My thoughts on the new Barbies

Since no one contacted me to find out my opinion on the newest development in fashion dolls, I will just write about it here. It's nice to see that Mattel is now making Barbie dolls in a variety of shapes and sizes. It took them long enough! They're probably only doing this because their sales have been abysmal in recent years. They have struggled to reinvent themselves. And finally, after years of petitions for plus-sized Barbies and criticism for the unrealistically proportioned dolls, they're making an effort. I think it's a step in the right direction. It's too bad they weren't around when I was taking pictures for The Doll Project. They would have been perfect for the You Are Beautiful,Too! poster. But at least I can get a few for my collection. I know exactly what I want for my birthday. I suppose some things never change. 

My three favorites.

A footnote:

As a collector, I think it will be interesting to see if they make enough clothes for the curvy dolls. Sad to think they will have the same issues real curvy women face when it comes to finding nice clothes that fit. Hopefully some of the talented miniature couturiers on Etsy will create beautiful doll clothes to fit them.

Art and the inner child

 'The creative adult is the child who has survived.' 
—Ursula K. Le Guin

If you've ever been to my art studio, you can tell that I designed it to be a fun place where my inner child can come out and play. It was a deliberate choice. After working through Julia Cameron's second creativity book, Walking in this World, I came to realize the importance of honoring the vulnerability of my artistic side. My little toys are a visual reminder that in order to be creative, it helps to embrace a childlike curiosity and willingness not to take myself too seriously.
As an artist, being in touch with my sense of creative play is something I cannot afford to lose.

So when I read the clickbait-titled "Against YA: Yes, adults should be embarrassed to read young adult books," I sighed and shook my head. A product of hype-aversion to the release of the film version of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars this weekend, the article basically accuses adults who read juvenile literature of immaturity. While my reasons for reading YA literature are mainly professional (after all, I need to read as many books as possible in the genre I'm writing), I have found other benefits that I didn't expect.

One of the recurring points made in the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement has been that reading fiction engenders empathy. Not only does reading about people from different cultural backgrounds help you to see things from a different perspective, but the same can be said about reading about people from another age group. As I read more stories with teens as main characters, I find myself seeing them differently. Not just as my potential readers, but as individuals with their own unique generational challenges. Not as "those bad kids," but as human beings whose perspectives should be acknowledged.


Aside from those lofty reasons, there's also the fun factor. I've never wanted to become the kind of grumpy, too-serious adult who is completely oblivious to the things that people who are younger than me enjoy. There is the added bonus of being able to relate to kids when you find yourself working with them. I will never forget the delight of my young art students back in 2004 when I commented that their drawings reminded me of characters from Teen Titans or Mucha Lucha. At the time, I was also in design school and liked to keep the TV on in the background while working on projects. Whenever I wasn't tuned in to HGTV, I would turn to Cartoon Network. With a busy schedule full of both taking and teaching classes, watching The Powerpuff Girls or Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was very relaxing. 

And as far as I'm concerned, if I can enjoy cartoons written for an 8 year old, what is so terrible about reading books written for teens?

New prices coming in August

I will be raising the prices of my artwork in August.  The prices of my paintings have remained the same since I finished graduate school in 2009.  Three years later, after participating in numerous art shows, the time has come to increase them so that I can sustain my art practice.

If you're a collector, this is great news.  The art you have purchased from me has appreciated in value.  If you've been thinking about buying a painting, you have a few weeks to get one at the current prices.

Please note that the prices for the photos in The Doll Project will not increase, nor will the hourly fee for my interior design services. 


Thanks to everyone who has supported me by purchasing my art.  I really appreciate it!

Art under $1000

If you've been looking to collect original artwork, my pieces are for sale, and all of them cost less than $1000.  The locations where you can see them and the prices I am selling them for are below.


