MargaretMeyer

2012-01-12T14:58:00.000-08:00

"Maeve"

2011-11-22T18:47:00.001-08:00

This is a new little series entitled "Phylum Obscura".

They're all handmade and built around heads cast from a mold of my original sculpt.

I wanted to make something that was one of a kind but more affordable...

In progress...

a few finished characters

The first finished doll, now listed in my Etsy shop.

These have been exceedingly fun to make!

I'll have them and lots of other things at Crafty Wonderland

here in Portland on Dec. 10th and 11th.

2011-11-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

A brand new bird friend. Vintage fabrics and hand embroidery.

2011-10-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

"Madame Lapin"

3" x 7"

2011-10-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

Wow. I must be getting old. I forgot to post these photos of my little felt owl, "Eule". I'll give you a clue. Eule is German for owl. I love going to Google translate and making it pronounce things for me.

2011-08-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

"Ourson"

6.5" x 7"

2011-08-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

5.75" x 5.75" x 4"

2011-08-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

To Whom It May Concern,

I'm having a $10 Print sale in my Etsy shop.

I don't know how long it will last. Just get over there before I change my mind.

2011-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

"Inquiets" 5.25" x 5.5"

"Lapine" 5.5" x 8.5"

2011-08-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

I've started drawing again.

2011-06-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

The latest Mr. Peanut spot I worked on. See if you can guess the voices:

2011-05-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

I'd just like to announce that I now have cards in my shop:

I'll be adding more daily. Soon, all my prints will be available on cards!

2011-05-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big "Crafty Wonderland" here in Portland. It's my first craft show, so wish me luck. I'll be in both #64 if you happen to be around...

2011-03-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

"Anything to Me Is Sweeter"

Acrylic on wood.

2011-02-16T21:33:00.001-08:00

Well, here it is. The thing I made for the Twin Peaks 20th Anniversary show.

Wish you could have seen it in person... I think the photos are kind of "meh".

Here's a link to a nice review of the show:

http://platinumcheese.com/2011/02/14/in-the-trees-twin-peaks-20th-anniversary-art-show/

And here's a link to some great shots of the event on PopOwl:

http://platinumcheese.com/2011/02/14/in-the-trees-twin-peaks-20th-anniversary-art-show/

Here is my favorite moment of the night:

The ACTUAL Log Lady was kind enough to bless my little shadow box.

The character on the show actually had a name other than "log lady". Her name was Margaret.

Now you see why this was so important.

2011-02-16T21:31:00.000-08:00

Belated Valentine from Wolfie.

2011-02-02T00:12:00.000-08:00

Some press for the show (click for link):

DailyduJour

boingboing

2011-01-27T17:53:00.000-08:00

I'm really honored to be a part of this upcoming show celebrating the 20th anniversary of Twin Peaks. There's nothing I can write here that doesn't sound trite or cliched but the show was huge to me when it aired and to be included with these immensely talented artists AND David Lynch himself is making me fear for my safety. This is TOO good. I'm afraid it means I'm doomed to be hit by a bus or something any day now.

For more info on the opening in LA, have a look HERE.

2010-12-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Wolfie the Christmas elf!

(hope he'll forgive me for this)

2010-12-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

I just extended the SALE in my Etsy shop through this Sunday Dec. 12th. Enter the coupon code "REDBIRD" at checkout and receive 10% off your purchase.

Also, just a reminder that the international shipping deadline for Christmas is Dec. 10th. The deadline for the U.S. is Dec. 20th!

2010-11-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

Starting Monday (tomorrow) morning, through midnight Pacific time this Saturday, Dec. 4th, I'm having a little sale in my Etsy shop.

All you have to do is enter the coupon code "REDBIRD" at checkout and you'll receive 10% off your purchase.

I'm a procrastinator myself so I'd like to reward those who are getting their holiday shopping started early. (You can buy things for yourself, too!)

2010-11-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

2010-11-14T20:49:00.001-08:00

It's difficult for me to believe, but the holidays are going to be here before I realize it. So, in an effort to be less of a procrastinator, I've been making lots of new pieces for my shop. I've already begun to list them and have many more to come but, if you see something you like, you might want to grab it because no two mounted prints are identical. They're all different sizes, colors and ribbon trims.

