Random Hallmark Moments: Rainbow Brite

   Here it is... my entry in Hallmark Cards' headquarters art show featuring dozens of artists, each with their own interpretation of RB! Rainbow Brite was created by a Hallmark artist in 1983 and was wildly popular, with animated TV series, live action TV, Macy's Day Parade float, multiple Emmy awards, dolls, toys, games, sheet sets... you name it, this girl was likely on it. It's kind of mind-boggling.

    I will readily admit that although I liked some of the characters back in the day (before I developed a lil' thing called "taste"), I am not a fan of the character design style of RB and her contemporaries. This includes Strawberry Shortcake, Pound Puppies, My Little Pony, Cabbage Patch Dolls... the styling looks dated and doesn't hold up well against modern character design. But they were modern for their time. My goal with this piece was to keep enough of the hallmarks of the characters to make them immediately recognizable, but to update their style, with a Japanesey "chibi" or "kawaii" look, and costume updates like shifting the color palette away from those hideous primaries, and making the arm and leg cuffs transparent.
   Here is "the making of" the piece, step by step... including the fancy chocolate and sauvignon blanc which clearly aided the process. Considering how infrequently I get the opportunity to paint (not since Hallmarket 2013, and before that... who knows!), I needed all the help I could get. LOL!

   I completed the piece during the Sochi winter Olympics.That was my background noise. It kept me going longer and gave me a front seat to all the snowboarding action.

Kick@**!

   I made it to illustration circle for the second week (in a row!!!) and was planning to sketch, but Mirna kindly offered to share her gouache, brushes, and postcard-sized watercolor paper, so I painted! Today's theme was to create an Olympics poster. And here's the trouble I caused:

   It's not great and it's not even finished but I love it. I plan to keep going... and plan to do what the painting says soon again. Just booked my next snowboarding trip.

Random Hallmark Moments: Hallmarket

Awesomely talented (and hilarious) Allyson Lassiter

Steph's on the left, Jen's on the right

   Here's a quick Hallmarket report before I crash out early (soooo tired): The weather was crummy until late afternoon, and started with thunder and lightning and rain—the works!—but I found that it hardly mattered; we were able to keep our art dry, and had a steady stream of people throughout the day. There were 92 artists; the event has grown every year. I shared a booth with Steph and Jack two years ago, and marveled today at how it had grown, in numbers of artists, patrons, and in the variety of work created. The world has no idea how much talent resides at Hallmark.

   A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who came today—I know weekends are precious, and it was drizzly, but it means a LOT to me that you came to hang out and support me and my work. (Seriously. Thank you!) The day went so fast—I was having great fun visiting with everyone. (Aki and Taylor agree... And are quite tired themselves, from their adoring fans, most especially the cute kiddos.) I tagged most of you on Facebook, but a special shout-out to my friend, coworker, and creative conspirator, Monte Cushman, who isn't on Facebook. So good to see you. :)

   As I was driving home I was thinking about the crazy Venn diagram of friends who came: Hallmark coworkers—past, present, and... future? (we'll see on that one); Humane Society volunteers; Joni, Kristi and Kaye from our big, happy, dog pack; and an amalgamation of adventure buddies: my fellow rock climbers, hikers, kayakers, yogis, snowboarders, adventure racers... it was like the bizarro universe where all of my friends collided. So awesome! Everyone always comments on how active I am, and lately I've been reflecting on why... only by participating in all these hobbies can I meet such a diverse and incredible group of friends, and they've taught me a ton.

   Big thanks to my mega-talented boothmate Steph Allen for urging me to participate, and Jack Pullan for helping us set up, mind the store all day, and take down. Thanks to Regi for organizing, and to Hallmark for its generosity and support of the creative community: not only did they provide the tents and tables for free, they bought our lunches—and took NO commission on our sales. I know, right? WOW.

   I was more than a little surprised that I sold a little under HALF my pieces. Nice validation to the huge amount of fun I had creating them. The last two weeks have been a blur. Which should teach me NOT TO PROCRASTINATE, but—d@mn!—look how well it all turned out! So I guess I've learned nothing.  ;)

   Off to bed, with a big smile on my face. I am beat.

