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Friday, March 4th, 2022
New Feathers, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, framed size 27H x 33W”. A few years back my husband bought 200 little chicks, raised them and sold them as they grew. Such characters, and what a great experience.
Sleepy Sun Bear
Friday, October 30th, 2020
Sleepy Sun Bear, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.
I took some great photos of this sun bear soaking up the sun on a warm winter day at the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas – what a character. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Asian Sun Bear as vulnerable because the population has declined by 35% in the past 30 years.
Monte “maskot”
Sunday, April 5th, 2020
Above: Monte “maskot” face mask for our social responsibility while out and about during COVID19.
The Monte Files were listed on my very first website (2003) with the invitation for you, whoever and wherever you are, despite your age or artistic capabilities, to send in your version of Monte or a character inspired by him, and add it to the collection. The invitation still stands.
Your character can be created using any sort of media. Copy any version of Monte in the Monte Files and re-invent him, trace him or print out pages from the Monte Coloring Book at the bottom of the Monte Files page and color or paint it, write a joke or add hand gestures (as in Monte Cycles 2006). There are no rules except have fun with it; Monte’s up for anything!
The pattern I used is here. I found that the suggested interface makes the mask too thick and not porous enough for breathing, so I made some without and they are much more comfortable. It depends on the kind of fabric you’re using, but the mask still holds its’ shape with double-folded fabric.
Brooke Isabelle
Wednesday, September 6th, 2017
Brooke Isabelle, my neice’s daughter born last week, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper. She looks like a cherub in the photo used as reference, so I subtly impled wings in the background.
Colours For Cameron
Friday, October 12th, 2012
Colours For Cameron, 24L x 8H x 6D inches, mixed media on quilted muslin over cardboard pages
“Colours For Cameron” (Canadian spelling!) is composed over five deconstructed heavy-duty cardboard children’s books bought at a dollar store. The Monte head-templates were covered with inexpensive everyday items, so I splurged on unique notions like the $10 monkey button sewn on the ‘Brown’ page, and the cute little cars and tractors that Cameron loves. Some of the fabrics were fairly expensive, but there are enough remnants to make other similar-style projects in the future.
Each page is a quilted muslin sleeve pulled over the cardboard, and colored fabrics divide each page at the base, where they are all sewn and glued together. Rubber letters were covered with various fabrics, and each page has stuffed colored pockets on the outer edge, inviting chubby little fingers to open them..
The insight of a nine-year-old
Monday, June 25th, 2012
“It does not matter how much you see, it matters if you appreciate what you see”
Fintan Fox, 9 yrs old. Below, an angel fish drawn after snorkeling in Figi
I recently had the pleasure of conversations with nine year old Fintan Fox, the son of a good friend whom I had not seen for over 35 years. My friend Julie and her son, Fintan, both created blogs about their extensive travels beginning in England where they live, to Russia last August, then through China, Thailand, Cambodia, to Australia, Figi, and now through western North America. They are on the last leg of their year-long trip around the world, stopping to visit us in Oregon on their way to Canada.
This drawing is one of Fintan’s blog entries, an Angel fish drawn after seeing some while snorkeling in Figi. So impressive! With a minimum of information, the style is bold and confident… simple, yet accurate. Similarly, he writes with matter-of-fact wisdom, and surprisingly well-thought-through opinions. Wow, nine year-olds can be great sources of inspiration.
Colours For Cameron, first book for my grandson
Friday, May 25th, 2012
2012: Colors For Cameron
When my grandson was born in 2011, I had already decided to make him a book every year for his birthday. One-year-olds are receptive to colors and textures, so a soft book for Cameron at this age was perfect. Using Monte as my muse, the work evolved into a sort of stuffed toy-book hybrid that is much bigger than was initially planned, but it’s quirky, fun to read, and Cameron likes it. Each 6 x 6 inch page is quilted unbleached cotton sewn over heavy cardboard from a disassembled book purchased at the dollar store. I bought a lot of the things there actually, like many of the textured materials, including a dog toy with the squeaker removed and incorporated into the last page. The savings were spent on tractor buttons and more costly embellishments I knew he would like.
Each page has quilted appliques of Monte in different colors, with big googly eyes. The outer edges of each page have shallow pockets to grab the page, covered whatever textile corresponds to each Monte. The ten or so chubby pages are sewn together – 2 inches of fabric were left on the book’s spine-side for that purpose. The combination was then attached to a sturdy cardboard spine with a glue gun. No turning back after that, because hot glue is permanent on fabric. The entire cover of black linen wraps around with straps that Velcro together, creating a handle. Little button-vehicles adorn the handle area – he loves tractors and cars. I’m happy with the finished piece, and so is Cameron. It’s one of a kind, like him.
Dr. Ip
Friday, November 25th, 2011
The move west, and renovating homes around that, has unfortunately thrown my career on the back burner. Hence the home improvement tip brought to you by Dr. Ip, another new character based on good ol’ Monte, who has evolved since 1974 and still plays a part in my expressions today. He’s getting a good work-out these days!
The secret life of wall paint
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
I have a whole new respect for all trades-people! All I’ve had time and inclination for art-wise are a few little cartoons using my laptop now and then. I’m going a little nutty with all the wall painting here in Ottawa (Canada), renovating a townhouse to get it ready to rent. With no TV in the evenings I’m having some fun with the secrets revealed to me as I work. Monte is optimistic….
Monte rocks!
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
Monte rocks! Who is he?
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