Merry Christmas To All

HERE'S TO A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE! I HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY IS BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL, HAPPY AND WARM! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!!

I Wait For It The Whole Year Round

With only a few more days til Christmas, things have been so super hectic and crazy ~ but in a good way! I love seeing all the Christmas lights at night, all the toys, candy and decorations in the stores, assembling & wrapping gifts, making cupcakes and cookies, Holiday Parties and get togethers...there's no better time than this.



Went to the Long Beach Flea Market and I went nuts with all the Christmas Vintage piles! I came away with some pretty spectacularly brilliant Elves, no Santas but there sure were a whole lot! This is all fuel for my creativity...







I love that people put their effort into the seasons, last time it was Halloween, this time, Christmas...I love a theme something awful!



It was off to Miss Mindy and Rick O'Brien's Dr. Sketchy's Holiday Bonanza with Bob Self and his lovely band of models last night!





The Belle of the Ball, Miss Mindy is just so gosh-darn-lovely! The place was UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE...so warm & cozy inside, so crazy insanely fun and lit up outside! A full-size mushroom house?! Fire pits and ponds of leaves?! Trees and stones and cages with butterflies?! Models with feathers and stockings in trees?!



We scooped up Bob Dob with a quick visit to his studio before hopping on over to Mindy's...HOLEEE MOSES, what a place! I'll be back with my camera next time, it was so inspiring. Here he takes a break from sketching to eat one of my black and white cupcakes...



Daniel Peacock brought his wonderful talent and showed us how to do. A visit to his studio is next, believe it or not...it will happen.





Daniel and Bob draw in Mindy's exciting work place, where her very magic hands create such juicy ladies and Halaballoo.



Miss Mindy O'Brien



Rick O'Brien





So happy to have been included in their very warm world of O'Brien. The two of them make me so happy - they make EVERYONE so happy! Much much love to Bob Self and family, the Dr. Sketchy's ladies, all the people who show up in support of people's creativity and talents, and to the boys and girls I get to call my friends and family!!!

Someday At Christmas

I'm so inspired from so many different creative people out there! I love that people just need to create what they like. They like it, they need to see it over and over in different ways.





Here is an illustration and photo from Gustavo Aimar. I can't read what he writes, but his work is so lovely and cute!



Lili Scratchyis amazing. I love all the funny faces and crazy shapes she makes with ceramics. I wish I had an entire wall decorated with her silliness.




Eleonora Arroyo does cut outs from cardboard it looks like, and I just love her freedom! The patterns and colors are so striking.




Eleonara Arroyo, everything she makes is cute. I love trying to imagine when she was making all these, her face, probably smiling. Setting em all up for their picture!




And Majeak Ann kills me! She has so many books!




Poly Bernatene works in what looks to be watercolors. It's so messy and tight at the same time, I can't get over it! So good!

Happy early weekend before Christmas!!

So Edgy CUTE!!

It's here!! It's really HERE!! My copy of Edgy Cute came in the mail this week!! It turned out so unbelievable I'm over the mooooon in love! The cover is so good. It's just so exciting and fun - PLUS - it has what I consider a little golden book spine, which is such a plus!



There's such great work inside, such a great choice of artists who's work I love and admire so much.




This book is such a treasure, and I know there have been so many posts of gift ideas before Christmas, but I say if you've got a few last minute items to pick up - and this fits just right - PICK IT UP!!

Travis Lampe

It features the likes of this guy - whom I adore! His work is full of mischief and much brouhaha with SAD ENCHANTMENT as his running muse!

(eeeeee!)

Nicoletta Ceccoli

Her work is exquisite and soft ~ so deeply mesmerizing I can get lost in it forever.

Ana Bagayan

Ana's pieces included in this book represent Edgy Cute so well. I love her colors, her snow and sprinkles with hurt and blood and carnivorism!

Angelique Houltkamp

Hip Hip for Tattoo Inspired Art that looks this good!! I love this woman's world.

Brian Viveros

And this man's work is just unbelievable...come on.

Liz McGrath

Cute and horrific? Please, Liz does it best.

