Artist in LA LA Land Illustration

Pretty Hearts, Reds, Pinks, Love Cards

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm still designing Valentine's Day Love cards. I love adding hearts, pinks and reds to them. Below are some of my creations which you can buy at the Artist in LA LA Land shop.

More info and photos of them can be found here.

What's On My Desk: Kirigami Heart Butterflies & Recycled Paint Palettes

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've been working on the Incognito paintings for the Santa Monica Museum of Art, so I cannot reveal them, and I've had to put a hold on the Victorian Tattoo'd Animal Container sculptures, so I cannot show you any of the progress on those art projects. Instead, I thought I'd show you my paint palettes and some kirigami butterflies from my calendar.

I use meat trays as my paint palettes--- after they've been washed of course. They are made of styrofoam which isn't recyclable, so it's a way to be recycle them. After the paint dries, I just add new paint on top, so they build up into strange almost abstract paintings. I think they're sort of pretty.

The kirigami calendar pages don't look pretty until they are cut out. Above you can see all the pages that I've yet to cut into new and lovely shapes. Yeah, I'm a bit behind. Most of the month of January has been snowflake shapes and designs.

As the end of the month nears, there is a fold I've never heard of, butterfly fold. It's a more complicated way to fold the paper and now instead of shaded of blue paper to cut, I get shades of red paper.

I had to read the instruction card on how to fold the butterfly. It was a little confusing as are all these kinds of paper folding instructions. I think my folding wasn't exactly right.

But I cut it anyway to see if I was even close to what it was supposed to look like.

It turned out all right, so I cut another one.

I liked the red one and the hearts in the middle of the wings.

These 2 butterflies are actually intended to be a duo, so I glued them together.

It's not perfect, but it's still a pretty heart butterfly. I think it's wishing you a Happy Monday!

Fresh, Clean, New Artist in LA LA Land Website

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've reformatted and cleaned up the Artist in LA LA Land website. The logo cloud used to dominate the whole website, and it just seemed like too much. Now, it's a little cloud on the left side of the screen. On the ABOUT page, you'll learn my whole story. I think it's funny, sweet and entertaining, if I do say so myself. I've also added a BOOKS page and a LOVE BADGE page. There's lots of other new things, but I won't tell you because I hate spoilers. Let me know what you think of it. Thanks in advance for checking it out.

What's On My Desk: Tattoo'd Animals and Incognito Sneak Peek

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Victorian Tattoo'd Animal Containers are so close to being finished as you can see in the photo below, especially the rabbit. Here he is with the lid or top off and the container bottom part turned upside down with my signature on it. He is drying after I've added a UV protective top coat all over the outside of him. I'll add one more layer just to make sure he'll be sealed and ready to handle, because even though he's cute to look at, he's also meant to hold things in his container belly.

Unfortunately, I'll have to put a hold on the monkey and giraffe for a little bit---maybe, even 2 weeks. You see, I've been invited to be a part of the Santa Monica Museum of Art's annual fundraiser, "Incognito". It's called this because, you don't know which artist created each painting until you've bought the art piece and see the back where the signature is. Below is my "Incognito" work in progress.

You probably can't tell what I'm painting and that's good. You're not supposed to. This is the only sneak peek I'm allowed to give you until after this fun art event to benefit all the programs and art at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. It's an honor to be a participant. Many artists apply to be a part of it. A jury selects who will be in it to represent the Museum. I'm proud to be helping them and to be included. March 15th, 2012 is the start of their amazing event, but the artwork is due February 1st, 2012. That's not too long to get these 2 paintings done, but I can do it. Hopefully, I'll see you at the event.

Edgar Allan Poe's Birth Today: Celebrate with the Raven & Friends

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, in 1809 on this day in January, Edgar Allan Poe was born. He was one of the Victorian Era's best horror writers, although not appreciated during his time. His work is still an inspiration today and he's associated with ravens, the macabre and all things wonderfully spooky. You can find many wonderful Etsy items to help you celebrate the master of blood and mystery, including the ones below.

Wood Pendant

Red Mask

Raven Art Print

Favorites Page To See What I'm Loving

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

If you look at the menu running at the top of this page, you'll see that I've added some pages to this blog. One of them is my favorites page where you can see what items I love at Etsy. It will change as often as I add new favorite items which is weekly. It's a way of sharing the love. Click on any image and you'll be brought to that products page where you can learn more about it.

Stuck on Love: Valentine's Day at the Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Is love in the air? Well, it should be all the time, but it's even more so with Valentine's Day coming up in less than a month. So, I wanted to let you know that the Artist in LA LA Land shop is stuck on LOVE and Valentine's Day. Below are some of the LOVE ITEMS I've created just for you.

"Era Diligo" means Lady Love in Latin and it means you are mysterious at the Artist in LA LA Land shop. Turn the wheel at the right side of this love card and the face changes into 2 other ladies. Each one loves you and each one is giving you the key to her heart. It is blank inside awaiting your loving inscription.

Love will come to you in this Love Machine paper puppet set. It even has a heart shaped card to give to your sweetheart. Hearts puff out of its steam stack. A lovely raccoon lady and cat gentleman are taking the journey of love. Hop on anytime and get ready for fun.

Artist in LA LA Land shop is really stuck on love with these Victorian Love Stickers. It has lovely animal couples holding hands and cuddling. Of course, this sticker set wouldn't be complete without the LOVE Telephone or the LOVE Machine. These will add a loving touch in any envelope, card or stationary. Add a few of them when you write that love note to your honey.

More love items are being added as I write this. So check them all out at this link.

What's On My Desk: Works in Progress and Some Fun

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I like this idea of sharing what's on my art desk. It makes me feel a bit vulnerable, showing you how imperfect it all starts out as. But who was I kidding, trying to pretend I'm perfect! Besides, no one likes someone who is perfect, not even perfectionist me.

I finally finished the papier-maché part of these Victorian, animal gentlemen. You can see their little, top hats at the right. I'm now painting the under layers. I really like this strange, grayish purple under paint color. So far, I've added 4 layers. I want to add at least a few more. It's a nice base to have before I get into the real painting part. But slowly, you see, they are coming to life.

I also thought I'd share some things on my desk that are not works of art in progress, but they do help me with the art process. The cat is one of my first paper puppets and might be my first one. I cannot remember. She is fun to play with when I'm coming up with ideas, so she hangs around.

The green gorilla is an eraser, and a very good one at that. But since he is so noble and strong, I try not to use him. He is more fun just to play with. In real life, these amazing primates are endangered. Having him as an eraser somehow emphasizes that fact. I received him as a Christmas gift and I'm having a lot of fun with him.

I'll try to show you something from my desk every week now. I think it's fun to have something regular to look forward to. Don't you?

