Illustration Friday: Remember

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Remember" is from a tea package I made for a tea company called "Three Tea and Tonic". I did a night version and a day version but they chose the night version so this was never used. I will always remember the beauty of Topanga in the spring.

The delay in my post is due to my not having Internet access since Thursday evening. There is something wrong with my dsl. I hope to be back online tomorrow so if you have written to me I will get to you soon. I'm at my neighbors for a limited posting as I have never missed IF yet!

Special Children's Art Foundation Auction

Top Center: Front patio at The Geffen PlayHouse BelowCenter: Model of the Theatre complex

Right: T.P. Mullen and one of his amazing creations /Left: Mark Beam and a few of his pieces. Center a musical interlude of original and classic jazz compositions on the front patio by the Matt K Quartet. The interior of the theatre (they don't allow cameras during the show) I snuck in before to take this picture but it does not do the room justice. Bottom left: Partial exterior view of the front of the building.

Monday night I participated in an auction to benefit the Special Children's Art Foundation. This was an evening filled with art and music at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood and it was a treat to attend. The theatre is a gift to the public by David Geffen. The building is a landmark from 1929 and it is a beauty! I took a few pictures of this space so you can see it but I also took a shot of the architectural model in the lobby to show how it looks all around. It seems to me that if you are a well to do philanthropist that wants to bring culture to your community a playhouse would be an amazing gem that brings people together to experience the joy of live theatre, music, art , etc. My friend artist Mark Beam and his friend, artist T. P. Mullen showcased their fun and eclectic art and the valgal created a piece just for the auction. Two legendary Disney artists Frank Armitage and Walt Peregoy were featured as well as photographs by Dennis Hopper and Jasper Johal and jewelery by artist Barbara Markoe. Marc Kolodziejczyk and wife, Priscilla Giraldo are parents of a special needs child and their family put together this event and they did a splendid job! My husband John Hartmann was the MC for the night and he was lively and funny and I can't forget to mention he was voted Professor of the Year at Loyola Marymount University a few days earlier so he was still flying high from the award. Musician Jennifer Jester put on the program "A Gypsy Brass Extravaganza Out of This World". It was unique and featured her signature Euphonium and was accompanied by a 20 piece brass orchestra. The music was a rare treat. The night made it possible for the foundation to create more projects to brighten the lives of children in the future.

Please click on images to view larger and click on to links to view artists sites and for Special Childrens Art Foundation.

Illustration Friday: Polar

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Polar" is from some stationary that I made for Marisol. It was created to encourage children to write more letters, especially "Thank You" letters to family, friends and even strangers for their kindness. They sold through the PTA and it was a worthy idea and project. Printed on recycled paper with a matching envelope they can be used with your printer as well, so there is no excuse for not thanking someone. We did another set with Thank You written in every language and of course I did buildings from around the world. I'm sure I will post it in the future. The image shows that a house is a gift . Happy Illustration Friday!

Art Show Opening: Marion Peck

I have been working so hard I needed to get out of the studio so John and I attended the "Soft Paintings for Gentle People" opening last night at the Billy Shire Fine Art Gallery. John will always go up to the artist and ask if they would like to pose for a picture and Marion Peck was gracious and sweet. I asked her if she would stand in front of her most amazing painting "Young Lord Oliver" and she walked to it and suddenly 20 cameras started flashing. It was fantastic and she smiled beautifully. What an amazing painter! I talked to one of her friends, he purchased "Ducky" (the one I love) and he told us the show sold out the day before the opening. Not one painting was available! I can see why as her art is truly inspired. She frames each one creating an elaborate masterpiece, some you view through convex glass, some resin. There was a room curtained off for "Sweet Dreams" a collaboration between Marion and Mark Ryden. It is a big hurdy-gurdy type piece that you view through 2 lenses on the front and inside is a movie going on with full sound and beautiful colour. But the thing I loved most about it was the little theatre they built inside with real lights in the mini chandeliers and sconces. The audience was filled with little people decked out in their finery. You're watching the film along with them, slightly above them and it is magical and nostalgic. Popcorn was served from a cart while you stood on line in anticipation, all the little girls giggling and we LOVED it!

please click on images to view larger

Illustration Friday: Fortune

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Fortune" is from a painting called "The Fortune Teller's Cottage". I painted this because Topanga is filled with gypsy's, physics, story tellers and the like. I do not like my fortune told but I am drawn to the characters that occupy these places in life. You never no what will happen when you enter the Fortune Tellers Cottage but if you want to get lucky the MatchMaker lives right next door!

copyright 1995 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Green

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Green" is from my 2001 HomeMade calendar and the title is "House Boat". I have shown Green House here so I thought this would do for the theme. This was for the month of June and the quote is: The lovely cottage in the guardian nook... with its own dear brook, It's own pasture, almost its own sky. ~Wordsworth

coppyright 2001 valerie walsh

Artist Profile: Peter Lodato

Another artist profile in my series of artists that I have worked with.