Matte Stephens

Matte's work is so fun and full of energy it makes me want to scream and get to work myself! So good.

Brian Taylor

Yesssss.

Motomichi Nakamura

Edgy Cute is packed. With goodness. I'm so thankful to have been included in this book. There's not one person I'm not stoked to be represented with in these pages.

Get it.

It's good.

(Thank you HARRY SAYLOR for being so flippin rad!)



Annnnnnnnd, if you've got a minute, take a stroll over to the HURLEY website, where I was interviewed for a spot as the featured artist! weeeet!

Certainly Swell

Myself and the ever-so-illusive Mr. Daniel Peacock

Saturday night was the Multi-plane show at the Corey Helford Gallery. Lotsa faces, lotsa names - great art and great fun! Thank you to all that came out to support the arts - it was rainy and wet, but worth all the trouble! Here, it'll be like you were there...almost.

Myself, Buff Monster and friend, Greg Simkins (his hat) and good baby

Lola, Carlos Ramos, Angelique, Kim Chueh, Natalia Fabia, Daniel Peacock (I love group photos)

Nouar, Ana Bagayan and Meridyth, Lola and me!

Johnny Rodriguez, Greg Simkins (& crazy baby!) Gary Baseman, Coop, myself and Richard Scarry

Me and Jan Helford (there's Johnny in the back)

Abbey from So Good For Bunnies Blog

Abbey was my second runner up for Tiny Bo Bo. I hadn't heard back from the original winner, so Merry Christmas Abbey!! She came to pick his little butt up and see some wonderful multi-planes.

Myself and the talented Mr. Thomas Han

The artwork is insanely wonderful, I really suggest going out to see it before it comes down - you have less than a week!

Interview Juxtapoz.com

Here's a fun interview with myself, Sarah Folkman, D*Face and Greg Simkins - along with Jan and Bruce (owners Corey Helford Gallery) on JUXTAPOZ.COM about the Multi-plane show tonight! Richard and Chip (England's finest!) asked us a few questions about our inspiration and the process for this show (how difficult it was!). If you can't make the opening, they've also included a few other pieces from other artists so take a little look!

Oh What Fun It Is To Ride!

Hooooooooooweeeeeeeeee! I bring you "In The Shadow Of Death". A multi-plane project, acrylic and ink on panel and glass. MY PIECE, all finished, tidied and tight! It was rough to work on glass, having never done it before - real rough. BUT, I love the outcome so much more having had such a struggle, I'm so in love with the Circus-slash-Christmas effect of the piece, all wrapped up in this exquisite frame!



I can't wait to see what the other artists did tomorrow night - the show opens at COREY HELFORD GALLERY in Culver City 7-10. Festive and warm, it should be wonderful.



If you can make it out, please do and don't be shy!! Say hello!

Multi-Plane Show!

Judas Priest with this sleep situation! I woke up at 3:30am to the awful smell of skunk in my face. I fell back to sleep only to wake up to 1,000 tiny flamingo feet in my hair. I think the skunk was real tho, cus I couldn't go back to sleep after that - I was so disturbed by the smell. I'm up still at 7am writing this so I can tire myself out like an old lady...

(That was a while back, I musta forgot to finish the post. But I remember those Flamingo feet! Yeesh!)





I've been busy bustling around here for the past few weeks - I've looked like a hag for as long too! But this weekend is going to be wonderful, and I won't look like a crone. Saturday is the Multi-Plane show at the Corey Helford Gallery which is gonna be nuts! So much talent, the list goes on and on! My name's included on that list, I have a special little multi-plane piece that has a sordid history behind it! In fact, I'll be getting it to the gallery by the skin of my teeth TOMORROW before they finish hanging all the others! All I can say is there was a mishap, it's delicate, things happen, but I'm on my last leg of painting and tiding up! Please come by and say hello if you're able, come rain or come shine! (I hope it rains!)





Some of my very best favorite ornaments growing up - I used to play with them until I got in trouble. Happy weekend to you all, keep warm & happy!!

Tiny Bo Bo's New Home!

