Sugi *Pug Wonder*

Celebrating Sugi! This beloved pug belongs to Leslie Wolf & Michael Thibodeau. I decided to try my hand at a pet portrait for Leslie's birthday this year.

Above, he enjoys a room with a view :)

This was a total joy to paint! I'll be adding more of my favorite pets here as the summer progresses.

Have a nice weekend

~ A

Father's Day 2011!

Happy Father's Day to my dad, R. Henderson Howard! 

Der, as mom and I like to call him, has been a great father to me! The older I get, the more I appreciate having grown up with a dad who has always taken an interest in everything I do. He's funny and smart with a unique take on the world. Plus, he has a love of animals that I've inherited. Below, best buddy, BW ;)

Love the drole expression here

Here we are at grandma Howard's above and below in Baltimore

I posted a more in depth piece about my dad last year that includes some terrific old photos with family, college friends and one with Jazz great, Les McCann! 
*Click here if you'd like to see more. 

Below, my dad's sketch, "Triple Threat". I may have better luck licensing his work than my own :D

Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you :)

Have a wonderful day all you fathers out there!! You deserve it.

xo, A

Hello Sunshine!

Here's my June door painting for If I Were A Toy store, Fun at Sea! It includes some usuals like Yoga Bun and Bitty, the owners' tiny dog, who is actually much smaller than this painted version. I enjoy painting on the smooth surface of glass and it's cool to see how the other side looks when you're done.

Snorkel Dog loves turtles and clown fish!

I've added Maraca Mouse and Yoga Bun onesies to my shop on Cafepress and I hope to have some small runs printed to sell on my site soon.

 Yoga Bun prints can be purchased from my website, AllynHoward.com :')

((5x7 image with 8x10 cream mat))

The opening reception for my friend, Melissa Zexter's work was last weekend at Carrie Haddad Photographs in Hudson, NY. It was great to see her pieces displayed in the front gallery. I had a terrific time meeting new people, dining on Mexican twice in one night and roasting marshmallows for breakfast the next day :) 

The gallery is located on charming Warren Street. Here, the artist poses with her work.

Odille is following in her mom's footsteps, taking more pictures than any of us. This dog made quite an impression on her.

I should have taken some photos earlier when the gallery was abuzz with activity. I took mine as most of us were winding down, though Mirabelle was just getting revved up ;) 
Below, Zexter poses with her kids and Anne McInnis next to a piece with their mutual friend, Alice as the model. Anne owns a wonderful shop called 12 specializing in modern antiquities at 345 Warren Street. We enjoyed a little more wine and chatted in her shop after the show. She's one of those people you feel like you've known for years. Her store also carries some beautiful gold jewelry designed by Rosanne Pugliese :)

Leslie's friend from college, Peter Aaron currently lives around the corner from the gallery. Here he poses with her and Zex outside. Peter is the music editor for Hudson Valley's Chronogram Magazine and was in the band The Chrome Cranks :D

Lance had to get down to business at their place in Tannersville. Sawing down ferns is a man's job ;D
Melissa's show will be up until July 3rd. 
Have a lovely Sunday!  ~A

Daydreaming

Lena loves her cozy new bedroom, but she's not sure about this painting of mine. 

I had to move it in from the hallway. It's a favorite, but a bit snug in these surroundings. If anyone out there has some extra wall space ~ Big Beach Octy is one from my dimensional Blip Blop series. It's 6' x 9' / (3) 3' x 6' panels. In the open areas you can see the little gesturally drawn people out on their beach towels :)

The full title is Big Beach Octy Looms Large Over Tiny People Tanning. Just contact me if you'd like to make a studio visit, see more pics on my site. 


I wasn't able to cover the National Stationery Show 2011 last week, but I've been able to catch up with some of my favorite designers on Oh So Beautiful Paper Take a look to see Nole Garey's thorough overview (9 parts, so far) and beautiful detailed photographs :)
Happy midweek ~Allyn

Walking Down Washington Avenue

I recently had the opportunity to work on the 2nd season of HBO's Boardwalk Empire filmed at Steiner Studios (part of it, that is). The sets are fantastic, unfortunately I can't share those photos with you (just yet). Besides being a civilized and fun work environment, I get to walk the lovely Washington Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on my way to and from the Navy Yard. It's quite a hike from the Clinton/Washington stop in the winter, but in the spring it's a delight! Fort Greene is filled with beautiful old brownstones and it's been experiencing a vibrant revitalization as of late.

Love these two window balconies :)

This large home has one of my favorite rooftop styles, plus I appreciate a nice porch.

Talk about a nice porch! Adore these unique places below, not your typical city homes.

Doors and Details ...

Fun to see the renovation of older buildings.

Of course, revitalization means more & more people moving to the area. Some Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods are glutted with new glass structures. This is the only one I've seen over here. I'm more of a townhouse type myself, but this looks very clean and must get some great light :D

As you near Steiner, quite a few places are in disrepair patiently awaiting their facelifts!

Kinda love this strip and the building below could be fabulous as a theater or as live/work spaces :)

Alas, enter ...One of the coolest aspects of living in New York is being surrounded by water. I continue to be fascinated by these cranes and I try to imagine this place when it was building ships in full swing.

The photo above is from the The Brooklyn Historical Society blog. Long long time ago.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard is continually expanding and I'm sure many of these empty warehouses nearby will eventually be occupied by thriving businesses.

Here, some useful reference for aging surfaces and signs :)

Re Pop looks like a swell vintage furniture shop, but I haven't ventured in yet.

Another super rooftop :')

windows!

This garden is across form the G train I take home, so time to bid adieu until the next day.

This is only one small trip down one avenue in Fort Greene. There's so much more to explore, including Pratt Institute, BAM and a slew of restaurants and bars! 

Lena wishes you one heck of a Sunday! She will likely be poised on a window sill or in her red chair much of the day :x)
Thanks for stopping by! ~A