I really enjoyed working with the artist Peter Lodato. I felt a natural ease with him and I attribute it to him being a native Californian. It would usually take us at least a month to make a print for an artist. When you factor in all the components it is at least a month! When you make a fine art print you must proof it first. So we would print the art on just a few pieces of paper and once the artist approves and makes changes that are to his or her satisfaction we begin the process all over again on over 100 sheets of paper. So you know the art intimately by the time you are finished. Most of the time you are happy to be done and you need to not look at it for a while. I didn't feel that way with "Red Room". I love this print! This is a typical silkscreen print and by that I mean it is flat planes of colour that are combined with blends (the blending of two or more inks to create blended skies, etc.) I mixed all the colours on this and I love his colours very much. This is just a feel good piece of art to me and I would hang it in my house if I had the wall space and colour scheme to match. He is a very nice artist and easy to work with and for. I can't stress enough how working at Wasserman Silk Screen changed me as a person and artist and how I feel privileged that I got to work with all of these people in the late 80's early 90's. It was a fun time in LA when people loved to buy hand printed art.

My pix look weird because most of these prints are huge and it's hard for me to photograph them. I laid it on the floor as it would be hard to attach it to the wall without harming the print. Please click on Peter's name and native Californian to read about this amazing artist.

Illustration Friday: Snap

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Snap" is from a painting I made my sister for her birthday. The cold snap prolonged the ski season another week. For dd it was the perfect dream!

valerie walsh 2007

Artist profile/ Lois Keller

I had a whirlwind couple of weekends! Normally I am a reclusive artist who rarely leaves Topanga but my social calendar has been packed with fun activities and exciting people. I have to start my series of posts with an artist profile on Lois Keller. Lois is the cutest and most charming of artists you could want to meet. She has a smile that would light up anybodies heart and she is downright beautiful. These qualities seep into her artwork and create a body of work that glows. I have been blogging with her for a year and a half and we have tried to hook up a couple times without success so when she contacted me personally to come to her show at Aroma in Studio City I didn't hesitate. It was a blast! Aroma is the most charming coffee house I think I have ever seen and the whole vibe on Tujunga in Studio City is appealing and like an old-fashioned neighborhood. I love her paintings that feature oranges because it reminds me of how California used to be, all orange groves, sunny and citrusy. Her poster for the Metro is awesome and her drawings using pastels on thick handmade paper are delectable. Her style incorporates a sense of whimsy with much movement, glorius colour, female spirit and I totally dig it! You can view more of her art here and here.

Illustration Friday: I Spy...

My submission for Illustration Friday's "I Spy..." is from my 2003 HomeMade calendar and the title is "Open House but I originally titled it "Fun House". This was for the month of January and the quote is: A small house well filled is better than an empty palace. I chose this image because it reminds me of the I Spy... books by Jean Marzollo. I spy with my little eye somthing red that grows in your garden, a 4 leaf clover, a heart and a diamond. She even wrote an I Spy book called Fun House!

I also reworked this image for a holiday card here.

copyright 2003 Valerie Walsh

Jerry Wayne Downs

I have been wanting to write some posts about artists that I have worked with in the past and I keep getting deadlines which makes it difficult for me to think about writing. This year I wanted to dedicate a post every other week for a while to some of the more interesting and unique artists that I have had the pleasure of working with and for. Today I am featuring the art work of Jerry Wayne Downs. This is truly an amazing print, not just the subject but the print itself is astounding! That is due to Jeff Wasserman the master printer. Jeff has to channel the artist to paint and see the way the artist sees to totally capture the artists vision. Jeff paints on mylar so that every line and brushstroke is exactly as the artist dictates through the original. Then he exposes the emulsified screen with the mylar separations in a vacumn table to a high powered light. The screens are then washed out and the emulsion washes out of the areas that have been painted on the mylar. I only printed on this one piece for Jerry but the image is so special and impactful that I wanted to share it with all of you. One great thing about being a printmaker for well known and special artists is that you receive a printers proof as part of your pay so my collection of prints is vast, unique and wonderful and I hope to share more with you in the future.

I included 2 views because it is such a large print I couldn't capture the whole thing in one shot. The 1st view is a wider view and the 2nd is more of a closeup view.