Today was the end of the Christmas Giveaway - The lucky number was 16, and the name attached to that number is Film Architect. I wasn't able to tap into his profile, however, so FILM ARCHITECT, if you're out there, please respond! Email me with your address, so I can get T. B. B. shipped out to you asap!! If you don't respond within a week, I'm sorry, but your prize will go to the next number I choose at random...so let's hear from you! And congratulations on your winnings, AND your new baby boy coming in a few weeks!!

Thank you to all of you who entered, for taking the time to write. I loved reading your memories and stories, I hope this year is just as good - if not better than those favorite Holidays you remember. I wish I had a gift for each of you out there, because truly, you make me so very happy.

Give Away Ends Tomorrow!

This little fella (seen here helping me wrap some gifts) will be going out to his new home this week, possibly YOUR home, if you've entered to win. Tiny Bo Bo has been of much help to me, and I promise he'll be helpful to you this Christmas Season - winner and new parent. Getcher last minute entries in! I've so enjoyed reading all your happy Christmas memories - little kids coming out of their rooms, running to see all the gifts and magic Santa left...I just love it! Thank you for sharing, and I hope it's been fun remembering..



Around here, I've been working on secrets, paintings and wrapping presents (i know, it's early!). Half the fun of giving gifts is the wrapping!



With tiny wooden toys attached to big bright bows, candy canes and tissue paper!



(Lookit Santa...Joanne's Fabrics) So I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow, Tiny Bo Bo will be shipped out in the mail with all the orders I've gotten (20% off prints and books!) - good luck and happy memories!

While The Merry Bells Are Ringing

What to do for last minute Easy-As-Pie Christmas Gifts? Here are a few things I have available throughout the land. I'm not sure how many of these items you guys are familiar with, but they're all out there now - and some are available ON SALE thru the Holidays!



My "Tea Party" Print is available (AND 20% OFF for the HOLIDAYS!!)HERE at my very own shop. They measure 12 3/4 x 13 1/4, signed and numbered (only few remain) and are printed on Heavy Stock. Alice in Wonderland is perfect for gift giving - any time!



"So Good For Little Bunnies" - my very first book of adventure & candied delights is available (20% OFF for the HOLIDAYS too!)HERE at my shop. A great starting point for a stocking full of sugar drops & candy canes for all the bunny lovers you love! (Each signed by me and I like to throw in a few tidbits too!)



My "Baby Mine" print available HERE AT GALLERY 1988 SF. This Giclee print measures 8" x 10" and is printed on Somerset Velvet Fine Art Paper. Get it on the cheap - it's on sale for the Holidays now!



My "Naughty Boy" print available HERE AT COPRO NASON. It measures 16"x13"x1.5" Giclee on Wood Panel, Hand Varnished. Pinocchio in a pumpkin? Right on!



"The Seasons" Prints are available as a set, or individually (this is a cut of "Winter") HERE AT THE COREY HELFORD GALLERY. These giclee prints measure 12" x 29" and are fit as a fiddle for spicing up the place!



As I've mentioned before, I have a few items available at MUNKY KING in Los Angeles. These items are cheery and bright, appropriate for kids of all ages this Christmas Season!




And I've also got a few skins available (and even more in the works!) HERE AT GELASKINS. This is a way to protect your beloved hand-held media while individualizing it at the same time!

**I have a few ORIGINAL art works here with me, you can contact me directly for availability on your favorite pieces - to get the best prices in town!**

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

And Warm Woolen Mittens..

My Favorite Movie right now...



My Favorite outfit right now...



My Favorite slippers right now...



My Favorite tree right now.

Christmas Giveaway Starts Today!!

Okay folks, let's hear your cheerful memories!! Enter as many comments and stories as you feel fit, I will be choosing the winner on Monday, December 7th, so you have a full week! One of you will be receiving Tiny Bo Bo - FREE FIFTY FREE! Hand-crafted with love by yours truly. Remember, leave me comments and I'll count each and every one of them as the week progresses. See below post for pictures and secrets...get to it people!!

Tiny Bo Bo Christmas Giveaway!!

