My NEW Website is up!

I have a NEW website - YAY!

:::

I decided to use Squarespace after hearing positive things from other artists, 

plus reading a few build-your-own site comparisons. 

I took advantage of their 2 week free trial to set it up 

and it took about 3 days, working on & off. 

I'm sure it takes less time if you have less images to add. 

Scanning new work and locating older images, slowed me down a bit.

:::

I was drawn to the clean style of their templates and I really wanted

a grid layout, so the viewer can see images clearly at one shot, 

then click to enlarge if interested in seeing it in more detail. 

I had to customize slightly to get that, but it was fairly simple 

once the support team helped me out. I'm currently using Avenue.

A big thank you to Carmen of Carmen Mok Studio also.

We're in an art group on Facebook that was organized after 

taking Lilla Rogers' Mats3A class last spring. It's a great group and 

provides a nice way to ask for advice and share resources with each other.

I like her work and the ease of her site. She answered 

some of my initial questions and I really appreciate it!

:::

Once I heard Marc Maron give a 10% promo code on his Monday wtf podcast,

 I knew it was meant to be, so I went for it :)

My only setback is that the company where my domain is registered 

has not gotten back to me about "mapping/forwarding"

my domain - AllynHoward to squarespace, so for now my site is

www.allyn-howard.squarespace.com 

It's a temporary issue, but one I must resolve before mailing out 

new promotional cards, obviously.

A refreshed Ruben & Cooper are real happy with their new home.

I wanted to go ahead and share my site with you guys, my friends, 1st anyway!

When you have the time, please take a look. I would love to hear your feedback.

I assume it will all be constructive.

I have a lot of images on there, but I think it's well organized.

There are 7 Gallery pages listed across the top and a link page that brings 

you here, to my blog.

It's pretty easy to navigate.

Melissa Iwai, I entered your name when answering a survey that asked 

who recommended the site. 

I think you were the first to mention Squarespace to me. 

Regardless, I hope you get some kind of credit or prize!! :D

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

xo, A

Change - good and bad

If I Were a Toy store has closed.

This is a picture of me last June after I painted their door for the summer season.

I will miss painting this door. I've been doing it, almost monthly, for close to 4 years.

This was my 1st little sketch for the St Patrick's door. 

I'm always looking for that pot of gold :)

Here's a link- Lucky Days, to that door & post from March 2010 

It includes some of the murals 

I had painted inside the shop and hair cutting space.

I also sold a few baby tees there

like Space Mouse

and the ever popular, Scooter Dog.

I'm happy for Joanna and Virginia, the owners of the shop,

as they pursue other avenues and dreams.

I know it's silly to get sentimental, but I'll miss chatting 

with them as I painted and talking to some of the 

kids who were curious. They usually came in for the 

gum balls or to get coins for the rides outside,

but many showed real interest and shared their opinions.

It lead to some fun custom work for me and I guess I

just liked knowing it was there, little friends at the entrance.

I painted my last door in February this year, Valentines, of course :)

My friend, Melissa Zexter took this photo of me painting the 1st Valentine's 

day door. She's also taken quite a few of Mirabelle and Odille after

picking them up from school. This holiday door is from Dec 2011.

Below, a rather large mouse posed with pirate bear last summer.

I think my best ones might be the Halloween doors, which is

odd since I'm not a big fan of halloween, though I do love candy.

This one pays homage to "Where the Wild Things Are", in costume, at least.

Below, was a continuation of the previous year's door.

The kids enter a haunted house.

This year's 2013 was a favorite of mine. I would go to this party ;)

Venice Valentine from 2012 is another favorite and lead to a series of

illustrations for a children's book idea.

Finally, I really like these funky NYC buildings and the fireworks.

If you'd like to see more of my faves, I have a Pinterest board

with a bunch titled - My Glass Paintings

You can also see more and additional custom work on 

my site here

! knock yourself out !

Alas, I knew the day was near, when George's store would 

officially close :(

This was my landlord's shop. George passed away in 2010.

