Alvin Buenaventura: The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist
J. M. Barrie: The Annotated Peter Pan (The Centennial Edition) (The Annotated Books)
Henry) Kiyoko Lerner, Nathan Lerner, David Berglund, photographs (Darger: Henry Darger's Room
Loren Coleman: Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents, and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep
Ava 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
I think we're almost two-thirds of the way through the portraits!
For Friday, we have sailor-collared, open-hearted Ava and a trio of the little birds that love her so.
Happy weekend & see you soon!
I was getting a little posting-hypnosis from all the portrait posts, so I thought I'd share a little in-progress snip of new paper dolls I'm working on.
I think the new Oddfellow's portraits will go up for sale next Friday, March 9. I'll post the exact time soon and make one of those "sticky posts" that will stay at the top of the blog as a reminder.
I'm working almost non-stop on finishing up a project that's been in the works for a while - I can't wait to share it here!
Happy Thursday to you!
Professor Stella 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
And here we have the resident Astronomy teacher, the demure but lovely Professor Stella. I thought it was only fitting to preview this portrait after Professor Silas, because they are sweethearts of sorts.
Professor Silas 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
It's kind of an open secret that I have a little crush on Professor Silas. I actually based Oddfellow's resident cryptozoologist loosely on the dashing John Hodgman - don't know if many people know that fun fact?
More portraits forthcoming!
Felix 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
I was looking very forward to Felix's portrait. His skeptical eyebrows in the graphite drawing-version are one of my favorite things in the book. He's Josiah's favorite character, and I have big plans for him to figure more prominently in the next Oddfellow's adventure (Ollie, too!)
He's just such a grump and I want to tousle his hair (which I'm sure he would love about as much as wearing that corsage.)
Stay tuned for another portrait tomorrow!
Hugo 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
For your Friday amusement, today's portrait is the hungriest hedgehog in the known world!
I love the idea that Hugo would choose a treasured bit of food to pose with when having his portrait made.
Have a lovely weekend - I'll be back with more Oddfellow's folks next week!
Nurse Effie 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
I am getting lots of questions about these paintings and when the originals and prints will be available, so here's a quick run-down:
- I created these for the forthcoming Oddfellow's website, and there are 13 paintings total.
- The originals will be available for sale after they've all be previewed here. I will announce the exact date & time they'll go up for sale.
- I make prints available after the original is spoken for.
I hope this is helpful!
As you can see, gentle, pretty Nurse Effie is the portrait-of-the-day:
Happy Thursday!
Little Bear in Blue Bow 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
I boxed myself in a bit when I decided to go with black backgrounds for all the portraits - Ava and baby bear, both of whom should have dark, dark hair/fur, are represented a bit lighter in these paintings. But I like their backgrounds very much otherwise.
And I love the frames I ended up going with - all thirteen have the same frame. It was kind of a gamble, but I think they're very Oddfellowsian.
Back with more previews soon!
Ollie 8"x10" (10"x12" framed) Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame
Who better to start off the sharing of the new Oddfellow's portraits than the character that seems to be (almost) everyone's favorite: Ollie Onionhead! Decked out in a snazzy plaid bow-tie, he's all rosy-cheeked and beaming.
I'm going to try to unveil a new portrait every work-day until they're all posted - so keep your eye out!
(Photo above taken by my unofficial event photographers, our pals The Berkleys)
The reading/event at the cozy Green Bean Books was so nice! There were lots of sweet children and parents and ladies who came to visit, hear some of Oddfellow's, and draw some monsters. We read the 5th chapter/story in O.O., in which Professor Silas and the gang goes off to look for a lake monster, then I talked a bit about what seems to make for the best mysterious creatures (mixing two real animals, etc) hence my school-project looking posterboard there!
We had tons of colored pencils, and fueled by lollipops, we all drew for a good little while. Some of them drew monsters, some drew characters from Oddfellows (!!! - I wanted to steal those!)
This anonymous flying dinosaur was left behind, and I thought he should be immortalized here:
It's a sight of a lot cooler than the silly creature I was doodling.
Portland locals should visit that lovely little store! I left with an armful of books from their expertly curated and beautiful collection.
Thanks to everyone who came, and especially to all the kids I got to talk to and draw with and sign for.
It was the best time!
I've been putting together this set for a little while now, and I am so excited that it's in the shop!
This deluxe book & print set contains the following delights:
- One signed and officially stamped hardback copy of my illustrated book of stories, Oddfellow's Orphanage
- One 10"x8" signed and dated print (available exclusively in this special set!) of my very favorite spread in the book, The Circus Parade.
