Yearbook {Kent Williams} & Happy Halloween!

Kent Williams' work is so exotic, colorful and mesmerizing. Cool and collected, he oddly enough drew for me a crowned skull, which I feel appropriately fits in with today's most awesome of holidays, HALLOWEEN!

Kent's Blog.

Ode to past Halloweens:

My father and his sister in Moline, Kansas circa 1954(?)

Halloween party at my house, my dad was the best, we'd carve pumpkins and make huge messes, the best parties are always the messy ones. That would be me on the far left, aka Casper.

For more Halloween goodness, check out WickedHalo's pics

Yearbook {Kelly Vivanco}

Creator of sweet sweet girls, stripes and birds, the refreshing and super down to earth, Kelly Vivanco.

Kelly also creates super duper adorable comics about hamsters called "Patches".

Yearbook {kozyndan}

What haven't these two been a part of (Music, Fashion, Art, Books, Photography, Etc.)... they're quickly taking over the world... like bunnies multiplying goodness and trouble all along their wake, meet kozyndan.

kozyndan's Blog.

Fashionista (Geek)

I'm now a fashion icon... watch out Paris.

LA Weekly at Three Apples Hello Kitty Show (bottom of page)

Yearbook {Martin Hsu}

"Where have you been all my life???" Martin Hsu. lol.

Martin's Blog.

Delightfully talented, snazzy dresser and smooth dancer, Martin is the cat's meow! I first met Martin a couple years ago at Comic Con in San Diego and his work is ever increasingly refined and wonderful. Martin has a piece in the Three Apples show I attended at Royal/T. Below is his handsome mug along with his amazing painting titled, "Once Upon A Kitty Wedding".

preliminary sketch... how cool is this???!

Found on Martin's Flickr:

"The most exciting moment of the night was when I found out my painting was purchased by Sanrio and it's going to be on display at their headquarter office! I feel so honored!"

SUPER CONGRATULATIONS MARTIN! -c

Yearbook {Brandi Milne}

Self-taught artist extraordinaire, gorgeous and vivacious Brandi Milne!

Brandi's Blog.

And it was so much fun running into this lovely lady on Saturday night. I was invited to a little get-together at Lola's and met some wonderful, fun and creative people.

Here's a blurry shot (Brandi insisted on not using a flash, silly lady) I took from that night. L to R: Luke Chueh, Kim Chueh, Lola, Roman Cho and Brandi Milne.

Thanks Lola for a fabulous evening!

The only downfalls were

1) I missed the GB opening at JANM, which was incredible from what I hear and

2) It took me 2 hours to drive back to where I was staying due to highway 101 and 110 being closed... the only major arteries going to where I needed to be. I don't know LA and finding my way through side streets which were also blocked often was a little frustrating, especially at 3 am :(

BUT I made it back and now I'm in SD again, trying to catch up and also get some great ideas onto paper and into people's hands for my next curating adventure! YAY! LA!

Three Apples LA Prognosis

I obviously don't know how to use Photo Booth for recording video (taken at Eliza's studio with art cat Zara). In the clip above I'm trying to tell you how great the night before was at the VIP opening for the Three Apples/ Hello Kitty show at Royal/T in Culver City. They made everyone... EVERYONE wait in line to get in since the fire marshall called in his troops. Artists and Sanrio employees were waiting too. Finally we managed to bypass the line and get our Hello Kitty lovin' selves inside (minus Eliza who had to leave and not counting Jeni since she despises HK, but she was there for moral support). After snacking on delicious treats and free Sapporo... much awesome art was enjoyed and dancing ensued. Fun FUN night, even for HK hater Jeni, lol.

Geeky/crafty me painted my own Hello Kitty Space Kat tie just for the event... and had many fans appreciating my labor of love. Dork. The pic on the right is inside the Hello Kitty Airstream, schwanky!

I'm spending the rest of the weekend up here in LA and recorded the video with Zara at Eliza's studio where I'm super jealous of her set-up. Almost... ALMOST makes me want to be up here too with a studio space. Keeping busy all weekend, wishing everyone out there the best weekend ever and reminding you that Halloween is coming up soon... get out there this weekend and get your costume perfected... cause it's no fun combing 7-11 on All Hallow's Eve for disguises.

(a hint at what I might be turning into October 31st.)

Left my camera battery charging at home, therefore missing many fantastic picture taking opportunities, but ArrestedMotion managed to do a great job of covering most of the fantastic activities going on at the Three Apples VIP Party, enjoy:

Three Apples VIP Party Pics at Royal/T

P.S. An extra shout out to Jeni for taking the photos of my excellent tie and to Yoskay for giving Jeni and me his Hello Kitty Bag-O-Shwag since they were all gone by the time we were allowed in.

P.P.S. You MUST see Yoskay's nekkid kitty, "Hellooo Kitty!!!, " too awesome. But next time she needs kitty nipples to make her properly legit ;)

P.P.P.S. And here was his apology to Sanrio:

dear sanrio,

i'm very sorry to have your child icon like hello kitty posing naked with her dress off....
it's my japanese kinkiness that brought this end result...
please forgive me...

Yearbook {Camilla d'Errico}

Lovely lovely lovely, sweet and wonderful Camilla d'Errico.

Camilla's Store.