I painted this sign when he and his wife moved the shop to a less

populated area of Court Street.

I'm not known for my sign painting, but I was happy

to hear that more than a few people wanted it.

I just didn't want it to go in the trash.

I'm happy that it is safe and sound with the fabulous guys

at Court Street Grocers.

I think Eric and Matt might be as sentimental as I am.

:::

I still miss George.

:::

As always, thanks for taking a look.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

xo, A

Back to School in Brooklyn

Weeeeeeeeeee! 

"I'm King of the World!"

These guys are on their way back to PS58 here in Carroll Gardens.

You're probably surprised by how many animals attend school,

but that's Brooklyn for you ;)

Oops, there goes lunch. Good thing it's all wrapped up,

most of it at least.

:: Full Painting ::

You looking at me?

Pizza Louie and Betty Cinna-bun wave good-bye and wish them luck!

"I hope it's not too hard."

:::

This is my seasonal painting on the front door of

If I Were A Toy store, on the corner of Court and Carroll Street.

I hope the kids have a terrific start back, this week for some

and next week in my neighborhood.

:::

Hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend!

Thanks for stopping by.

xo, A

Happy Easter

I painted the door for If I Were A Toy just in time for Easter Sunday! *Important tip- if you need to scrape paint off glass, much faster to spray with Windex 1st. I learned the hard way ;)

I planned to keep it simple this week, so I made this little card for my readers :)

Then the pleasures of Spring sprang to mind! I've been going through photos, usually of trips I've taken with my mom in the Spring. My hope was to find the most fabulous shots to enter in Frommer's Photo Contest (deadline tonight). Feels like playing Lotto. I uploaded about 25 and now cross my fingers that I will be the lucky winner for a cover and $5,000 bucks ;D

Regent's Canal in London, above is a very charming area. Visit Waterscape for more info :)

I bought these Ranunculus, which I'd never heard of before, from a local bodega/deli. I don't have a green thumb, so I am keeping a close eye on these! Lots of light & water-- should be able handle these pretty little flowers.

I started with my album full of photos from a May trip to Rome a few years ago. The Roseto Comunale or Rose Garden on the Aventine Hill is simply gorgeous! A must see if you visit during the flowering season :)



It is very hard for me to edit down to just a few, but I'm trying. I have many photos from Italy. Love this kid below. He wasn't prompted to make this face, he just went for it!




My mom made a brilliant decision and booked our stay in Venice at the Westin Excelsior on Lido. It's a 15 minute boat ride from Venice proper (hotel has private boats going out every hour or so). It's magnificent and the town of Lido is a beauty, too! I took endless pictures of people's homes. Above, I've shared the most simple of pleasures; towards the end of each day we had Prosecco, Pellegrino and snacks on the water :D





If you haven't been to Venice, make it a goal! It is truly extraordinary!! Above is the Basilica di Sant Marco The piazza seems to stay over populated for obvious reasons ;) You can escape the crowds if you're not afraid to get a little lost or turned around on the walkways. Venetians are very friendly, too.


I adore Burano for all of it's wonderful bright colors! It's a dream :)


Above, a house statue of Jesus. It was the nicest one I saw and thought it would be appropriate for my Easter post, of course.

I've used this picture on a past post. It's one of my favorites and honestly, I think it has a shot as a book cover!


You may know by now how much I like Spain, so I used restraint when choosing photos :) Below in Barcelona, the walk from one masterpiece to another, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia to Montaner's Sant Pau Hospital.




Many years ago I visited Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny, France. It was absolutely gorgeous! Again, I have so many photographs, even so they can't do it justice.




The MOMA has Monet's Water Lilies on display through April 12th, including his late paintings in the collection.


Cuteness :o)


Regal...


Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain is most spectacular! Below, the unusual Dr. Seuss-like trees intrigued me. I will include more from Madrid on a future piece.



Hello there!






Hope you have enjoyed this little ode to Spring!
Happy Easter :) xo, Allyn