I'm on Kate Harper's Blog :)

I recently joined a group on LinkedIn called Art of Licensing and answered Kate Harper's question about why an artist needs a blog. Kate writes Greeting Card Designer, a blog full of practical information and interviews with art and design professionals. Below is an excerpt. Please visit her post for my full answer :) She is running a series about the benefits of social media for artists & designers throughout the month of March.

Children's Ilustrator Wisdom: Why Artists Need Blogs

GC Designer Blog invited Allyn Howard, Children's Illustrator, to be a special guest writer for "Social Media Month" and talk about why she thinks artists should have a blog.


Guest Writer, Allyn Howard

I started my blog, Blipadee.blogspot.com on a whim after someone I knew created one for her baby. I thought if a newborn could have one, so could I!

I post about once a week and share aspects of my life as a working artist living in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. It appears that most commercial artists have one for the additional exposure to their work.

I enjoy writing about my process for illustration & mural projects, but knew I didn't want to write exclusively about it.

I was surprised by just how much I enjoy profiling other artists, designers and businesses that I admire, plus interesting neighborhood characters. There is so much great stuff out there, it feels rewarding to help shed light on what I find deserving and getting to know the people behind it!

Read more here...

Thank you Kate!

Kate Harper is a greeting card designer who has worked with Barnes & Noble, Papyrus, Target and Michael's to name a few! Visit her site for more information :)

Happy St Paddy's Day to all you lads and lasses!

xo, Allyn

Store Pets

Store Pets
*Photograph by Liz Vidyarthi

Click on this Store Pets around town piece from Brooklyn Based newsletter. It's quite cute :)

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

March Mini Post

Some dogs have great faces that can't be passed up. This one also has the perfect mini Mohawk!


I was very sad to learn this week that Debbie Fisher's retail store on Court Street has closed. I happened to walk by as they were cleaning up last weekend. The picture above is from last Spring. Her store was a favorite of mine and I purchased quite a few gifts for friends, family and myself here. I also enjoyed talking with Debbie and her sister when she was lending a hand in the past.

It will be sorely missed by many people in this neighborhood :(
It's a shame that the commercial rents in this and many neighborhoods in NYC are so very high that great little gems like this one disappear.



Fortunately, Debbie is still selling her beautiful jewelry wholesale to stores including Brooklyn shops; Cog & Pearl, Catbird, Refinery and The Clay Pot and NYC's ABC Carpet & Home and Barneys.
If you had a chance to add your name to her mailing list she may be inviting you for studio visits/ jewelry parties in the future :) I hope so! You can still contact her on her website.

In the spirit of the Oscars... Go Jeff Bridges!!! Here are a couple of photos I took at the New York Times Center in January. I've posted about the Times Center interview series in the past. I've enjoyed each one and Jeff was no exception.

*He was as charming and sexy as you'd expect!*

I'll end on another great face! This gorgeous dog was waiting for his owner outside of If I Were A Toy. I've been inside the shop painting some cute pics I'll be sharing here soon :D

Have a fun weekend! Enjoy the Oscars Sunday Night!!
xo, Allyn

It's Friday

Maraca Mouse is psyched :)

Yesterday I did some work on my story about Katie Koala and her search for Lyle the Bunny. You may have seen my image of them on the Valentine's Day Cards I sent out and posted here.

Somehow they keep missing each other, but here a friendly penguin shares some cocoa :)

Lena enjoys some rest while I paint. She fits well with her stuffed friends ;)


I took down my paintings at Fat Cat Monday night :( That was the longest span I've ever had work on display :) A special thanks again to the owners Miki & Daniel for exhibiting it and buying a couple pieces, too!!



Now where to put it all?

Every now and then, scenic painters get out of big 'ole stages and carpentry shops and go on location! This was only over the bridge to Staten Island, but what a beautiful place to work.

Even factories across the water look romantic at dawn...


Thought this ship looked amazing against the pink and lavender sky.

GettyMart gorgeous ;)

This is a giant salt pile which may be used up this winter with all the snowfall!

Our destination & setting for a series of Macy's commercials (this one with Martha, yes, that Martha!) was Snug Harbor. I knew only of Snug Harbor, Long Island. This one is home to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden which is "the product of more than 30 years of restoration and development to convert a 19th century home for retired seamen to a regional arts center housing myriad museum and arts programs as well as an active Artist-in-Residence program. It is the largest ongoing adaptive reuse project in America and is considered one of New York City’s unique architectural complexes and historic landscapes..." *Please visit their well designed website to read more.

We worked in two of the adorable row cottages used for their artist in residence program.

These tracks are not a human's footprints. Looks like a snow bunny has been hoppin' through! maybe Lyle ;)

I look forward to returning in the Spring to visit the botanical gardens, this greenhouse above and various museums and galleries, including a kids' museum :D

This beautiful old building, unfortunately empty and in need of much work, was used as an exterior shot. Bryon Finn carved and wood grained these letters from Styrofoam to make it resemble a Frat House.

Loved these shuttered windows in each room.

View of crew and lighting trucks. Below, another great building in which we enjoyed lunch :)


Sadly, locations are often too small for all of the equipment, plus our paint kit & supplies. Above, a few essentials stashed in a bathroom. Most of it was designated to the back yard. Brrrr cold!

I shared my favorite paint shoes on a January post and here is the underside you all asked to see ;) Quite pretty, despite and I guess, because of the obvious wear & tear.

We have snow here again in Brooklyn and it casts such a magical glow to everything. The thaw out is not so nice.
Enjoy it while you can!!

Snow peeps built by Mirabelle & Odille :)

Have a great weekend! xo, Allyn