A List - Halloween, Fabric, Art, Red Hook, some People & a Dog

Halloween Party

I painted these animals for If I Were A Toy store last year.

I had a great run painting their glass door with a seasonal, often monthly theme for 

about 3 years, before they closed up shop. This was one of my favorites.

and then there's  fabric, I received 2 of my samples from Spoonflower last week.

The printing is pretty good. I'll probably play around with the repeat more. 

I simply chose "mirror" option on the site. 

Margot Kingon has offered to sew a few small purses for me :) 

I'm not sure how much I want to get involved in manufacturing products, but it's 

nice to place some pieces in shops or sell online and see how they do.

I currently sell bags, pillows, prints in my Society 6 Shop, but as other artists know,

the profit margin is quite low. You can place your products and art on the market quickly, 

with ease and get high quality printing, it's just not the most efficient way to make money.

and then there's  Artist House Party Presents

Christopher Joy, of Gorky's Granddaughter, has opened up a gallery on the UES

 The Opening for Diagonal Triangle was Oct 19th and includes my friend 

and fellow scenic, Bryon Finn (with his work below)

As you can see, I failed to take good, or even mediocre, shots of the artwork.

Just visit the site to view paintings by other artists in the show-

 Elana Herzog, Julian Kreimer, Sangram Majumdar & Sarah Walker

or better yet, go see it in person!

It's up for another 2 weeks, the Closing Reception Nov 12th, 2014

*Check out 5 Questions with Bryon Finn on Angela Fraleigh's blog this week- it's fun and insightful!

and then there's  my neighborhood...

I ran into neighbor, Gabriel as he was visiting with one of my favorite dogs in Carroll Gardens. 

This is such a lovable happy pup! These people are very nice, too ;)

and then there's  Graham Willoughby

I've known him forever and he remains one of my favorite people.

On this day, I admired the way he carried laundry on his head, so he could

carry his daughters' small jack-o-lanterns home in hand.

and then there's  Red Hook

I worked on a small job in a prop guy's studio down on Van Dyke Street last week.

This area is just great. 

I lived on Van Brunt Street back in 1991.

My roommate and I had a terrific space and each had our own studio, but the neighborhood is

very different today. Besides, the charming shops and restaurants along cobble stone streets, 

there are the buildings down on the water, like Pier 41. 

I could smell the salt air, hear seagulls and ducks as I painted set pieces and props.

Plus, it was a quick walk to Fairway to enjoy lunch outside.

I somehow missed this Fire Boat last Friday Night, but production assistant,

Ron Pritchard, captured it. Apparently, a fireman had just been married and this 

was part of the celebration.

and then there's  Halloween. I sure loved it as a kid!

I no longer dress up (tho I will if asked ;) Here is one of my 1st -

#tbt

Happy Halloween!

xo, A

S'mores aren't everything

What's better than roasting marshmallows over a campfire with friends?

Making S'mores and more :) 

Still, they can't solve all your problems, it's just a start!

"It's time to rehearse. Who's the new guy?"

Practice is very important.

Lately, I've been practicing a slightly different way of painting background

scenes by muting the colors or simply keeping that part monochrome. 

I think it's helping the characters to stand out and compete less with the backgrounds.

It's something I'll continue working on.

Bear was trying out his new costume in Central Park when he heard a tiny voice from below.

"Help, my friend needs a hand!"

Gee, I sure hope Bear knows what to do.

:::

Rush Hour, below, is an example of characters getting lost in the mix. 

It's a shame because each animal has personality. I tried to make some pop more

using Photoshop and I think it helped somewhat. 

Subway Series is one of my favorite groups of illustrations. If only things could stay 

as simple as initial sketches. 

Anyway, I decided to pluck certain characters from Rush Hour, give them some space 

and consider which to use in a story.

I shared Capybara and pals and others taken from this

crowded train in last week's post.

I liked these guys enough to have some postcards printed. 

I used Moo for the 1st time and they look great!

I had some printed using "Classic" paper stock. I was surprised Moo uses the shiny side for the 

backside. I don't mind, just unusual I think. I also had some printed using "Luxe"stock. 

I couldn't be more happy with the quality of both sets. I could be hooked!

I also have some coming from Zazzle who I've depended on for years.

I'll have to see what people think. I've only heard good things about Moo, so had to try them.

