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Scribble Artist Interview with Ernest Concepcion!

Scribble Town (ST): Hi Ernest! To me, your work is very playful so I wonder how do you describe your own artwork.  Especially in the portrait of you I can see the play oozing out of you as you play at work on your One Cloud painting (see below)!

Ernest Concepcion (EC): Hi! My name is Ernest Concepcion. I’m a Filipino visual artist and currently live in Brooklyn, NY. My works usually depict opposing forces engaged in ridiculous battle based on the nostalgic references of childhood and adolescence.

One Cloud, work in progress by Ernest Concepcion

One Cloud, work in progress by Ernest Concepcion

ST: From the Philippines all the way to Brooklyn, where are you and what are you up to these days?

EC: I still live in Brooklyn, and have been here since moving from the Philippines in 2002. I do go back often to my home city of Manila and was just there for 6 months last year. It was probably my most productive trip so far. I was only scheduled for 1 solo show and then when my friends found out I was coming home, they invited me over to participate for more shows. In half a year, from February till August 2012, I ended up having 2 solo shows and 4 group shows, including exhibiting at a prominent museum in Manila. It was pretty crazy.

Gerana (The Wrath Of), ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper by Ernest Concepcion

Gerana (The Wrath Of), ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper by Ernest Concepcion

All the works were made there. For the first three months I was cranking it up doing 6 x 4 feet paintings. My sleeping habits changed. I started doing the UBERMAN cycle. Have you ever heard of that? You’re basically awake and work for 4 hours then take powernaps for 30 minutes to an hour and then work again for 4 hours and so forth. I tried it – I wasn’t exactly successful. Haha. Nah, I took it easy and still hung out with friends. I found out it’s better that way. But when I do work at the studio, I’m like an unstoppable freight train. I’m going back this year on August 2013 for more art projects.

ST: Your friends sound so great! So supportive of you and your art. I’m sure they were also just so happy to have you back home. When did you start drawing?

EC: I would say I started drawing when I was real young mostly because I was inspired by my older brother. He would draw these fantastic cars based on the 80’s movie Mad Max and I totally got into and started copying him. Later on I started drawing my own little stories with pictures on notebooks similar to the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURES books. Comicbooks and Saturday morning cartoons have been a major influence as well. Come to think of it, my drawing style has not changed much at all. It probably has changed technique-wise in terms of perspective, anatomy, linework – but I would say it has retained its childlike qualities that harkens back to young Ernest. I was trying to think if art school changed my drawing style at all, but I think not that much. Undergrad in the Philippines was more about theory for me and my drawing process went into a dormant state because I got heavily into conceptual art and video. But when I moved to New York, it almost seems like that hibernating child-general woke up all of a sudden ready for action.

Life In A Hidden Valley by Ernest Concepcion

Life In A Hidden Valley by Ernest Concepcion

ST: Between all the traveling, is there a favorite place you like to create?

EC: Well, I currently work from home and do my oil paintings in my own apartment. Oftentimes I couldn’t believe how I managed to do this but I guess I was able to adapt and develop my organizational skills in paintings. So I would say this is my favorite place right now. I did have a studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn for 3 years and that used to be my favorite place to work. I would spend countless hours there and was able to produce a ton of work. But alas, I had to move out in 2009. However, when I fly back to Manila I work at Mom’s house and she has prepared a space for me to work there, which I would say is probably the best. Its right beside her garden and there’s a sense of calm and serenity in the studio – a perfect contrast to my conflict-ridden works. I’m not exactly the type who draws in the subway, in a café, etc. I don’t usually carry a sketchpad at all even. Just a notebook to jot down ideas and that’s it. I make art at the studio. When I’m at a café, I drink coffee.

Queens 2020, Ernest Concepcion

Queens 2020, Ernest Concepcion

ST: What other forms of art do you practice? What are your favorite tools you use to create?

EC: I also practice installation art and I collaborate murals with my friend Mike Estabrook as the Shining Mantis. I’ve been getting more and more into comicbook making and that’s definitely something I would like to develop soon. I was a big fan of the Sharpie for my drawings, I still am! But I’m totally getting into drawing with a brush these days and India ink tends to stay longer and seem more vibrant in the long run. Also, I could make entire fields of black with an ink-filled brush and that saves a lot of time.