Good Advice Not Just For Artists, But For Everyone

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I really liked these posters created as advice from experienced designers and illustrators to emerging ones. I'm thinking of creating some of my own. In the meantime, here are a few of them that I think could apply to everyone. There is also something so zen Buddhist about them which, of course, really appeals to me. More of them can be found at Advice to Sink in Slowly.

I've seen these advice posters in a couple of the other blogs that I follow, so if you've seen them before I apologize. But really, they're too good not to share. So please pass on the wonderfully wise images!

Surrealist Women Of Mexico and USA at LACMA Jan 29, 2012

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Coming January 29, 2012 at the Los Angles County Museum of Art (LACMA), they will have an exhibition entitled, In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States. It includes some of my favorite artists such as Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois and Leonora Carrington. This should be a very inspiring show. It lasts until May 6, 2012. Above is the link to LACMA and below are more details.

North America represented a place free from European traditions for women Surrealists from the United States and Mexico, and émigrés fleeing war-torn Europe. While their male counterparts usually cast women as objects for their delectation and imagination, female Surrealists delved into their own subconscious and dreams. The knowledge they derived from such exploration empowered them to create extraordinary visual images, both personal and universal. Their art was primarily about identity: portraits, double portraits, couple portraits, self-portraits, self-referential images, and masquerades that demonstrate in deceptively straightforward as well as ambiguously abstract terms their trials and pleasures.

Arranged thematically, approximately 175 works in a variety of media date from 1931 to 1968. A handful of slightly later examples demonstrate Surrealism's historical overlap and influence on the feminist movement. Iconic figures such as Louise Bourgeois, Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller, Kay Sage, Dorothea Tanning, and Remedios Varo are represented, along with lesser known or newly discovered practitioners, including Maya Deren, Helen Lundeberg, María Izquierdo, Jacqueline Lamba, and Janet Sobel.

Art Projects: What's On My Desk And Around My Home

2012-01-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs, "The Cart Before the Horse", shows what's on their art desk. They do this about once a week and I always like seeing their works in progress. So I thought I'd try it and share what's on my art desk with you.

I've started creating some new papier-mache, sculpture containers. They will be 3 wild, gentlemen animals. They're still in the beginning phases, so they're pretty rough. The yellowish parts are crumpled up newspaper stuck on with masking tape to an empty, cardboard, cylinder container of dried nectarines. The white parts are the air drying clay, sculpted over the taped forms. These rough forms are called armatures. When they are finished, I'll papier-mache over them and paint them.

I've also been doing some crafts around my home. These decoration balls at the window are just cut out card stock paper, slotted together. I found the pattern and template at this cool craft blog. The ones shown here are the large ones, but there are also medium and small ones you can create. The large ones take 12 pieces of 8.5" x 11" card stock paper. I created some smaller ones and tied them together as garlands for Christmas gifts.

If you look at the photo of my living room, you'll notice a gift that I was given for Christmas. It's a Kirigami calendar. I had never heard of this before I received it. Every day a new pattern is on the new day to fold and cut out into some pretty shapes. I'm having fun making them. I peeked ahead and saw in February there will be some heart shapes to cut out. They will be fun to learn how to do.

Another Christmas gift came in the form of a gift certificate at Amazon. You know I had a great time spending my wad there. One of the things I bought was a how to make pop up cards book.

I've been reading and studying it and hatching ideas in my head. The books says that any cards engineered to move, including pull tabs and turning wheels are considered pop up cards. So although, I haven't created anything that pops up and out at you yet, I've still been making some moving cards. You'll have to check out my Etsy Shop to see how I've been using this new knowledge. And stay tuned for more to come.

Happy Birthday, Mr.Sherlock Holmes

2012-01-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, apparently it's Sherlock Holmes birthday today. He is definitely a Victorian hero of mine, born January 6, 1854.

I've read most of the stories, listened to radio dramas, watched Robert Downey, Jr. try to be him and all the slew of other inspired spin offs from this dynamic character.

I actually am enjoying the contemporary version of him in the BBC show simply titled, "Sherlock" which I've been watching on Netflix. They definitely have the character down, even if it is a little more action and adventure oriented.

My hats are off to his misanthropic sleuth. Anyone else celebrating his birthday?

This Weekend Party It Up At Postcards From the Edge

2012-01-05T06:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Jan 6-8, 2012 in NYC, the 14th annual fundraiser for artists with AIDS kicks it off. It's called Postcards From the Edge because postcards from famous artists (Jeff Koons, Kiki Smith, John Baldessari) and emerging artist (Melissa Kojima, yours truly) are sold for only $85.00. They have three days of fun and awareness to start out a great new year. I have been participating it in for 6 years now. Find more information about this event at this link.

Steampunk Murder Mystery Opera! Fun at NYC's HERE!

2012-01-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

Need I say more? Yes, it's got lovely Victorian era fashions, music, and a murder that the audience gets to figure out. It's at NYC's HERE theater from Jan. 12 - 21, 2012. Below are details and links to more info.

MirandaThe Steampunk Murder Mystery Opera

Jan 12*-21, 9:00 PM
NOTE: No shows on Sun (1/15) and Wed (1/18)

Who killed Miranda Wright? Through a lush, cross-genre score, six instrumentalists take you through the last day of Miranda's life, singing, acting and playing all the parts. The mystery unfolds through the taping of a live court TV show where you, the Jury, will have a hand in convicting the killer...just be prepared for the consequences.

Post-Show Panel: 1/17 When Pink Floyd meets Puccini: Opera and the Indie Classical Movement
Cocktails & Context with Kristin & Kim: 1/12 @ 8PM
Opening Night Party: 1/12*

Love Puppets in the Air at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, with a new year, love is bursting and blooming at the Artist in LA LA Land shop. Below are some of those love things.

Burlesque Love Lady Paper Puppet Set.

Vintage Telephone Love Paper Puppet Set.

Happy Birthday to the New Year with a Giant Paper Puppet Cake!!!!

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

The new year is coming. We celebrate it with cake, champagne, fireworks and parties as if it is a birthday. So I thought what better way to say happy new year than with a fantastic birthday cake paper puppet. Yes, this giant cake (11.75" H x 9.5" W) doesn't just look yummy. It holds a very special surprise.

Happy New Year to everyone! And a very happy new year to those new babies and those whose birthdays land on this special day! You can purchase your own happy birthday cake paper puppet at this link.

End of Year 25% Off Sale at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-12-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's time to have an end of the year-beginning of next year sale. I'm giving you 25% off all items in the Artist in LA LA Land shop. This includes cards, original paper puppets, sculptures and everything in between. This offer will only last until January 15, 2012, so hurry before it ends!

To get your 25% off, REMEMBER to enter this code at check out:

25OffHoliday

Click here to view holiday items.

Click here to view circus items.

Click here to view sculptures.

Click here to view paper puppets.

