on Pup-Pup that George’s love for him is lasting and true! Evie’s portrait of Bug-Bug has been hanging in her room ever since her third birthday, and she is now approaching five. Their uncle Richard thought that George would enjoy having Pup-Pup watch over him at night, too! George will recieve this portrait for his own upcoming third birthday in February.
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.
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!
Two Blue Puppies
8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. Ah, it’s floppy dog season! I’m suddenly swimming in big-eared, sweet-faced stuffed puppies. There are three between Michael’s two sons alone! This sunlit portrait of two blue pups is the first of two paintings he commissioned as Christmas gifts for the boys. Check in tomorrow for the second portrait, which features a brown and white dog of somewhat more upright posture!
Blue Bunny
8″x10″ acrylic, 2011. I have spent a lot of time recently with a paintbrush in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other! My only source material for this painting was a series of actual paper photos from the childhood of Chris’ daughter Claire, who is now off at college (blue bunny in tow.) In most of the photos, the bunny is either partially obscured by Claire’s adoring stranglehold or lit by an unflattering flash, arms flung up in alarm as if caught robbing a bank. But one photo in which the light was lovely and the bunny appeared momentarilly relaxed, lying next to little sleeping Claire, became the focus of this portrait. Chris notes that the bunny was purchased at Fay’s Drugs for $12.99.