And, as always, if you see something you like, but would like it a different way, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

2010-11-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

2010-10-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

You may remember that, back in May, I was down in LA working on a commercial for Screen Novelties (or, as I tend to think of it, animation heaven). FINALLY it's airing, so I can share a few making-of pictures:

here's Bebe's dolly

and her sea horse (in 2 different scales)

the gnu

one of her friends (in progress)

Mark prepping Bebe for her screen debut

her pony (also in 2 scales)

me having a bad hair day and/or wearing a prop from a RayBan commercial they did

(check out my high-tech lumbar support. also known as "lumb-yarn")

And here's the finished product. Notice I haven't told you the name of the company. I think you'll figure it out.

2010-09-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

I believe I've mentioned my sister, the Emmy award winning animator, before. She's pretty much good at EVERYTHING she puts her mind to. Well, now she's opened an Etsy shop full of her magical "miniature" photos of Paris (She's married to a French man, you see).

Go have a look at them HERE.

Yep, I'm pretty proud to be related to her.

2010-08-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the long absences. I think I may have mentioned that I'm working full time again on some film and commercial projects. But I haven't been entirely negligent; I've made a whole new group of things to put in the shop. Even prints of the newest paintings:

And a few prints of some paintings I don't believe you've seen before.

Have a look HERE.

2010-08-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

At long last...a new painting:

"There's Amnesia in Her Kiss..."

8"x8"

2010-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have a favor to ask of you.

Please meet Pablo. He belongs to an artist named Trish Grantham. This is what he normally looks like:

Such a cutie.

And this is the state he's in now, after he was attacked by a large dog a few days ago:

I don't have children, but my dog, Wolfie, is definitely my baby. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to him. So I can't imagine how awful Pablo and his mom feel.

The favor I'm asking is this;

Trish has a Facebook page called "Help for Pablo". Please head over there and show your support. Maybe even donate just a few dollars to help her care for him while he heals, since he requires round the clock attention.

2010-07-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

After a good deal of agonizing and analyzing, I've made my decision. And I think I even surprised myself with this one. In fact, the me of 10 years ago would be in shock. But priorities change as you get older. Mine especially, it seems.

I just turned down work on a Tim Burton film in London.

ACK!

But I received an offer from the local studio that made more sense financially and spiritually.

Anyway, it got me thinking about how lucky I have been in my life to be in a position to have such choices.

The picture above is from the first stop-motion project I ever worked on. The man in the Gumby-green pants is Art Clokey, creator of Gumby, who recently passed away. I owe a lot to him and his son for taking a chance on me, the inexperienced sister of one of their animators. This is where I received an education most people pay lots of money for at college, then pray they can find a way to break in to the business. AND I was paid to learn.

It was a saccharine-y sweet Christmas revival of "Davey and Goliath" but I loved every minute of it. It probably didn't hurt that we were working 50 yards from the ocean.

So, thank you, Clokeys for giving me my first break. And thanks to my sister for letting me tag along to her jobs until someone finally hired me.

2010-07-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

I can't go in to any details, but I'm having to make some big decisions about which project to work on next (animation-wise). Unfortunately, all the projects seem to be happening at once so I can only choose one. I feel very lucky to have choices but stressed because I honestly don't know which is the best way to go and I fear having regrets about my choice later on. And so, I feel a little like this lady; something big weighs heavily on my shoulders...and it's difficult to tell if it will bring good or bad.

2010-06-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to Professor Hirsch. He's very intelligent and excellent company.

I'm not sending him to any show or gallery, I'm posting him directly to Etsy. See him HERE.

2010-06-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, and I should mention that, because I'll be working on a new movie project for the next couple of months, I'm marking some things down in the shop (it makes sense in my head; just go with it).

2010-06-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

The Rose Festival happened a few weekends ago, here in Portland. I can't say I know exactly what it's all about (besides parades and the related traffic jams, loud revelers passing under my window late at night and sailors in uniform wandering the streets) , but I do love carnivals.

I'm not convinced they were able to pack this one up at the end of the festivities; it rained so much, I'd bet it just sank down in to the muck. I know I almost did when I was taking these photos for painting reference:

Maybe someday "Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show" will roll in to town...