Wishing You A Wonderful Christmas or Whatever Holiday You Celebrate!

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

So Christmas is in only a few days, and today is actually winter solstice. That means the days will be getting lighter and lighter. Christmas seems to mark the end of the darkest time of the year and a celebration of the light coming back. Whatever you do to celebrate this wonderful time of year, may you be blessed with happiness and good cheer! Happy holidays, everyone!

Holiday Karaoke Party

2011-12-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

Yep, I went to a holiday karaoke party with a bunch of friends. It was actually a birthday party for 2 friends, but we ended up singing plenty of holiday songs. A lot of fun was had by all as you can see in the photos below. We got silly, we drank, we spazzed out---but maybe not in that order. Most of us were artists, so we all had that crazy, creative energy in common. This isn't a holiday tradition, in fact, it was my first time to sing holiday songs at karaoke, but why not make it one?!

Bike Critter Paper Puppets and Cards at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-12-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

I'm an avid bike rider, but I don't have a cool Victorian bicycle like these paper puppets. I wonder how they got up on those things with the one huge wheel and one tiny wheel. Maybe, they used a ladder to launch? In any case, they're bike critters that you can move and play with. They also come in tiny size on birthday cards. All of them are available for purchase at the Artist in LA LA Land Shop. They promise to be lots and lots of fun!

Postcards From the Edge Preview Party Jan. 6, 2012

2011-12-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

It's coming up soon. What? The annual fundraiser to help artists with AIDS. This will be the 14th event where thousands of postcard size original art is sold for only $85.00. Famous and emerging artists donate their art to this worthy event, including little ol' me. Event details are below. Mark your calendar and make sure you're in NYC the 1st weekend of January 2012!

GET A SNEAK-PEEK AT POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

PREVIEW PARTY
Friday, January 6, 2012 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Join us for a Sneak Peek! It's the only opportunity to see the entire exhibition! Look only - No sales.
$85 Admission (participating artists attend free) includes a raffle ticket for the chance to pick the FIRST postcard that evening. Preview party will also include a silent auction of small artworks and VIP Postcard packages.

CAN'T WAIT?!?
Starting this week, get a peek at some of the artwork on Facebook. More images will be added daily, until the Benefit Sale. While you are there, be sure to "like" Visual AIDS! (We like you too!)

BENEFIT SALE
Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 10:00 - 6:00 (Buy four and get a bonus fifth)
Sunday, January 8, 2012 from 12:00 - 4:00 (Buy two and get a bonus third)
Over 1500 anonymous displayed postcard-size masterpieces. All works only $85 each!

Click here for more information.

Gifts by Visual Artists at Bleicher Gallery December 15, 2011

2011-12-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night, December 15, 2011 from 6-10PM Bleicher Gallery in Santa Monica, CA will have a group exhibition of special gifts by visual artists. I have an art friend in this show, so I'll be there showing my support. Come by and find unique and beautiful gifts for your loved ones and friends. Details and links are below.

GIFTED

a collection of gifts and gift ideas by visual artists.

Opening Reception: Thursday, Dec. 15, 6 -10pm

Show Duration: December 12 - Jan 7, 2011

Location: BG Gallery (Bleicher/Golightly),

1431 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Shopping Cart Christmas Tree in Santa Monica, CA

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

What you're looking at is indeed a splendidly decorated, Christmas tree, but look closer to see that it's made of shopping carts. This was one of the fun sights to see at last weekend's Tree Lighting Party in Santa Monica, CA. There were also carolers, a little, craft fair at the Urban Craft Center (UCC), and folks dressed up in festive colors.

I met the wonderful ceramic artist, Klai Brown at UCC and discovered she went to college at California State University Long Beach. I had no idea she was local because I've seen her all over the internet and on blogs like the Australian "Lost at E Minor". She was warm and fun to chat with just like her lovely little ceramic mugs decorated with little women's faces.

Also at UCC, I met Agnes Pierscieniak who was selling screen printed holiday cards like the pink one above and sewn, collaged cards. She said that she recently learned to screen print at Otis College of Art and Design which is in West L.A. She even learned how to use metallic inks which can dry quickly, making them hard to work with.

It was a fun and inspiring holiday evening. I was glad that I braved the crispy, chilly air to start out this festive season! I even ran into Santa Claus and gave him a big warm hug! Of course, my friends kept me warm too with their smiling faces and invigorating conversation.

Friday, December 16, 30 Gallery Doors Open to You!

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you're an art lover, come on over to West L.A. on the evening of December 16 for the open doors event of the 30 galleries at the Bergamot Station. Parking is plenty and free at the station and everything is within a few steps of each other. Make sure you drop by the Louis Lambert Gallery and the Santa Monica Museum of Art Gracie Shop to see the paper puppets I created exclusively for them.

Give a Tattoo Card to the Ones You Love

2011-12-07T12:15:00.001-08:00

Yep, I happened upon these brilliant tattoo cards. You draw the tattoos on the man or woman and give it to your loved ones. How fun is that?! Any artist or doodler should love this. They are blank inside so they can be used for any occasion. You can purchase them at the Brooklyn Art Library at this link. Below are a few more fun things you can find there.

These are vintage, French trick toys. I don't know exactly what is inside, but it's got to be fun, eh?! You can purchase them at this link.

Not everything at this art library is vintage, but most of them are. This is a vintage, French stereo viewer that comes with the slides. When you look inside it with a slide, the image looks three-dimensional. Very fun! You can purchase it here.

All of these items would be great for the holidays, wouldn't you say?!

These Cute Circus Animals Are Also Containers

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

I just finished painting these cute, circus animals. I actually sculptured them back in August, but with so many other pressing matters, I didn't have time until last week to finish them. They are part clay, part papier-mache and part up-cycled materials.

You see, the tents on their backs are actually containers that used to hold body scrub. You can unscrew the tent tops and put little knick-knacks inside them. How fun is that?! Of course, you don't have to use them for anything. They're cute enough on their own to just stare at and admire.

You can purchase them at my Artist in LA LA Land shop. Click here to see more photos and more info about them.

Card Sending Service at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-12-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

With your purchase of any card or card set at Artist in LA LA Land shop, I will send your card to its recipient. This includes 1 or 10 or however many you need. I can ship the card(s) within 3 business days from getting your order. Find all cards at this link. This is a great service during the holidays, giving you more time and less stress to do the things you enjoy, but still letting your loved ones know that you're fondly thinking of them.

Lots of Happy Holiday Cards at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

I love the magic and whimsy of the holiday season, so that's what I've tried to capture in the holiday cards I'm offering you. Here are a few that I've created. They are available to purchase at Artist in LA LA Land Shop.

Don't forget that I am now offering to send any cards you purchase from me directly to your recipients. That means less stress and wasted time for you. This offer is good on either one card or many. Click on this link for more details.

