Saturday, March 29, 2008

Illustration Friday


My Homage for Illustration Friday... from Yarmouth Cape Cod, a ferry ride away, Edward Gorey http://edwardgoreyhouse.org/

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Butterfly Jungle Zine

The first issue of my zine.. for children of all ages... the second one coming soon....this one has little gardens that you assemble and a wicked maze. The next issue has an awsome cover and adventures with Ms. Papillon, as well as Cape Breton Shortbread Cookie Recipes...the BEST! I'm not quite sure when it will be out, but stay tuned! xo
I have ordered a bunch of these pattern books from Japan and I can't wait to dig into them and make some more wallpaper designs....










Here is one of my designs in pink...xo



Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Just a wee drawing for today...Spring is in the air!xo

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

John Derian

I picked up the latest copy of "Vogue Living" magazine, and lo and behold, there was a beautiful article on my old friend, John Derian
All grown up and looking quite dapper....


Here is his artwork at the New York Gift Show.....

And here is his livingroom in his new home in Provincetown, Massachusettes....Just a hop skip and jump away from Nantucket....His home is the subject of the article in Vogue Living. He will be opening a new shop there as well...John Derian New England on Law Street ( back of 396 Commercial Street)...Opening Memorial Day 2008! I'll be there! xo



Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter gems

Nifty decorated goose eggs by yours truely....Happy Easter!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

My Place

I've been living in Nantucket for about 4 years now, but the house I own is in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Here is the view out my back door of the church and the Lake.
This is my studio where I listen to the CBC and paint wallpaper designs and such.

And this is a portion of my living room. There are tons of apple trees on the property and berries, lupines and columbine. I'll post photos this spring!xo


In The Press

In the Studio: Pirates, ships and mermaids with artist Jeanne Van Etten

Photos

studio_Mermaid_5_stoolTop.jpg
Photo by Rob Benchley

One of Jeanne Van Etten's fanciful creations.

studio_Mermaid_5_stoolTop.jpg
studio_Mermaid_1.jpg

There are plenty of pirates and ships and assorted sea creatures depicted playfully in folk artist Jeanne Van Etten’s pieces, but it is mermaids that have mesmerized her for as long as she can remember.
“I’ve always painted mermaids. They’re supposed to be mischievous, and I’ve found a lot of people collect them. I’ve been attracted by them since I was a little kid,” she said, sitting in a nook at her cheerful shop and studio at 4 Fair St. where mermaids decorate everything from mirror frames to painted scenes to meditation benches and step stools, wooden boxes, an annual calendar and even the insides of sea clam shells that tourists buy up at a quick clip.
Van Etten was having trouble finding the white oval shells, especially in good condition, when last year she learned of three young girls who dive for them. She offered them two dollars for each shell they could find, and to her surprise the next day the trio returned with 200. She is down to her last 20 now and searching for more.
“I like the whimsy [of folk art] and the stories behind mermaids and sirens,” she explained. “It’s not realistic, it’s simple. It makes you happy and it’s fun to look at.”
Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains, Van Etten recalls the influence her artistic aunt had on developing her talent during her childhood. She attended the Art Institute of Boston for two years, but admits she was a drop-out.
“I went there for fine art and I think I’m more of a graphic artist,” she said.
That was in the late 1970s, but Van Etten remained in the Boston area a while before moving to the Cape and opening a small art shop. Next she went to New York State and opened another shop in a converted gas station, before relocating in Washington, Conn. for 14 years and having her third shop there. At the same time, she worked the craft show circuit and created hand-painted furniture on commission for interior designers. In the 1990s, she decorated windows at New York City’s Museum of American Folk Art using her original pieces.
Van Etten’s family had visited Nantucket for years and eventually bought a house here. She moved here permanently in 2004 and now, besides having her shop studio, she sells her art at the Nantucket Farmers Market, at fundraisers for Small Friends of Nantucket and on the ETSY Web site.
A portion of her inspiration comes from magazine photos that she knows will translate well into folk art images and also from customers’ ideas that jog her imagination. “Sometimes I’ll just start painting something and let it evolve,” she said.
In the future Van Etten wants to create more Nantucket-themed skyline and water paintings and return to making pottery and sculptures, including the concept of a cement mermaid garden sculpture with the top of her head forming a birdbath and her hands outstretched and cupped to hold birdseed.
“It’s just the best job I could ever have. It’s something I think I have to do,” she said of being an artist. “If I’m in a situation where I’m not working on [art] for three days I get really crabby. I can’t stop — the more I do the more I want to do. There are a lot of ideas I’ve thought of for years and when you finally do them and they work you have accomplished a goal. It’s just a great satisfaction and I’m glad other people like it as well. It’s very satisfying that I can do this for a living.”



From Well Wed Online











































































































Thursday, March 13, 2008

Easter Fun

I want this Japanese Bunny....to snuggle with....
and here are some more Bunnies from Tim Walker I think I'll make some Bunny fairies when i get home to Nantucket....xo

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Wedding cake toppers

Here are some new Wedding cake toppers that I made. I feel like Geppetto in his workshop. These take forever, but I have a good time making them. I like collecting all of the vintage tid bits and using them here and there. I will have to make a nice cake when I get back to display them on.

I call these two.."the Mod Squad". I used a vintage silk tie for his suit and a pretty hankie for her dress.
He looks like Oscar Wilde, but couldn't be, of course! I think he has a charming bride....



There they are dancing amongst the guinea hen feathers....xo


Tuesday, March 4, 2008

One of my favorite etchings by Pamela Bianco, who wrote The Velveteen Rabbit. This is an image from a book she illustrated for Walter de la Mere called Fauna. I believe she was only 12 years old when she did this. Tomorrow I am off to visit Honey's Son and girl friend in Florida! We will have fun, we will...xo

Monday, March 3, 2008

Frolicking fawns in the forest with ferns,fauna and fungi

This was inspiration for a drawing I did for a print and then a greeting card.....


It's from a set of "fill in your own blurb" cards that I had for sale at the New York Stationery Show last year. The print will be available at my shop in a week or two. It dosen't have the "blurb" bubble....just the frolicking fawns in the forest with ferns, fauna and fungi! xo


Sunday, March 2, 2008