When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

fabrics

Monte “maskot”

Sunday, April 5th, 2020

Monte maskot face mask
Yellow and pink Monte masksAbove: Monte “maskot” face mask for our social responsibility while out and about during COVID19.
The Monte Files were listed on my very first website (2003) with the invitation for you, whoever and wherever you are, despite your age or artistic capabilities, to send in your version of Monte or a character inspired by him, and add it to the collection. The invitation still stands.
Your character can be created using any sort of media. Copy any version of Monte in the Monte Files and re-invent him, trace him or print out pages from the Monte Coloring Book at the bottom of the Monte Files page and color or paint it, write a joke or add hand gestures (as in Monte Cycles 2006). There are no rules except have fun with it; Monte’s up for anything!

Lifetime supply of Monte

The pattern I used is here. I found that the suggested interface makes the mask too thick and not porous enough for breathing, so I made some without and they are much more comfortable. It depends on the kind of fabric you’re using, but the mask still holds its’ shape with double-folded fabric.

Smiley face mask


Monte Earthbag with pockets and change purse, black with sky blue lining

Comforters and Joy

Monday, December 13th, 2010


 
Patrick Roy hockey card, fabric paint on 100% cotton twin size comfortorWhile organizing and packing for the big move to Oregon, I’ve been uncovering (so to speak!) things I haven’t seen for a very long time. In 1992 our boys played hockey and collected hockey cards, so they each chose their favorite to be recreated on a comforter for their beds. My thinking was that if they had stuff they liked in their room, they would keep it tidy. Hey, it did work for a while! Pillowcases, lunch bags and toy bags were made from left-over fabric, and they painted on some too. I’m saving a few of these things to hand down to their children.

Ed Belfour hockey card, fabric paint on 100% cotton twin size comfortorAt the time these were made I was working freelance, mostly for interior designers. There were outside on-site jobs, but the work I enjoyed most was designing or matching and painting fabrics at home. I’d be given a fabric sample, a room theme, or sometimes only one word as inspiration, and a limited time to come up with an original idea, then produce it.

The standard business advice to keep professional and personal life separate might work great for companies buying and reselling someone else’s products, but does not really apply to artists. For me at least, work and home life flow as one. Creativity is always there buzzing around, and when professional work is not switched to “on”, it’s looking for something else to do!