- One Official Oddfellow's red ribbon bookmark
- One 1" dapper Ollie Onionhead pinback button
So happy with how this came together!
A few more things:
-The new series of Oddfellow's portraits will be debuting here starting next week, and will be available framed up nicely for sale after all have been shared.
-Local folks, please come say hello this weekend on Sunday at 2:00 pm for my signing/reading at Green Bean Books on Alberta! Treats will be on hand and it'll be a lovely way to pass a bit of a late Winter's afternoon.
Happy weekend to you!
I've been stuck on the idea of treasure boxes for a while. Probably my whole life, but especially the last little while. When I say treasure box, all I really mean is a small box filled with small things - as simple and wonderful as that.
For Josiah's Valentine this year, I got in my mind to make him a treasure box of sorts, one that told a story. I made a little collage on top of an old box I found, which came complete with a little key.
Inside, I gathered small curiosities that served as symbols of my affection and told bits of the story. Once I wrote it down, the story itself was included in a small, folded piece of paper tucked in with the odds & ends (a blackbird whistle, two miniature ivory dice, a beat-up blue toy car, and a skeleton key - which, together, sure seem like a recipe for a Tom Wait's song.)
It is a fairy tale of sorts about a magpie who steals the key to a girl's heart from a chain around her neck, only to be re-stolen by a ne'er-do-well fellow, who reunites the girl with her key and vows to win her heart fair and square.
We've given each other quite a few stories and pictures between the two of us, and they are the most special presents I feel I can get or give (although I'll never say no to a heart-shaped box of candy!). He loved it, and it made me so happy that I made him something this year.
Local friends & readers, on Sunday, Feb 19th, at 2:00 pm, I will be signing Oddfellow's and making mischief at adorable Green Bean Books on Alberta. I will be bringing cookies, drawing supplies for a little drawing prompt, and also debuting my official signing stamp (approved by Oddfellow Bluebeard himself!)
Come say hello!
Today is my birthday.
I woke up with a cold - whatta cruel coincidence.
But I'll soldier on and have some pie and possibly cake and heal myself that way!
In my inbox today, waiting from one of my most favorite and clever people was this silly/awesome/mock-official certificate acknowledging the occasion.
There are a bunch more extremely official forms and such at the Bureau of Communication.
Love that Amy and love this service! Both treasures of the internet.
Richard Buckner has a song called Gauzy Dress in the Sun - they are one of those universal things of beauty, I think.
I happened into my rat's nest of a dressing room the other day when the sun was streaming in, and I couldn't resist taking a photo. We were temporarily using the curtains for that room elsewhere in the house, and now I wonder if I shouldn't just leave the curtains down. I could see all of my things much better in the golden light, messy as they may be.
If I ever get it into presentable shape, maybe I'll take some more photos in there?
I am almost finished with a bunch of new full-color Oddfellow's portraits. There are thirteen, I think. I began creating them especially for the forthcoming website, but it's also just nice seeing everyone in color, in paint, as a change from the drawings that fill the book. The frames for the originals came, and they are so pretty! I'm very excited about how this little series has come together.
I'll start sharing them here, soon!
****
Edit! A very sweet commentor raised a question that I get a lot, and my reply got so lengthy I thought I'd repost it here:
Hi Toni!
This is such a sweet comment. A lot of people send similar notes and emails. The reason I don't post outfit photos these days is this: I woke up one day, and suddenly, like a switch had been pulled, I had absolutely no interest in them at all. I still love clothes as much as ever, but I just don't have the interest, time, or daylight-gallivanting hours to document what I wear. Most days, I am at home working.
There are so many fashion blogs posting beautiful clothes all the time - that is their job (or part of it.) My job is to make images and stories (and various other things now and again) and that doesn't leave too much time or energy for documenting life or clothing the way many lifestyle-type blogs do.
I pour so much into my own work, and this blog, for me, is a place to post dispatches about what I'm interested in, what I'm making, what I'm doing. I know it has evolved over the years, and it has become what it is right for me at this particular time.
Thank you for your nice & funny note, and all your kind words!
I love Valentine's day a lot - of course, I love holidays in general. But Valentine's day is special to me, both for its proximity to my birthday (which falls on Valentine's eve) and all of its unabashed red-hearted, doily-covered exuberance. I also love the chance to mushily tell people how much I love 'em and that they're the apple of my eye, etc.
I was rifling through my small drawer of Valentine's ephemera, and I thought I'd pull out some of my favorite ones. The 3-D standing card above is definitely the nicest one I have...how could you improve on flowers, a sweet bird, a ship, honeycomb tissue, and a pair of scraggle-haired moppets?