2010-06-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is not the most fabulous photo of it, but here is a shadow box piece I put together for the Goonies show at The Lunar Boy Gallery, opening tomorrow between 4 and 7. In Astoria, OR, I should add. Where Goonies was filmed 25 years ago. Ack! That makes me feel old.

Anyway, this weekend is full of festivities in honor of the anniversary; this show being one of them.

I'm referring to this piece as my "Ode to the Inferno". If you know what that means, you are a bigger nerd than I am and we should be friends.

2010-06-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

I finished this little painting on wood not too long ago, but forgot to post it. I don't actually have a title for it yet. Hmmmm.....any thoughts?

2010-05-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Sorry for the long absence, but the hours were long as we madly (but happily!) worked to get everything made for the commercial I was working on for Screen Novelties. Unfortunately, I can't share any pictures of what, specifically, I was making. Not until after the commercial airs.

*sigh*

However, I can put up these:

This unassuming looking door, in an alley behind Melrose Ave., is where all the magic happens.

This is the yard behind the "annex" where I marvel at the blooming bush that long ago outgrew its planter bucket and is now straining towards the sky with support from a saw horse.

Among the many reasons I love working for these guys. Beer and barbecue at dinner break makes everything better.

Up in the attic, they have all sorts of wonderful puppets and props from their various projects. This is my favorite; a full size fortune teller machine from the 10th anniversary credits for "SpongeBob Squarepants".

Also, I just should mention that this is the last weekend for the "Kindred Spirits" show at CSUF Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, CA. See posts below for more info if you want to catch a peak at some of my stuff in person before the show ends.

2010-05-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

I'm flying down to LA tomorrow to do a little work for the uber-talented fellas at Screen Novelties.

Wait a minute....

Yes, that's more like it. (don't worry, Wolfie doesn't actually smoke cigars).

Anyway, do yourself a favor and go watch their reel. It will be the best 5 minutes of your day. I promise. Plus, there's stuff in there that I worked on.

2010-05-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Since the "Kindred Spirits" show opened this past weekend, I think it's about time I put up some pictures of the final 3D piece I made for it:

Bird House 1: "Signora Cyanocitta"

6"x8.25"x3.5"

2010-04-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

And the winner is.........

#10!

I counted down through the comments (skipping the one that was completely anonymous and skipping my OWN comment to Mr./Mrs. Anonymous). And #10 corresponds to the comment left by a one Mark Caballero. The fates were shining on you, sir. Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. Some day when I'm rich and famous, I'll be able to send you all a free one...

In other news, I just wanted to remind you that the "Kindred Spirits" show (which I just mistyped as "Kindred SPIRTS"; not even sure what that show would be like) opens tomorrow in Santa Ana. Please go if you're in the neighborhood and give me a full report. I'm sad to say I'm going to have to miss the opening (although I may make it down during the run). It's up for a month so if you can't make it this weekend, all is not lost.

2010-04-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

In honor of the one year anniversary of my Etsy shop, I'm giving away one of the above mounted prints. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which one you'd like and I will pick a winner at random this Friday, April 30th.

Good Luck!

And, just a reminder, prints are still on sale for $10 through the end of this month!

2010-04-22T15:43:00.001-07:00

I'm happy and honored to announce that the Renegade Handmade store in Chicago is now carrying some of my work!

If you can't make it to the actual shop at

1924 W Division Street

Chicago, IL 60622

you can still shop online.

Thank you, Renegade, for including me in your impressive roster of artists!

2010-04-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Mounted prints of the newest painting, "The Barcarolle", just going in to the shop.

I had to put together another little vignette using this one:

Have a look at it HERE.

2010-04-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've been adding new items to my shop lately and decided to shoot a series of vignettes incorporating them with various specimens from my house. It's a little silly but, in my head, I keep thinking of these photos as "serving suggestions":

More soon...

2010-04-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

April 30th marks the one year anniversary of my Etsy shop. In honor of that auspicious occasion, I've marked prints down to $10 through the end of April. And if there is a painting of mine that you love but don't see it available as a print in the shop, send me a message. I may be able to conjure one up for you.