ST: I’m seeing and hearing a theme of childhood in your artwork, but is there something in particular you want to say with your art?

EC: In my works, I would like to express what it’s like to be a kid again. The joy of expressing relentlessly.

ST: Is there a piece of art that speaks to you?

EC: There are so much art that speaks to me, but the ones I really appreciate are the works that I could feel express a certain vibe of ferocious expression – I don’t know, I can’t explain it too well.

Pajama People vs. Apparitions, ink on acetate, watercolor on paper by Ernest Concepcion

Pajama People vs. Apparitions, ink on acetate, watercolor on paper by Ernest Concepcion

ST: Where do you get your inspiration from and who inspires you?

EC: Right now I’m getting a lot of inspiration from independent game designers. Haha. Seriously. I’m an avid gamer and seeing the works of most indie game developers and feel the years they spent on coding, designing, beta testing and perfecting these games via patches and downloadable content never fail to inspire me. I recently attended a festival about Andy Kaufman and it ran for 2 weeks. I was there almost every day! It was amazing. For me he’s a real inspiration, and he’s true to his craft. And when I mean ‘true’, I meant he doesn’t care what he was doing really, he was totally just having so much fun at the moment. And to me that’s awesome.

Kangarok 1 and 10th, Ernest Concepcion

Kangarok 1 and 10th, Ernest Concepcion

ST: Your work does look fun and Ernest, you have done so much!  Any tips for us?

EC: I would advice to everyone to just keep making work and expressing without boundaries. I am also an art teacher myself to kids and I have always been open in encouraging my students to constantly experiment and explore. Breaking rules are great, but it will be futile if you don’t know the rules first. So learn the basics, the parameters, the limitations, the rules, and then transcend them.

ST: Thank you Ernest for sharing so much with us!  And don’t forget to play Ernest’s Shooting Stars game, http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/play-shooting-stars-game-ernest-concepcion

Kangarok III

Kangarok III

Posted by Andi Thea, on March 18th, 2013 at 7:34 am. 2 Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,Design,Featured,Scribble Artist Interviews,Scribble Press,Uncategorized Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Scribble Artist Interview with Mia Meri!
Scribble Town (ST): Mia, you are the first Egyptologist I have ever met! And you are a lover of games, which makes you double great!  I am sure there are many other things about you that are just as interesting.  We can start this Scribble Artist Interview with where are you and what are you up to these days?
Buffy as a fantasy character by Mia Meri

Buffy as a fantasy character by Mia Meri


Mia Meri (MM): My name is Mia Meri, I’m a 35 year old woman living in Helsinki, Finland. I used to be a software designer but now I’m studying to become an Egyptologist at the University of Helsinki.

ST: What is Egyptology and what sparked that interest?

MM: Egyptology is the study of Ancient Egypt from prehistoric times, even before they built the pyramids of Giza (c. 2600 BC), up until Cleopatra VII died in 30 BC. I don’t know when I exactly became interested in Ancient Egypt. I think I’ve been that way since the time I can remember. As a child my invisible friend was Anubis, the jackal-headed god of mummification, and I copied mummification scenes with watercolors with great care as a kid. Since I liked dogs a lot anyway, Anubis was my favourite god, and I have always liked how the pencil flows when you draw his head and the way in which he was drawn by the Egyptians.

In fact it’s quite funny I used to do that already as a child since I’d like to make epigraphy for living, which basically means copying for example tomb walls by hand. It’s very important to copy the Ancient Egyptian building walls because they might get destroyed in time in earthquakes or the sand might erode the traces of paint away. Also the Egyptian reliefs are quite hard to photograph sometimes so drawing them by hand is the only way to get exact copies of the wall drawings even today.  Below is a copy of an Egyptian wall painting I’ve done for Scribble Town.

Egyptian drawing for Scribble Town by Mia Meri

Egyptian drawing for Scribble Town by Mia Meri

ST: What got you started creating, scribbling, and making stuff?

