shannon mcneill~little drawings

anna and found pattern, i.e. masking with dirt etc

2012-03-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

northern stars at the mingei

2012-03-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

Three year olds prefer letter hunts to Finnish design.

Northern Stars: Twentieth Century Finnish Design at the Mingei. Through April 22, 2012.

san diego moderns

2012-02-29T20:05:00.000-08:00

Ellamarie and Jackson Woolley, 1950s. Enamel on copper

Walter Chapman, 1959.

Kay Whitcomb, 1970. Enamel on steel.

Images from a visit to San Diego's Craft Revolution, at the Mingei in San Diego. Part of Pacific Standard Time. Baby says see it until April 15, 2012.

last week's library free pile

2012-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Title > 7 words = free pile.

All three were picked up on the same day, including math book. Same palette..!

Fundamentals of Mathematics

2012-02-22T11:32:00.000-08:00

Fundamentals of Mathematics, by Edwin I. Stein. Leeds Junior High School Philadelphia. Allyn and Bacon Inc., 1959.

===stripes===

2012-02-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

happy birthday george

2012-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Last week the second grade class completed step two of the George portraits that were started earlier in the month.

I'm a volunteer, so I'm there to support the teacher's class goals. She was hoping to bundle a portraiture lesson with Presidents' month. Originally we thought we might do a lesson in head drawing for the class, but that can be hard to get motivated for when you're 8 and your model's a famous likeness and been dead for 200 years. So choosing the Betty Edwards method of right-brain drawing seemed the best choice for this age group to help them keep focus on process. I made a simplified line drawing of George that could be completed in 30 minutes, and they drew it upside down in pencil on tan-colored paper.

The students went over the lines in marker, because there is a comfort level there for them with this. It's what they practice in class. Next time it would be great to see them go for it in marker from the beginning. Their original lines are so fresh and truly great, but they are still learning to trust that.

We made frames to give an opportunity for scissor practice and complete them for classroom display. I provided students with a sheet of dark brown construction paper with a large oval traced in the center (with small hole for starter opening), two light brown squares to cut in half for the corner triangles, and a printout of the yellow banner with the word Washington on it (that they traced in black marker in their own handwriting). They cut and assembled the frames first and set it aside.

Then they traced over their own lines in black marker and added color with oil pastel.

With the finished piece, the students got to experience line, oil pastel, and badly needed scissor practice all the while satisfying class curriculum by honoring a famous American. Nice work, second graders! Happy Presidents' Day to all!

moth visitor

2012-02-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

He's furry, like a six legged teddy bear.

froebel fascination

2012-02-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

Inventing Kindergarten by Norman Brosterman, Abrahms, 1997

My new book arrived: !!! This is Inventing Kindergarten by Norman Brosterman, about Friederich Froebel (1782-1852), the inventor of kindergarten. I'm reading it cover to cover and it is ridiculously fascinating. The program taught spiritual unity demonstrated through principles of art, mathematics, design, and natural science. You can see how the seeds of what was to become Modernism were planted in original kindergarten students like a wee Frank Lloyd Wright. Traces of the original kindergarten remain in public education today, but we all know how that ended up.For more information/ inspiration, see:

http://www.brosterman.com/kindergarten.shtml

http://www.flickr.com/photos/orihouse/859284808/in/photostream/

http://www.uppercasegallery.ca/uppercase-journal/2008/6/23/old-school-research.html

http://theiff.org/oexhibits/kindy01.html

If you live in the NY area, more is coming your way: http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1239

Wow, one more:

Vasily Kandinsky’s Composition 8 from 1923, recreated with kindergarten gifts number 7 (paper parquetry), 8 (sticks), 9 (rings), 14 (weaving), 15 (slats), and 16 (jointed slats).

From Cabinet: "Froebel and the Gifts of Kindergarten"

ooooooooooooooo

2012-02-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

CA nature forms : when late winter = spring

2012-02-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

Sun, rain, sun, rain. Almost everything appeared over the last week...!