Illustration Friday: total

My submission for Illustration Friday's "total" is from my 2002 HomeMade calendar and the title is "Home Delivery". It was a total surprise when the stork showed up! This was for the month of January . Out with the old year and in with the new. The quote is: I remember, I remember the house where I was born, the little window where the sun came peeping in the morn ~Thomas Hood

Home Delivery 2002 copyright Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Wired

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Wired" is from one of my posters and the title is "five O" clock". This image was also reworked for a greeting card and it was used for a puzzle in Japan. A birdcage is like a wire house, no?

copyright 1985 LunaArt & Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Hide

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Hide-away" is a dimensional clock that I just finished for Jackie and Nat Burgess. Jackie, a concert promoter commisssioned this piece at Xmas but gave me a reprieve on the time frame for after the New Year. Nat was a partner at APA Agency for the Performing Arts, the 4th largest theatrical agency in the world. To escape the Hollywood rat race they decided to cash in their chips and go hide-away in their Montana cabin. Jackie asked me to include their 3 dogs, 3 cats and and one of Nat's beloved guitars. Nat is the leader of the "AirHogs" a legendary phantom rockband in which my John is the lead singer. This was very difficult to construct and was an incredible challenge! The clock can stand on it's own or be hung. The dimensions are : 28" ht. 16" wide 10"deep. A cabin in the woods is the ultimate place to hide.

foamcore,wood,acrylics,resin

Illustration Friday: Communication

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Communication" is from a dimensional painting called "NightHawk". I posted this September 2006 with a story about how this piece came to be, but I didn't post it on IF. My inspiration was this hawk in an alley in Santa Monica on a telephone pole. I see hawks all the time in Topanga but it is unique to see them in an industrial area where it was spotted. This painting was purchased by a woman who collects my work and was used as an invitation/promotional card for a show I had in Pacific Palisades. I posted this card "Phone Home" in July 2006 for the "Opposites" theme.

Illustration Friday: Gravity

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Gravity" is from a painting I made for Geekfest.com for Microsoftee's (people that work at Microsoft) and they used the art for a T-shirt. I loved creating this image because it was so different for me and my favourite jobs are when I get to come up with an idea that works on a few levels. Microsoft has a mascot called the "Screaming Geek". They wanted a piece of art that used the geek for an upcoming event and I was given a picture of the character . So I decided to turn him into Gene Kelly, use the idea of "Singing in the Rain" (It always rains in Seattle/Washington and Microsoft is based in Redmond, WA) and turn it into "Screamin in the Rain". Gene Kelly is the guy known to defy gravity and I was able to sneak a building/brick wall in the scene too!

copyright 1996 Microsoft

Geek image on back of shirt and this logo is on the front.

The Girly Show

Here is Penelopes work and I asked her to stand in front of her art! She is darling and very nice!


On Saturday I had to go photograph an upcoming "Houscape" in Encino. It is a doozy, a very unique house that was moved from Palm Springs a long time ago and plopped into the San Fernando Valley. It fits in quite well, it has a slight tropical vibe with lots of waterfalls and it has that old Frank Sinatra feel that so many houses designed in Palm Springs have. I would like to finish in a month but this could take 2 months as it is pretty complicated. Then we were off to the "Girly Show" just a little south of Hollywood on West Pico Blvd (2 blks. south of La Brea). It was in a tucked away space called: Deja Design Gallery and it was a big open building. The show was from 4-11pm. We arrived a little before 6pm so that I could talk to the artists before it got crowded and take a few pix if they let me. John found Penelope Dullaghan and we introduced ourselves. She asked me how long I have participated in Illustration Friday? I told her a year and some change but that I submitted every Friday. She seemed surprised, then John said "You know Val uses existing work! She said she was going to find a word to stump me! Uh-oh, now I am in trouble... Penelope is a darling, tall and sweet artist and I loved meeting her and her art was great! I think she created these paintings for the show. She gave me a hug and introduced me to Kelly Rae Roberts, another artist that we all blog with and she had many charming paintings in her wonderful style. I wish I would have asked her to stand in front of her paintings and taken a picture (sorry Kelly Rae). She is adorable, fresh and sweet and introduced us to her husband John. All the paintings are fun, girly, unique and each artist has a signature style that blended well with each other. I did remember to take 2 shots of Penelope and her paintings, so for all that wanted to go but couldn't this is a snippet from the event. The show featured: Christine Mason Miller, Mati Rose, Outi Harma, Marisa Haedike and Kelly Rae Roberts. I'm sure they all will have much success!

Illustration Friday: Crash

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Crash" is from one of my Marisol greeting cards. This is the kind of party I would crash, dogs and cats living together and having a big ol party!

Illustration Friday: sprout

My submission for Illustration Friday's "sprout" is from my 2002 HomeMade calendar and the title is "House Plants". This is for the month of May and the quote is: Home is the blossom of which heaven is the fruit ~proverb~
I have always enjoyed the quote: Grow where you are planted.

HousePlants copyright 2002 Valerie Walsh