MM: I have always liked drawing and arts in general, and my whole family is quite artistic. My mom restores old dolls, my sister sews, my aunt is the best knitter I know, my dad is good at building, and I draw and do computer graphics. My mom always encouraged me at drawing and took me to arts classes meant for adults and I participated in the courses with them as the only child in the group. That’s how I learned to paint with oil colours and water colour [laveeraus] technique and it gave me the courage to start experimenting on my own. My mom also took me to art galleries and art museums a lot and our home was full of art books. I studied them on my own and tried many different art styles, and quite soon found the style that I like and which I have been thriving to achieve ever since then. For example I had a a period when I tried cubism after Picasso. I never found the strength in me to try the strong expressionism of Van Gogh. But in the end I found myself copying Rembrandt’s works. Of course I was only in elementary school age so my drawings and paintings weren’t even close to the masters, but I learned something new all the time like how to draw hands and how to draw eyes in detail.

Later I got interested in Marvel superhero comics and I especially liked the dynamic poses of the heroes. In classic art people usually have relaxed poses, but in superhero comics the people are always on the move and stretching their muscles. I especially liked to copy Jack Kirby’s style, because he had clear lines. Also, since superheroes usually have skintight clothing, they are a really good source to learn how the human body is built. From X-Men comics I learned how muscles attach to bones and how they bulge when you move. I also studied my own muscles from a mirror, trying to analyse how and which muscles bulged as I moved my hand in a certain way. I was still in elementary school at this time.

The first one is a drawing I made from a trip to Turkey my mom and I made when I was still in Elementary school. The drawing is not that old, it's based on one photo we took there. By Mia Meri.

The first one is a drawing I made from a trip to Turkey my mom and I made when I was still in Elementary school. The drawing is not that old, it's based on one photo we took there. By Mia Meri.

I think one part of the thing why I studied drawing almost analytically as a child was that I was quite shy as a child and therefore I had a hard time making friends. I spent a lot of time on my own, but it gave me the time to really stop and think about what I was doing. I had the time to try stuff on my own and to really look and study all the paintings and pictures in the art books.

Currently I don’t have that time to concentrate on drawing and I have noticed I’m not as good at drawing as I used to be ten years ago. But I still do a lot off scribbling. I need to be doing something with my hands all the time or I get very anxious and start biting my nails or find it hard to concentrate. For example if I’m sitting in a class I have to draw all the time I’m not writing down notes or my mind starts to wonder. I know some people think it’s rude to draw while they are giving a lecture as they think it’s because I’m not listening, but it’s in fact quite the opposite! If you don’t see me drawing or writing, then I’m not listening and quite soon will fall asleep.

Also, through my studies in Egyptology, I have to draw a lot since we have to know how to write with hieroglyphs and, as you might know, all those hieroglyphs are in fact drawings. For example my name “Mia” is written by drawing an owl (M), a flowering reed (I), a hawk (A) and finally a sitting female to determine that I am a female. The most common hieroglyphs are quite easy to draw, but there are some signs where you really have to concentrate, for example the determinative for “army” has a sitting man holding a bow and that’s a lot to draw quickly in a small space.

ST: Your mom is quite a lady! You are lucky to have had such a nurturing family figure in your life. Has anyone or anything in particular inspired you or inspires you now?

MM: One of the problems I’ve always had with drawing is that I have the worst imagination when it comes to what I should draw. Even though I do have a vivid imagination my biggest problem is that I can’t come up with what to draw next. My biggest source of inspiration are roleplaying games. Roleplaying games are a way of joint storytelling. One of us makes up a setting and the rest of us pretend to be characters, who go on an adventure in that setting. The adventures we experience in roleplaying games inspire my imagination. I always draw when I’m playing. When I hear of new people we meet in our journeys I soon start drawing them. The back stories of my characters and the events that we face often end up in my drawings.

D&D by Mia Meri. Here is a Scribble from a game we played yesterday. Our team faced seemingly overwhelming group of enemies, but luckily we were victorius!

D&D by Mia Meri. Here is a Scribble from a game we played yesterday. Our team faced seemingly overwhelming group of enemies, but luckily we were victorius!

ST: What is your favorite place to create?

