forever friend

a drawing of Ben, by Jen Kostecki-Shaw, 2001

The vet hospital called several days ago, but for whatever reason I haven't been able to bring myself to go and pick up Ben's ashes. I simply wasn't ready. I'm honestly not sure if I was ready today, but I stopped by and picked them up anyway. I was fine until I got home, opened up the box that his ashes were in and saw this. Inserted in the box, printed on a small piece of paper was this writing.

There's something missing in my house,

I feel it day and night,

I know it will take time & strength,

Before things feel quite right.

But just for now I need to mourn,

my heart it needs to mend.

Though some may say it's "just a pet"

I know I've lost my friend.

You've brought such laughter to my home

and richness to my days...

A constant friend through joy or loss,

with gentle, loving ways.

Companion, pal & confidante,

a friend I won't forget,

you'll live for always in my heart,

my sweet, forever friend.

(Author unknown)

Although this might seem cheesy, this short piece captures what I'm feeling. It's been a funky week. I've had some good moments, for sure, but I just feel like I'm in a funk. I've been going non-stop for so long that I'm not sure what to do now that I can actually slow down a bit. 


Perhaps it's time to plant some more flowers, visit with friends and family, spend some time in my studio and try to simply enjoy. If there's one thing that all of my animals have taught me it's that time goes too quickly. We are only here once. We might as well make the best of it.  :)


I miss you Ben. xo

new studio planter

In honor of Ben, we recently planted some flowers in this old sink. It was removed from our basement 2 years ago after we'd had some plumbing work done. It's a beast of a sink! Built in 1945, this thing is made of concrete and weighs a ton. Originally, we were gonna scrap it but once we realized it was concrete, we decided to hang onto it. We weren't really sure what we were going to do with it but we thought we'd hang onto it anyway. Then, one day when I was doing laundry, I stood there looking at it and thought that it would make a great planter. A good friend of ours was over at the house recently and he and my husband hauled it outside and placed it in front of my studio.

Now it's filled with petunias, daisies, african daisies and other various flowers - I love it! I might repaint it, but for now I'm simply enjoying seeing some new life in this old thing.

rest in peace, sweet boy

As many of you know, our sweet boy Ben has not been doing well during these past couple of months. Two weeks ago, we found out that he had aggressive carcinoma cancer growing inside his chest. We did all that we could to keep him as comfortable as we could, for as long as we could.

Unfortunately, the cancer got worse in a short amount of time. Rather than put him through any more pain or drugs, we decided to end his pain and give him some peace. He's been gone almost a week now, and I miss him terribly.

I read an article recently on why the death of our animals affects us so deeply. They are always there, no matter what, through thick and thin, good times and bad. They don't judge, don't complain, don't turn you away -- they simply love you. In many ways, they truly are your family.

I owe so much to this dog. He has carried me through so many things. What first comes to mind is when I adopted him from from my friend, Kit. Because my other dog, Betty, was sick at the time, I didn't want another dog and I remember saying that to Kit when I went over to her house meet all the puppies. Yet, Ben melted my heart that day and, well, the rest is history.

Another thing that comes to mind is the first time Ben met my husband, Jake - they were instantly friends! I knew this guy was a keeper! And, as it turns out, I was right (and so was Ben!!).

What comes to mind most, though, is my time with my Dad and Mom in Houston during those 2 months before my Dad passed away. Ben never left my Dad's side. He was always there at his feet, ready to love and give support however he could. And, at the end of the day, overwhelmed with sadness, he was my rock as I cried, not entirely knowing what to do or how to help. I gained my strength and clarity day by day, in part, from Ben. The rest I got from my Mom and my wonderful friends.   :)

BiG THANKS to ALL of you for the love and happiness you gave Ben over the years. All the little gestures mean a whole lot.  :)

Keep sending the juju… we need it.

new bots arriving soon :)

Bit Bot • wood & other bits, roughly 2.5 inches tall

It's been a while since I've posted any robot pics, but I've got a few in the works.... including this little guy. I made him several months ago and then brought him in to work to keep me company. He's the smallest bot I've made to date, and was a lot of fun to make. His arms are made out of straws and his yellow antenna is a thumb tack.

2 new bots, in progress

These 2 bots are each approximately 6 inches tall and since this pic was taken, they've each been fully painted. I am hoping to add their details - including arms! - sometime this week. More pics soon!

a dream come true!

my piece for the current Cloudy Collection

When I was little, my mom would take my 3 siblings and I to the library every week to get a stack of books. I loved going to the library and looked forward to this trip every week. Some of my favorite books were the "how to draw" books by illustrator Ed Emberley. My favorite book was called "Make A World" (I also loved the "Book of Faces" previously mentioned, here). This book, among his many others, influenced an entire generation of kids in the 70s... many of whom grew up to be illustrators & artists. These wonderful books continue to influence thousand of children - and adults - today.

You might wonder, "what's so great about them?"

At first glance, the drawings and the instructions appear to be very simple... and they are. They're so simple, in fact, that everything in the book is broken down to drawing with simple shapes. Using squares, triangles, rectangles and circles, Ed Emberley shows kids how to draw in a very simple - but fun - way. If you can draw these 4 shapes, you can draw anything. That was a pretty amazing concept to realize when I was 6! Drawing with shapes is something that I still really enjoy today.

The Current Cloudy Collection print set, entitled "Monster Parade" is a tribute to Ed Emberley. Like all the artists in the set, I'm a huge fan of Ed Emberley and his books....so being a part of this set is like a dream come true! Ed Emberley contributed to the set too! I am so very honored to be a part of this Cloudy Collection and be included in such a stellar set of prints by such talented folks! PINCH ME NOW!!

To see all the images in the set and for more information about the artists, visit the Cloudy Collection site.

inspiring drawing by kids

drawings taken from Highlights issues June/July 1959 and October 1961

click for a larger image

When I was little, my grandmother got me a subscription to Highlights magazine. At some point, she switched from Highlights and got me a subscription to Cricket magazine, which I loved. I still have some of my favorite issues in a box in my studio, which I look at from time to time.

So many years later, I find myself seeking out issues of Highlights magazine from the 50s & 60s. Not because of the articles (ha!), but because of a section in the middle of the magazine called "Our Own Pages". This section of the magazine features drawings and writing from kids all over the country. Highlights would put a call out in every issue and kids could send in their entries with the hope of getting them printed in the magazine. I like these older issues because they are printed on newsprint and use very limited color. This section is usually simple black & white.

I recently scanned in a couple of these pages and compiled them onto an 11x17 sheet of paper, which I have hanging in my studio. I love them. Thought you might find them inspiring too.

Fragmented Fave: Mumblion!

I first saw the work of Kinya Hanada (a.k.a. Mumblion and Mumbleboy) last year, when a friend of mine sent me a link to his work. At the time, I was doing some paper mache and she thought that seeing what he does would inspire me. Not only did it inspire me, but it totally blew me away. His intense, wonderful sense of color and pattern immediately grabbed me. The more time I spent looking at his work, the more I wanted to create some paper mache things of my own. What really struck me though is the process he goes through to build his paper mache creations. It's not just about putting shapes together to form these new creations, but it's about reusing things that would otherwise be seen as trash. His paper mache robots are some of my faves and are a good example of how he reuses discarded materials.

paper robots in progress by Kinya Hanada

Here's an example of how Kinya builds the robot. Using a variety of discarded plastics and papers, he begins to cut things apart and rearranges them to form new shapes. Once the robot shape is done, he starts the paper mache process by adding paper and glue, covering up all the "trash" underneath. I love and admire this idea and way of working and it's made me look at what we recycle a bit differently. I find myself holding onto pieces that might make an interesting arm, leg, eye or ear.

front & back of a finished paper robot by Kinya Hanada

And here's a finished robot - I love it! The color & pattern is really great. Someday, I'd like to get one for my collection. As with the piece above, many of Kinya's pieces are covered in fun, bright colors and have some sort of pattern on them. Check out these wonderful pieces from an installation in 2007 called "Super Heroes Return."

Super Heroes Return, by Mumblion • various sizes, paper mache

I love variety of characters in this picture. I also love the fact that he constructed and painted a unique stand for all of them to stand on. So fun! But my favorite piece from the show is this one. Co-created with artist Eric Mast (a.k.a. E*rock), I love how big he is, the simple primary colors and the pattern. It grabs your eye and commands your attention right away.

here is the giant being built, in progress...

...and here is the final piece, in the gallery

This piece makes me think of many things, but what I love about it is that it's so simple. Constructed of boxes, it is transformed into something else. I love that.

Mumbreeze • paper mache animals

In addition to creating things as Mumblion or Mumbleboy, Kinya and his wife, Kao also make a lot of work together. Some of these pieces, like the ones above, can be found on their Etsy store, Mumbreeze. It is this work that I originally fell in love with. It is creatures like these that also appeared in a wonderful installation they did together in 2008 called "Heroes of the Forest."

