Lucky Days

A great perk from writing a blog has been meeting some wonderful people and business owners in my neighborhood. Last week I did a project for one of the stores I've profiled here. Joanna from If I Were a Toy called me about adding some characters to her new kids' hair cutting room.

In addition, I was asked to paint a seasonal scene each month on their lower door window. Above, a mouse finds a pot of gold :)
Below, a bit more about the process... Joanna wanted Big Bird & Elmo over her mirror for kids to recognize and feel comfortable with while getting a hair trim. She also chose particular images from my portfolio and I later emailed her sketches.

This kite bunny didn't make the cut, but Space Mouse, in his bright colorful rocket did and right in the doorway!


I had recently painted a smaller version of Space Mouse on wood that she liked and this one is very close to that original.

Here, you can see Big Bird & Elmo, plus a cookie eating dino. He was scratched after Joanna's partner, Virginia saw another mural I'd painted with a bunny flying an airplane. Their name waving behind it seemed perfect for over the door in here.


Here I painted a raccoon rascal playing in the trash. Originally we considered Oscar the Grouch, but opted for one of my characters instead. The full scene works well framed by the table and helps disguise some of the scuff marks that end up on the wall here. By the way, the bunny in back is collecting the trash, so as not to promote litter ;)


Above, a darling little girl has her long hair trimmed by Joanne. *She is currently there on Saturdays only. Most kids, with shorter hair, sit on the booster seat and watch a few minutes from one of the many dvds available. That day, everyone seemed to pick Finding Nemo.


Another change made was to swap Space Mouse from back to front (and in rocket as you saw) a decision I was very happy to comply with :)

Virginia liked my Scooter Dog character, especially since he resembles her dog Bitty, so we placed him over 2nd mirror :D
They chose the hot air balloon for under that mirror, since it's easier for kids to see when they walk in. A polar bear and piggy were chosen to take the ride!



Hoping this guy makes it in somewhere in the future. Still plenty of nooks I saw that could use some extra animals playing ;)

It was fun to go in and meet Lori who runs Playtime Tues & Thurs mornings and Karen who heads up Jitterbugs music class on Fri & Mon mornings. They look like a lot of fun for little ones!

I also had the chance to meet Jill Kotulka, who designs and silkscreens these iconic brooklyn onesies. If I Were a Toy is the only retailer in Carroll Gardens who carries this particular design. Jill also offers more sizes & styles online at her shop Punkahontas on Supermarket :) Visit her site to see more design work, you will surely recognize much of it!

I'll be selling my Scooter Dog and Space Mouse Onesies for babies (size 6 mos) starting mid March. Please go in and buy one or two ;)





If you're in the area, stop in and take a look! Spring is here, for now at least, and they are right next to Carroll Park :D

*Starting Saturday March 27th, Margaret, formerly of LuLu's Cuts & Toys will be providing kids' haircuts and service* Visit their site for more info and call 718.222.2444 for an appointment :)

369 Court Street at Carroll Park * Click here for hours *

xo, Allyn

My Murals: from Sketches to Finished Walls

Custom Hand Painted Murals for Nurseries & Children's Rooms

I often receive emails asking about my mural work and how to go about commissioning this type of thing. So I thought I would illustrate the process here...



I usually receive an email or a phone call about custom artwork and most people have an idea in mind of what they would like, but not everyone. We discuss ideas, possibly a color scheme and whether it will be an entire room, a wall or two or some simple elements throughout. I can sometimes give a ballpark cost estimate, but it's best for me to see the room. This consult is free of charge, as are the initial sketches. Here are examples of my sketches and the final outcomes...


As you can see, I like to sketch in watercolor to give some idea of the palette. Initially my sketches may be rough, especially notes I make for myself. Edits are made through email exchanges and I sometimes make a change once I begin a project. For example, the orange airplane above worked much better facing the window rather than the direction it took in my original sketch. No need for them to fly smack into a tree ;D



The above mural is a favorite of mine and we let Jonathan, who was one at the time, choose characters he liked from my portfolio. I put them into a nonthreatening little jungle scene.

Below is a sketch I did for an exercise bike cover. I painted a playroom full of animals, countryside scenes, even a castle & a clock tower. Laura, quite the creative mom, decided to store her exercise bike in her daughters' new playroom, camouflaged as an animal! A buffalo made the most sense since the handles could look like his horns. My friend sewed it perfectly and I painted his face & fez hat. Pom poms added for flair ;)



Below, a mix of pencil sketches I made for myself. This nursery would incorporate a tea party and animals en route to it...







Racing Day was for a nursery with twin boys. A car theme was desired to go with their bedding. I usually do at least 3 or 4 color sketches from which to choose or combine various aspects a client likes most.


It wasn't until I got there that we decided to make it a race that appears to come towards the viewer, into the room.



Some sketches are almost identical to the finished product like the piggies above :)

Perfect in it's simplicity-- kind monkeys watch over the little one who sleeps here :)


hello little owl :)

This pink nursery mural was inspired by a single chair upholstered in a lovely french toile fabric. The turret was a perfect place to start!


A Brooklyn mural, it caught the attention of a local writer and was featured in the New York Daily News :D




Above, some sketches that have not been fully realized, but they are full of hope ;)



I enjoy painting playful, amiable animals that engage each other and hopefully your child. I look forward to some outer space and underwater scenes this year!

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about custom work, it's a very simple process. Please visit my site to see more work :)

xo, Allyn