Paper Puppet Cards at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, there is such a thing as a paper puppet card. What does it do? Well, it moves when you play with it, of course! I've just started designing a few for the holidays. Here they are below. I've got more planned so stay tuned for more to come. You can purchase them at the Artist in LA LA Land shop.

As an added bonus for buying my cards, you can now get them sent to your recipients from me directly. This means less time, hassle and stress for you. This is especially great during the holidays, don't you think? More details at this link.

Holiday Craft Fair at Urban Craft Center Dec 3rd in West L.A.

2011-11-29T12:41:00.001-08:00

West L.A.'s Main street in Santa Monica holds an annual tree lighting ceremony and the Urban Craft Center is holding a little holiday craft fair to help with the festivities. This should be a fun way to kick off the season. It's this Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 from 6-10PM. This is also the Urban Craft Center's 3rd anniversary, so of course, they have discounts and raffle prizes to celebrate. More details at this link.

Paper Puppets Palooza Book = How to Have Fun!

2011-11-23T23:41:00.001-08:00

Oh, yes, this is a fun little animated trailer for a book called, "Paper Puppets Palooza". It's a book that shows you how to make paper puppets and it's full of fun! Check it out here.

6 Years of Donating to Postcards From the Edge

2011-11-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

Since 2006, I've been donating to the annual funding event "Postcards From the Edge". That's six years. It benefits artists with AIDS. Keith Haring was one of the inspirations to start this charitable organization because he was an artist who died of AIDS. Below are my 6 years of donations, starting with the postcard I'll be sending them this year. You can see how my artwork has change over the years. If you'd like to donate to this event, click here for details and info. Deadline to participate is December 9, 2011.

"Messenger I: Dead Glory" for the 2012 Benefit.

"Water Buffalo in Yellow Shorts" for the 2011 Benefit.

"Hiding Her Wild Side" for the 2010 Benefit.

"Hiding Insect" for the 2009 Benefit.

For the 2008 Benefit.

For the 2007 Benefit.

The Famous Artists Club Animations, Featuring Dali, Warhol, + MORE

2011-11-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

Friends have been telling me I must make some stop motion animations with my paper puppets. So I finally set aside some time to make a few. The artist portrait puppets got turned into a strange series called, "The Famous Artists Club". They are bizarre to say the least. But what would you expect from this whimsical, playful and dreamy artist!

Below are my 2 favorites, "S is Surreal", Part 4, and "Everyday Is a Party", Part 5. Yes, I managed to make 5 of them so far. If I can find more time, I'll make some more. I have many ideas and who knows what will happen!

These ones were created very organically as I learned to move and animate the paper puppets. I didn't have a story in mind to begin with; it just fell into place. Hope you enjoy my short, silly experiments. You can watch more of my videos and animations on my YouTube account.

Dali, Picasso and MORE Artist Paper Puppets at Gallery of Functional Art

2011-11-17T12:58:00.001-08:00

The wonderful Gallery of Functional Art is now selling even more of my artist paper puppets. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. I get lost in there looking at all the amazing items. They are cute, creative, clever and a must for anyone who easily gets bored. Nothing is ordinary there. The lights are made of wine glasses; the chairs are camouflaged, hanging on the wall as art and the little hand sculptures can be written with. Of course, that's not all. The whimsical portraits of artists move and can be played with! See the new ones below.

I had to get some lady artists in the collection. Here is American Southwestern painter, Georgia O'Keefe and French-born, New York Spider Sculptor, Louise Bourgeois.

Here are the famous boys of art who need no introduction; Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Salvadore Dali.

Please check them out at the Gallery of Functional Art at the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. You can buy the original painted puppets at my Etsy Shop.

Art Dolls You Can't Hold, But You Can Love

2011-11-07T14:19:00.001-08:00

Art Dolls You Can't Hold, But You Can Love, a gallery on Flickr.

I'm so in love with the amazing art dolls that are being made. They look like toys, but you cannot play with them. Some are sexy. Others are scary. But all of these that I found on Flickr are amazing. Be sure to click on each owner's account to find more of their amazing creations.

They're Only Paper Dolls, But Seem Like So Much More

2011-11-07T14:16:00.001-08:00

They're Only Paper Dolls, But Seem Like So Much More, a gallery on Flickr.

I make paper puppets dolls, so I had to check out the competition and my competitors are making some incredible dolls! They're so much more than paper fastened together with paper brads. They're magical and enchanting. Check out each owner's flickr account for more amazing creations.

John Frame's Animation Needs a Kickstart

2011-11-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

For those whose work I like, I will support them in any way possible and that goes double for the amazing sculptor, John Frame. He has been an award-winning sculptor for about 30 years in the southern California area and now he's becoming a puppeteer and animator with his stop motion animation, "The Tale of the Crippled Boy".

He's asking for your help in making this project and, of course, he's making it worth your while with plenty of amazing incentives on Kickstarter. I wish I could afford the visit to his studio and the set ($1,500.00 donation) along with wine, music and a meal. Maybe, you can? Check out the links and video below for more details on this amazing stop motion animation.

Artists Series of Puppets Puppets at Louis Lambert Gallery

2011-11-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you realize it, but I'm sort of a workaholic when it comes to my art. Lately, I've been busy creating this artist series of paper puppets. So far there are five of them which are selling at the Louis Lambert Gallery at the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA.

Andy Warhol Paper Puppet

Diego Rivera Paper Puppet

Jean Michel Basquiat Paper Puppet

Frida Kahlo Paper Puppet

Keith Haring Paper Puppet

This week I'm working on more artists paper puppets and plan to have five more out within the couple of weeks.

Some people have asked how I make them, wondering if they are photos or collage or even digital. Nope, they are all painted with acrylics from photos I've found of each artist. I paint them on 100% cotton paper and cut them out, scan them and send the digital files to my printer who has a great, heavy, semi-gloss paper to print them on.

Then I cut out the prints, assemble and package them. Each paper puppet is a labor of love taking about 1/2 hour to assemble and package. So this is no assembly-line, mass-produced product.

Stay tuned for more of these artist paper puppets. All the originals are being sold at my Esty shop.

My New Favorite Sweet, Fun, Pretty Blogs

2011-11-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

Within the last few weeks, I've stumbled across some noteworthy blogs. I subscribed to them and they are bringing me sweet, fun, pretty things each day. Let me introduce you to them below.

Andrea Courchene of Paper Sparrow illustrates, sews, plays the cello and blogs some of the most fun posts I've read in a long time. She has themes for certain days like Saturday is Caturday which I'm sure you can guess is in honor of furry, feline friends. She also has themes where illustrators and crafters can share their items too, for example, Alfred Hitchcock. These ones she calls blog parties and why not because they are super fun! Check out more of her fun blog here.