Kinya & Kao Hanada • Heroes of the Forest, Hanna Gallery , Tokyo, Japan

I just *love* this installation. Although it's not very big, it's so fun and imaginative that I find myself creating stories as I look at it. Successful dioramas do that - they remove you from where you currently are and give you a glimpse of another place. It's wonderfully magical.

All images taken from Kinya's flickr page, Mumblion.

crazy for ROBOTS!

This January, I am going to be creating a display of my robot collection to share with my co-workers. Consisting of robots I've made and toy robots I've collected over the years, they'll all be on display for two months. In 2010, I began making robots again for the first time in years. I had a blast (!) and am looking forward to making more in 2011. Here's a quick look at some of the pieces I made in 2010 and a sneak peek at a one I started just yesterday.

block bots • wood, found bits, game pieces, acrylic & ink, 2010

In May I was commissioned by a friend of mine to create a robot for each of her two kids. I was thrilled - how fun! Since I'd had some success creating previous bots about 6 inches tall, I decided to make these about that size too. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with these and I learned a lot while making them. While they're very basic, I had a lot of fun playing with the blocks arranging and rearranging them until they fit into the bot they are supposed to be. I was hooked!

the HAPPY ROBOT • blank Neighborwood figure, acrylic, game pieces, ink, 2010

In November, I participated in the Customize Show here in Kansas City. Sponsored by local designer toy store Poptopia, participants could customize any blank figure they wanted - made out of wood, vinyl or resin. Several years ago, I purchased a blank Neighborwood figure. This unique blank made of solid wood, designed by artist Mike Burnett and manufactured by Big Shot Toyworks would make a perfect robot! Each Neighborwood is made up of 6 separate parts: the head, the body, 2 arms and 2 legs. Once I sketched out how I wanted him to look, I added the dimensional wooden pieces (nose, eyes, & red dot on top) and painted each piece with gesso. Once they were dry, I started putting on the final paint. I then carefully glued them all together and added all the details. The Happy Robot keeps my husband and I company in our office. :)

new robot pieces!

For Christmas this year, my husband got me this amazing, fun jar full of old blocks (from the River Market Antique Mall here in Kansas City). I had been eyeing them for a while and was so excited to open them up on Christmas Day. I love them! Just look at all these wonderful shapes. I am really excited to start building some new robots!

new 2011 bot!

Here's a little sneak peek at one of the bots I started making yesterday. He's a little smaller than the other bots I've made ... maybe about 4 inches tall ... but he's been just as fun to make! For more shots of all the bots described above and to see some of the other robots I worked on last year, check out my 3D Bots & Customs set on my flickr page. This is where I'll be dumping all of my in progress pics of these bots as I make them.

Thanks for visiting & Happy New Year!!

BOO!

this is one of our favorite jack o'lanterns

that we put out every year

October is one of my favorite months. The crisp in the air, apple cider, the way the leaves start to change bright orange & red and.... HALLOWEEN! I love Halloween! Goblins, ghosts, witches and skeletons! Watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on tv and seeing all the orange and black everywhere - it all makes me so happy. Since I was little, there are a few Halloween songs that pop into my brain at this time of year, every year. The first one goes something like this:

Jack O'Lantern, Jack O'Lantern big and yellow

Jack O'Lantern, Jack O'Lantern funny fellow

shining in the night

with your candle bright

scaring all the witches with your "BOO! BOO! BOO!"

It's silly, but every time I see a Jack O'Lantern, that's what's going through my head! I'm not sure what grade I learned that song in. What I do know is that I'm pretty sure whoever taught it to me probably doesn't know that it's stuck with me all these years. Here's another one that seems to find it's way into my brain:

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!

It's time for treats! It's time for screams!

(and then you add your very own maniacal laughter here)

Curcurbita 1, by Jimmy Pickering

Check out this super cool Curcurbita that my friend Jimmy made! Isn't it awesome? Made out of sculpy, this little guy is approximately 3 inches high and 2.5 inches wide. Crazy cool! I wish I had been fast enough to snatch this off his store!

The last song that I always think of is probably my favorite because it was always so fun to sing. It's kind of a surprise song. By that, what I mean is that you sing it really quietly until you get to the "BOO!" at the end, which you sing loudly. It goes like this:

There was an old woman all skin and bones. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

She lived down by the old graveyard. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

One night she thought she'd take a walk. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

She walked down by the old graveyard. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

She saw the bones all laying around. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

She went to the closet to get a broom. Ooo-oo-oo-oo!

She opened the door and BOO!

Hooo hooo hahaha! 10 more days 'til Halloween!

Bunches, Crowds, Clusters, Piles and Knots

I guess it was sometime in 2009 when I first started collecting the wonderful print editions from Cloudy Collection. I love them, and I love collecting them! David Huyck, the mastermind behind Cloudy collection, began these sets out of a love for letterpress and a desire to do something fun with people he knew and people he wanted to get to know better. Each set has a different theme and is printed using two colors, to keep things simple. In addition, each set is printed by the wonderful Boxcar Press, which is run by a friend of his from college.

my piece for Cloudy Collection Volume II, Edition 3 • photo by David Huyck

The theme for this set of prints was Bunches, Crowds, Clusters, Piles and Knots. My first thought when creating this piece was about a drawer organizer that I have in my studio. It's basically a wooden drawer organizer that is broken down into different sections. Each section is filled with little things I collect, all of which are gathered in bunches and clusters. For this piece, I thought it would be interesting to sort out some of the recurring symbols that I seem to be using a lot these days, drawn as if they were organized in the wooden drawer thing in my studio. I started by doing a simple drawing with a crow quill and ink.

drawing, before color

Once I got the drawing down, I scanned it in and started to add the two colors, a grayish blue and an orangish red. The thing I like about having to use two colors this way, is what you can do when the two colors overprint - they create a new color! White can also become a color, if you want it to. Two colors become four - I love it!

drawing, after color

I'm very honored to be a part of Cloudy Collection Volume II, Edition 3, entitled "Bunches, Crowds, Clusters, Piles and Knots". Woohoo! To see all the amazing artwork (!!) in this set and/or to get your very own set, please visit Cloudy Collection. The sets are very affordable, and are comprised of seven prints. In addition, a percentage of the sales of the Cloudy Collection print sets are donated to The Nature Conservancy, an international organization devoted to saving wild, untouched and rehabilitated nature places for future generations.

Big thanks to David Huyck for inviting me to participate. This was a fun project! :)

glimpses of times past

Lynn Kathleen, b. 1946, written on the back

Many years ago, I began collecting old photographs. They have always fascinated me. As a kid, I loved to spend time looking through the many photo albums that my mom had put together. These albums are time capsules. Filled with collections of pictures from holidays, special events, vacations and bits of every day life, they have catalogued our lives. Looking through them takes me back to that moment, the time around that moment, and what I was doing, feeling, thinking and dreaming.

There were also albums (and boxes!) of pictures from my mom's family and my dad's family. These truly fascinated me because they gave me a glimpse into my parents' lives that I had never seen before. Not only did I see them as children, but I also saw my aunts and uncles as children and my grandparents, as parents. As a kid, having this realization and glimpse into the past was huge. It is what planted the seed for me and I think it's the reason I still love looking through - and collecting - old photographs today.

1933, grandmother and grandson

These glimpses open the possibility of creating a story. Who are these people? Where do they come from? What happened before and after the picture was taken? How do they live? Where do they live? What do they like or dislike? What do they dream? These are some of the questions that often roll through my head as I look at these pictures. Using them within my work, I add my story to it, reinterpreting the person or scenario into the piece I am creating.

As I collect these pictures, I cannot help but think of the pictures I've taken. Having owned a digital camera for years now, I have lost count of all the images that take up space on the hard drive of my computer. Although I look at them regularly, they are not prints. These intangible bits of imagery still act as a time capsule, but it's not the same.

two siblings, year unknown

Often, when I go to the antique mall or an antique shop, and I find a stack of these old pictures, I can't help but feel a little sad. These belonged to someone and at some point, they meant something to someone. What do my pictures mean to me? What do I want to happen to them? What do your pictures mean to you?

Being the collector that I am, I've decided to add this photo collection as a set to my flickr page. Entitled "Glimpses of the Past", I'll be adding photos from my photo collection to this set periodically, as I acquire them. If you have an old photo you'd like to share/send to me (and/or possibly add to the set), send it my way/contact me at fragmented (at) earthlink dot net. I'd love to see it!

Thanks - enjoy.

HYPERDOODLE DREAM at Mail Me Art 2

Hyperdoodle Dream

acrylic & marker on board, 12x12 inches, 2010

I'm thrilled to have a piece in the upcoming show, Mail Me Art 2. Mail Me Art is a British-based project organized by Darren Di Lieto, founder and co-editor of Hire An Illustrator and the Little Chimp Society. Mail Me Art 1, held in April 2009, "brought together a vast collection of artistic work sent in the form of mail by both professional and amateur artists of all ages from across the world. A wide variety of media was used in an equally wide variety of styles." (1)

I have always enjoyed creating (and receiving!) mail art. I really like the addition of scuffs, marks, bumps and bruises it tends to receive while traveling through the postal system. Since I was sending this piece to England, I thought it would be fun to create something more durable to see how it would fare passing though so many hands.

