Friday, October 2, 2009
Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy, Bids Adieu
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Discover {JANM CUSTOM KOKESHI}
don't miss in-person:Thursday, August 6, 2009
Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy on NBC News
6023 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.558.0200
contact@lebasseprojects.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
ReDiscover {Kelly Tunstall & Ferris Plock}

The characters in the U2 music video/animation I posted earlier remind me of Kelly Tunstall's wide-eyed girls. I know the big-doe-eyed-girl thing is played over and over again, but there's something truly special about Kelly's girls. I love the way she portrays her characters... so fashionable and so much fun attention is paid to other elements of her paintings, I can't help but have a crush on many. I am lucky enough to have a new painting (in-process image above) from Kelly working its way from San Fran to my tiny home art collection... super yays!!

Kelly and her husband, the talented artist Ferris Plock, have a show, "Sea of Love", opening soon at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco (Aug. 6 - 29th). I HIGHLY recommend dropping by and being passionately inspired by their lovely, fun and collaborative work.
Tangerine by Kelly Tunstall. 8"H, Mixed Media. Click for larger image. Kokeshi available through JANM Store.
Frost by Ferris Plock. 8"H, Mixed Media. Click for larger image. Kokeshi available through JANM Store.****Speaking of Animation and Kelly and Ferris' uber talentedness, admire this video they recently made with Jim Dirschenberger:
The Seafarers - Sea of Love from Eighty Four Films on Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Cool Hunting Interview (link at bottom of post)
As of this post I have 338 bookmarked RSS feeds, or in layman terms, a whole lotta sites I try to stay up to date with. I use these sites to distract me from my day, learn how to find cheap deals, see what the latest pattern trend is, see adorably cute animals and read up on friends' activities, etc. etc. Included in this vast pool of sites I look at regularly is Cool Hunting. I was excited to learn at the Kokeshi preview, a writer from the site wanted to post the event and even ask a few questions to yours truly. Here's the damage ;)Friday, July 17, 2009
Blank Kokeshi 2009

The LARGE is the same design the artists used for the Fall 2007 show at Subtext. The ARTIST size is the same design used in the most recent show at the Japanese American National Museum. I have a limited quantity of every style, write me if you would like to purchase any, this is the "official shop" for now :)
Happy Creating!
Christina Conway
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Kokeshi Artists 2009 at JANM/ Opens July 11
Adolie Day
Aline Yamada
Allison Sommers
Amy Huddleston
Amy Paul
Amy Ruppel
Amy Sol
Ande Cook
Andrea Innocent aka Innocentgirl
Annie Wilkinson
APAK
Bubi Au Yeung
Bailey Saliwanchik
Betsy Walton
Brigitte Coovert
Caia Koopman
Calef Brown
Camilla d'Errico
Camilla Engman
Catherine Brooks
Cathie Bleck
Celene
Cheon Eun Sil
Christina Conway
CJ Metzger
Dacosta!
Danamarie Hosler
Dan May
David Horvath
Edwin Ushiro
Eliza Frye
Eveline Tarunadjaja
Ferris Plock
Florence Pacho
Fontaine Anderson
Gustavo Aimar
Harmony Gong
Hine Mizushima
Jacqueline Myers-Cho
Jaime Zollars
Jason Levesque aka Stuntkid
Jason Limon
Jeni Yang
Jen Lobo
Jenn Playford
Jenn Porreca
Jennifer Davis
Jeremiah Ketner
Jody Hewgill
Joel Nakamura
Johnny Yanok
Julie West
Kathleen Lolley
Kelly Tunstall
Kelly Vivanco
Ken Garduno
Kent Williams
kozyndan
Kris Chau
Krista Huot
Kristin Elder
Kukula
Laura Laine
Lilly Piri
Liza Corbett
Lorena Alvarez
Lou Pimentel
Macoe Swet
Marcos Chin
Marguerite Sauvage
Mar Hernández aka Malota
Mari Inukai
Meredith Dittmar
Michelle White
Mike Rivamonte
Miss Mindy
N.C. Winters
Noferin (Nicho & Candy)
Paola Zakimi
PCP/Heisuke Kitazawa
Pietari Posti
Pilar Berrio
Poketo (Ted & Angie) x Busc
Raquel Aparicio
Red Nose Studio (Chris Sickels)
Samuel Ribeyron
Sandi Calistro
Sandra Equihua
Sandra Wang/Crockett Bodelson
Sayaka
Stella Im Hultberg
Sterling Hundley
Tado (Mike & Katie)
Tara McPherson
Tessar Lo
Timothy Karpinski
Travis Louie
Toshiyuki, Fukuda
Yellana James
Yoskay Yamamoto
The LATDA website will be updated periodically showing sneak peeks of finished work. Some artists have posted their finished Kokeshi... an early treat you'll only get by visiting their websites! Enjoy and get to know some favorite new artists!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Kokeshi 2009 Sneak


It's not until mid-next year but I had to share a peek into the project and proudly display the artists that will be contributing to the next Kokeshi show. There's a new shape (unreleased) and a bevy of new artists for 2009. Artists' links have been added to the Flickr images. Click on above images to be taken to Flickr set of artists in next year's show.An early "Thank You" to those contributing, I am truly honored!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Kokeshi Review Posts
These are all the previous posts made on **Twinklings** regarding the Kokeshi and accompanying group art show at Subtext Gallery in San Diego. Opening night is coming soon and I'm excited to see all the pieces together. This is a wonderful project that I have had the privilege of working on. Thank you to all the talented artists who have made this show possible.**Kokeshi** @ Subtext Nov. 3, 6-10 pm
Kokeshi Artists
Kokeshi 101
My Favorite Mino
Bunka-no-hi/Culture Day
Bill Collins - 5th Generation Woodworker
Sunday, September 30, 2007
** Spotlight Artist: Ken Garduno **




photo borrowed from Tom Haubrick, another talented artist from Comic Con (center).I randomly stumbled upon Ken Garduno's work at San Diego Comic Con this year (he's the fella outlined on the far right of the photo above). It was towards the end of my day long trek through the convention center seeking vinyl toys and a table at the end of one of the rows caught my attention, I was immediately in awe.
Ken works mostly with pen and ink, flavoring his drawings with bits of color every so often. I love his style, rather reminiscent of Albert Hirschfeld, beautiful in its line simplicity and color. Ken and I have become friends so I can't say too many more kind words, I have to play it off that he's just "kinda talented" or I'll never hear the end of it. Yea, Ken's alright.

This is the lovely drawing I bought from Ken that fateful day at Comic Con. Now I need more and supposedly he's hard at work on a custom piece I hear will be AWESOME and his best drawing yet! You can enjoy his work at subtext come November 3rd for the Kokeshi show where Ken has created two custom dolls. Word is more of his drawings will be gracing their walls in-between shows too, congratulations Ken!