Jenny Mendes is a ceramic artist who sells her wares on Etsy and also has an inspiring blog. I subscribed to it and get a new post each day, not knowing what I'll see or learn when I open my mail. Sometimes, she shares pieces she's working on. Sometimes, she shares the artwork of artists who inspire her. Sometimes, there are just some pretty photos of nature which she took on a walk through the woods. It's always a delight and I enjoy the surprise. You can follow along too at this link.

Johanna Parker is an illustrator, designer and papier-mache artist. Her artwork is collected and sold around the country and best of all her work is all holiday themed. Above are some of her Christmas ones, but her specialty is Halloween. You know I have to love that since it's my favorite holiday! She just finished spotlighting some of the collectors of her work. I'm excited to see what she'll post next. You can discover it too at this link.

Wishing You a Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here are Joel and me all dressed up and ready to party. We went with the goofy Halloween costumes this year. Have fun wherever you go and whatever you do!

Last Few Days to See Tim Burton at LACMA

2011-10-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

Yep, the huge and amazing Tim Burton exhibition at LACMA closes on Halloween. That's Monday, October 31, 2011. Starting 10 am on Sunday, LACMA will be open continuously until midnight on Monday. So celebrate Halloween with Tim Burton before he's gone from L.A.!

Click this link to see some photos of when I went to the exhibition and to read what I thought of it.

Homemade Halloween Costume Contest at UCC

2011-10-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica's Urban Craft Center (UCC) always has fun classes and events. Their Homemade Halloween Contest is no exception! If you can make a costume and are in the Los Angeles area, enter this fun event for a chance at winning a $100 in UCC goodies. The deadline is October 29, 2011. So get dressed up, take some photos and send them to UCC ASAP! See poster below for more info, or visit this link.

Haunt Your Frig With These Halloween Magnets

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a few days away, so why not don your refrigerator with these magnificent magnets! They can be found and bought at my Etsy Shop, Artist in LA LA Land. Check it out for more photos and info.

Find Fun Beatrice Wood Items at Gracie, Santa Monica Museum of Art's Shop!

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the Santa Monica Museum of Art? If yes, then you know how hard it is to pass through the shop, Gracie, and go to the actual exhibition. It's so fun and there are so many artsy, cool items, you forget that you came to see the amazing Beatrice Wood Art Exhibition.

Beatrice Wood was a Californian Ceramic artist who lived to be 105 years old. In the museum store, they are selling replicas of some of the lusterware chalices she created.

She was a charming and flirtatious woman who wore colorful saris and piles of gorgeous, silver jewelry. The store is also selling beautiful jewelry which has some of that Beatrice Wood flavor to it.

After seeing the exhibit, you'll want to take something home with you to remind you of all the amazing art she created, so why not pick up the Beatrice Wood Catalog or a Beatrice Wood Paper Puppet!

I created these puppets for the museum. Each one has been hand made with care and love for this amazing artist. You'll feel the love everyday and be inspired by her colorful and artistic life. What great reminders to live each day to the fullest!

Heap on the Halloween With These Paper Puppets

2011-10-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Little goblins, ghosts, and ghouls better beware!

For the Vampire and Witch will catch you in their snare!

Yep, I created a vampire and a flying witch to bring you Halloween happiness and fun. Without them, your October will be drab and boring. They'll make sure you have a haunting good time all throughout this month! Buy them at my Etsy shop.

"Killing Your Mother Nature": My Sculpture at Monsterfest

2011-10-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Monsterfest art show at Rothick Art Haus opened last weekend. There is a lot of amazing work to drool over and help you celebrate your Halloween. Below is the sculpture that I created for the show. It's haunting and scary, but with a message about ecology.

It's called, "Killing Your Mother Nature". It's about the fear that we are killing the planet and leaving it infertile and unlivable. It stands 24 inches tall, 15 1/2 inches wide and 17 1/2 inches deep. She is a fairly big presence. You can still view it until October 22, 2011. And of course, it's available to purchase.

Send Halloween Greetings With These Spooky Cards

2011-10-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm gearing up for Halloween. Below are some of the spooky greeting cards I created for you to send to your friends and family. Doesn't everyone want a Headless Jack-o-Lantern Man and a Green Faced Flying Witch? You can find them at my Etsy Shop along with more photos and more Halloween fun.

Headless Man Halloween Card

Green Faced Flying Witch Card

The Best L.A. Live Painters Create Mural at New Puppy Gallery

2011-10-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

I didn't get to catch this mural live painting last weekend since I had a couple of my own art openings. But I'm sure it was amazing to see the best L.A. live painters collaborating at downtown L.A.'s New Puppy Gallery. The results of their creative labor are on show until November 5, 2011. Catch it before it's gone. Artists include Michael Pukac, John Park, Mimi Yoon, Christina Angelina and Stephen Williams.

SNEAK PEEK: Hultberg / Inukai / Kawasaki / Sol - October 2011

2011-10-12T13:39:00.001-07:00

SNEAK PEEK: Hultberg / Inukai / Kawasaki / Sol - October 2011, a set by thinkspace_gallery on Flickr.

If you don't get a chance to see this dreamy exhibit at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City, CA. Here are a few sneak peeks from the show. Lovely, lovely work from a group of lovely women. Check it out in person until October 29, 2011.

Gallery of Functional Art Adds More Fun to It's Shop With My Paper Puppets

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another great shop is carrying my paper puppets, the Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica. Haven't heard of it? Well, get on down there and acquaint yourself! They are one of my favorite places to shop and lose myself in all their fun items.

Below are the items I've added to their amazing art selection. Pick up a paper puppet and have a great time!

Pretty Rabbit, $12.00

Tiger, $15.00 and Fox, $15.00

Mr. Rabbit, $12.00

My Halloween Story and Coloring Book for iPad

2011-10-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

I fondly remember trick-or-treating with my brothers and sister when I was a kid. I loved dressing up in costumes and roaming the neighborhood to collect candy. I wrote and illustrated a Halloween trick-or-treat story inspired by those fun memories called, "Halloween Screams and Dreams". It is available to purchase for iPads at the Apple App Store at this link.

Not only is it a fun story, but it is also a digital coloring book. If you prefer to color with real crayons, you can buy the app for only $0.99 and download the PDF to print out and color on. Either way, I hope you enjoy the silly drawings and story.

Let me know what you think. Have fun!

Halloween Magnets Make Your Frig More Fun!

2011-10-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

I just created these Halloween magnets to add to your frig. They will remind you to have a spooky good time! Each one is an original little painting on brown craft paper which is glued to cardboard and covered in amber resin. They are available to purchase at my etsy shop. More photos are at this link.