We had enough patrons that we were standing in the rain all morning, so we weren't blocking the art! Which explains my hair in the next photo...

John Keeling's gorgeous paintings

Letterpress awesomeness by "my KC family",  Diane and Madeline

Hey, I Think I Know These Guys

   OH. MY. GOD. Came home from work today to find that Dave had painted portraits of my mutts, oil on panels. SO FREAKIN' COOL! I love how they look like bears when you crop so closely on their faces. (Forgive the dark photo, I'll get a better one in the daylight.) He also raked my back yard. Hope he's not in any hurry to leave!  ;)

It's Dangerous to Go Alone

   Here it is, the painting that got me back into painting after a four-year plush extravaganza! I was surprised at how easy—and frankly, how fun—it was to get back into it. And I'm pretty happy with the results as well. I truly enjoyed creating this piece!
   It's called , aka "Hitori de iku no ga kiken desu", aka "It's Dangerous to Go Alone", and it depicts the hero of The Legend of Zelda, who had been pursuing a couple of Octoroks, who cunningly led him to meet their mama.
   The game was created by the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto (do Mario and Donkey Kong ring a bell?), and originally released for the original, 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. It will always hold a special place in my heart: I sunk a lot of hours into it when I was a kid, and it is a true classic that still has a great influence on gaming today.
   Here are some in-progress photos that show my painting coming to life:

The drawing, which I transferred onto canvas after laying down a base color

Finished lifework has been painted

Starting to fill in the color (and making decisions along the way); initially I considered making this a full-color piece, but in the end I liked the dramatic impact of limited color

Filling in the Big Octorok

Starting to bring Link to life

TA-DAAAA!!!

   It's already on its way to the classic video game-themed show at Gallery 1988: Venice, opening Friday, September 16 in Santa Monica, CA. Over 90 artists will be participating, so there will be tons of variety as usual. Here's a teaser. Here's the evite, as well as the evite from their VG show earlier this year, which I also love.

G1988: Opening Tomorrow!

Black Cat

   Shot a photo of a hastily-thrown-together fireworks stand the other day, and just realized that Kristin's kitty, Pearl, must have been the model:

Visit from the Fam

   Dad, Diane & Lindsey drove in from Columbus this evening. And they delivered this amazing painting by Tamara Peterson, of which I am now the proud owner. Have to figure out where to hang it. The dining room is probably the place. Which is perfect, because now I can sit down and stare at it all day because I love it so much.

   Tam was one of a small handful of my very very favorite instructors at CCAD, and I owe a lot to her for all she taught me about design, color, craftsmanship, work ethic, and life in general. She was a critical influence during my most formative years as an artist. And now that I'm leading a team I realize how important all the "other stuff" she taught me is, too... and holy cow, that lady can PAINT!

No caption needed. Huge smile says it all!

   My animals especially liked Lindsey. She seems to be a natural with them, and Gypsy even does "招き猫" for her. Though she looks slightly annoyed in this particular photo:

Lindsey tries to capture The Gyp doing Maneki Neko.

   I called my home phone from my cell phone to show off Aki's best trick. She howls every time it rings. No idea why. Taylor doesn't get it either. But I think it's pretty charming!

Aki does her howl-at-the-phone trick, right on cue

   We made it a low-key evening since we all had to get up early in the morning for Dog-n-Jog...

My Very Own Gallery

    I recently acquired a painting by one of my favorite professors from Columbus College of Art & Design, Tamara Peterson. (Don't actually have it yet, but Dad is graciously hand-delivering it to me soon...) It's called "See," an acrylic on canvas that she painted in 1996. I love the intense colors and the variety of forms that she used in the composition, and it contains some objects that are recurring elements in her work: peonies, letter forms, plants, art materials, and crazy quilts.
   Between this piece, the print by Kuniyoshi that I picked up in Kyoto four years ago that I finally had framed and hung; the vintage Kunisada that Eric bestowed on me for my birthday last year (which Kelley swears was all him... GO ERIC! And, note to self: rig the Christmas drawing every year from now 'til forever); and the works I've purchased from or traded with friends over the years (Hella's small character-based works, Dick's adorable wiener dog, Jack's charming "Millie" print; and a Maura collage)  I am really excited about the collection I'm starting to build. Nothing livens up the house like a unique collection of artwork!