MM: I really don’t have a preferable place to create. Well, home is good since I have everything I need here. But basically any place is good enough. I have drawn in meetings and bars, at restaurants, at cafes. Any place works for me as long as you can sit there for a long time and can get food and drinks if need be and have a toilet somewhere.

I think more important is the setting and the mood. My drawings quite often reflect my inner feelings, and thus when I draw during roleplaying games – since it’s so much fun and we laugh a lot – I tend to draw comic images. When I draw ancient Egyptian subjects I usually put on the Cleopatra movie with Elizabeth Taylor on the background. If I need to draw a sci-fi themed image I put on Bladerunner or its soundtrack.

But most importantly you need to have time for drawing. You can’t force a drawing except if it’s a technical drawing like those copies I make of tomb walls. But if I’m drawing just out of my own head I have to have time. I usually start by just scibbling something and usually end up drawing numerous images on numerous papers and throwing them away before the drawing I want to make comes out. Just like before exercise you need to warm up first, before drawing you need to get your brain, imagination and hands warmed up. Trying to force an image out is painful, but when you give the drawing a chance to form itself on the paper it’s the best feeling ever. I often say the drawings I made drew themselves. You see, sometimes when I start to draw something that I have in my mind I notice the drawing I’m making doesn’t work for that idea, but it might become something else, even better than the original idea. Sometimes I have accidentally drawn my friends. Of couse the more you draw the more control you will have over your own images and can direct the way they will look.

ST: Please tell us more about Nörttitytöt.  What is the group about and how are you involved?

MM: I am involved with a geek women’s community called “Nörttitytöt” (“geek girls”) here in Finland. I am one of three chief-in-editors for the blog (http://geekgirls.fi) where we have 80 writers, who take turns to write about various nerdy subjects. I’m specialised in the games section including video, board and card games. The blog is mostly in Finnish but we have occasional English articles there, too.

ST: Thank you for being so open about your childhood, inspirations, and passions.  That, in itself, is so encouraging for all of us to hear.  Mia has given us a fun activity to do on the Scribble Shop Blog :)

Learn how to draw your name in hieroglyphs!
http://www.scribbleshop.com/content/draw-your-name-using-hieroglyphs-mia-meri

Please send in your new name to us at info@scribbletown.com.

Posted by Andi Thea, on February 25th, 2013 at 12:16 am. 2 Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,Bloggers,classroom,Featured,kids,Scribble Artist Interviews,Scribble Press,Uncategorized Labels: , , , , , , ,


Scribble Artist Interview with Chris Reed!

Scribble Town (ST): From the looks of Chris Reed’s self portrait I think it’s safe to say he’s a very talented illustrator and designer.  Chris, I like your portrait!  Where are you and what are you up to these days?

Portrait of Chris Reed

Portrait of Chris Reed

Chris Reed (CR):  I work from my home studio in New Jersey and I love creating art every single day! I have been a professional Artist for about 25 years so I have had a chance to work on lots of different types of projects.

ST: It’s amazing when you find something you love to do and it just never gets old!  In fact, that’s when it gets more exciting :)  How old were you when you first started making art and who encouraged you to create?

CR: I was always interested in drawing pictures, and I got lots of encouragement from my family and my teachers. Drawing was always just a hobby until I finally realized that there were actually people whose job it was to design and draw pictures. I wanted to be one of those people, so I moved to New York City and went to art school.

ST: I think that something important to keep in mind.  So long as you enjoy what you are doing you will find a way to make it work for you.  Thank you for reminding us about that!  Where do you get your inspiration from?  What is your creative process?
Chris Reed's Illustrative Samples

Chris Reed's Illustrative Samples

CR: Right now I am working on a bunch of product designs, which is a lot of fun. Designing for products means that you are creating artwork for things like aprons, doormats, t-shirts, beverage coasters, and flags among others.  I try to come up with ideas that will make people laugh, or at the very least smile. This process starts with lots of doodles on a piece of paper until something magical happens, and a new idea is born!  After I have decided on an idea, I usually create the finished drawing on the computer and then email it to the company that is making the product.

ST: When in doubt just doodle and at the least a smile will appear.  Please share some other tips with us.