Selling My Beatrice Wood Paper Puppets at the Santa Monica Museum of Art

2011-10-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

If you haven't hear yet, the Santa Monica Museum of Art is doing an amazing exhibition of Beatrice Wood's art. It's a retrospective of drawings, paintings, vessels and objects from her spectacular career. I'm part of this 6 month show (ends March 3, 2012) by proudly selling paper puppets of her at the incredible museum store. It looks like her when she was in her 80-100's. Yes, she live to be a 105 years old! She was born in 1893 and died in1998! So get on down to the museum to buy a paper puppet and to see this beautiful show! You won't be disappointed.

I'm In Monsterfest Art Show October 8, 2011 at Rothick Art Haus

2011-09-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate October and Halloween than a monster art show? Rothick Art Haus in Orange County holds such a celebration every year. Below is a photo of last year's show. I'll be in this year's show which will open October 8, 2011. I created a rather haunting new sculpture for the show. If you'd like to see it, please come to the show. I'll be there and lookin' out for you. For more details, click here.

Getting My MTV Art Show On October 7, 2011

2011-09-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

In a week and a half, I'll be in this big group show that pays tribute to music videos. My ode to the MTV age will be of a Cake video. Are there any Cake fans out there? I love them and their newest album which came out earlier this year wasn't too bad. Of course, "Going the Distance" is one of my favorites! Hope to catch you at the festivities. It will be October 7, 2011 from 8PM to midnight. Find more details here.

The Hach in Canada Will Soon Carry My Paper Puppets

2011-09-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

The very sleek and cool paper goods shop, the Hach, will soon be carrying some of my paper puppets. Below are the three they picked to carry. I haven't created DIY paper puppets yet, preferring to assemble them before hand, but it cuts down on cost and time when a large quantity of them is ordered. They will be selling for about $15.00. Get them while they're still there and just in time for your Halloween celebration! I still am selling the original painted puppets at my store in my Halloween Section. Pick up some fun today!

Dreaming of Halloween with My Headless Horsman Paper Puppet Set

2011-09-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

September is ending and October is just around the corner, so I'm gearing up for Halloween. I love this holiday with all the costumes and spooky decorations. Below is my way of beginning the celebration. You can find more photos and purchase this spooky duo at my Etsy Shop. They will breath fire into your Halloween festivities!

The Hach Carries Oh-So-Chic Paper Goods

2011-09-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

The Hach is a stylish paper goods store in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. They contacted me about some of my Etsy products. They will soon be carrying a few of them. Below are some of their oh-so-chic products. Check them out and stay tuned for more info.

Hello Autumnal Art

2011-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's autumn. Do you feel the cooler weather, see the angle of the sun in the sky has shifted and enjoy the harvest coming in? I love the yellow leaves, orange pumpkins and red apples of autumn. This season inspires my drawings. They are available to purchase at my Etsy shop. I welcome Fall with all its festivities and warm colors. They make going back to school and back to work not so bad.

"Fallen Days"

"Fixin' for Fall"

"Letting It All Fall"

When You Are A Maker, Homemade Journal Is A No-brainer!

2011-09-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

I realize I'm a maker. I'd rather cook my own meals, than have someone else do it for me. I'd rather create the art in my house than buy it from someone else. And I'd rather make my own journal when my old one is almost finished. That's what I did one day last week. My old journal is almost finished and I'll need a new one soon. I've handwritten journals since I was a kid. Below are a few of the journals I've finished. These represent many, many years of my life.

I know many people have transitioned their journals to digital formats and they have their pros and cons just like any other media. I keep it handwritten because it's a break from the computer and I can doodle and draw on the pages at the same time as I write.

I've created a few other books for myself, mostly custom portfolios, but this is the first journal I created. I have never taken a class or read a book on how to do it, I just figured it out since I'm a maker. I had all the materials I needed lying around my place as you can see in the photo above. A little paper, cardboard, glue, needle and thread come together to make a custom journal.

Here are the results after a few hours of work. When it was assembled, I decorated it and gave it a title, "Not a Fairytale", since it's a non-fiction account. It's sort of brocade and gothic with its decorations. I like that.

I wanted a thick book that would last me a while, so it has 200 pages. Making your own journal, it's nice to get to decide the size and shape of it.

The paper is the velvety Rives paper that has a watermark on the bottom of each page. This makes it feel so luxurious

I even decorated the back cover. It's not perfect, but it's going to be fun to write and draw in it.

Finding Homes for These Whimsical Clay Animals

2011-09-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Yep, my little animal family of figurines are up and ready for you to purchase. It took a few weeks to get them all done. Some of the early photos of them can be viewed here. They have their own moods and eccentricities just like you or me.

Fox is clever, as you'd expect. She knows how to get what she wants. And I think love may be on her mind. You can see more photos of her here.

Pig is carefree, chasing rainbows and butterflies among the black-eyed-susans. What is he doing and where is he going? He just shrugs. He doesn't know or care. See more photos of him here.

This white rabbit has a huge pocket watch to let him keep track of what time it is. But he is always late. He's in a hurry with not a minute to lose. What is so important that he can't stop to smell the roses? See more photos of him here.

This pretty white rabbit looks like she's deep in thought. What is she pondering? Does she miss her lover? Is she wondering where he could be? Is he late again? See more photos of her here.

Penguin loves to go out on the town, looking slick and cool in his red bow tie. Of course, some tuna sounds like a great appetizer before the main course. Now, where can he get some tuna? See where in the photos at this link.

All of them are waiting for a warm and loving home. Can you give that to them? Or maybe, you know someone who can like for the holidays? Do it here.

A Sneak Peek of My Animal Figurines

2011-08-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Six of my animal figures are painted and almost ready to post on my Etsy shop to sell. Here is a sneak peek of them all together. Aren't they a handsome bunch? More detailed and individual photos to come, so stay tuned.

I Finally Made it to Tim Burton's Retrospective at LACMA

2011-08-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, a bunch of friends and I finally made it to LACMA to see the Tim Burton exhibition. The museum didn't let you take photos of most of the art, but there were a few photo ops as you can see below.

The museum security guard was kind enough to take the above group photo of us at the entrance of the exhibition. Once beyond the mouth, it was an overwhelming experience. There were tons of paintings, sketches, videos, sculptures and costumes from movies such as Batman.

The sculptures were my favorite. It was amazing seeing the puppets and monsters. Some were very small and roughly executed and others were huge and perfectly smooth. If there was a down side to seeing this show, it was that there were too many things to see to give everything the time and attention it deserved. Not to mention, towards the end of the exhibition, I was too tired to look anymore.

After seeing this show, my overall impression of Tim Burton was that he was an awkward, angry, artistic kid who had some great opportunities growing up in Burbank and who used his angst in the most creative ways possible. It was a fun time and great to see it with fellow fans of Tim Burton. The exhibition is up until Halloween, October 31st, 2011. Click here for more details about this event.