Three Peas Art Lounge
75 East 16th Street
Chicago, IL 60616-1279
(312) 624-9414
Until May 31

Untitled (Red and Black, $880

Adaptive Reuse, $700

Adaptive Reuse 2, $700

Smother, $700

Quinacridone Embrace, $700

Transcendental Violet, $814

Chicago Art Open
River East Art Center
435 E. Illinois Street
Chicago, IL
Until May 7th

Fuschia Sublime, $580

PlayfulZen Gallery
2147 S Lumber St.
Loft 516
Chicago, IL
Until May 9th

Fever Dream, $600

Chloroplast Blast, $600

These are not currently in any shows, but are available for purchase:

Untitled (Red), $360

Untitled (Blue and Green), $495

Untitled (Olive Green, $360

My paintings need new homes. Buy one today!

A Saturday Solutions Book Review: Saving Stuff by Don Williams and Louisa Jaggar

Whether you're a creator or collector of fine art, whether you like to buy your furniture new or pre-owned, you've probably wondered if your treasured items will last. And if you've seen Life After People or read The World Without Us, then you have an idea of how insects, fungus, water, and sunlight can lead to the decay and destruction of many masterpieces. If this is a concern for you, then pick up a copy of Saving Stuff.  Written by a Smithsonian conservator, it is a comprehensive guide to the proper care and storage of everything from paintings and drawings to fine furniture.  Saving Stuff is based on the premise that you, the collector are the director of "The Museum of You" and provides all the tools to properly archive your holdings.

If your collectibles need to be cleaned, there are recipes for cleaning solutions for everything from plastic toys to bronze sculptures.  The section on light damage took me back to my lighting classes in design school (the only other place i've ever seen the word "foot-candle" in a sentence) as it explained how you have to pay attention to how much light your collectibles are exposed to.
In addition to the other valuable information in Saving Stuff, there is a useful Risk Chart for Collectibles, wich breaks down the potential for damage that light, insects, mold, contaminants, temperature, moisture, and everyday use can cause to common collectibles.   Another useful tool is a worksheet that can help you decide which items to keep and why you want to save them.  There is another worksheet that helps you keep track of everything you know about the items in your collection, helping you to fulfill your duty as the registrar of the Museum of You.

As an artist, it was also beneficial to me as I looked at my process from a collector's point of view. It made me ask myself if I am creating work that can withstand the ravages of time, and made me aware of environmental conditions that could endanger the longevity of my artwork. I learned about the best way to hang framed artwork.  I also found the Rules for Lighting Paintings especially useful. I now realize the importance of getting Raspberry Divine and her sisters out of the sunlit room I display them in at home and into a cool dark place.

And as a designer, I find the book  a wonderful source of information that could be passed on to clients to ensure the furniture and finishes I specify can look their best for as long as possible. And it gives me a new appreciation for the functionality of window treatments,the first defense against damage from the UV rays in sunlight.

The overarching message of the book seems to be that if your collection means something to you, then don't store it in your basement or your attic.  Be mindful of the environment in which you store and display your items, and they will last longer.  No matter what you collect, if you are a collector you need this book.

Jonathan Adler + Barbie = a match made in design heaven!

By now most of you regular readers know I am an avid Barbie collector, and some of you may also know that I am a fan of ceramicist and decorator extraordinaire Jonathan Adler. Over the summer I heard about the opportunity he had to design a real life dream house in honor of Barbie's 50th anniversary.





I felt a wave of hot pink envy. Why wasn't there a way for us collectors to own a piece of this memorabilia? But it turns out that we can. I found out about this development thanks to Typhanie at Shoebox Decor. There is a Jonathan Adler loves Barbie line available at the Jonathan Adler store!



At $49.95, the sofa above is a fraction of the cost of the real thing. There is even a 1:6 scale version of My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living, which Ana, Mia, and Lolita need to read.

Want to take a virtual tour of the life-size dream house?

The LEGO architecture series

As a kid, I always enjoyed building houses out of LEGOs. Now the beloved manufacturer of interlocking plastic bricks has developed a new series for grownups: the LEGO architecture series.

Choose from landmarks like the John Hancock Center, Seattle Space Needle, or the Empire State Building.

And if you have ever wished you could own a Frank Lloyd Wright, how about Fallingwater or even The Guggenheim Museum?