The House Book

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

The House Book, by Terence Conran. Mitchell Beazley Publishers Limited, 1974. I bought this in the library used book shop. For larger and more, see the flickr page.

sweater weather

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

One of everything please! For more see ALL Knitwear by Annie Larson and blog.

support your local sign painter

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

http://signpaintermovie.blogspot.com/.

Please buy a tee and don't let this go the way of the Ed Emberley film. (ps I really want to take this class at LA Trade Tech now...). Via Poppytalk and Dinosaurs and Robots.

iphone cleanse

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last seven were taken with Mattebox!

we have a lot of kids' art here lately, so here's more

2012-02-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

Tribute to Presidents' Day, via a Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain upside-down drawing exercise for Sam's second grade. Monday they get color and mounting for classroom presentation, but they are pretty rad as is. More to come.

elephant descending a staircase

2012-02-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

good-by and hello, hello and good-by

2012-01-31T08:09:00.000-08:00

Hello and Good-By, Mary Ann Hoberman. Illustrated by Norman Hoberman. Little, Brown, & Co., 1959. More to see here.

|||H|A|I|R|S|||

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

four years and a million spiders

2012-01-27T21:45:00.000-08:00

"The four metre long woven textile was made from the silk of more than a million female Golden Orb spiders collected in the highlands of Madagascar. The hand-woven brocaded textile is naturally golden in colour and took over four years to create. It will be shown together with a new gold cape, woven and embroidered in Madagascar, which will go on public display for the very first time at the V & A."

http://www.dezeen.com/2012/01/26/spider-silk-cape-by-simon-peers-and-nicholas-godley/

Crystal Cove 1/1930

2012-01-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

the crystal cove story

Crystal Cove 1/2012

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

http://crystalcovebeachcottages.org/

shape cat

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

DESK UNIT

2012-01-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

Vintage 1989.

Everett Peck at OMA

2012-01-18T22:42:00.000-08:00

I have two promo booklets from Everett Peck that I've held on to since I was a Palomar College art student in the late 80s. It was amazing to see some of this work that I had been so familiar with for so long.

Pannikin.

From 1992, I still have this one saved somewhere too.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT: The Art of Everett Peck at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Only a few weeks left! Closes January 29, 2012.

the ever-ready club

2012-01-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

Peach = Patience. Strawberry = Love. Banana = Gentleness. The Ever-Ready Club. Probably from the 80s? It looks like the beanie's felt patches were dittoed sort of, and everything sewn together meticulously by hand.

the extra o is for extra beautiful

2012-01-16T20:00:00.000-08:00

I had this lamp in storage since it was traded to me by Marcel Wanders about ten years ago when I lived and worked in the Netherlands. The lamp had never been out of it's box until this winter, when we finally installed it into our home. All this time I had no idea that when you pop on the light, a surprise message was waiting to emerge from behind the seam: the word LOVE. After ten years, that's a nice closure moment! Thanks Marcel.

caps and mittens for everybody

2012-01-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

Caps and Mittens for Everybody from Bernat, 1962.

a beauty king

2012-01-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

tough day on a beautiful mountain

2012-01-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

shopping with toes

2012-01-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

^ [] o

2012-01-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

A few pages from The Wing on a Flea, by Ed Emberley. Little and Brown Company, 1961.

To Beryl, from one kindergarten teacher to another.

holiday handmade, the wrap up

2012-01-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

First spontaneous moment of handmade showed up in November with a picture and ornament for Santa. It never hurts to lay the groundwork early.

Multipurpose felted ninjas given...

...and evermore ninjas (and ninja-related lumps) received. Thanks Shawnimals, you inspire little ones to sew!

Anna claims to love but but refuses to wear. Such are the perils of homemade. Pattern: Red Riding Hood by Liesl Gibson (oliver + s). Fabric: Brussels Washer Linen in red by Robert Kaufman. Lining: Meet the Gang by Creative Thursday.