Get them HERE.

2010-04-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to mention that I've finally created a Flickr page.

Click HERE.

2010-04-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

New painting...

"The Barcarolle"

8"x8"

2010-04-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

I've been sneaking new things into the shop again. Prints of new paintings and prints of paintings that aren't new, but have never before see the light of day on this blog or in my Etsy shop:

Also, some new incarnations of certain prints:

And if that's not enough for you, keep your eyes peeled (I never understood that phrase but my Mom said it all the time)(really, it sounds rather counter-productive); there's more to come in the next several days.

2010-04-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

So, you know these new sculpts for "a show in May" I've been unveiling here? I wasn't making it up. I'm really in a group show in Santa Ana, CA opening May 1. I'm going to try to be there so I hope you will be, too.

Stayed tuned for more details...(and the unveiling of one last sculpt)...

2010-04-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

I've been finding so many inspirational anthropomorphic animal photos on Black and WTF. This one being very appropriate for this weekend. The "Easter Bunny" sent me candy this year which reminded me how much I loved this holiday when I was a kid. One Easter in particular stands out in my mind; I was old enough to know the "truth" about the Bunny (and Santa) but my little sister was convinced she had seen a giant rabbit in the house the night before. Her complete conviction that she had seen "THE ACTUAL EASTER BUNNY" really brought the magic of believing in those types of things back to me. Maybe that's why I paint and sculpt so many "rabbit-y" creatures. That and the fact that part of my childhood was spent on a farm where we kept rabbits (whose population grew to number around 70, at one point).

Hmmmm....I don't usually do that much naval gazing here. Hope I didn't put everyone to sleep.

2010-03-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

New sculpture/figure for a show coming up in May:

You can call him "Monsieur Lagomorpha".

I think he'll be hardest to let go of. Perhaps he won't sell and then he and I can grow old together...

2010-03-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I just started hearing about this Czech film entitled "Kuky se vrací".

As far as I can divine from the few articles on it, I believe it's due to be released in Czech theatres in May. A trip to Prague really isn't in my budget at the moment so let's hope it makes it here soon after. I may cry myself to sleep every night if it doesn't. I haven't been this excited to see something in YEARS.

2010-03-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I'm sneaking a few original pieces into the shop. Some new, some have been my companions for a bit and are ready to make their way into the world.

See them HERE.

2010-03-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Water for Elephants and am in a particularly strong "run away with the circus" mood but I'd probably be attracted to this photo from Black and WTF anyway.

2010-03-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

I doubt anyone was worried, but I survived skiing. I had to concentrate so fully on not falling down, I fear I didn't take in the surroundings thoroughly. We'll see if any mountains start to pop up in my paintings.

Oddly, there was no snow around our cabin. But it was so beautiful and I'm so over winter, I rather enjoyed it.

2010-03-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

"Ursa Minor"

New painting on wood.

I'm putting a couple of different print versions in the shop.

2010-03-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

My work is featured on "Anything Indie" blog today.

Thanks, Andrea!

2010-03-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Bird House 1: "House Wren"

New sculpture number two for the show in May.

2010-03-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

Remember this little painting I did for the "Brownstones to Red Dirt" benefit?

Well, the auction has started, so it and 165 other beautiful, original pieces of art by luminaries of the illustration and animation worlds are up for grabs HERE.

About the auction:

"As an extension of the documentary BROWNSTONES TO RED DIRT, Copper Pot Pictures has paired with Schools for Salone to hold an online art auction to benefit kids in need in Sierra Leone and New York. Each artist was given a blank birchwood postcard and asked to create a unique work based on the theme, “PEN PALS.” All proceeds will be used to build a school for war orphans in Freetown, Sierra Leone and to develop a library for at-risk youth in Brooklyn. Winning bids will be tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please visit our blog to see all of the cards: http://btorpostcards.blogspot.com"

Wilson Swain/Bill Carman

Matthew Sharack/ Nicole Gustafsson

And I wish someone would buy me this one.

I mean, it's by THE man who brought Oscar to life. And Slimey's in it. If you haven't seen the Sesame Street bit with Tony Bennett singing "Slimey to the Moon", get your butt over

HERE

and fill in the gaping hole in your cultural experience.

