Happy Sunday! As you can likely tell by scrolling through the {KID} independent pages, I love colour and I love modern design! This week I added a few goodies from Ellen Giggenbach’s amazing art collection to my favourites list and I thought I share them with you. Ellen is based [...]]]>

Happy Sunday! As you can likely tell by scrolling through the {KID} independent pages, I love colour and I love modern design! This week I added a few goodies from Ellen Giggenbach’s amazing art collection to my favourites list and I thought I share them with you. Ellen is based in Wellington, New Zealand and makes a selection of beautiful art works from hand cut and assembled graphic shapes.

Our Monday morning smiles come to you today from Valeria Cis, a storybook illustrator from Argentina. I’m quite enchanted with Valeria’s whimsical style, and love how she incorporates little stories into each of her art pieces. Her use of colour and added little details make these prints perfect for kids [...]]]>

Our Monday morning smiles come to you today from Valeria Cis, a storybook illustrator from Argentina. I’m quite enchanted with Valeria’s whimsical style, and love how she incorporates little stories into each of her art pieces. Her use of colour and added little details make these prints perfect for kids rooms or play areas.

Valeria works from a little studio in Rosario, Argentina which she calls La Casuni. She is a Mum of two little ones, Facundo and Olivia. In Valeria’s store you’ll find a range of art prints, stickers, rubber stamps, postcards and magnetic games. There’s also a lovely array of multicultural faces to be found, which is especially refreshing and joyful.

You can visit Valeria’s store on Etsy to purchase prints, or you can view some of her books and illustrations online at her website.

Do you remember Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem from The Muppet Show? I LOVED them so much as a kid, especially Janice the guitarist. Dr. Teeth was on vocals and keyboards, Sgt. Floyd Pepper was on bass, Zoot was on saxophone and Animal was on drums… and here they [...]]]>

Do you remember Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem from The Muppet Show? I LOVED them so much as a kid, especially Janice the guitarist. Dr. Teeth was on vocals and keyboards, Sgt. Floyd Pepper was on bass, Zoot was on saxophone and Animal was on drums… and here they are as conceptualized by New Jersey graphic artist Nick Westcott.

Check out “RetroArtPrint” to view the full collection.

Click here to watch The Electric Mayhem play Nirvana’s, Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Good morning friends. Today’s guest blogger is Irene Garcia, an illustrator and toy customizer living in Los Angeles, USA. Irene works in the toy industry and her free time she loves painting and customizing toys, especially dolls. Today she’s here to share some of her custom Blythe dolls, and if [...]]]>

Good morning friends. Today’s guest blogger is Irene Garcia, an illustrator and toy customizer living in Los Angeles, USA. Irene works in the toy industry and her free time she loves painting and customizing toys, especially dolls. Today she’s here to share some of her custom Blythe dolls, and if you’re a fan of Blythe, or just appreciate divine design, you’re sure to adore this post as much as I have!

I got started customizing toys while studying animation in college. My first customs were Star Wars dolls by Hasbro. At the time, I was really into movie costumes and I would paint the Hasbro dolls to look more realistic and make their outfits more accurate to the films.

After college, I became more immersed in the world of dolls. While flipping through a Haute Doll magazine, I saw a Dal, this little articulated doll with an oversized head. Researching her on the Internet lead me to these other big-headed dolls called Blythe, whose eye color could change with a tug on their pull-strings. At first, I thought they were a bit strange, but after seeing more and more photos on Flickr, I became obsessed with how much attitude they seemed to project. I was hooked.

I bought my first Blythe in 2007 and immediately started customizing her. I had so much fun changing out her eye chips and giving her new makeup, that I ended up buying more to customize for myself. After I posted a few photos of my customs on Flickr, people started to ask if I took commissions and that’s how I got started.

I have had the opportunity to work on many different looks over the years. My favorites are my Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Blythes. I have always been intrigued with the way people transform their faces into skulls and that really inspired me to try and paint my Blythes like calaveras (skulls). I wanted my calaveras to look scary but pretty at the same time.

Through masking and airbrushing, I create the shape of a skull. On top of that, I add color around the eyes to give them a subtle appearance of hollowed-out eye sockets. The lips are also given a bit of color with very thin lines to represent the teeth. Then I add all the swirly designs around the face and lastly, my favorite part, is the chest tattoo with a little gem stone imbedded into the chest.

What really draws me to Blythe is their quirky cuteness. Being able to change their eyes adds so much dimension and character to them. I love photographing them. I am in constant awe that a plastic toy can have so much personality. They look so alive in pictures.

I’m very excited about 2012. I’m really looking forward to taking on new projects and commissions and getting to meet new people in the hobby. Since I met Blythe, she has been a constant inspiration for me and my art. She is my muse.

Thank so much for sharing these amazing images Irene, they’re truly inspiring.

If you’d like to view more of Irene’s work, visit the Sirenita blog or head over to Flickr.

It’s giveaway day, and this week I’ve teamed up with Kylie from Wallfry to stimulate your artistic senses, invigorate your imagination, and kick your creative energy into overdrive! School holidays are a fabulous time for a redecorating project, and we’d like to give TWO lucky readers the chance to win [...]]]>

It’s giveaway day, and this week I’ve teamed up with Kylie from Wallfry to stimulate your artistic senses, invigorate your imagination, and kick your creative energy into overdrive! School holidays are a fabulous time for a redecorating project, and we’d like to give TWO lucky readers the chance to win a complete wall art set from Wallfry!

Kylie from Wallfry is based in Melbourne, Australia and when she’s not looking after her two little boys, she loves to spend her time creating original works of art. She has a love of colour, and specialises in customising prints to perfectly suit little individuals. In her collection you’ll find a range of Safari Animals, Woodland Creatures, ABCs and 123s, Dolls, Dogs and Dinosaurs, Typography… and even the occasional Octopus!

Congratulations to our winners, Eloise N. and Jessica M.

This week TWO lucky readers will have the opportunity to choose any FOUR art prints (8×10) from Wallfry. To enter the giveaway, visit Wallfry and then tell us in the comments section below which prints are your favourites. Two winners will be drawn on 22 December, 2011. OPEN WORLDWIDE!

Are you super keen to win our Wallfry giveaway? You can score an extra entry into the prize draw by sharing this competition on your blog, twitter or facebook page. Please leave a separate comment for each so your extra entries can be counted.

I just love this little bunny to bits. She is designed by Caron Aline, an art director, illustrator, graphic designer and food stylist. The “I’m Not Fashion” bunny print is new to the collection at L’Affiche Moderne. Of course, if you visit L’Affiche Moderne you’re likely to spend an hour [...]]]>

I just love this little bunny to bits. She is designed by Caron Aline, an art director, illustrator, graphic designer and food stylist. The “I’m Not Fashion” bunny print is new to the collection at L’Affiche Moderne. Of course, if you visit L’Affiche Moderne you’re likely to spend an hour or two swooning over all the delicious art from around the world… so make yourself a cuppa before you go!