My Christmas Giveaway starts tomorrow, officially, BUT, I've already received some Christmas memories from a few of you, and that's just fine with me! Letter rip! I'll count each and every one of your comments, as I said before, here on my blog, on facebook, twitter and email. Leave me good Christmas memories, as many as you wish!



I've made a jolly Stuffed Bear for one lucky son-of-a-gun!

Meet Tiny Bo Bo.

He's not that tiny though - he stands about 16" tall from the top of his ears to the tip of his socks!



I've fastened a bell with a red bow around his neck so you'll know where he is at all times. He jingles as he jives in his baby underpants with lace trim. 100% cotton, hand-sewn, hand-stuffed with embroidered eyes, nose, mouth and freckles.



Tiny Bo Bo wears red socks to keep his legs warm through the Holiday Season. Depending on where his new home is, I'm sure he'll be quite fit wearing these socks through and through.



I know the Christmas Season can get ugly at times - whether we're frazzled by shoppers, grumpy with budgets and bills, hateful in traffic or even missing loved ones. It can be lonely and sad - that's why I wanted to make ONE THING pure and happy (and 100% free)! With your Christmas memories, hopefully we can all remember (and share) happy moments that mean the world to each of us. Our blessings, rather than our disappointments. And I hope that Tiny Bo Bo reaches his winning home, and finds it warm and happy, safe and sound.

So happy remembering!!

Thankful Indeed!

Tomorrow we're supposed to be thankful for things. I'm thankful each day...at least I try to be. For the people I love, for the place I live, for the things I have and the things I'm able to do. I'm thankful for all of it. I'm thankful for your support, you kindness and feedback, and the inspiration you provide me.

So, Monday, this monday - November 30th, will begin my Christmas Giveaway! It'll end the following Monday - December 7th, when I will be choosing a winner at random. Leave me comments, as many as you want, anywhere you want - my blog, facebook, even twitter and email - whatever floats your boat, kind reader, wonderful supporter. I wanna hear your favoritest Christmas memories, any good thing you want - I look forward to reading your goodness!

Above is a little bite of what you will possibly be receiving from my very jolly hands...He's stuffed full of fluff, he wears underpants with frills, socks to trot and jingles all the way! I promise he'll love you, and he'll be good. More pictures will be surfacing along the way too, so just trust me for now!

Thank you for everything, and Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! XOXXO!

Death Of Vivisect!

Black Friday will be the event opening of the Vivisect Playset show at GALLERY 1988 LOS ANGELES! And I can finally show you my piece, titled Comfort! I'm very happy with this painting, I feel like it's everything I had imagined and much more. The feeling is somber, warm and hopeful, and the colors turned out so rich. This show is gonna be a huge one, it marks the 5th and FINAL installment of Vivisect, and I'm pretty pleased to be a part of it!!



If you find yourself in the area, you should squeeze it into your Black Friday Frenzie. Serious. For those of you who can't make it, check out the Gallery 1988 Blog where they'll surely post images and photo's of the night's hallaballoo! I'll be up there for the show too, and you know I'll be posting about it soon after as well! It's gonna be rad.

Sweetness At Munky King Los Angeles

For goodness sakes, I've failed to mention the sweet station I have over at MUNKY KING on Melrose! I'm so excited to be featured for the holiday months (until the end of January). I have a few special goodies to gobble up for a steal, so make quick work before it's all gone!



For your jolly pleasure, these shy babies are up for grabs!! Three Circus Heads from my Circus Runaways Series (Red, Blue & Black) are at Munky King now, lookin' cute as can be! Tired of the extravaganza life, they've packed their bags and run out on the crowd. Circus life can be tough.
(I love these ladies, they look like candy!)



My never-before-seen Carousel Bear Cry, framed and pretty, complete with a lollipop!





Magic Head Bunnies and Bears with red ribbon and jingle bells! Yip Yip! I'm excited because these items have never been available to the public until now. With lot's more pieces including plush creatures, tiny painted antique books and one of my proudest graphite drawings, you can't go wrong shopping MUNKY KING this season! See ya there!@!