Also, it will afford you the opportunity to see Carroll Spinney's other great masterpiece of puppetry, Big Bird.

Go.

I mean it.

2010-03-06T12:53:00.001-08:00

While looking for gear for a cross country skiing adventure this weekend, I finally visited an army surplus store here in Portland called "Andy and Bax". I think I'll have to go back just to look at the displays again.

Having never been skiing before in my life, I hope I don't end up on some Discovery Channel show like "I Shouldn't Be Alive". . . Although, that would mean I'd survived so maybe not such a bad thing.

2010-03-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

Here is a fantastic photo from a new source of inspiration I stumbled across.

"Black and WTF"

2010-03-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

This is the first of four new 3D pieces I've been finishing for a show in Santa Ana, CA in May.

It's a little easier to see everything in the next 2 shots that have less dramatic lighting:

"Agna Domus"

2010-02-26T22:03:00.000-08:00

As a way of introducing the new sculpts, I thought I'd post some old ones that live in my studio:

2010-02-23T00:55:00.000-08:00

First of all, I'm making some changes to this blog, hopefully for the better. If something looks a little wonky, bear with me. I'm in process...

Second, here is the wooziest looking sneak peek at some new things I've almost completed. Sculptural things. I've unobscured one little face to prove I haven't been lazing about even though I haven't posted any new work for a while:

photos of the finished pieces to appear early next week. . .

*

2010-02-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

The sun has been out here in Portland for 3 days. Straight.

I've been peeking out of my cave in disbelief.

Brownstones to Red Dirt

2010-02-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

"The Letter"

This is a little painting I made for "Brownstones to Red Dirt", a fund-raising effort to build a school for orphans in Sierra Leone and create a library for at-risk youth in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Please go have a look at all the gorgeous original art that will be available during the auction in March. There's even work by Carroll "Big Bird" Spinney!

See it HERE.

2010-02-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

"Lost"

In my Etsy shop, I invite people to not only make up their own stories about my paintings, but to share them with me. I'm not just blowing smoke and trying to be cute. I mean it. So, it's a treat when someone sends me a story. I'll let my new friend, Becky, take over here:

[This is a draft of Chapter One of “Finders Keepers: A Summer Story (that Ends Sadly and Happily in the Fall)” by Becky Fowler. That’s me. It, and everything else that follows, came spinning out of nowhere in the days after I first got a look at Margaret Meyer's print Lost. I was intrigued by her invitation to tell her what the picture was about, and took her up on it. She liked my bit of story and asked if she could post it on her blog. So here it is [plus a little more]. Margaret’s work is so strange-beautiful and evocative (and creepy sweet, I told her) and it really revs up my imagination. So I will continue to watch her, looking for new stories, such as mine are…a little strange and a little creepy sweet in their own right, too, I think. Right now, I'm fixated on that two-faced cat. Willa, I think her name is...]

Ebonetta Lucetta had lived alone for many years, only rarely speaking to neighbors and almost never entertaining guests. So she was surprised—no, SHOCKED (and a little afraid)—when she heard a tiny knock at her door. She peeked through the peek-hole and saw an eye gazing back. It was a kind and intelligent eye, Ebonetta thought, maybe a little sad looking, though definitely not the eye of anyone dangerous, but still.... but still.

Who could it be, Ebonetta wondered. And why is he (or she) here, at my door? And what should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO?!

For one thing, she wasn’t dressed. Well, she was clothed (not naked), but not “dressed” for company. Ebonetta was a bit old-fashioned about such things, and she knew this, but to her these things mattered, very much. If you invite someone, anyone, into your home, then you and your home should be presentable and welcoming. And the same principle applied even if you just greeted someone at your door. You should look nice and be nice, even if you have not seen their lost cat, even if you do not want to buy the cleaning products they are selling, even if you would not be signing the petition about the barking dog at the end of the street, etc., etc.

Ebonetta had lots of time to think about such things, being at home alone so much. And so, in addition to being “surprised and SHOCKED (and a little afraid)," she was also… excited. There was another knock. “Ohhhhhhh!” she said, though under her breath, clasping her well-groomed wing to her chest. She looked through the peek-hole again. Kind, intelligent, sad, harmless—still there.