I also have a soft spot for the dark-haired girl with the arrow at the top (variations on that little character show up in lots of Valentines from the time period, and I'm always drawn to them.) The grumpy blondie boy in the heart frame is pretty good, too. A pouty little grump after my own heart!
Yesterday I sat down with all the little odds & ends I needed to put together for Valentine mailing. I had parceled out the afternoon specifically for writing notes, stashing candy, and wrapping little gifts since I wanted to make sure everything could be in the mail with enough time to reach my scattered sweet-peas. It was such a nice way to spend a few hours!
I'm still working on my gentleman's Valentine for the year - so far he has requested caramels, but I've got another idea or two up my sleeve.
Powell's just posted an interview with me in which I talk a bit about Oddfellow's as well as cover topics as wonderful and varied as "Favorite teacher", "Favorite fictional characters" and "Favorite kid-friendly curse word."
It was quiet here this week, but keep your eyes out for more about what I'm working on behind-the-scenes, upcoming book events, etc. soon!
Thank you so very much for all your kind Oddfellow's book-birthday comments and well-wishings! This was a really exciting week.
And to say hello before the weekend comes, I wanted to share this little black bear fellow. I made him recently for our good pals the Berkleys for their soon-to-be bebe Berkley.
You can click the images to enlarge a bit!
That mustard bow-tie is one of my favorite accessories I've ever stitched to one of my sewn things. I love making toys so much - but I love making just one or two every once in a while.
It stays fun for me that way!
And some nice randomness : the Stephen Colbert / Maurice Sendak interviews are my favorite things I've seen on television in a long time. Maybe of all time.
"The sad thing is, I like it." - best book blurb ever.
Today is the day that Oddfellow's Orphanage lands on shelves!
I'm all jittery - full of excitement (and tea and a very sweet blueberry muffin.)
It is available now for purchase via Amazon, Powell's, B & N, and most everywhere else (you can check IndieBound to find bookstores local for you.)
Working on a book like this is a highly collaborative process...your part is writing the story and making the artwork, but there are lots of other people (editors, designers, and art directors, etc) who do their part to help the book become, hopefully, the very best version of itself. In the case of Oddfellow's, everyone did such a lovely and thoughtful job on their respective parts that when the finished, bound book came to my door, I was in tears over how special the final version turned out to be.
The designer (the excellent Nicole De Las Heras) even had little golden bees set into the spine!
Little details like that make me so proud of what a lovely object this book is to hold in your hand.
Oh! And if you're curious about the the complete scene on the jacket...
My aim when working on Oddfellow's was simple - all I wanted to do was answer this question:
What's the best thing that could happen to you, if the worst thing happened to you?
I hope small people and big people alike find comfort and delight between its pages.
xoxo
Oddfellow's Orphanage
I've already heard via Twitter of sightings of it in the wild. Huzzah!
Behind the scenes, I have been making the art for the official O.O. website. It won't launch in time for the book's release, but it won't be too long now! I'll post here when it's up. I'm pretty excited to share the work I've done for it. Rumor has it, there might be another freebie paper doll in the mix!
Elsewhere on the internet, you can find my Winter-survival-treat recommendations (along with some other cool ladies' favorite Winter things) on the Lawrence blog.
Lawrence is the beautiful stomping grounds of one of my very favorites, the golden-haired Frankie, formerly of this nook. I would go on, but she & Lawrence really deserve their own post.
Happy Friday to you!
For Christmas, a thoughtful, generous friend gave me some of the most beautiful tomato-y red silk yardage, along with matching tomato-y thread, and then sweet little buttons and buckles and such in case the spirit moved.
She knew I wanted to try my hand at sewing with silk - just something simple. But I had been too gun-shy to order some or go to the shop and just pick some up and give it a whirl. I don't know why - just one of those dum dum, self-defeating, frozen-by-intimidation things. And so, in a show of true thoughtfulness, she went ahead and bundled up everything for me.
"This way," she said "if it's a total bust, the supplies were a gift and you don't have to be mad at yourself for wasting the fancy fabric."
This bundle of fabric and notions and love made me certain that thoughtfully chosen supplies, especially supplies that a sewer/baker/candlestick-maker might not buy for themselves, are one of the nicest gifts.
And I am going to make myself cut into that pretty red silk some day soon.
Mark my words!
Butterfly photo source here
1.) The Armed Garden by David B.: a collection of legends from one of my favorite comics artists. Epileptic, the book he is probably best known for, is one of the most memorable and special graphic novels I've ever read, and fascinatingly entwines dreams and memoir.