It's A Marshmallow World Full Of Sweethearts

Good morning Thursday. I've been hustlin and bustlin over here, getting some new work finished and creating the story and overall theme/feel for the show in June. I have about 6 months to complete it, and what I've done so far has made my hair stand on end. I'm in love. But in the interest of keepin it all top-secret, I'm only going to leak tiny bits and shadows of some of the pieces.



I would say I'm in the second stage of creating this series of work. Stage one is all in my mind, lurking about, (thinking), watching movies, (thinking), reading books, (thinking), making notes, collecting and hoarding images and thoughts to build off of. That happens for as long as I can keep it in ~ until I'm about ready to burst. Second stage is now, starting actual work and feeling out the story vs. images. It really feels like a bunch of WILD HORSES spread across the land and I'm trying to reign em in. Also I have to keep in mind all the things I've learned along the way, things I want to strive for, new challenges and meanings. It sounds like struggling work ~ and it is, but it's the love of my life.



And things like this help. Somehow. They make me want to make little kid "surprise!" faces and laugh, which is never not good. Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes.



And breaks are so good too, they make me wind up! Here's my secret break from painting in hopes of making you something for the Christmas Giveaway! Weeet! This is a little early, but I'll start shedding details next week. The process of winning will begin for everyone the Monday after Thanksgiving. More info to be announced so come on back!!

Everyone ready for Happy Holidays? I would love to hear about your Thanksgiving plans! I have MUCH too MUCH to be thankful for - and I AM, but Thanksgiving isn't my favoritest holiday ever. I will say I'm thankful for you all though. For coming and peeking at my random art-girlishness. There's a lot I wouldn't be doing if it weren't for you guys. (*gleam!*) So tell me...what're you doing?

Christmas Time Is Here...Happiness And Cheer...

Yesterday I took down Halloween and put up Christmas. I was a bit sad to see Halloween go, it gave me so much inspiration this year ~ especially in my work. Masks, pumpkins, skulls, cats, darkness. But Christmas is just the opposite, and it's a good change too. Candies, sugar, stockings, snow, toys. Here you can see the books I used to highlight Christmas goodness, including Miss Mindy's Sassy Paper Doll Bonanza, Femke Heimstra's Rock Candy, and Lilli Carre's Tales Of Woodsman Pete. All of which would make great gifts this year as well!



If you think about it, you could make great themed gifts with each of those items ~ or any book for that matter! Last year I made a themed gift with my book (So Good For Little Bunnies) with a hairy stuffed bunny, soft pink slippers, a baby stocking with starlight peppermints & those spice drop candies and wrapped it all with red ribbon and bows...with Miss Mindy's Paper Doll book, I see crazy scarves, cute panties, nighties, stockings, broaches, feathers and even throw in a vintage toy or sweet candy canes!



I love Christmas. And when it's early like this, when all the stores start carrying all their Christmas goods, I go nuts scooping up all the wrapping paper, ribbons, bags and decorations. Wrapping is 60% of the fun!

***Speaking of fun, stay tuned for my CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!! I'm not sure what it'll be yet, but it'll be fun and it'll most likely be wrapped with a red bow! I'll do it early in December to clear the Christmas rush too. Details soon!***

Merry Monday to you all!

The Lady Vixen, Ms. McGrath

We went to the Liz McGrath show at Billy Shire Fine Arts last night. It was good times. I'm a big fan of Liz's work, I just love the style and creepy freakiness in her work. She's so super cute too.



This was unbelievable! Her name is Sailor Swift, and she was my favoritest piece in the show! Her with her little bow and collar.



Piggy?! His name is Sad Sammy Saucier, The Dirty Little Piglet ~ he has a toothpick in his chops, and tattoos on his neck.



This is Carlos...



To see Liz do a worm made my heart skip a beat!



Red Vambunny in the sky!



Deer me, The Entanglement was just nuts.



Myself and Liz with it's hugeness, she was so proud, I could tell. It's so nice to be around someone so creative and awesome, but sweet as the dickens to boot!



Charlie Immer was part of the group last night too, I'd never seen his work before, and I was super impressed.



I love his colors and juiciness. The teeth too.



He's so young and talented, I'm sure he's got a long career ahead of him!