In fall 2019, I created a series of wooden egg people called Wee Forest Folk.
These little gnomes are based on people I actually know in real life or names my family has made up around the house. We all have special names for each other, with a Dickensian twist.
All of these natural, sustainable, & non-toxic toys have sold at the Owl & Rabbit Gallery in Burlington, NC.
Elmer Oakenhurst has my Dad's handlebar mustache. I hand-painted little gems from the forest floor on his body.
Niven Evensong was named for a man who worked for my Dad when I was just a child. In real life, Niven gave me a Western Barbie when I was just 3 years old. This Wee Forest Folk Niven is in charge of constellations and the magic of the outdoors during the night.
Lovey McDuffins is a name that we call my youngest child, Nate, our baby who is just 2 years old. Just like Nate, Lovey spreads love and cheer to all who know him. He name is also a throwback to Lovey Howell, the millionaire's wife on Gilligan's Island. She is the best!
Here are some of the guys hanging out on a Saturday near the pond.
Roy G. Bivender represents the promise of a rainbow.
Into every life a little rain must fall, but a rainbow reminds us to keep looking up!
Sunny McFarlane is a happy guy who chases the clouds away. Everyone loves when he is around.
His name comes from my Scottish roots and from Winston Churchill's phrase "the sunlit uplands" in his speech, Their finest hour.
"If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands."
- Winston Churchill
Each gnome comes in his own unique packaging.
I recently sent a new batch of updated Endearing Young Charms to Art-o-mat.
Fall and winter berries and leaves feature prominently in this small ornament series of Endearing Young Charms.
I sent off another 50 small wood rounds to Art-o-mat at the end of September 2019.
You can see my packaging in the background of this shot. I tried to limit my color palette and focus on tropical flora inspired by Matisse. I really enjoyed painting this red coral.
My goal has been to finish 100 pieces of work per month, but lately I've experienced some family tragedies that have taken over my time and emotions.
So to highlight the positive, here are some cute pictures of the family having fun in September.
In August, I sent 2 more batches of 50 pieces to Artomat HQ.
Here are some Matisse coral and 2 tiny plums.
I also included some black-eyed Susans
and some more coral.
I love painting this small still lifes on wood rounds.
Ubisoft: Raving Rabbids
Recently, I was invited to provide 25 small works of art for an Ubisoft company event. Ubisoft is the video game company that makes Raving Rabbids, Assassin's Creed, and other titles.I hand painted 25 famous artists as Rabbids.
Rab Ross (Bob Ross)
Rabbida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo)
Rabbincent van Gogh (Vincent van Gogh)
Rabby Warhol (Andy Warhol)
Rabidor Dali' (Salvador Dali')
All 25 of my little pieces
Employees at this company event will be able to vend the pieces from an Art-o-mat machine onsite. I hope the Ubisoft folks enjoy these famous artists.
Video Game Art for the Smithsonian
I was also invited to provide 25 small works for the fifth annual SAAM Arcade event August 3-4, 2019. This event is open to the public. If you and your family are in the DC area then, you should check it out.Pacman inspired by Frank Stella
Pacman Lost in a Frank Stella Painting
Frank Stella Pacman
You can see why Frank Stella's work inspired my Pacman compositions.
Pacman inspired by Magritte
Pacman Ghosts after Magritte
These little guys are chasing cherries (instead of apples) and are wearing a hat just like the subject in Magritte's Son of Man painting.
Mrs. Pacman after Vermeer
Mrs. Pacman with a Pearl Earring after Vermeer
Nintendo Super Mario Brothers after Warhol
Goombah Soup after Warhol
This is Herbie's favorite.
This batch of 50 will make up my 1,480th piece of Art-o-mat art since I started with them in 2013.
Each of these pieces is a limited edition of my Mini Masterpiece series. Every work in this series provides a morsel of art with a bit of art history.