CR: My advice to kids who like to create art is to find a way make it fun. Make your own comic strip, paint a crazy swirly picture, or create a character for your favorite video game. The more you paint or draw or whatever, the better you will get!

ST: Thank you Chris!  Your passion for art and drawing shine even through your words.  Many smiles have formed from looking at your pictures so I think you are doing what you should be!  I smile every time I look at this sledding penguin :) Weeeee.

Penguin Sledder by Chris Reed

Penguin Sledder by Chris Reed

Posted by Andi Thea, on February 18th, 2013 at 8:45 am. No Comments

Category: Arts & Crafts,Design,Featured,Scribble Artist Interviews,Scribble Press,Uncategorized Labels: , , , , , , ,


Scribble Artist Interview with Kristine Marsh!

Scribble Town (ST): Let’s move to the New Year with Kristine Marsh’s animations! Thanks Kristine for being with us today!

Kristine Marsh (KM): Hello! I’m a full time illustrator and designer who specializes in creating original artwork for children’s media using a variety of styles. I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2010 with a BFA in Cartooning. Afterwards, I started my own business called Knightingale Studio. We are a small design group that does animation, illustration and graphic design work in addition to creating original content. My work has appeared across a range of commercial platforms including books, games and apps. In my down time I enjoy cooking and relaxing with my loving fiancé, Eric and our adorable corgi, Colonel.

Munch Friends by Kristine Marsh

Munch Friends by Kristine Marsh

ST: It sounds like you are surrounded by love :) I can see that in your super cute illustrations and animations. Where are you and what are you up to these days? Is there a particular animation you are working on?

KM: I currently live in NJ and aside from freelance I’m developing two animated series concepts titled, “Samurai Chinchilla” and “What’s for Lunch, Munch?” You can find out more about the first at www.facebook.com/samuraichinchillaseries. I hope to launch a Kickstarter campaign within the next month in order to fund a short animation showcasing the world and characters. Keep in eye out!

Samurai Chinchilla Poster by Kristine Marsh

Samurai Chinchilla Poster by Kristine Marsh

ST:  There are many things for all of us to look forward to! With all of these current goodies in the works can you tell us how has your art practice changed over time? What kind of animation or art did you start out doing and where has that taken you?

KM: I actually entered SVA as a traditional animation major. It has actually been my dream since the 6th grade to be the creator of an animated television series. When I was really young, I did what most kids do: Draw my favorite characters from my favorite cartoons! I drew Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Cardcaptors, a lots more (I actually really loved Kids WB!). To this day I still say that I developed a knack for adapting to different styles by do so. Once I got to art school, it really pushed me out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways, but it taught me to experiment with different techniques and forced me to look at elements of design in a new way.

ST: Kristine, you just proved that dreams do come true! That in itself is such an inspiration for us to all just continue with what we have fun doing. Are there any other artistic mediums you work with?

KM: For mediums, I do a lot digitally these days, for the sake of time and efficiency. I use Adobe Illustrator almost exclusively, with a little bit of Photoshop. When I work traditionally I like to experiment and I often mix media, like pen, ink, brush, marker, colored pencil and watercolor.

Pirate by Kristine Marsh

Pirate by Kristine Marsh

ST: Is there a particular animation technique you like to create with? Does the story follow the technique or vice versa?

KM: My goal with my art is actually quite simple. To me, I see art as a very powerful medium and I always strive to create artwork and stories that makes a positive impact in peoples lives. Hope, Unity and Love are actually the core believes of my studio as well. I believe firmly in the aspect of family and friends, taking care of and giving to those you care about and who need your help. For me, art of course is a form of self-expression, but more important I see it as an opportunity to speak into people’s lives and leave them with something encouraging and I hope that that same perseverance will spill over in the life of another and so on.

ST: We all have mentors, who are some of your favorite artists? If so, how have they inspired you? It’s always nice to be aware of what about their artwork touches you.