“One moment!” she called out. “One moment, please!” And she rushed to her bedroom to find suitable attire for a visit… with…. with whom, exactly? She stopped in her tracks. Not that she shouldn’t put on just as nice a dress for a group of summertime carolers or traveling salesman, as for a long-lost relation, or a dear old friend, or an ex-student come to tell her about all her (or his) successes. Oh, the possibilities were endless, but—at the same time—none seemed very likely, did they? No…

So then, who could it be? She tiptoed back to the door, which is no small feat for starlings, who are famous for their large powerful feet, and she peeked again. This time, the eye was gone, but she could see the smooth white back of what was definitely a rabbit boy. He was facing the other way, with his paws behind his back, tapping one foot lightly against her lovely stone patio.

A rabbit boy? Why would a rabbit boy come to see me? Perhaps he’s a neighborhood kid coming around to sell candy bars for a fundraiser. But he had no candy bars with him, she could see that. Perhaps someone had told him that she was a math teacher and he was here to ask about summer tutoring. Ebonetta did not like to stereotype, but she could not deny that of the many rabbits she had come across in her life, very few seemed to be especially gifted in math. They just seemed …. to lose count.

Or perhaps he was simply lost or had mixed up the address—which could go along with the whole problems-with-numbers thing. But no, somehow she doubted that he was lost or mixed up, for she recalled the unmistakable look of intelligence in his eye—a deep, broad intelligence, she’d say, the kind that can find its way to anywhere from anywhere and back again. Ebonetta could tell all sorts of things from a person’s eyes … when she was close enough and bold enough to take a good look.

“One moment!” she said, again, too loudly perhaps, causing the rabbit boy to hop a little. And she was off.

Not too many moments later, she had returned to the door, wearing one of her favorite summer dresses. Along the way, she had fluffed the pillows on her sofa, and set out the pitcher of lemonade and two glasses and a plate of cookies—just in case. And just as she was about to open the door, she paused to peek through the hole once more. This time she saw the rabbit boy’s whole face, which he quickly turned away as though he sensed her presence there; someone looking, too closely.

What? What was that? Ebonetta had seen that a neat black patch covered one of his eyes. It might have given another boy a tough look, the look of a troublemaker, if it weren’t for that other eye, she thought. No, that other eye settled it for her. That patch—whatever was underneath it—this was nothing he went looking for, not this rabbit boy. Somehow, she felt sure of that. And yet, she could not help glancing down at her dainty shoes for a bit of reassurance, knowing that inside of them—incredibly—were two gigantic claws that could bring terror and misery to just about any creature who might bother her. If it came to that. But she didn’t think it would. In fact, she knew it wouldn’t.

“Hello there,” Ebonetta said to the rabbit boy, as she opened the door.

“Oh, hello…” said the rabbit boy, with a pointed look of surprise on his face. “I … I am… er, um… I’m looking for my family. They used to live here.”

“Here?” asked Ebonetta Lucetta. “Oh no, I don’t think so. I’ve been here a long, long time—since before you were born, I’m sure. And before that, it belonged to two owl brothers. And before that… Well, anyway, you must have things confused…. How long have you been gone?”

The rabbit boy looked down. “A long time, ma’am. I guess I might be lost now. Well… thank you and sorry to bother you.” He started to turn.

“Wait,” said Ebonetta, still sensing that he was not exactly lost. “It’s awfully hot out there. Would you like some lemonade and cookies? Maybe some refreshments will help you remember where you live.”

“Yes, maybe. That would be nice", the rabbit boy replied, his one eye sparkling as his two ears pricked up.

And so Raymond—that was the rabbit boy’s name—came into Ebonetta’s house. And when he saw the cookies and lemonade and fluffed pillows, and the smile on Ebonetta’s face, he did indeed feel welcome and that she was so very happy he was there.

I think you can see why this made my day. Thank you, Becky.

oh, and another little framed print.....

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here

maybe I should take up photography. . . .

2010-01-31T22:26:00.000-08:00

This is heartbreakingly beautiful. It makes my head spin imagining what's going on.

And what's even more heartbreaking is, I didn't make a note to myself who took it.

