Category Archives: Children’s

Literary Memorabilia Table

This unique table was such a fun commission!  It is painted on a vintage table in fluid acrylics.  The family  for whom I painted it, shared many favorite books together, 14 of which are represented here.  They requested I paint  several iconic items in Trompe L’oeil, scattered on the table as if they had been ‘left’  by visits from beloved characters . (See how many you recognize before you read further).

There is a wand from Harry Potter, hair ribbons from The Little House on the Prairie, a Mocking Jay pin from the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson’s pen, and a needle and thread from the Quiltmaker’s Gift.  There is Turkish Delight candy from The Witch the Lion and the Wardrobe, berries from  Blueberries For Sal, and heavily buttered toast from the Mercy Watson books. There is The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the Charlotte’s Web spider,  a coin from Half Magic, a blue tea cup from A Bargain for Frances,  and a green matchbox car from No Coins, Please.  And of course there is the ring and map of Middle Earth from The Hobbit on the lower shelf.

Flower Power Step Stool

This step stool was designed to last well beyond Risa’s baby years.  It was a pleasure to paint Irises, Tulips, Lilies, Roses, Rose of Sharon, Cosmos, Purple Cone Flower and Poppies! The navy blue background made everything pop!  I painted three bugs, can you find them all?  The stool came unassembled which made it easier to paint and photograph.

Under the Sea Step Stool

This step stool was a commission for a little girl named Lucy,  It was so much fun to paint.  Fish are so colorful! All the fish I painted are based on real sea life, except for the Mermaid (of course!).  I included a wide variety of fish such as a Clown fish, a Tiger fish, gold fish and an Octopus.   I also painted some Jelly fish, Angel fish,  Sea Anemones, Starfish, a  Sea horse and a Sea Turtle.

Two favorite Stuffed Animals (with turtles!!)

A Grandmother’s gifts to her grandchildren!  Two favorite ‘Stuffies’, a warthog and a donkey,  will now always be preserved for these two children.  This subject of this commission  was another first for me, but since I love painting texture it was right up my alley!! They are painted on wooden plaques 9″ X 12″ each.

And the two little turtles are painted on small stones to fit in little hands!  I actually enjoyed painting the turtle undersides more than the tops!!