KM: Some of my favorite artists and directors include: Makoto Shinkai, Hayao Miyazaki, Bill Presing, Peter McCarty, Anne Pätzke, Sean Galloway, Luigi Lucarelli, Jen Corace, Mary Blair, MEOMI honestly there’s just too many to name! And I discover new favorites online all the time! But the things that always catch my attention: Color, Composition, and Character! I’m a big fan of a really simplistic style, but I’m also a big fan of beautiful line quality and color. These are all things that inspire me and challenge me in my own art as well.

Ashby by Kristine Marsh

Ashby by Kristine Marsh

ST: I know what you mean when you say there are just too many to name!  It’s the same with crafts and art projects. But out of all of them do you have one craft, piece of art, or art technique you can share with our Scribblers for them to make at home? Perhaps give advice on how our Scribblers can start making their own animation at home.

KM: A quick bit of advice: I love looking at kid’s drawings and hearing them talk so passionately about their ideas. Never let go of that enthusiasm for creating new things! As you get older, it’s easy to get bogged down, you start comparing yourself to others and not everyone may like your ideas. It can easily become more about technique (which is still very important) and less about the concept. But keep plugging forward, learn, absorb and experiment, don’t let go of that boundless creativity! May you stay inspired all your life and always keep drawing by hand!

ST: That’s amazing advice, Kristine!  In short- let’s keep our ears, eyes, and heart always open for the creativity to flow. To learn more about Kristine Marsh please go to www.kristinemarsh.com or email her at Kristine@knightingalestudio.com. Thank you for being with us!

Posted by Andi Thea, on January 18th, 2013 at 9:33 am. No Comments

Category: adults,Bloggers,Design,Scribble Artist Interviews,Scribble Press,Uncategorized Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Scribble Artist Interview with Airigami!
Scribble Town (ST): And now introducing Airigami!  Airigami is a duo creative team- Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle.
Airigami is Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle

Airigami is Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle

Larry Moss began his career 25 years ago as a NYC street performer, but has gone on to display his amazing air-filled art in 12 countries on four continents.  His achievements have been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, CNN Headline, PBS, Smithsonian Magazine, American Profile and Ripley’s Believe It or Not!  Moss has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, NBC’s “Today” and at the White House, and has held the Guinness World Record for the largest non-round balloon sculpture since 2000.  The author of many published ballooning books, Larry also has a degree in applied math and computer science, as well as a master’s in elementary education.  Building community through his large-scale art creations is of particular interest to Larry, and was the focus of his 2009 TEDx talk in Rochester, NY.
Jack and the Beanstalk by Airigami

Jack and the Beanstalk by Airigami

 

Kelly Cheatle has been fascinated with micro art since the age of 10, when she read an article about scientists etching miniature angels on the head of a pin.  Since then, she’s created miniature, wheel-thrown teapots and highly-detailed crochet sculptures – both small enough to sit on a penny. ln 2001, she founded Greener Pastures Design & Illustration, and her graphic work appears nationally.  When given an opportunity to work with balloons during Balloon Manor 2006, she was excited about a new medium for creating artwork. Now, as a partner in Airigami, her design sense and illustration background have helped to take it in new directions, including designing inflated fashions that have appeared on runways in Rochester, NYC and Las Vegas.


ST: You two have come from very different places, but have happily found each other! Where are you two and what are you up to these days?

LM: We’re based in Rochester, NY, but we find ourselves in cities all over the world, one of the latest trips was to Cannes, France for the International Festival of Creativity.

KC: Our current project is illustrating our own inflated version of “The Three Little Pigs.” We’ve been at it for a while and happy to say it’s nearing completion!

Airigami's Big Bad Wolf

Airigami's Big Bad Wolf

ST: Thanks for the sneak preview pic of your big bad wolf! It gives us a better idea of what Airigami is. How did Airigami begin and what is it?

LM: I began as as a street magician in NYC. There were magicians everywhere. I needed a gimmick to draw attention and build my audiences. I’ve always been fascinated by balloons, so I started using them as just  a colorful way to attract crowds. Once my crowds were large enough, I’d start the magic show. As time went on, I realized that I was getting enough attention for my balloons that I could drop the magic completely, and I moved in the direction of creating art installations that used them.