Kaleidoscopic.

Party project was needed for the second grade with one day's notice; so we made snowflakes. We used one large paper-punched circle, folded in quarters and cut, and then pasted that unfolded snowflake on choice of red, green, or aqua square. Most kids had never made a snowflake before (!) and were eager to learn how. Opening up the folded and cut circles is always like magic, and they really liked experimenting with the hole punch.

We received homemade mix tapes! CD case made from artfully recycled Dolce ad.

Homemade tag guy.

My favorite gift, by far.

Those who don't write yet can still participate in showing gratitude with a hand print. Thank you everyone for a delightful and inspiring holiday season! Wishing you all a happy 2012!

all day boat

2011-12-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

PAIR OF SCHERENSCHNITTE BOOKMARKS SHAPED LIKE HANDS

2011-12-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

"Pair of Scherenschnitte bookmarks, approximately 2 3/4" X 5 1/2" , found in Family Bible of Heinrich and Susanna (Deturk) Kohler, Berks County, Pennsylvania."

Gone already! Bought now, $150.

saul bass title sequence - grand prix (1966)

2011-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

“Dealing with Mom Tactics Collection”

2011-12-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

The article on NPR translates it:

The Complete Book of Combat With Mum

Tactic #1

When your mother is yelling at you, you can:

Look elsewhere, think about something else. Don't care, don't listen.

Style: Hard

Note: Can't be used often

Tactic #2

Your mother is yelling at you and not letting you look somewhere else, you can:

Find something trivial about mommy to criticize.

Style: Hard

Note: Can't be used often.

for more tactics: http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/pictures/how-to-deal-with-mom-by-beijing-4th-grade-girls.html

Rhymes for Fingers and Flannelboards

2011-12-09T09:31:00.001-08:00

Rhymes for Fingers and Flannelboards, by Louise Binder Scott and J. J. Thompson. Illustrated by Jean Flowers. McGraw-Hill Inc., 1960.

Can't help but be reminded of the Saul Bass design for The Man With the Golden Arm, 1955. Note: if you are editing a cover for children's book in 1960, drawing inspiration from a very famous poster design for a movie about heroin addiction is probably not the first association you're going for. It's still a great book though.

look down

2011-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Moss on the bricks. California spring is here.

artifact from another life

2011-12-06T22:47:00.001-08:00

Cleaning out the bookcase. Hello old friend! Grafischmuseum.nl.

petit christo

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Leave around some blocks, safety scissors, and painter's tape, and a half and hour later... ('mommy, don't see!' but ok, I peeked.)

...Dining table installation complete. Photographic documentation by the by the artist herself.

De-install.

matisse and second grade

2011-12-05T09:00:00.001-08:00

Studying Matisse's cut-outs with Sam's class a few weeks ago. (...Thanks again art for small hands!) Fore reference and inspiration, we used this out-of-date calendar which I cut up and distributed, a very inexpensive way for the class to see and hold a lot of different works.

Coincidentally there is a new installation of a Matisse work from this period at LACMA now, La Gerbe (1953).

It was one of Matisse's very latest works, completed just months before his death. There is a fascinating story of La Gerbe's journey from the Brody estate to the museum here. And if you have ever imagined what a giant Matisse would look like in your own private home, see great vintage photos of La Gerbe and the Brody estate via midcenturia.com. Enjoy!

make a world and other emberley goodness

2011-12-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Make a World : the Film" Teaser from makeaworldfilm on Vimeo.

I stumbled across this and this and this and this, but what? Two years too late! Depressingly, the film was never completed. Time to get the word out again. I would buy a t-shirt.