Blast from the Past: Octavio

   This afternoon I had the pleasure of introducing a few members of my stellar team to a group of visiting educators from art schools around the country, and wowing them with our great product. One of the educators was familiar, though I hadn't seen him in ELEVEN YEARS... Octavio, with whom I interned at Hallmark 14 years ago. It was awesome: he looked exactly how I remembered him & when we talked it was as if no time had passed at all. That's when you KNOW you've got a best friend!

   After work I met him in the lobby & we headed over to Blue Gallery to check out Rich Bowman's one-man show, which was amazing. Rich was so gracious, well-spoken & down to earth, despite his great talent. It's a pleasure to know folks like him. I also bumped into Eric & Daren, who adopted one of our MSIR shibas, Ken. I had performed the home evaluation for them back in May, and was delighted to hear that they & Ken are doing well. Such cool guys. I couldn't be happier for the 3 of them... the best part of volunteering for a rescue group is helping to make a happy ending.

 

   After the show, Octavio said he was in the mood for Mexican food so I took him to Teocali. (Photo from The Pitch). It was delicious and it was so great to catch up with Octavio & hear all about his job as an instructor at Ringling School of Art & Design, and his family, his boat, and his extreme fear of spiders. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. Thanks, buddy! :)

   We stopped at my house for a bit so Octavio could shake hands with the incredible robot cabinet he made for me as a gift all those years ago, say hi to the cats & meet the shibas. As I predicted, Taylor was putty in his hands right off the bat. To the point where I almost had to send Taylor home to Florida with him. But hopefully Octavio & Suzanne & Maya will just come back to KC for a visit soon.

Hallmarket

   It was a stunning day in Crown Center Square, and over 70 Hallmark artists filled tents with their arts & crafts, in celebration of our company's 100th anniversary. Kelly & I had cooked up a fun plan to collaborate on some work, but I had to bow out due to a scheduling snafu (had already committed to speaking at Japan Fest), so cross your fingers that there will be a Hallmarket 2: the Revenge of Hallmarket! I do have this to say: I have some freakishly talented friends!!!

   Mark Franzke makes INCREDIBLE handcrafted instruments (and that's Henry in the back, of KCCC fame):

   Diane & Madeline had a very impressive display of their cut-paper-turned-letterpress prints (which were featured in a photo in a recent Crate & Barrel catalog, uncredited):

   A whimsical beaded snowman pin by Cindy Ross:

Gorgeous, nostalgic paintings by Larry Degraff:

My favorite booth design:

Flora Chang's booth was mobbed! (Duh, her work is so cool):

Kelly bought a couple of Flora's button packs & shared them with me:

   Shenanigans from a "miniature shiba" puppy, Swifty, and her Boston terrier buddy. Made me wish I'd had time to bring my two goofballs. Taylor would have enjoyed a birthday romp with them:

Dick's booth was cool (and jam-packed!) as always:

   It looked like a very successful sale. Wish I could have stayed longer to visit with everyone. It was a great reminder of just how talented Hallmarkers are—inside & outside of work!

ART UNLEASHED: the Hallmark stuff

   Every year it's so exciting to see the work filling up the tabletops in our supply store on the 9th floor as we get closer to the big night. Here are just a few of my favorites, which are going to make it VERY difficult to decide what to buy!!! SINCERE THANKS to all the generous Hallmarkers who contributed their great work.

Check out the size of Rie Egawa-Zybryk's dog pillow!

Dick Daniels always donates a TON of cool stuff:

Plush owl by Robyn Fabsits-Grine:

A plush chair by Robyn, and other by ???:

Sock dogs by Stacey Hsu:

Cat prints by ???:

Dog painting by Michelle Berg:

Letterpress by Tag Team Tompkins (Madeline & Diane):

Felted dachshund by Karla Taylor: