What's Happening?
I've been holding off on showing this piece, but since the Huffington Post showed it, I guess I can too! It's for the Gallery 1988 & Hello Giggles show Young Adult, that opens February 2nd at 7pm. The show includes artwork inspired by the Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, Baby-Sitters Club and Goosebumps book series. I took my cues from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps. I also did a super limited edition (only 10!) print run that will be available at the show.
"Oh, the Horrors" acrylic on wood, 10" x 9.25"
I just got back from California and I'm trying to wrap my brain around what just happened. Let me walk you through my day Saturday.
Ed and I woke up to this beautiful view and an absolutely clear, blue California sky. I was feeling really good and oddly, not too nervous. We began to walk over to the Grand Californian where we were to meet our escort to the gallery.
As we walked under the Disneyland sign and were surrounded by guests wearing Mickey Mouse ears (and Oswald ears too!) I began to get a little knot in my chest.
Passing under some spectacular banners for California Adventure and again, that beautiful blue sky shining down upon us.
The entrance to Downtown Disney was straight ahead and I began to realize that we were going to pass right by the WonderGround Gallery on our way to the hotel. Deep breathing commenced.
We turned the corner and there was the gallery with those huge banners hanging in the entrance. And yes, there was my Oswald, smiling down on me. Crying commenced.
I composed myself and we continued on to the hotel where we met up with J. Scott Campbell and Miss Mindy. They were so kind and welcoming, I began to wonder why I had been so nervous before!
But when I got to my table, I admit I was nervous again. Then I took a deep breath and looked up at that brilliant sky as "Feliz Navidad" (my favorite Christmas song) began to play on the loud speakers and I took it all in. This was going to be a very good day :D
The Ambassadors for the event kept everything very mellow and the guests were so nice. I always love meeting the people that my artwork is making happy. 
Mike Stilkey's stunning painted book sculpturesMany thanks also to Mike Stilkey and Miss Mindy who sat on either side of me and made me laugh. 
Miss Mindy's amazing sculptures!I also had the pleasure of meeting Noah. He actually bought one of my prints and handed it to me to draw all over the matte for him. That wonderful gesture helped focus me and gave me that little boost I needed to keep going.
Some merchandise placed right next to Jerrod Maruyama's great work.
An overview of the gallery - you can also see the wide screen monitors that were displaying the artists' photos and work. It was also a great pleasure to sit down and talk with Stephanie Buscema and her husband at lunch along with meeting Nei Ruffino, Michelle Romo, Martin Hsu, Jackie Huang, Ming Ong and Sean Chao. All amazing artists and such nice people!
"A Swingin' Time" acrylic on wood 
"626" acrylic on wood -- SOLD
"Flowers and Thorns" custom 3" Vinylmation (my first!) -- SOLD
It truly was a magical day and I can't thank the good people at WonderGround Gallery and everyone who came out to the signing enough. To view the artwork from the show, please visit the WonderGround Gallery website.
I can only hope that I get to do it again some day :)
-Kristin
I am honestly at a loss for words for this next art show that I'm a part of. For anyone who knows me, Disney has been a huge part of my life. From some of my earliest memories watching The Wonderful World of Disney and my first trip (by train) to Disneyworld in Florida with my family to my wedding and reception behind Cinderella's Castle to visiting Tokyo Disneyland mulitple times. Not to mention all the movies and collectables, oh and that amazing 10th wedding anniversary lunch at Club 33! Like I said, I'm a huge fan of all things Disney.
So when I got the email about the possibility of doing some artwork for the new WonderGround Gallery in the Downtown Disney® District at the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, CA, I started crying. Me? I was floored.
I accepted and was given several characters to work with. Then it hit me - how the heck am I going to live up to all the great artists and artwork that Disney has produced? What could I possibly do to pay tribute to these characters?
I worried for a bit then decided to keep it sweet and simple and hoped that I could do these lifelong 'friends' justice.
In the midst of losing power for a week from Hurricane Sandy, and then another round of power outages from the nor'easter that dumped a foot of heavy wet snow just a week later, I was trying to get my artwork done. I just kept looking ahead to the day when I could share it with all of you.
I've been waiting for the OK from Disney to announce the show and signing and low and behold, on my internet rounds this morning, I saw my Oswald piece on one of my favorite sites, Super Punch. He linked to the Disney Parks blog where they finally spilled the beans on the Good vs. Evil show, opening December 15th with signings in the morning from 9am to 11am featuring the amazingly talented J. Scott Campbell, Miss Mindy, Nei, Noah, Mike Stilkey, Sean Chao and Kristin Tercek (that's me!). Then in the 1pm - 3pm signing (which I will have to go back for since I really want to meet all of these artists) there's Stephanie Buscema, Martin Hsu, Jacki Huang, Jerrod Maruyama, Ming Ong and Michelle Romo. These artists are some of my all time favorites and I've been quietly following them for years. Now I have the amazing opportunity to show alongside them.
I am humbled, honored and nervous as all heck! So many, many thanks to the people at WonderGround Gallery who found me and decided I might be a good fit. And to all my SoCal fans, it would be a real treat (and help me not be so nervous) if you came out to visit with me on the morning of December 15th at WonderGround Gallery. In Downtown Disney. In the Disneyland Resort.
What a magical year this has been!
This is just one of the pieces I did for the show and it features one of my favorite characters, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: "Multitasking" acrylic on wood 11.5" x 9.25". All of the original artwork and merchandise associated with this show will be available exclusively at WonderGround Gallery.
I am thrilled to be taking part in Gallery 1988's brand new tribute show to the amazing Judd Apatow. We were asked to "reinterpret anything from his long career into pieces of art" and if you check his IMDb page you'll see there was a lot to work from!
I looked down the list and stopped at "Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy" that Apatow produced. One of my all time favorite movies, I took it upon myself to carefully watch the movie over and over to make sure I didn't miss anything. By the end of my exhausting research session, I decided Baxter the dog was going to be my subject. In his signature head gear and pj's riding atop Katow-jo, he is wise, may or may not have pooped in the refrigerator and is:
"A Friend of the Bears" (acrylic on wood, 9.25" x 11.5").
The opening reception is Tuesday, December 4th, 7-9pm and is hosted by Judd Apatow(!). You MUST RSVP to attend the opening by emailing gallery1988melrose@gmail.com
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Another show I'm glad to be a part of is Curiosities at Gallery Nucleus opening Oct 27th. This should be quite the interesting show. In celebration of Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying's new book release "Curiosities: An Illustrated History of Ancestral Oddity", over 40 artists were asked what 'oddities and creatures...one may discover in an ancient, spooky mansion.' 
I immediately went to my stack of books on Cabinets of Curiosities and began compiling items that I was drawn to: taxidermy, sideshow gaffs, terrariums, sea creatures. The result is "Saturnine" acrylic on wood, 9" x 7.25".
The opening sounds like it's going to be a blast - combining the book release (with Mike and Victoria signing copies), a costume contest and the curious, eerie art exhibition turning the gallery into a spooky mansion.
As with all Nucleus shows I suggest signing up for the preview list and you'll get a password to see the artwork online (and purchase it) before the opening.
I am so happy to show you my painting for Bad Dads III at Spoke Art. It's a tribute to the films of Wes Anderson and I chose his latest, "Moonrise Kingdom" to draw inspiration from. "Luna Ascensio Rex" measures 12.3" x 9.25" and is acrylic on wood. The show opens in San Francisco on October 26th and 27th (costume and Halloween party too!). If you can't make the opening I suggest clicking through to their website where you can enter your email and get first notice of when the artwork will be put online for purchase.
A very rare occurance: I took on a commission.
I was contacted by Sean Lugo at Savage Habbit to do an "I'm Not Hungry" piece with his cat Noodles and a squirrel. I was feeling particularly good that day and thought I might enjoy painting a cat - I accepted.
I think it worked out well (and I didn't dive into a depression) so I'm seriously considering opening up my commission window again after years of saying no to people.
Not right now - but maybe. Yes, maybe :)
I just picked up this painting from it's six month long exhibition and I'm really happy to see it again. I kind of forgot how bright the colors are and how big it is (for me, at least!). I think that it's time for this piece to make someone else happy. It will be available for purchase in my shop on Friday, September 7th at 3pm EDT.
I'm going to be donating 10% of the sale price to the NJ Food Bank as well, so many thanks in advance to whoever may give this piece a loving home.
...all walk into my studio.
"Gwizzly" acrylic on wood, 7.25" x 5.25" x .75"
Obviously this guy is part of my "I'm Not Hungry" series and is based on a grizzly bear and one of his favorite meals buddies, the Pink Salmon. Did you know that when the male Pink Salmon is spawning he develops his signature hump - thus the nickname, "Humpy".
Next up is "Lil' Hoot" acrylic on wood, 7" x 5.25" x .75"
For the same series, I decided to take on the Northern Saw-Whet Owl, who is perpetually small and cute (one of the smallest owls in North America) and his little dancing buddy is the Deer Mouse. Did you know that the Deer Mouse has a two-tone tail?
And last but not least is this guy:
"Lee" acrylic on wood, 5.25" x 4" x .75"
I've been staring at his lazy eye for months and just never finished him. I finally took the time to tidy him up and now he's all ready for a loving home. He's based on the Black and White Ruffed Lemur that I have a feeling I'll be revisiting for a more formal sitting in the future.
As always, thanks for your continued support!
My latest painting is for the brand new Auguste Clown Gallery's grand opening show, Runaway Circus in Melbourne, Australia:
"Fiji Frangipani" acrylic on wood, 13" x 9.25"
What can I say? I love lazy eyes. To enquire about availability and shipping costs, visit Auguste Clown Gallery