But hey, we are right on time for this:

The scribble, yeah! Find more licensed Ed Emberley fabric love at Cloud Nine. Ok, I feel better now.

nature legos

2011-12-01T12:53:00.001-08:00

Sam invented these out of his sister's "girl" Legos. (His "boy" sets do not have friendly-face bricks like this, why is that now?...)

new niki sculptures at the cca

2011-11-28T22:37:00.001-08:00

Last one to be installed, almost all done....

New Niki de Saint Phalle sculptures at the California Center for the Arts, installed this month. Gorgeous color and texture, so fun. Come play! Read more here.

cyber monday

2011-11-28T12:38:00.001-08:00

french toy loom, playskool beads, vintage book, Raymor xmas tree, girard placemats on eBay now.

gratitude, a lot!!!

2011-11-23T23:39:00.001-08:00

(That's the tooth by the way, tmi, but it is so ridiculously small and square! Now I finally get why mothers do gross things like save baby teeth.)

oh so FRUSTRATED

2011-11-22T21:26:00.001-08:00

segundas

2011-11-20T20:15:00.001-08:00

The latest growth industry in town are segundas, or second-hand shops. Within the last year, when other businesses have shuttered, they have sprung up like mushrooms. Unlike the Goodwill or 99-Cent Store these shops are all home grown and as individual as the hand-painted signs that show out front.

Dollar Saver 2nd Hand Thrift Store

Lupe's Treasures

Mi Segundita

Angel's Thrift Store "Segunda"

Needful Things

Thrifty Store Belem's

told and cut in linoleum

2011-11-15T20:25:00.001-08:00

Dick Whittington and His Cat, by Marcia Brown. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1950.

Although the artists are not connected, and the work is separated by some 50+ years, the instant I saw this I flashed on Nikki McClure, another artist I like, who also draws with knives.

the complete encyclopedia of stitchery

2011-11-14T22:45:00.001-08:00

The Complete Encyclopedia of Stitchery, by Mildred Graves Ryan, illustrated by Marta cone. Doubleday, 1979.

There are hundreds more.

headphones, blue brains, and me

2011-11-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

pattern combo of the morning: study in contrast

2011-11-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

Space-age meets flowers, hand-me-down meets new, casual meets fancy, pjs meet daywear. It worked, and out the door she went.

campo train

2011-11-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

Campo. It's in the middle of nowhere. An old train will take you even further out, and back again.

On the other side of the tunnel is Tecate, Mexico. You approach, stop on the bridge, and then silently go back the way you came.

Tall, long, brown border fence.

http://www.sdrm.org/

campo house

2011-11-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

Roberta Wilson, 1911-2011

2011-11-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

These paintings were done by my husband's great aunt, Roberta Wilson. They were discovered and gathered upon her death this summer, just a few weeks short of her 100th birthday. We have no idea what the settings and people in these paintings are, but it's possible they are connected with the volumes of semi-fictional writing that was also left behind. She left the paintings unsigned and untitled, except for "Greta's Wedding Day", and we don't know who she may have shared the work with. Roberta was born in New Mexico and lived in the San Diego area for 80+ years, and was a creative and crafty person throughout her life. The paintings came our way, as she had no children and very few living relatives. I decided to post these images because I think they are fascinating. Please click to see in greater detail and enjoy!

pattern combo of the morning : pippi stripes

2011-11-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Striped scarf. Striped socks. Old striped leggings, new patches, to cover the holes. Hand-me-down Hallowe'en tee. Magenta marker fingers.

do not open until october 31

2011-10-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

~~Do we dare...?~~ We dared!

BOO! Hope you had a happy halloween!

small old photo, wooded island in the distance

2011-10-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

Hint of mysterious journey that hangs over my coat rack.

orange, why not?

2011-10-26T22:47:00.000-07:00

available from C. R. Laurence.

pattern combo of the morning : welcome sweater weather

2011-10-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Temps dropped so out came the layers! Anna put on every garment I have been telling her all summer it's too hot to wear. On top: sweater, a fave from Argentina (almost too small now), dress: Hannah Anderson from thrift store ($7 score!), polka dot leggings and required striped socks.