May these guys, at least, make it onto the bulletin board of a brilliant art director, 

editor and/or agent out there! for safe keeping and maybe more. 

Kitty reading about birds is also new, although cats reading books, 

shows up in  a couple of my paintings. 

I was charmed by this simple quote from Garrison Keillor.

In other news, I bought a Karlstad love seat from Ikea that I put together myself.

The price was right, but I can still smell the particle board from which it's built. Oh well.

I styled this photo with my lovely pillows.

Yes, they are available in my Society6 shop - Allyn Howard :)

Lena the cat loves it!

View from Ikea showroom

And now for some random neighborhood pics. 

I've always liked this old building on Clinton Street, looks like it's getting a make-over.

I passed by it on my way to the public library. That's right, the library - been a long time!

I love this summery window display at One Girl Cookies in Cobble Hill.

These cool wood paneled houses are across the street. You may have noticed them in the reflection.

 Cute Italjet in Greenpoint. 

My favorite outfit of the summer, so far, worn by the one and only Michael Taranov.

He's a fellow local 829 scenic painter and I was happy to see that he changed into

paint clothes before we got started. 

This is the giant house we were working in that day. 

Ditmas Park is a fantastic neighborhood in Brooklyn. Mansions abound in a suburban 

setting with city streets within walking distance, kind of a perfect mix.

Back to my neighborhood, I like the way St Mary's Star of the Sea looks

at sunset. It's very close to my home, so I'm always happy to pass by and take notice.

The Gowanus canal is less lovely in summer.

I have to say, G.H. Cretors is my latest addiction (besides ice cream :)

It is sooooooooo tasty! like 2 bags a day, tasty. forget dinner, tasty.

The end. 

xo, Lena and me

Hurricane Halloween & an Art Competition

Taco Cat disguised as Vampire with Bat-Bird

The Annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade has been postponed due to

damage from Hurricane Sandy. 

Despite trees falling on certain side streets, my immediate area in 

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn was very fortunate. 

I only experienced a brief loss of power and some fears as the Gowanus Canal 

flooded parts of Smith Street behind me Monday night. 

It was a devastating storm for many in this area and my heart goes out to them. 

It will take a long time for certain subway stations and trains

to be repaired and parts of downtown Manhattan may be without 

electricity for another week.

*photo - Gothamist

This article in Gothamist outlines some of the major concerns for lower Manhattan.

Below, the Fairway in Red Hook with a message from Occupy Sandy Relief NYC

*photo - Occupy Sandy Relief NYC

*This food cannot be brought into the kitchen at Red Hook Initiative due to their status as a 501c3. 

Please alert: "food not bombs" or make at home distribute DIY style* 

Fairway 480-509 Van Brunt street

                                             CBS News just reported that in Hoboken, 

                               half of the area is still flooded with sewage while live wires 

                                                               dangle in the water.

                        Of course, many areas in New Jersey have suffered great devastation.

                          Sadly, over 100 homes in Breezy Point, Queens were destroyed.

                     This just touches on the aftermath here in the North East, not to mention 

                 other parts of the world. The BBC reported that Haiti fears a food shortage 

                        due to extensive crop damage. How much more can they take?

                                                                              

I sure hope we start to discuss Climate Change in a more serious manner in the months and years to come.

                                                                      

Kids in NJ will not be Trick or Treating tonight, but they will have the chance to enjoy their costumes and candy next week!

                I made this drawing last year and reworked it a tiny bit to share for the holiday.

Animal Parade

Ironically, because of the shutdown of the subway system and lack of electricity on

job sites, I  was afforded time to finish "Rush Hour" from my Subway series. 

I just submitted these 3 images for the Society of Illustrators Show 2013.

I know it's a long shot, but I felt very excited after uploading them to Society of Illustrators 

The deadline for Illustrators 55 Exhibition is tomorrow, Nov. 1st 

:: You never know :: is a motto I live by.

Cheers from Leslie, Rosalita & moi! Halloween 2007

I think this is the last time I dressed up. We went to a party at

Le Petit Cafe. I was some kind of Cher/Cleopatra hybrid,

Zexter (Rosalita) was a witch and Leslie was a MTA

construction worker. She did work for MTA at the time.

Have a Fun and Safe Halloween!!

xo, A