Blipadee, on the move ...

Blipadee has moved! 

From here on out, I'll be blogging directly on my website.

Under the Sea

Please come visit Blipadee and me in our new spot.  

Thanks!

xo, A

My MATS Bootcamp 2015

Magic Carpet Ride

This is my final submission for MATS Bootcamp online course, 

taught by art licensing agent, Lilla Rogers and produced by 

Beth Kempton of Do What You Love.

June's assignment : illustrate an article about digital nomads

Each month we receive an assignment. 1st we're given hints and reference for 

sketching and a week or so after, we receive the final assignment.

I really love having these deadlines, despite nearly missing this last one. 

I mistakenly thought we had another week. 

It's been a busy month.

I was proud I knocked out this piece on Sunday in time to submit. 

My work is more suited to a teen or kids' magazine than it is for Forbes where - 

Tips for Becoming a Successful Digital Nomad was printed.

Even so, I like it :)

Above - May's assignment : crustacean + pattern - plate designs

April's assignment : design a poster for The Global Art Gathering held in Brighton, UK

February's assignment : wall art on wood 

(we skipped March while the MATS B course ran)

These were some other paintings I made. You can view them larger on my website or here

and see sketches if you'd like - here

Our 1st assignment - January : create a journal cover (Edwardian brooch/jewel inspired)

You can view my sketches here

This was an extra little piece - A Manifesto for the class

I had another very good experience taking this course.

The Facebook private group is super for support and sharing opinions and resources.

Plus, the projects are fun and tailored to the current market.

I took Make Art That Sells part A (one week deadlines) 

in spring of 2014. I've signed up for Lilla's Global Talent Search

that begins in August. I'll keep you updated on that one! 

Thanks for taking a look!

Hope you have AC, I finally turned mine on.

xo, A

Spring Flowers, Paint, Patterns & People

So far, May has been a lovely sunny month!

I try to eat out and outside as much as possible. In my neighborhood, I tend to 

alternate between two very different Italian places, Frankie's and Enoteca :)

What does this have to do with painting? not much.

But, springtime is the best time for painting! I love the light and being able to 

open windows for that semi fresh city air.

This is Fiona, I think it's obvious she loves flowers.

I painted this last spring after returning from a few days in California. 

It was just a color sketch for a MATS project that I didn't end up using. 

I really like the light, loose and airy quality.

hi 

If you visit my blog, you've probably seen these pieces. 

Sometimes I just enjoy adjusting color and looking at details.

I consider this Cherry Blossom tree to be my own personal tree. 

It stands outside my living room window and I really enjoy seeing it spring to life 

year after year (we've both been here a long time!)

Speaking of a long time, Court Express has been across the street from me since '94.

Some of the drivers come and go, but I've known several of them for over a decade. 

I mostly use the subway to get around, but it's nice to have these guys around!

I was very happy to run into Jon and his son with their new dog, Dixie last week. 

I remember how exciting it feels to get your 1st dog as a kid! Magic.

I haven't eaten at La Slowteria in quite some time, but it's good. 

Love their barrel of tulips and cute blue sign :)

Happy Friday! 

:: Enjoy your weekend ::

xo, A

Shop Allyn Howard- Society 6

I recently added some new things to my Society 6 shop.

Above, Lotta Buns in blue on orange background, inspired by fellow scenic, Will Valentin.

Certain designs are easy to customize and sometimes come out better than the original! 

Admiring Frederick Douglass, w/bunny bag, at the NY Historical Society

Well, I like both the pink and orange and I added some bunnies on green, too :)

Browse prints, pillows, bags and more in my Shop - Society6.com/AllynHoward

Salon style animal portraits are new to my shop, too!

Most of you Blipadee followers have probably seen baby Birds, they remain a favorite of mine :)

These two were just added today - Bunny Seascape and below, Bear moves on ...

Originals painted with acrylics on unprimed wood.

Drum roll, please ...

photo courtesy Melissa Zexter, decoration by me

Come see my lovey friend, Kristine Lombardi, read her new book Lovey Bunny

at my neighborhood bookstore, Book Court - Saturday April 4th 11am

I can't wait!

and just in time for Easter! 

detail - it's almost here! Easter illustration 

Have a lovely weekend!

xo, A

My Comrades, an Exhibition and Lovey Bunny!

Shane Ingersoll, me and Michael Nirenberg (Ajamu "red cap" Kojo)  -   photo by Anne Harmon

Just another day in the studio - working the barre with my fellow scenic painters

preparing for our dance debut.

It's not as easy as we make it look ;)

Anne Harmon took the stage at Reverend Ike's United Palace. 

We're still doing work on The Following, filming there for a day or two.

We didn't have too much to do inside, just a little additional plug to paint, 

masking out some signs, things like that. 

I've worked there before, it's simply stunning! I wish I had pictures of the lobby.

photo by Jessie Walker, stand-by camera scenic

Here is part of the crew I've been working with since January. 

Left to right is Shane Ingersoll, Anne Harmon (behind me), Ajamu Kojo (biting my head), 

Michael Nirenberg, Dieter Council and in front, our leader, Travis Child. 

Sadly, this photo is missing William Valentin and Tim Daly, 

who regularly work on Travis' jobs. 

This mansion upstate was quite beautiful, yet much of it is dilapidated and 

there were some safety hazards that came up as we worked. I'm glad I'm in a union, 

that's all I can say.

Thursday night was the opening of a children's book illustration show with my good

friend, Yuko Katakawa and a few other CBIG members. 

I'm so happy for her! 

The opening had to be rescheduled because of snow last week and 

it was a nice mild night this Thursday, thus a good turnout :)

She has about 15 pieces in the show and sold 4!!

photo by Nina Edwards

From left- Melissa Iwai, Yuko, Kristine Lombardi, me, Monica Wellington 

(our lovely teacher from SVA's Continuing Education dept, where I met Yuko a few years ago)

Ruth Chan (also in the show) and Nina Edwards' cute & funny daughter.

I like that they asked each artist this.

photo by Kristine Lombardi

Here, just a small sampling of Yuko's work on view. 

The exhibit is at The Interchurch Center, near Columbia, and it's a large space with lots of light.

It's up until March 31st. Take a look if you're up that way.

Ruth and Barbara are also terrific illustrators and part of CBIG

I loved this piece by Violet Paek, she had a few water tower pieces on display.

Daniel Kirk listens intently as Kristine reads - photo by Melissa Iwai

Onto Kristine Lombardi's Big Event at Books of Wonder last Sunday.

Lovey Bunny made her debut March 3rd and Kristine was part of a panel reading. 

 This has been her dream for so many years. I felt terrible that I couldn't be there. 

I rarely have to work on Sundays, but I was working on a commercial that day.

Luckily, friends shared photos and I got to see video of her reading.

I knew she'd be great and she was! Kristine is super charming and funny.

I could not be happier that this is happening for her. 

She's a great friend and one of the hardest workers I know. 

Below, you can see where she'll be next.

I'm thrilled she'll be doing a signing at my local bookstore, 

Book Court on April 4th! I'll keep you updated.

:: Lovey at home ::

photo by Ajamu Kojo

Just giving a little more direction to performers, tying up loose ends...

It's almost there ;)

Have a swell weekend!

xo, A