2011-10-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

(Aww, thanks Otto, ps your dad is off the hook now. xoxo!)

The Kröller-Müller Chair

2011-10-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Piet Hein Eek at the Frozen Fountain now.

painters sprayed outside on this day

2011-10-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

string creatures

2011-10-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

First art project this year for second grade : STRING CREATURE. Drop a black loop of string on the paper, trace, and try out some line work. Cut out and mount on black, viola. (Thank you Mrs. McCann and Art in Action library.)

Ee chee wa maa! .....

2011-10-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

The ewoks here wish you a happy birthday, love. XOXO

field trip : pumpkin patch

2011-10-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

BRAVE COWBOY BILL LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ORIGINAL ARTWORK

2011-10-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

More Little Golden Book happiness here: original artwork from the man who later brought us Lowly the Worm.

blue

2011-10-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

October, time to plant in California. The skink was living in a shallow shovel of dirt.

tenggren + little golden books + fabric!

2011-10-04T21:14:00.001-07:00

images above from fabric.com

I feel kind of nerdy getting so excited about licensed character quilting fabric, but if there was going to be one, this could be it. The Poky Little Puppy? The Tawny Scrawny Lion? Shy Little Kitten? All characters are from titles illustrated by one of my all time favorite artists, Gustaf Tenggren.

E-S-P-R-I-T

2011-09-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sam made this. Letter design is channeling for me a serious 80s vibe. There once existed a mohair ESPRIT sweater that I "halved" with my sister, with this same palette exactly!

Which led me to lay eyes on this, and this. I had forgotten what a powerful coveting this catalog inspired in me at the time, and the hours spent fashion-imprinting on these images. The colors, the sunny, slightly off-beat mood. I was glad to be reminded of it again.

EVBL RIP

2011-09-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

East Valley branch library closed down and liquidated books it didn't need. Still managed to find a few nice things among the swarmed over stacks.

Mostly Spanish language books were left in children's. Swimmy in Spanish is Nadarin!

Rare mid-century JENEV Jerry & EVELYN ACKERMAN pottery small CERAMIC VESSELS n/r

2011-09-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

We met Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman when they came to the Mingei. She was kind, and shy. He was sweet, and signed a program for my son. Some Ackerman gorgeousness for today. Sieze your chance.

read it and weep

2011-09-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

The Plain Truth about Child Rearing, by Garner Ted Armstrong, Ambassador College Press, 1970.

my three year old likes to organize a lot

2011-09-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

burning chase

2011-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled for my friend Alex and all the attention his work is getting of late. Thanks concerned citizen and LAPD, you did the world a service by bringing more awareness to such a major talent!

hand, and flower

2011-09-05T16:53:00.001-07:00

old box, nice pattern

2011-09-01T09:29:00.001-07:00

summer acorns

2011-08-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

pile on the pattern

2011-08-29T22:44:00.001-07:00

last one~ the TABLE pt. IV/ the bag

2011-08-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

The bag! This is almost my favorite part of the table project in a way, because this is when the obsession with this thing reached it's peak madness for me personally. I think it was the day before the auction when I completed these totally unnecessary yet totally necessary objects. Although our children were really at the heart of the inspiration for this project, it occurred to me that I didn't know exactly how much they themselves were getting out of the whole thing, other than free license to run amok while the adults were absorbed in work. At the end of the day it's the little humans that are important, and I wanted to make objects only for them, to say thank you for your contribution, you are special.

I made two designs, one for our boys, one for our girl, from art used in the table. I sewed the bag out of this awesome hand loomed cotton canvas that I bought at an estate sale, possibly some anthropological artifact from a century ago, who knows, but anyway so perfect! It had a gorgeous selvedge that I left unseamed at the top. It was hard to silkscreen on, like sandpaper, but it gave an interesting hand. Webbing was from Echino and Sew LA.

pretty selvedge!