I think of “Airigami” as the fine art of folding air. It’s a term I invented to describe what I do since no other terms seemed appropriate. While we create art using balloons, I never liked the term “balloon art”. That has a connotation of balloon dogs and simple figures handed out at birthday parties and festivals. What we do appears in galleries and museums.

Airigami Winter Wonderland

Airigami Winter Wonderland

ST: How did Larry and Kelly meet and start working together?

LM: I love doing large community projects. One of them, Balloon Manor, a 10,000 square foot haunted house made from 100,000 balloons, required almost 400 people to complete. Kelly learned about the project during its second year. She emailed me and asked to take part. She said she loved everything I did the previous year, but went on to explain how desperately I needed her in areas where my skills were lacking. It turns out she was right.

KC: I remember the note perfectly, I told him he needed my graphic design help and I sent him a freshly designed poster without being asked. Little did I know that email would change my entire life, and for the better! While I had always been an illustrator, it had taken a back seat to what seemed to be the more lucrative design work. Now I’m illustrating full time with a medium that makes people smile. Amazing what happens when you follow your gut and do something fun and helpful!

ST: You two also have a book published. ps. very inspirational! Please tell us more about your book, Artist Eyes.

'Artist Eyes' by Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle

'Artist Eyes' by Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle

LM: Artist Eyes is a somewhat whimsical presentation of some classic works of western art. It introduces art to very young children in a way that they’re likely to remember it. Eight of the most famous paintings in different genres are re-imagined in the photo illustrations in the book.

KC: It’s been fascinating to see children fall in love with the book. We’ve had several friends tell us that it’s their children’s book of choice for bedtime. Even better is to find out how much art history the kids have picked up with the simple rhyme.

ST: What do you hope to communicate with your art?

LM: We want people to see art as fun, playful, and interesting. It doesn’t have to be serious. By making use of a medium that has traditionally been thought of as a toy, it makes the whole realm of art more accessible to a larger group of people.

ST: Where do you get your inspiration from?

LM: I get incredibly inspired every time I pick up an art history book and see what’s been done before me that I was unaware of. I get just as excited and inspired by walking into other art studios and seeing what my contemporaries are doing. And our kids are an incredible source of inspiration.

KC: I’ve always been an art supply hound. I can’t wait to get my hands on new materials and processes to play with. While most of our time creating is spent with the balloons, Larry does quite a bit of photography, and I love fiber art like needle felting, crocheting and sewing. Oh! And other things like paper sculpture and 3-d printing. Well to be honest, no matter the material, I just love to make stuff!

ST: How old were you when you first started making art and who encouraged you to create?

LM: I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t encouraged to create. I remember my mom doing needlepoint and knitting all the time. Both of my parents would always help with whatever I wanted to make, whether it was for myself or a school project. Music and performance were really what I did most from kindergarten through high school, but visual art was always appealing to me.

KC: I can’t think of any time in my life where I wasn’t making things. In kindergarten I’d create miniature Japanese gardens in my grandmother’s backyard using mosses and tiny rocks (there was a full scale garden nearby for inspiration). I even remember one time a few years later, I had a note on my report card. My teacher was complaining I was spending too much time fiddling with papers on my desk instead of on my lessons. When my parents asked about it- I just told them the truth. I was doing origami. ;-)

ST: Do you have a craft, piece of art, or art technique you can share with our Scribblers for them to make at home?

Airigami Dino Instructions

Airigami Dino Instructions

ST: Any tips and advice for our Scribblers?

KC: Make mistakes. No one ever learned from getting everything right. Good mistakes are powerful opportunities for interesting and wonderful things to happen in our lives- and that’s how we all grow as artists and as humans.

And for you parents out there, make sure your kids have a place where they can make a mess and you can hose them down. It can be as simple as a vinyl tablecloth in the back yard with whipped cream for them to muck around in when they’re little, or their own corner of the basement for a studio as they get older. The more opportunities they have to experiment with different materials and ideas, the better! These become the perfect fodder for making connections and exploring. Textures, colors, shapes repeat across disciplines. I’ve been inspired by everything from microbiology to throwing clay pots on a wheel – you never know just what is going to click for a kid.