Hyperdoodle Dream (detail 1)

Since I wanted to create something durable, I decide to try to send a piece of wood through the mail. Measuring 12x12 inches, the board is solid birch plywood. It was interesting trying to send this piece. I ended up going to 3 different post offices here in Kansas City before someone would give me the OK to send it as-is without any packaging. As for the image itself, this hyperdoodle is unique in that I mixed enamel based markers and water based markers together on one piece.

Darren has taken the time to set up a gallery that includes images from the last exhibit as well as a preview of the new one. Here are a few of my faves from Mail Me Art 1:

by Sauerkids

by Zeptonn

I couldn't make out the name on this piece, but I love it! (If anyone knows who did any of these 3 pieces, please let me know. Thanks.)

unknown artist

unknown artist

Take a look at all the pieces from both exhibits, here. BIG thanks to Darren for coordinating this show and for the fun opportunity! Mail Me Art 2 opens this Friday, July 30, 2010 at Red Gate Gallery, London.

(1) taken from Project Details, on the Mail Me Art website.

Here We Are

Here We Are / cover art • July 2010

As some of you may know, my youngest brother, Matt, is a musician.

To say that Matt chose music as a path in life wouldn't really be accurate. Rather, I believe it chose him. Although all of my siblings and I have always enjoyed music, it affected him in a different way. As far back as I can remember, my dad's music collection always filled the house. So much so, in fact, that as kids we couldn't get to sleep unless something was blaring through the stereo or on the record player. Oh, to fall asleep to Beethoven!

After a year-and-a-half of hard work and collaboration my brother, Matt, and his friend, Chris Lee, have released their first album on iTunes and CDBaby.com. Entitled Here We Are, the album is a great mix of blues, indie, rock and folk. Right now it's only available as a digital download. In September, the physical CD will be available on CDBaby.com. I was honored to do the artwork & design for the album.

It's roughly 700 miles from Waco, Texas to Columbia, Missouri. Over the last year there has been a tidal wave of music, energy and communication flowing in the space between these two cities. “Here We Are” is a unique collaboration between two musicians who have never met.

Check it out. And, if you're so inclined, give it a listen. My favorite song is Here We Are.

40 years ago today...

my parents at their wedding, March 17, 1970

...my parents were married. It was a snowy night in Red Bank, New Jersey, around 8:00 pm. Friends and family gathered at The Molly Pitcher, to join my mom and dad as they exchanged their vows. I've heard so many great stories that led up to that night and how they met, as well as the night itself.

It's been almost 6 years since my dad passed away so this day, though happy, is always somewhat bittersweet for me. I'm sure it is for my mom as well. When my dad passed away, my mom gave me this picture from their wedding day. I love it. It's probably one of my favorite pictures of them.

No marriage is perfect, and I'm sure my parents had their share of ups & downs. However imperfect, they built a life together and taught me a lot about what it means to live and love. They also gave me 3 amazing siblings, whom I am very grateful for.

Our loved ones who have passed before us are never that far away. We might not be able to see them, but I am convinced that they continue to walk with us throughout our days.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad.

Show The Love!

Back in December, my friend Tad asked me if I'd like to be a part of a group print show at Vahalla Studios, a wonderful print shop that he and his friend Dan run here in KC. Entitled Show The Love, each artist was asked to give their interpretation of LOVE - love it or hate it, what does it mean to you? In addition, each artist was asked to create an image that is 8x8 inches in size, using 3 colors: Black, Magenta and Pantone 318 (light blue). Needless to say, I LOVE projects like these. I love the challenge of creating something within certain boundaries. When restrictions are set, it forces you to think a little differently. It's a fun puzzle to solve.

a sampling from various artists

Needless to say, I'm honored to be in the show and very excited to see what all these amazing artists have done! It's sure to be a fun show! If you're in KC, stop by and join us for the opening Friday, February 5, 2010. Check out the wonderful artwork of all the participating artists: Kate Bingaman, Will Bryant, Tad Carpenter, Frank Chimero, Jennifer Daniel, Chris Eliopoulos, Matt Hawkins, Hydro 74, David Huyck, Blake E. Marquis, Andy Miller, Dan Padavic, Richard Perez, A. Micah Smith, Mark Todd, Nate Williams, and John Vogl.

Here's a little preview of a part of my print. (Visit my flickr page to see the full image!) The colors will be more vibrant like the ones above, but you get the gist. Big thanks to Tad and Dan for including me in this fun show! Hope to see you there!

* Top 2 images taken from Vahalla Studios.