Discovering Sean Mahan

While catching up on friends' Flickr photos I came across Mike Burnett's new design, "Average Joe Schmoe", wooden DIY figures that are being produced by Bigshot Toyworks. Looks like a traveling custom show is coming up in November starting at Shoparooni Annex Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio.

The piece shown on the postcard for the show specifically caught my attention, it's by Jacksonville, Florida artist Sean Mahan. Sean's site doesn't reveal too much about him, but I did manage to learn that he had a show back in September at Brooklyn Collective in New York and that there is an interview with him in Give Me Back magazine, I'll keep a lookout.

His work is so peaceful and elegant. He works on luan wood with graphite and washes of acrylic. Young people seem to be his favorite subject matter and I love the simple colors and stylized lines of his juxtaposed flat and 3-dimenensional work. I am always a sucker for exposed wood and he does a fine job of letting nature shine through his work.

I am particularly smitten with the painting "Sewing" (shown above). The sudden use of bright dramatic patterns is wonderful! I hope to see more work by this Savannah College of Art & Design graduate and maybe one day have an opportunity to work with him. :)

Also interesting to note, Sean is a musician and heads his own band(s), "Verde/Kids on Bikes" and multiple other music ventures. Rock on Sean! Rock on. (cheesy I know, but I couldn't resist.)

Seussism

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~Dr. Seuss

Yearbook {Tom Haubrick}

The dark, angry (wink) and gifted artist of both paper and skin, Tom Haubrick aka Haubs.

Haubs' Blog.

UniSpit

"Never spit in a unicorn's eye." - C. Conway 2009

Yearbook {Jeni Yang}

Food-obsessed, charmingly captivating and marvelously creative Jeni Yang.

Jeni's Blog.

Yearbook {Mark Ryden}

The insanely talented Mark Ryden.

Yearbook {Harmony Gong}

Hidden gem, fascinatingly talented and super fun, Harmony Gong. Keep a watch out for this one, she's going to take the art world by storm!

Yearbook {Yoskay Yamamoto}

The sweet-as-peas and mighty talented goofball, Yoskay Yamamoto.

Yoskay's Blog

Yearbook {Miss Mindy}

Cute-as-a-button, delightfully exuberant and multi-talented artist Miss Mindy.

Miss Mindy's Blog.

Oooh, and check out that fine writing instrument she's sporting. What is it you ask... SNIFTY®, "The Nifty Scented Pen" of course! Designed by yours truly. Watch for more artists indulging me in endorsing the newest coolest writing tool, SNIFTY®. Thanks guys (and gals)!

Yearbook {Brody Albert}

The adorable and rising art star, Brody Albert.

October, How I Love Thee...

Yearbook {Poketo}

The dynamic duo and fellow lovers of art, Angie and Ted of Poketo.

Poketo Blog

Yearbook {Celëne}

Beautifully talented, sweet sweet friend, Celëne Petrulak.

Celëne's Blog

Yearbook {Edwin Ushiro}

The charming and fantastically awesome Edwin Ushiro.

Ed's Blog

Yearbook {Eliza Frye}

The wonderfully talented Eliza Frye.

Eliza's Blog

Eliza's Etsy

Yearbook {Ken Garduno}

The amateur photographer in me recorded everyone that took a go at my Yearbook. Here's a favorite, Mr. Ken Garduno

Ken's Blog

Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy, Bids Adieu

It is a bittersweet thing to write that the Kokeshi show at the Japanese American National Museum has come to an end. It's been an amazing experience having the opportunity to work and show at such a respectable space. I know it was a first for many artists to have their work in a museum and for a few... the first time to show their work to the public, anywhere. Gives me goosebumps thinking about the opportunities that have happened and are in the works and in the future for so many amazing creatives. I'm keeping my toes, fingers and cats' mitts crossed for more adventures in the future where I can continue to work with such incredible talent. To the new friends I made, I am truly honored to have had the privilege to meet you (online or in-person) and to now know you on a first name basis, lucky lucky me!

Meeting so many artists this year has been intoxicating and as a result I was inspired to collect my own "Yearbook" of autographs from a few I spent some time with in-person. Below is a necklace book that I found at Renegade Craft Fair in LA, the day after the Kokeshi show opened, July 11. The maker of this beloved treasure is Found and Made Designs.

1.5" x 2" book made from random papers and old book cover.

Can you figure out who the artists are based on the signatures and doodles (click here for larger images)? I'll send a Blank Artist Kokeshi to the first person to correctly match them up with the list below (sorry artist friends, if you're in the book, you can't participate, you already know the secrets it holds):

Mari Inukai

Harmony Gong

kozyndan - Dan

kozyndan - Kozy

Poketo - Angie

Poketo - Ted

Eliza Frye

Kelly Vivanco

Brody Albert

James Jean

Tara McPherson

Edwin Ushiro

Jeni Yang

Matty M. Cipov

Ken Garduno

Celëne

Gary Baseman

Yoskay Yamamoto

Catherine Brooks

Fred Harper

Zoso

Mark Ryden

Tom Haubrick

Martin Hsu

Kent Williams

Brandi Milne

Travis Louie

Molly Crabapple

Miss Mindy

David Mack

Bill Collins (woodworker for Kokeshi)

Camilla d'Errico

Eric Davison

Jeremy Bastian

David Horvath

Many hearts and hugs to everyone that made this show and my amazing year possible. Thank you! -c