I hadn't silkscreened at home in like, twenty years. It hasn't changed. See how ~~cheap~~ thrifty I am by cramming two designs on one screen!

Pressing seams and stuff. I cut, printed, and heat fixed each panel before I started sewing. I used this tutorial on the Purl Bee as a loose guide for the pattern.

Pinning webbing, assembly line style. Here the auction is in a few days and the table itself, the original project, is complete. And I am wondering if I could be a little OCD at this point.

At the event, I presented the kids with their bags (inside: a blank sketchbook, a pen, some gum, cookies, and ninja mask -yeah! from the Japanese dollar store.) When they sat down in the Table to draw, it was all so worth it!!! Thanks again, little muses. XOXO

the TABLE pt. III, the fable of the table

2011-08-28T21:44:00.002-07:00

This booklet come late in the table project, as it all started to gloriously mushroom beyond all reasonable proportion. I had been drawing mini-scenes with these characters for a few weeks and I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I think at this point we had given them names, and one night when I couldn't sleep, I thought it would be useful to write down more about who they were, I guess. (Yes it's true, with this last step they became even more the people we really know. Things are always more interesting when they are real....) We did not intend to use it exactly, but Steve and Abbey and I decided well, why not. I re-used some of the art from the table interior, and for text scanned my late-night scrawl directly, scratch outs and all. This book is kind of a distant relative to the Marcel Wanders book I did~ illustrated story as metaphor for design object. Thus the Fable of the Table was born. Click on photos to view larger and read text.

(Pages were copied and binding sewn on my grandma's 1980's Brother machine. Thanks guys, no one would have seen this if you didn't do it, heaven knows I had no time....)

the TABLE pt. II

2011-08-25T23:36:00.000-07:00

This is the group of illustrations that appeared as decals on the Table, in panel layout form. (The grey bits you see are placement for hinges, shelves, and other hardware to not intrude upon.) Panels were left with a generous amount of white space, as the original concept was that kids should be able to interact with the artwork via dry-erase. It was intended that the artwork should also be unified by a family of characters, which after a lot of ideas, were whittled down to seven, and later given names. (Otto, Pip, Blot, Daisy, Franklin, Slugadora, and Super Bear. Can you guess who is who? You will have to wait until I post the booklet, ha!) Since the decals are made by a laser cutting vinyl, all the negative space has to be picked out by hand. Yes, by hand. With the 27 or so art files we submitted, that is A LOT of picking. Thank you Amanda at Sign-It, you are the best.

(Does anyone remember Clark from the park in the dark? My less-night-terrors-inducing tribute....)

The illustration and character development took a really nice journey and landed in a place that was unexpected and kind of lovely. Something that started from a creepy-cool point of inspiration evolved into something a bit sweet and very familial. They turned out to be real creatures we know, and real things they say, and stuff they do. I became obsessed with this group of seven, and let them whisper in my ear even late into the night when I should have been sleeping. It is fair to say many details of this project took on lives of their own. After the drawings were complete, then words came to me, and then amazingly appeared assembled in booklet form (...thank you Steve and Abbey and the once-sharp needle on grandma's sewing machine.) More to come.

Mid Century Italy Raymor Ceramic Pottery Elephant

2011-08-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, pretty soon I'll get table pix pt. 2 up. In the meantime, enjoy this item on eBay I like, but do not need. It's got tusks that are green, and on it's head!

the TABLE

2011-08-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

For the last month or so I've been collaborating on a project with my brother-in-law Steve and his friend Abbey, called Tables for Tots which benefits the Ronald McDonald House in San Diego. Basically, the idea is to take a generic set of wood table and chairs, and transform it into something totally cool that will then be put up for charity auction. Steve, who is an architect, and Abbey, interior designer, had the concept to make the outside a lovely sleek modern piece of furniture that's beautiful on the outside, and a fun, interactive, secret space that's kid-friendly on the inside. They kindly invited me to design the family of characters and scenes on the inside, as well as write a little 'zine/ comic book/ character profile sort of thing to hand out with it. For those who know our families it's easy to see the work and concept were deeply inspired by the personalities and obsessions of our own children. We entitled the piece "The Fable of the Table of OTTO". (Otto, after the lead character, and after a very special real-life nephew!)