Mariana Monteagudo's Creepy Yet Cute Art Dolls

2011-08-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

A friend told me to look up Mariana Monteagudo's artwork. She said it reminded her of some of my work because some of mine is creepy and cute like Mariana's. I was blown away when I went to Mariana's website and found so many beautiful art dolls. I may be strange, but I didn't think they were very creepy, but more cute and so well done. She is an Venezuelan artist who has shown her work all over the world.

They are simple ceramic dolls with complicated and intricate details. I saw a video where she actually used a torch to burn some ribbons to make it look old and disintegrated. In these photos, you cannot tell the size. You might think they are small since they are dolls. But they stand a few feet high, making the cuteness or creepiness of them emphasized.

Art critiques say her work is about multiculturalism of popular culture. They say she uses Japanese animation as an inspiration as well as African masks and other folk stories, legends and cultural icons. Mariana says she tries to create something that is simultaneously familiar yet strange and unsettling. I think she has achieved that goal.

View more of her amazing art dolls and read more articles about her at her website.

Taking A Break From Painting and Sculpting to Draw

2011-08-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

I love to draw. But I also love to paint and sculpt. Drawing takes the least amount of time out of the three activities. I recently took a break from the other two to create these ink drawings. They are inspired by nature, animals, and fashion. I tried to create something fresh, mysterious and beautiful. I brushed ink on paper to create them. You can buy them at my etsy shop.

"All Natural" $22.00. Ink on paper size 12" x 20".

"Speaking Naturally" $22.00. Ink on paper size 12" x 20".

"Natural Woman" $22.00. Ink on paper size 12" x 20".

Making the Armature for the Circus Zebra

2011-08-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd show you how I make an armature for a figure. People have asked how I do it and what it's made of which is a bit hard to explain with just words. Below is the process for making the armature for a zebra who will be holding a circus tent on his back. The tent will be a container that can hold small items like jewelry and knick-knacks. The tent roof will be the lid that can be unscrewed and opened.

This is the diamond in the rough period. From a plastic jar, wire and cardboard, I can see the zebra and tent being formed. Can you? I think it sort of looks like a snail at this point.

Maybe, with the cardboard tent top, flag and wire for the tail and legs, you can start to see the zebra and tent which I had in mind all a long. It's sort of the skeleton of the whole thing.

Here is the armature with more padding around it. It's starting to look like an animal, right? The padding is just crumpled up newspaper applied with tape. I keep adding these clumps of newspaper until I get a shape that I want.

Little by little, the newspaper and tape is built up until it's the right shape.

Here, the newspaper and tape form is finished, minus the head. I decided I didn't need the tape-form-head, so I twisted it upward and added it to the neck.

I wanted a lot of detail in the head, so I created it with air-drying clay. This is the head before it is polished and refined.

The clay head has been worked on the longest. It is the hardest and most fun part of making the armature. I think this is because it is a challenge. This whole armature probably took between an hour and half to two hours to create. It needs to dry and then be papier-mached. When it's finished in a couple more weeks, it will be sold on my etsy shop.

My Little Animal Figurine Works in Progress

2011-08-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is the second week I've been working on these little animal figurines. It will probably take me a couple more weeks to finish them. This is what they look like with the clay dried and the armatures taped together. They are ready to be covered with papier-mache. I do this to protect them and to give them the same over all texture. If I left them in just clay, they would easily break. I don't like making things that are too fragile. When they are finished, most of them will be for sale on my etsy shop.

Think About Trimming Your Tree With These Whimsical Creatures!

2011-08-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

I know it's not the holiday season yet. But as a retailer with a shop, I have to think about the seasons about 3-4 months before they happen. That means I'm thinking about trimming your tree right now. Below are some of the whimsical creatures with which I'm offering to help you decorate your tree. You can purchase them at my Esty shop by clicking this link!

Write Home About the Circus on My Circus Stationary!

2011-08-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

I know handwritten letters are a rare thing which makes them even more special when you get one. So if you have something really fun and exciting to share why not use some fun and exciting stationary on which to write it! That's where my circus stationary sets come into play. They are all available on my etsy shop for you to buy. Below are some of my exciting designs.

The Latest Fun Items at Artist in LA LA Land Shop

2011-07-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I'm all about having fun? Okay, maybe, that's not entirely true, but it's what I seek when I create things for my Artist in LA LA Land Shop. Below are the latest creations that I stuffed, plum full of fun and happiness! They are, of course, movable paper puppets that you can move and play with. So have fun! They can be purchased at this link.

My Double Happiness Labbit Sculpture: Now Showing at JANM in LA

2011-07-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

In just 7 days, I finished creating this custom toy for the Japanese American National Museum in L.A. (JANM). I got it about 9 days before the show was to open. The first photo below is what the "labbit" looked like before I made it into a custom creation. It was just a white, hollow plastic toy.

Below are a few photos of what my custom,"Double Happiness" Labbit looks like with all the alterations. I added papier-mache, wire, wood, air drying clay and acrylic paint to get this to look like a double-headed rabbit in Victorian clothing.

He is for sale at the JAN Museum. If you'd like to purchase it, you can do so online at this link. 100% of the sales go to the JAN Museum because I donated it to them. They're good people and they need support.

You can purchase more of the labbits by going to this link. Or if you can't make the show, you can see all of them here.

My Favorite Shops on Etsy are Full of Fun and Whimsy

2011-07-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Being a part of the Etsy community is so much fun. I'm constantly inspired by my fellow artists and crafts people! They make me want to improve my craft and keep up with how amazing they are. Below are some photos from one of my favorite shops, Murmur Fremo.

This is an amazing shop full of art dolls, prints and brooches. All of them are anthropomorphic animals with vintage clothing. Check out Murmur Fremo here.

A Colorful Parade of Exotic Animals and Acrobatic Ladies: My Movable Paper Art Dolls

2011-07-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm making a series of exotic animals and acrobatic ladies. And if they are truly exotic, then they have to be colors you've never seen before. I mean, a green giraffe has never been seen and a pink deer, no way! I'm having a lot of fun with them as you can see below. Stay tuned for more of these fantasy creatures and their lovely acrobatic lady riders.

See more photos pink deer and buy the set here.

See more photos of the green giraffe and buy the set here.

Year of Rabbit or Is That Labbit: Custom Toy Art Show at Japanese American National Museum

2011-07-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

With some great connections, I managed to be one of the last minute entrants in this custom toy art show at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). It's the year of the rabbit so the JANM is celebrating it with all kinds of great rabbit exhibitions. This one takes a little plastic rabbit toy, a labbit, and lets artists customize it in their own style.

Below is what it looked like when I first got it. I would show you what I turned it into, but we cannot yet before the opening. It will premiere this coming Thursday, July 14, 2011 at an opening party from 6-9PM. Come by JANM and see what I've done along with some other great, amazing and brilliant artists. I'm honored to be in a show with Edwin Ushiro, Mike Shinoda and so many more. To see the list of artists, click here.