2.) The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: as you might expect from Taschen, this is a large, beautifully presented anthology of Grimm stories which culls images from a startling variety of illustrators. I didn't know this book existed 'til it was given to me, and it was such a nice surprise! I was really pleased with how thoughtfully it is edited, and especially with the range of visual styles on parade in this lovely purple book.
3.) Framed Butterflies from Bug Under Glass: I have an informal collection of framed moths and butterflies, and I was so happy to acquire a few new sturdily framed specimens (including my favorite winged beauty of them all!) from this excellent Etsy shop. I love the ones mounted on patterned paper, but the standard presentation is quite elegant itself.
4.) The Fujifilm Instax 210: I've wanted an instant camera every since I laid eyes on my Aunt's Poloroid when I was just a button, so receiving this wide-format version of the Instax made me bounce off the walls wildly with excitement! I'm still getting to know it, and experimenting with the film, but it is pure magic.
5.) Mail Order Mysteries: If Josiah is reading a comic from the early 80's or before, my favorite thing to do is to peer over his shoulder at all the amazing ads, so this book could not be more fascinating to me. The extremely funny commentary about the real items received, which are contrasted with the original (very compelling) ads, couldn't be better.
6.) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of her Own Making: I'm only ankle-deep in this story, but I can report that Ms.Valente's sparkling knack for the weaving of words makes this book feel absolutely worthy of the bittersweet homage it pays to Alice, Oz, etc. It is at once markedly post-modern (the heroine is constantly reminding herself of what other children in books have done when whisked away to magical places) but it is also sincere, enchanting and devil-may-care enough to never feel too awfully much like a hollow metafictional commentary on fantastical stories for children. I like it very much!
Why, hello & how do you do?
Happy New Year, though I know I'm a week late. I needed another week of keeping a distance from internet-life, I think. I have posts I want to compose and things I want to share, but today, just to stop in and say hello, is a sleepy photo of our living room in the mild glow of the golden afternoon.
I perched some framed bits up on the big window ledge up there. I don't know why that took me so long. Precarious perching is one of my best talents.
I've been spending a lot of time in that room lately, being useless, being useful, lining up the ephemeral plans for 2012 in my mind. Stories that need telling. Pictures of imaginary people and fairy tales and accordians and whoknowswhat that need painting. Work for some of these things is underway, the rest will get underway all in good time.
Here's hoping your year is off to a nice start!
I will return with more dispatches soon.
I had an idea this year that I would wrap all our gifts in white or kraft paper tied with pretty colored yarn, all finished off with a bouncy pom pom or two.
I don't have a tool (and was too anxious to get started that I didn't even want to cut out the cardboard rings that many tutorials call for) so I used this method. It worked beautifully, and it was so fun to experiment with different weights of yarn and see the end effect on the pom pom. The thick wool roving yarn was my favorite - it made those ultra-fluffy light blue ones up there. I love how they look on a tiny box!
Making these was so much fun!
I ended up caving on my idea and using lots of colored, pretty wrapping paper because some of the little folks I know (and probably grownups, too) probably find my kraft parcels a little austere for Christmastime. We treated ourselves to some beautiful rolls of Snow & Graham paper (the penguins, cupcakes, and candy boxes!) and so there are lots of different, brightly wrapped packages under the tree.
But there are also some little brown paper packages. And lots of pom poms!
Merry Christmas & Happy holidays to all of you who visit here!
May the days ahead be merry & bright.
I haven't been able to make any really involved Christmas gifts or projects this year (really, this is the way it goes most years!) It does feel good to embark on little 1-2 hour projects, though, especially if you can give the product as a small gift or use it to gussy up your packages.
Yesterday I got out my trustiest saucepan and made what has become my favorite candy to make at Christmastime. The first time I made them was here, back in 2009 (includes recipe!), and I've been hooked ever since! They're more fail-proof than many other candies (ahem, fudge, ahem), so the likelihood of kitchen disappointment is low.
They also mail really easily, and keep for at least a week or two. This (for me) makes them better for gift-giving than cookies...you don't need to make them the day before you present them.
I'm going to package these up in some simple bags tied with manila tags and nice twine and send 'em off to far-away friends!
The pictures remind of all your beautiful outfit posts and I miss them.
You have such gorgeous style and it's inspiring.
I know that when you put your outfits out there it starts a chain of copycats (me included) but there is only one original. You are like Batman and everyone else is Robin.
So please Batman....can you do more outfit posts?
Love
Robin.