Cabinet built around original table, and chairs still in original form. No paint yet.

Decals are ready! After a bit of character development, we refined it to a family of seven characters, and a total of 28 or so final illustrations. Thank you Sign-It for your generous donation of time and materials! Illustrations to follow in future post.

Steve applying decals. This is more towards the end after a lot (a lot a lot) of work completing the painting and getting the dry-erase vinyl applied, etc.

Table complete, closed.

Table inside. Chairs are now grey, original proportion refined. Bottom of cabinet is lined with divine hide rug donated from Kyle Bunting. (As well as hide pillows, tiny bit visible upper right.)

Cabinet, each surface fully open. The top folds up and the doors swing open to climb in, and the desk panels can flip up to access paper, pencils, and stored treasures.

Viola, tidy again!

Auction day. The kids are our demo models.

Sam draws. (I made those bags for them to celebrate the occasion. More in a future post.)

Hello you!

Generous white space so kids can draw with dry-erase to their heart's content.

The chairs, transformed!!

There is even a custom brand burned into the wood. Concept: Steve and Abbey, design: me, execution: Steve's dad and my father-in-law Gordon. It says OTTO, the Os and two Ts suggest the silhouette of a tabletop.

The boys sat in the cabinet during the live auction. And guess what? Grandma was the high bidder! What an amazing surprise. Here are some very lucky boys.

On top of all that, our project won Grand Prize! And all for such a good cause. Many thanks to Steve and Abbey for all their inspiration and hard work, and the countless donors who helped make this project possible. We couldn't have done it without you!

study in minimalism

2011-07-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

gifts from Sam this week:

a bird made of a Post-It

a ladybug made of Legos.

sketchbooks

2011-07-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Sam draws from life with his cousin at the Getty Villa in Malibu. They were very self-motivated and spent a large amount of time sitting quiet with pens in hand.

Cousin makes a good subject too.

girard love

2011-07-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

from : http://www.stylepark.com/en/designer/alexander-girard/contributions

art party for japan!

2011-07-18T01:01:00.000-07:00

I was kindly invited by my friend Christina to participate in a charity auction to help aid relief in Japan. It has only been several months since the earthquake devastated Japan and while the news of the disaster has faded from the headlines, people there still need our help. Many amazing artists have donated work, and I was very pleased to be able to donate two new pieces. Auction goes live today. Please check it out and bid! http://www.charityauctionstoday.com/store.php?username=ArtPartyJapan

H- HANDMADE LAMP

2011-07-08T19:19:00.001-07:00

From A OCH F, via Reference Library.

three years is not that long

2011-06-28T23:33:00.000-07:00

It went by fast here. Until I get my web sh*t together, most recent and interesting items will be found at my flickr account and here I hope.

latest project

2008-08-28T12:03:00.001-07:00

Aaaw, she's here at last. Miss Anna was born two weeks ago. She's fit as a fiddle and fine as frog's hairs. We're exhausted, but doing great. Sam adores her. What more could a mom ask for?

new territory

2008-07-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, the museum scheduled a reading event for me to do, my first one ever. It was pretty cool. People showed up, small children listened! After the reading, they coordinated an activity at the children's museum next door, a re-interpretation of Wild and Woolly using shadow puppets. I'm sorry I don't have photos of that, because it was like the coolest thing ever. Thanks Meg and Kelly for setting it all up. Super fun.