Circus and Summertime Go Together Like Ice and Lemonade! Get Your Circus Fun Here!

2011-07-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

I love the circus. The exotic animals, the acrobatics, the beautiful costumes, what's not to love! It's partly scary and all thrilling! And circuses seem to remind me of summertime and carnivals and happy times! Below are some of the items I've created for my etsy shop with a circus theme. Buy them here.

Original Art For Sale! Get Your Summertime Art Here!

2011-07-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's finally feeling like summertime here in the Los Angeles area. And it's just in time for the Independence Day weekend! Sometime this sunny weekend, I'll be poolside with some barbecue. The original art below makes me think of all the fun possibilities. They are for sale at my etsy shop. Click here to purchase them. Happy 4th of July to you and yours!

Thank You For Supporting and Encouraging This Artist!

2011-06-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

They say that it takes a whole village to raise a child and I'd say that is true for an artist too. Malcolm Gladwell comes to a similar conclusion about success in his book Outliers. So I wanted to say thank you to all the friends, family, teachers and fellow artists who've helped "raise" me and given me support and encouragement. They have been showing this nurturing love for me in many ways and one of them has been to buy some of my art at my Etsy Shop. Thank you so much! It means the world to me. You've truly touched my heart.

Fancy Flowers Thank You Card by Melissa Kojima

Book Covers are Fun to Create!

2011-06-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I've been creating book covers for some of my books. I've found it really fun to create them and I thought it would be fun to see them all together here. The books are all for sale at my Etsy Shop.

Insect & Nature Loving Artist Right Here

2011-06-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

I know they can be a little creepy to some people, but I'm fascinated by the little critters. I mean insects. When I went to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, I spent most of my 3 hours there at the insect zoo. They are strange and such amazing shapes and colors. That's why I love painting them. Below are some of the insects I've painted and am selling at my Etsy Shop. You can see all my Insect Items for sale at this link.

Having Fun With Rocky Horror Portraits

2011-06-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, I'm not a fan of the cult movie, "Rocky Horror Picture Show". There, I said it and now you know. You'd think I was with my newest portraits of the 3 main characters; Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-n-furter, Barry Bostwick as Brad and Susan Sarandon as Janet. I just love the strangeness of it and Tim Curry is so-over-the-top that you've got to love his crazy hi-jinks! They were a lot of fun to paint and then play with, since all of them are movable paper puppets. I'm selling them at my Etsy Shop. Check them out and buy them here.

Wednesday (June 15, 2011) Free iPad, iPhone Jackalope Comic: The Art of Not Being Zen

2011-06-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

My bizarre Jackalope comic, "The Art of Not Being Zen" is now available as a digital comic on iPad and iPhone. It is funny, disturbing, and all about zen. Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 15, 2011, it will be free for those who have iPads and iPhones. If you download it, please leave a review and let me know what you think of it. I really appreciate it.

Tim Burton Is in the House (Los Angeles County Museum of Art House)!

2011-06-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I grew up in the 1980's and 1990's so I loved seeing the films of Tim Burton, like Edward Scissor Hands and Pee Wee Herman. A multi-media retrospective of his art and films is featured at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from now until October 31, 2011.

It includes puppets, maquettes, films, paintings, costumes, his sketches and so much more. Make sure to get your tickets soon ($20 for non-members) before it's gone.

Free Art Fun Saturday June 11, 2011 at Santa Monica Museum of Art

2011-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

This Saturday June, 11, 2011, the Santa Monica Museum of Art is offering a free family art day. That means you can bring your family and make some art from the materials and supplies that they provide.

It is based on the current exhibition which is a large scale 3-D collage by Marco Brambilla. Participants will be able to make their own art collages. Sounds like fun. Join them from 2-4PM. It is recommended for Ages 10 and up.

Snuggling Rabbits Articulate Paper Dolls Sold

2011-06-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

I think my paper dolls keep getting better and better. I certainly am having fun creating them. The latest ones are this snuggling rabbit couple. They both are wearing Victorian clothing. I love the fashion of that era. The couple sold today and are being sent to a loving new home. But you too can have this cuddling couple in your home. Both are available for purchase at my Etsy Shop for only $6.00 each.

Get the Pretty Rabbit at this link.

Get Mr. Rabbit at this link.

NEW IMPROVED Ms. Kitty's Drawing Book

2011-06-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

Ms.Kitty's Drawing and Comic Book needed some changes. I didn't think there was enough room to really get in there and draw the party scene with food, costumes and shenanigans. So I improved the old version of it by expanding its size.

Instead of it being 5.5" x 8.5" or 1/2 letter size, it is full letter size 8.5" x 11". This means it is twice as big. With so much more room to work in, I added a few more pages. Now, it's 22 pages which is about 12 more pages to color and draw in. It is a thick book for you to fill up with your colorful imagination.

With all the additions, I actually slashed the price from $11.00 to $9.50. I think this is more reasonable for an activity book. If you'd like to purchase it, use this link. I think artists, young and old will really enjoy it. I got my inspiration for it from the Taro Gomi books that I draw and color in.

Meditation is for Everyone: The Lovingly Illustrated Zine, "The Children's Meditation"

2011-06-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest zine, "Thich Nhat Hanh's Children's Meditation". It is about zen and Buddhism like my other ones and it has my pen illustrations in it to help you understand the meditation or maybe just to help you relax and be at peace. It is available to purchase at my Etsy Shop for only $4.00. Or you can buy some of the original artwork from it at my Esty shop too.

I tried to create a really beautiful and loving book. I think you can see that in the illustrations. For those of you who purchase it, I think you will connect with the sweet message which is telling you to be at peace.

Saying Thank You With Pretty Cards

2011-05-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been posting new items about 4 days a week to my Etsy Shop. It's full of pretty and quirky art items. This week, I added these pretty thank you cards. If you need to thank someone in a special way, these are the perfect choices. Check them out at the links below.

Pretty Rabbit Thank You Card, $3.00

Calico Cat in Summer Dress Thank You Card, $3.00

3 of My Paintings in the 2011 LA Asian Calendar & Culture Guide

2011-05-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, L.A. celebrated and honored the Asian Americans living in the greater Los Angeles area. They had a little ceremony with the mayor and city legislators, along with performances, music, art and food. I attended it not only because I'm a Japanese American living in L.A. but also because my art got into the 2011 LA Asian Calendar & Culture Guide. Below is the cover and my 3 paintings that got accepted.

It was my first time to the city hall. I learned a lot and had a fun time. I met some of the other artists whose work was accepted in it and I felt honored to be among such good company. Some of the artists were my friends and one of them is a well known artist who lives in L.A., James Jean. The guide is free if you'd like one, but you'll have to ask the city for one.