Too Cute Tuesday: Bunny Nubbins!

Bunny Nubbins are in my Etsy shop!

Sorry that it's SO close to Easter that I'm getting them listed, but if you order by Wednesday (maybe even Thursday) you should get them by Sunday for Easter. I have the white bunny variations in stock, but if you order the Ninja Bunny, it may not get to you in time, since I have yet to make more

Monster Monday: Couch Monsters!

It's that time of year again!  The sweater monsters are taking over my living room couch!

I'm prepping for Mayday Underground.  Setting the sweater monsters out on the couch helps me get a good sense of how many monsters I have and what colors I need more of. I definitely need to work on making some brighter colored monsters. I seem to have a lot of darker colors and greys.

New Monster Monday: Hints of Green

Some of my newest sweater monsters. 

(I think knowing St Patrick's Day is coming subconsciously made me include hints of green)

Worktable Wednesday: Watercolor Monsters

Every once in awhile, I get the urge to pursue other art mediums to get my creative juices flowing. If you know me only as a plush monster maker, you may not know that I love to paint. I painted a lot in my senior year of high school and then in college.

Watercolor pencils were a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law years ago. I made a chart to see how the pencils look on paper and when water is added.

I've always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with watercolors.  They intrigue me, but there is very little room for error.  When I used to paint a lot, I preferred acrylics.  But my interest in watercolor keeps creeping back every once in awhile. I tend to use them a lot when teaching art to kids. They are quicker than acrylics in terms of cleanup. I like the look.  And I've recently tried to embrace their slight unpredictability.

I've also started combining watercolors with black pen.

I am debating whether I should add watercolor paintings to my KiraArts products or just keep it as a "just for me" creative outlet, with no pressure to make them to sell. Because I do admit, sometimes that pressure saps the creativity from me. I actually am feeling very uninspired to make plush lately for some reason.  I'm hoping maybe this brief foray into watercolor can help bring back the spark.

My Leonard Nimoy Tribute Monster

 I did this little sketch in the waiting room while getting my car inspected! I recently watched Big Hero 6 and was inspired! I am absolutely in love with the design of Baymax. The simplicity of that face! That squishy belly! And he's just the proportions I tend to favor in my monster designs...long torso, long arms, stubby legs. I just want to hug him!  I love Baymax!

Some Big Hero 6 & KiraArts crossover art!