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I had the best luck recently on my vintage frame quest:

Please, someone, buy them before I'm tempted to keep them. They really are some of the loveliest frames I've found.

And, I was overcome with sweetness (possibly from gazing at my Wolfie too long) and made some new mini-plaques with pink and cream ribbon trim. Ack! But I like them!

Please have a look at them all in the shop.

some things I saw in LA...

2010-01-27T18:24:00.001-08:00

The only reason I got out of bed on Saturdays when I was in college:

Disneyland in the rain

(I had all the Disney albums (yes, as in vinyl. I'm old) as a kid. The pictures from those albums are etched into my brain still.

(that's my Emmy award winning animator sister on the right and Robot Chicken writer Mike Fasolo on the left)

the back of Jimmy Kimmel's head

and his desk

(note the special covers to keep the riff raff like us from scuffing it)

And, last but not least, a little set up of some Coraline costumes at The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design at FIDM

It's one small step for these puppets and one giant leap for puppet-kind to be included with all the "human" costumes this year (The Duchess, Nine, Where the Wild Things Are, Public Enemies, The Watchmen, to name a few). You really ought to see it if you're in LA.

Opens Feb. 6.

"While the cats away......."

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a little mouse named Joe will play

in my studio (with his camera, that is):

all photos by Joseph Schmidt

I moved my studio a few months ago and, since I'm out of town and he's house/Wolfie sitting, my friend, Joe, has documented some corners of the new space. I think he's quite the photographer.

I found some vintage frames....

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and just put them in the shop.

Blogger's Brunch

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I was recently asked by the lovely Dionne if I would like to contribute to the goody bags she would be handing out at her "So-Cal Blogger's Brunch". She was far too kind and complimentary to say no to (I'm not always an ogre).

She's just posted about the event HERE.

And, even though I hate measuring out "time" and all that (I HATE daylight-savings-time-setting-the-clock-back nonsense, especially),

Happy New Year!

A message from my main muse....

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In the spirit of the holidays, I need to give credit where it's due. If my constant companion here looks familiar, it's because he pops up in paintings from time to time.

Please meet Wolfie:

Some things I snuck in the shop while you weren't looking...

2009-12-07T22:01:00.001-08:00

A couple more new paintings on wood:

"Le Petit Mal"

"Chouette Chevêche"

And here they are as prints mounted on wood and available in my Etsy shop:

And another one.....and prints!

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"Cyclope Lapin"

Prints of this little guy and other new paintings just arriving in my shop:

(sort of) New Painting

2009-11-30T23:56:00.000-08:00

"Musculus Niñera"

little Etsy items

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I'm just beginning to add some prints to the shop that might make nice little gifts:

I may not be able to plan my OWN holidays very well, but I can at least help other people with theirs.

Candy Wife

2009-11-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

Back in May, I had the pleasure of working with my friends at Screen Novelties in LA. They create all the stop-motion animation bits for "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" which airs on Cartoon Network (if you've never seen it, you really ought to; it's strange and clever and unlike anything else out there). Anyway, Peppermint Larry fashions himself a wife out of taffy and various sweets and calls her "Candy Wife". She made her first appearance during season 1:

No one expected her to become a recurring character but she's seen again in season 2. Unfortunately, that original puppet was a little worse for the wear so a new one needed to be made and that's where I came in:

Forgive her nudity; the dress was the only part of the puppet I didn't make. And for the record, I ended up wrapping a bit more foam around her waist because she was, ahem, a bit too "va-voom" (what can I say, I was just trying to do Peppermint Larry a favor).

She can be seen in the episode entitled "Candy Casanova".

decor8

2009-11-06T12:15:00.001-08:00

Just a quick note to say how excited I am that Holly wrote a little feature about my work on her lovely blog, decor8! Thank you, Holly!

my favorite spots in Oregon

2009-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

There's this place called "Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum" outside of Portland on highway 26. I can't say much for the food, but the grounds are full of inspiration:

Vintage frames......

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seem to work with these prints:

I've just added them to the shop.

more new prints in the shop....

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I've been a bit negligent about updating this blog when I add new items to my shop. These two, and more, HERE.