Read more about it at the LEGO architecture series website.

another use for my mini paintings

Since I love miniatures, I noticed right away that my 3"x5" paintings are just the right size for a dollhouse, whether 1 inch scale or play scale (Barbie size). See for yourself:




Click here to view them all on Flickr.

more doll project rejects

I am "de-stashing" a few more dolls that I do not need for The Doll Project.

Tressy decided to leave because--as you can see from her disapproving glare-- she could not stand living next door to Casey and Francie's swinging 60's bachelorette pad any longer. So she's for sale on Etsy.

Remember how I called that one Maxie doll a teenage zombie? Well I've got something even worse: a Zombie Bride Marie Osmond doll!

Maybe there was an accident at the doll factory that day. Or perhaps poor Marie wandered into the home of a mad scientist who needed a bride for a creature he made from the parts of stolen cadavers. Or maybe she was infected with the Rage virus. Whatever the case, something went terribly, horribly, tragically wrong and now this doll's face is disfigured. There is a greenish gray discoloration all around her eyes, and the white paint for her teeth has come off. The area around her mouth is a bright orangeish pink. She came with a stained, dingy wedding dress.

She was part of a group of dolls sold as a lot on eBay. But I figured out why she's a zombie: she's an extra from the Thriller video! Why else would she have come with a Michael Jackson doll?



So if you need a zombie bride doll, you should visit my Etsy shop. And then I can use the money to buy Mr. Jackson a real Thriller jacket. (Though he looks pretty good in the Speed Racer outfit.) No, he is not part of The Doll Project. Just part of my collection.

I have more dolls available in my Doll Project Destash store. Click the link to see them. You might find something you like.

Doll Project Rejects

Sometimes it's fun to see the outtakes of a movie. The flubbed lines, the stunts gone wrong, the shots where the equipment is visible... they make you look at it in a way you didn't before. More and more I am coming to view The Doll Project as a movie in miniature. I think Laurie Simmons said the same thing about her photo series. I can definitely see why.

Each doll is like an actress, and not all of them are right for the part. Some of them are hilariously wrong for the project altogether. So I thought I'd share a few items from the "cutting room floor" of The Doll Project.

Evil Skipper Clone

This little Skipper clone was a steal on eBay. Now I see why. She has such a hostile expression on her face. Why is she so angry? I think she hates the color pink and is angry about going through puberty and being forced to take ballet. Maybe she'd rather try skateboarding or playing soccer or something. Whatever her problem is, I knew she was all wrong for the part of Ana. But I may use her as an "extra" in a few pictures.

I Was a Teenage Zombie

The fact that she is afflicted with a green ear is bad enough. I could even overlook the giant "man hands" that Hasbro gave her. But look at her face! The vacant expression in this Uncanny Valley Girl's eyes is pretty frightening. She looks like she should be staggering around moaning "braaaainnss" and attacking the other dolls. I remember never liking Maxie dolls as a girl. I always thought they were ugly. (Though they did have some nice furniture.) I thought I'd give them another try, but I see that I was right all along. I won't be using her either. Unless I decided to make something with zombies. Which could be fun, but has already been done before.

Scariel

I will admit, I have not watched Disney's The Little Mermaid since it was in theaters. So perhaps my memory of her hair color is a little bit off. I remember her having flaming red hair. But I do not remember her hair being the color of cherry Kool-Aid. Honestly, what am I supposed to do with her?

Ellie Mae

I originally purchased this generic Fannie Fashion Doll to use as Ana. But I felt her face and hairstyle were just a little too retro. Something about the style just screams mid century. Maybe it's just me. Fortunately, I was able to put her body to use for Mia. And after creating a series of "Franken-doll" hybrids, I finally came up with one that works. Doesn't she remind you a little of Ellie Mae Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies? All she needs is a "cement pond" and some critters to play with.

I am still playing with my new camera. When the new pictures from The Doll Project are ready, I'll publish them here. I hope to have some new ones on here by the end of the week, so keep checking back. Or subscribe.

the reason I've been away for a while...

Blame it on the all-consuming task of sourcing items for the Doll Project. eBay is a trap! Here are a few of the things I've found. Soon you'll see them in the photos I'll take.