In October, Hallowe'en becomes my main focus (even with a wedding 46 days away). This was may way-awesome costume this year. I was Bender, again (it happened in 2005 as well, but this was a far superior outing).
Good ol' Mary was the amazing and diabolical Dr. Horrible, and Audrie wore my Dino costume from last year. Martha went as Phillip J Frye (making us the awesome-est couple ever), but I can't find the picture! I'll dig it up and post it, soon!
... And THEN, I got to marry THIS beautiful, charming, amazing woman. I shrug a COSMIC shrug in explanation... I think she just likes to laugh. I lucked out, for whatever reason. Amazing.
Sniffles and tears aside, life went on a week after the nuptials, and little had changed. Martha went back to school, and I started getting my annual Christmas projects. Here are the commissions.
My pal Tyler ordered a portrait, I went with the simple elegance that is graphite, and sent it out to California, 2-day express, as I shipped it on the 21st of December. It made it on time!
These and the Octo-puppet (below in the post) tie for my favorite commissions EVER. My cousin Margo had this great idea - Russian nesting dolls of her family, as a gift to her parents! I'm getting the marketing together to start taking orders - these turned out so nice, I have had a few people asking about ordering alreay!
Hey Kansas! Mallory hit me up for this Wizard of Oz painting for her husband-to-be, Geoff. I loved it, so did Mallory. I'm planning on adding prints to my shop on etsy.
Holy shiz - look at that crazy thing! Hands down, my favorite puppet that I've ever built, followed closely by the zombies and the obese ginger. This was for my pal Kati, for her husband, Josh, in an amazing act of wifitude. Apparently, he once mentions, sleepily, in bed (pillow talk!), that he'd like an octopus puppet. Great idea, Josh. I loved bulding it.
He's just so charasmatic!
And, we share interests. Who doesn't love thie internets... and a jar... of rice? Weirdo.
This one is a non-holiday commission that just happened to fall into the same crazy schedule. Turned out Cute, so I thought I'd post it. thanks for the work, Diana!
Also in the chaos months, I was lucky enough to make a puppet of Marguerite (blog), one of my favorite people, and who's husband, Ted the Rabbi, married us. Magical people. Great move, Dora, on envisioning Marguerite (website) in her true form: Puppet. The hair... God, the hair... took SEVEN hours, the night before it was to be gift-wrapped and delivered. Here she is, mid-weave...
... And, complete!
On to the gifts! I made this illustration for my Grandma Isa. In the background, you can see the bigger version, started for me mum last year, and ruined by rain during a freak rainstorm in June. I left the windows open, and, though it dried out with no visible ruination, when I went back to paint it in, I found that the paper wouldn't take the paint properly. Damn you, supersaturation!
So, my dear mother got this one instead, painted on the night before Christmas (classic, ain't it), and survived being checked in baggage for the flight back to Kansas. A Christmas miracle!
Aaaaand then, last week, I started doing some hybrid appliquae, embroidery and illustration. My instincts drove me to Star Wars, naturally, but I have plans to do some classic fairy tale stuff for sale. Han and Chewie! Hraaaaaaarrgh!
I went all 'gothic-cutsie' on the secnond piece. Still whittling out the process.
For the third, it was back to Star Wars (if it ain't broke? That is the second use of the word 'ain't' in this gigantic post... ew). Look! Sparkles!
I like details...
I stuck to the 'Star Wars, not Star Wars, Star Wars, not Star Wars' pattern, and made some cute little songbirds in love today. I'm getting really picky about even stitches... gotta keep the pattern, or it's distracting!
Like I said... details.
And HERE'S THE END! What a long post. Let me kow what you think, dear reader(s?). I'm curious and nervous for reactions to the craft-heavy artwork I'm doing currently.
Love,
Benny
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6 comments:
BEN! it is so great to see what you've been up too (besides marrying the purtiest gal around!) I reallllllly love your applique/embroidery work! how are you finishing them? frame? whatnot?
I've been pondering that very question! I thought first about frames with glass, then I wondered if the glass would ruin the effect whilst protecting them from the inevitable onslaught of dust! THEN I thought the hoops were simple and elegantly rustic (though also fragile), and I've also been considering adding to the 'hand-made-edness' by crafting elaborate, faux-fancy card-board frames. Like, cutting cardboard in layers with a razor to make them look like the heavily filigreed gilded frames of fancy land. What do YOU think, Joey?
Finally! thanks for the shout-out, they dolls are awesome! Love the applique, been tinkering with it myself. Mostly orders for baby clothes and such. My idea for frames is to leave them in the wood. Maybe paint them a black or such, but I thinks its a new twist on the old. Kisses to you and the wifey!
I'm loving all of your work Ben! I am going to put your blog in my folder on my computer titled "favorite blogs and websites." You have got me thinking of perhaps commissioning you to make something for my hubby...robots??? He has a funny fascination with them.
oh by the way this is lauren arnold...now mitchell
ahhh, ben, sry, i didnt get back to ya! I think the idea of the filagreed/cardboard is awesome! seems crafty and ironic!
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