Rufus et Le Nain

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things I found at the coast....

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I keep painting rabbit-y characters

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"L' Entourage de Mademoiselle Paniers"

Hurrah!

2009-09-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say I'm featured on The Shiny Squirrel blog today! Thanks Jessica!

When I see photos like this......

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I almost want to give up painting. Really. This is so perfect, I throw up my hands. I can't possibly add anything more interesting to the world.

I'm afraid I don't know who to credit for this but whoever you are, you have my deepest admiration.

But then, of course, I will bumble along again. And I've no doubt some tree silhouettes will make an appearance in one of my paintings in the near future.

If you're in the New York area....

2009-09-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that the Too Art for TV show opens tonight in Brooklyn at the Erebuni gallery. Lots of good stuff to see (including a few of my pieces, wink wink). It'll be up until mid-October.

Recently finished

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"Poor Edward"

"The Owl's Imperfection"

Both pieces are acrylic on wood.
Prints of these, and more, available in the shop.

More new stuff

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This little piece I'm calling "Soon Our Fortunes Will Be Made, My Darling"

It's acrylic on wood.

Below is the print (on a wood plaque so it looks much like the original!)

available in my Etsy shop:

Oh how I wish........

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that I'd taken this picture:

whoever you are, you made my day.

2 and 3 of 3

2009-09-06T21:45:00.001-07:00

So here they are, the other two paintings going off to the Too Art for TV show in Brooklyn. It's like letting go of children. Really. If I had children, I fear I'd be so protective of them, I wouldn't even let them out in the yard to play. It's probably a good thing I don't have them. Might explain why my dog is a touch neurotic. Anyway....

"Monsieur Griseus"

"No One Knows Where We Are"

I will have prints of them available in my Etsy shop in the next day or two.

1 of 3

2009-09-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here we go. This is one of the 3 paintings I'll be showing as part of the Too Art for TV show in Brooklyn opening Sept. 18th:

"The Tailor of Strix"

More to come in the next few days.

Documenting art work is a pain in the you-know-what. I suppose it's time to invest in a scanner. I HATE spending money on "technology"! I KNOW it's useful but do you know how much paint (wonderful, pigmenty Golden acrylics) I could buy with that money instead?! AaAaarrRRggGH!

2 Weeks on the Road

2009-08-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from a 3,100 mile road trip across Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Oregon. The primary objective was to spend time with Mom, get my new car from Kansas to Oregon and meet my new nephew. Along the way, we explored Carlsbad Caverns, aliens in Roswell and Hearst Castle (or as I like to call it, my future home).

The Too Art for TV Show is in just a couple of weeks so I'm madly finishing some new paintings which I'll post pictures of soon.

Flapjack Birds

2009-08-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to finally be able to post some pictures of the birds I worked on for "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" (the epsiode aired, yay!):

*bottom photo by Joseph Schmidt

They were used in a charming episode wherein flapjack meets the "Comb King".

Special SDCC Project

2009-07-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was called in to put together costumes for a limited edition of Coraline dolls for the San Diego ComicCon. The term "dolls" does them a disservice because they were more like actual puppets, from their metal armatures to their silicon skin.

I love how the next two look as though they've been interrogated/tortured by the slow removal of their little hands ("Tell me what you REALLY think of that Wybie character!!")

Ahem.....where was I? Ah, yes....

Each doll came with a little, handmade booklet documenting their fabrication.

Studio Portraits

2009-07-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

I'm relocating my studio.

My brilliant photographer friend, Joe, wanted to memorialize the old space by shooting some portraits of me in it. I don't love being photographed, but I do trust Joe. He really transformed the space with his lighting. I wish my studio always looked like an opium den:

I think he took this one with the "Hunter S. Thompson" lense:

*all photos by Joseph Schmidt

I'll miss you, studio, but the change, and all things associated with it, will be good for me.

New York in Fall

2009-06-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that I've been included in the "Too Art for TV" show in Brooklyn in September. It's a venue for artists who work in animation to show their personal art. Primarily, the show is for those working in the animation field in NYC but they include a few out-of-towners, of which I am one. And I'm really honored to be included as the work is extremely high caliber.

Have a look:

Too Art for TV