The most wonderful thing for me, as a parent, is to catch one of the kids in their own moment of “flow”. That moment where they’re just creating, and you can’t quite tell where the line separating your child from their work is. It’s beautiful- and so healthy and good for them. It helps them to find out who they are for themselves, and gives them joy. What more can you ask for?

ST: Thank you very much Kelly and Larry for sharing so much with us today.  You’ve left us with no choice, but to create and follow your heart!

For more inspirational artwork please go to Airigami’s video page: http://airigami.com/portfolio/videos/

Posted by Andi Thea, on December 16th, 2012 at 9:35 am. 1 Comment

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,Bloggers,Design,kids,Scribble Artist Interviews,Uncategorized Labels: , , , ,


Make a Happy Crab for Zoo & Aquarium Month!

Hi Scribblers!

Did you see our post last week on Zoo & Aquarium Month? We wanted to present you with another craft to make with your little ones!

This Happy Crab is a wonderful craft activity to make with the kids! To get the activity sheet, just click on the image download and print! Then, sit down with your little ones and get scribbley! Making this crab is easy! Just color in the pieces and attach to half of a paper plate- it’s so simple! With this happy movable crab, your kids faces will light up with joy as they see their finished art out on display!

We love to see the art of young ones! Share your finished art with us on our Facebook page! Sharing is a great way to inspire creativity- it shows others that you were brave enough to explore your creativity, and also that you were proud of your finished work. So go ahead, share your art with us on facebook.com/scribbleshop!

Posted by Andi Thea, on June 5th, 2012 at 9:18 pm. No Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,kids Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


A Summer Photo Scene!

Hi there!

 

Taking family photos can sometimes be a drag. You know what I’m talking about- one person doesn’t want to smile, one person doesn’t want to sit next to the rest of the family, one person always has to be a prankster and wreck the shot- but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to have a nice family photo! This, try something new! Make a fun summer photo scene!

This craft is so easy to make! Gather a bunch of recent photos of your family members. Cut out the best picture of each member of your family. Click on the image, download, print and get scribbley! Once the image is colored in, tape or glue on the faces of your family members!

This craft is sure to be unique and a fun way to capture everyone at their best. It will also make a great conversation piece to inspire creativity in family and visiting friends!

Posted by Andi Thea, on June 4th, 2012 at 10:41 pm. No Comments

Category: Arts & Crafts,kids Labels: , , , , , , ,


Today is Pet Owner’s Day!

Hi Scribblers!

Are you a pet owner? Well, guess what? Today is National Pet Owner’s Day! I guess that means it’s a day for us to celebrate being the proud owners (or parents) or our little furballs.  I know I’m happy to have my little Knowme. I always say, “to know me, is to love me” and that is how I came to name my little pup,  “Knowme!” She is such a loveable little dachshund!

Now while some people go to the extremes…

I decided to tone it down a bit (not that that isn’t hilarious), and make a cute petmat for my little pup!

To make this craft, you will need:
- Black Foam Sheet
- Red Glitter Foam
- Glitter in White
- Tacky Glue
- Scissors

Simply use your creativity and make a fun petmat for your pets! Share picture of your finished mats with us on our Facebook page!

Posted by Andi Thea, on April 18th, 2012 at 11:03 pm. No Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,holiday,kids Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Make Your Own Bird Ornament!

Hi Scribblers!

Spring is here! Have you been enjoying the warm Spring weather? I just love the sounds of the birds chirping and seeing them on the freshly blossomed flowers.

With this fun activity sheet, you can make your own bird ornament to decorate any window or tree around your home.

Just click on the image, download and print!

Posted by Andi Thea, on April 13th, 2012 at 9:37 pm. No Comments

Category: Arts & Crafts,classroom,kids Labels: , , , , , , ,


Have A Happy Weekend!
Have A Happy Life!
Have A Happy Spring!
Have A Happy, Happy Everything!
 

Hi Scribblers!

Whatever you are celebrating this weekend, I truly hope you enjoy it and have a lovely time with your friends and family!

Here are a few crafts to make with your little ones!

Just click on the images, download and print!

 

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Posted by Andi Thea, on April 6th, 2012 at 9:49 pm. No Comments

Category: adults,Arts & Crafts,holiday,kids Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


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