Oh, and also, there was an article about the show in the North County Times on Thursday. People tell me it is nice. No doubt it is~ excruciating self-consciousness keeps me from reading it at this time. However it was flattering, and surreal, and challenging to be asked to put into words what it is that I do. I probably should give that a bit more/frequent thought in general...? Most of the time I'm just barely remembering where I left the tape.

little drawings, the show

2008-06-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening was the opening of my show at the California Center for the Arts. People, I won't lie to you, it was a lot of hard work getting here, over months of working weekends, on my sorry pregnant feet. I have many people to thank and I couldn't have done it without you~ D., C., G., mom, dad, K., for domestic support, Olivia and Mary Catherine for giving me the opportunity, Laura for taking on practical responsibilities for 130+ teeny tiny pieces of art, and Nicole and crew for expert installation. I could not be more satisfied and thrilled with the results. And thanks to all my friends and family that could make it out for the big evening. It meant a lot ot me. :-)

My muse, in one last moment of enthusiastic patience. When I asked him if he liked my art party, or not so much, he confessed, "Not so much." At one point, a guard scared him when he reached out to touch the art, not understanding that Sam's been living intimately with these items for several months now!

"Grandma's picture wall" was the installation guiding theme here.

Hanging out with G. and C.

Sam and Grandma get a closer look.

Sam, D., my dad, my mom, me, Aunt D. and Uncle A.

Here Sam displays "not liking this so much anymore" body language.

My hall. The case holds process work from Ook the Book and some other book illustrations, and the far wall shows work from the Marcel Wanders project.

Summer openings mean wine and snacks outdoors, aah. Lucky weather, not 104 degrees like the weekends before!

Me and C.

Sam loves to hang with Grandma.

...and later, homemade cake at my mom's house. Aaaw, thanks!

Not to mention flowers that greeted me at reception from a very special friend in Seattle. Thanks sweetie, they are gorgeous.

Aaah, so now I can just enjoy, and finish baking the bun. For those who still want to catch the show, it's running through November. Thanks again everyone!!

museum show is almost here

2008-06-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

A quick update about the show opening on Saturday at the CCA. Last week we started hanging and now it's almost done! Thanks to Nicole and the expert installation staff, it looks great. They make it look easy, and let me tell you, that's some feat with the 130+ pieces I brought in. I wish I had some photos of how we packed the hallway with stuff. This is one brain addled waddling pregnant lady who could have never done it on my own, so much appreciation.

I peeked in the other gallery rooms and the other shows look intriguing. Can't wait to see it all done. After all of this, I'm really looking forward to celebrating Saturday evening!

the dates, for real

2008-05-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you interested in the upcoming show, the dates have been extended. And it also should be mentioned the dates are, um, incorrect on my website. Working on that.

So anyway, just for the record, the show is slated to open June 28th with lots of fine drink, snacks, and revelry, and has now been extended through November 30.

For further info, go to the source--

http://www.artcenter.org/museum.htm

Hope to see you there!

: website update :

2008-04-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.littledrawings.com

oh hello there

2008-04-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

In a forest pitch dark, lived the tiniest spark! That Bjork line goes through my head every time I step outside now. The garden's growing and I have a lot of work to do.

PS Is it just me or does Blogger wash out images? Hmm, not so in love with that.

upcoming show

2008-03-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, I thought I added a post about this, but now I don't see it! Anyway, exciting news, even worth repeating twice. I have a show coming up at the museum in town, the California Center for the Arts. I'm organizing my work, figuring out what to show, how to show it, and feeling very energetic and a little nervous. We're going to call it Little Drawings I think. Yay! It opens Saturday June 28th, save the date!

more pixie hats

2008-02-16T21:18:00.001-08:00

I made some new pixie hats for a friend's new baby (Baby J.!) I 'm hoping that they will fit, since I'm scaling down a pattern that fits Sam's big pre-schooler head. They are so much fun to make, and I love the zen of stitching applique by hand. It's pretty labor intensive, yet strangely relaxing.