Happycloud Thunderhead

Birthday Monsters

2011-08-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a seamonster with a parasitic twin made for trade with Emi Slade. I made him (them?) and some other monsters for a birthday party. I should be getting my pink cuttlefish sculpture very soon. (I'll update with pics.)

Also, Here is a new painting. It turned out cuter than I intended it to be, but its fun and i will probably give it to my nephew for his birthday. (shh, don't tell!)

Acrylic on canvas, 20" x 24", 2011

UPDATE!
I got my cuttlefish! he's so cool. His name is Preston and for now, I'm gonna hang him over my closet door. Thank you, Emi Slade for my fantastic new friend.

Plushroom Soup X Happycloud Thunderhead

2011-07-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I met with Jessica Puckett Fishman aka. Plushroom Soup to exchange plush monsters and gab. I had a great time. Our collaboration/sewing swap was pretty simple, we both cut out 2 identical monsters. Then, we each made one ourselves and sent the other one off in the mail to be put together by the other person without instructions. Then we got together to compare the results. It took a while to get this project done between two busy people but I think it was well worth the wait. Now I have two new monster pals, and a new plush making friend.
We took plenty of pics of the monster but forgot to take any of each other. oops.

I will definitely take part in a project like this again, it was fun.

monster painting progression

2011-06-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I started this paining at the beginning of the June. It is pretty much finished, except for small touch-ups. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I plan on starting another one soon.

Parallel Dimensions Collide, 35″ x 35″, acrylic on canvas, 2011

park art

2011-06-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

I did the Park Art Fair in New Richmond, WI this weekend. This was my second time doing it and only my second time selling at an art fair. I did a bit better this year and since I was a lot more relaxed and the weather was gorgeous, I also had a lot more fun. I'm happy the weather was so nice, if not a little hot, because I didn't buy sides for my tent. I'm not sure once again if an outside event in June is the right place to sell my toys (I'm definitely thinking of trying an inside show closer to the holidays),but I learned a lot this time round and I wouldn't completely rule out doing it again next year.
Of course, I over estimated how much I would need to make, so I have quite a few new monsters to add to my Esty shop in the next week or so.

unscrupulous stuff

2011-05-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a few things I have in the Meth & Hot Dogs show at Lift designer toys and gallery It looks like it was a fantastic opening; I wish I could have been there. Its open through May If your near Royal Oak, Michigan stop by.

Form a Line Please, 11″ x 30″, acrylic on canvas, 2011

Beast of strength idol (purple), 10" l x 6" w x 13" h wood, 2011

I sent some plush monsters too.

My next project is to make a ton of monsters both for my etsy shop and for a craft show in the begining of June. Then I'm hoping to work on more paintings.

I'm seeing patterns

2011-04-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

I'm working on some new stuff for a show next month

But here's an old drawing I thought would make a fun pattern design.

I ordered swatches of 2 other pattern designs to see how the colors come out I'll take pics when they show up.

patterns and puppets

2011-03-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm busy working on some new monsters and hats for consignment and my etsy shop.
I also, recently finished making a couple puppets, one is a custom Count Candy, designed by Tom Rebello, and the other, Gromwell, a monster for me, who may star in his own youtube videos, depending on if I ever have the time to figure out how to make, edit, and upload videos.

I also put together a couple of fabric pattern designs. I'll probably have some swatches printed on spoonflower soon to test them out.

and the winner is...

2011-03-19T09:08:00.001-07:00

Congratulations, Cliff! I hope you have lots of fun with your new monster friend.

lucky day giveaway

2011-03-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

random to here given comment monster friend away - 648217253
or
msotner gvein aawy 2 rdnoam fnreid 2 ceommnt hree

Moved this over from FB.
Open till fri 3-18-11 midnight.

its been a while

2011-02-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

I'm no longer going to apologize for neglecting my blog. I got busy over the holidays and didn't feel like blogging. I felt kind of guilty for not continuing with my daily drawing project, but why beat myself up? It was my dumb idea to do it and if I want or need to stop then I should. I don't think I'm disciplined enough to carry on with a project like that anyway. Maybe, I'll take it up again sometime; I did get some nice drawings out of it. It was suggested to make a coloring book with some of them.

Here are some of the things I've been up to recently:

cloptopi

Gnomes and pixies

some custom hats

a custom puppet

a collaboration project with Makkinoso

some custom ornament monsters

other monsters

and some art

daily drawing round-up

2010-11-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

I'm getting closer to getting caught up on daily drawings. If I do two a day for a while, I'll be good. I really like drawing, but it can be hard to make it a habit everyday; when I'm tired or crabby and just don't feel like it.
I have been doing some sewing and will have pictures next time.

Daily drawing catch-up

2010-11-02T23:22:00.001-07:00

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in a month. September was really busy, October was a little less hectic but I've been trying to get things done. I made some monsters, evil spirits, monster hats and other things.

I really fell behind on my daily drawings. I think, I was kinda burnt out at the beginning of the month and I never really caught up. I'm still a bit behind. But I'm almost there.
So, here is a bunch of drawings:

been busy

2010-10-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't been doing much drawing the past few weeks. I've been super busy getting stuff done for a li'l show at the Wall gallery at Wholly Craft:

Happycloud Thunderhead:
Art and Plush Toys by Daniel Allyn Lee
Curated by Stephanie Rond
October 6 - November 5
at the wall gallery inside Wholly Craft

For October's wall gallery show, visit the land of Thunderhead, populated by creatures from the imagination of Wisconsin plush artist and Ohio native, Daniel Allen Lee. Wholly Craft shoppers may be familiar with his lovable plush creatures, hailing from the village of Happycloud in the Kingdom of Thunderhead. This exhibit introduces visitors to the monsters and goblins of the Forgotten Forest, adjoining the village of Happycloud.

So, go see the show if you find yourself in Columbus and have some time on your hands.

I do have a handful of drawings that I haven't scanned yet, and I plan on doing a quick-drawing exercise very soon, so more drawings will be up soon. I also plan on making a bunch of new plush for my etsy shop in the next couple of months. I've been busy and plan on staying busy. :)

Illustration Friday - Dessert

2010-09-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

dessert, 11"x 8 1/2", ink on paper scanned and colored on paintshop pro

I actually had this idea before for something else, but didn't use it. It works well for dessert. I'm just glad I didn't start drawing cacti and sand.
Mmm, He looks delicious.

daily drawing round-up weeks 8 & 9

2010-09-06T21:16:00.000-07:00

I was hoping it wouldn’t happen, but I kinda figured it would; I fell way behind in my daily drawings. I know that can be a project killer. Fortunately, I have a remedy. When I get behind after skipping a bunch of days for good reasons or bad, I simply have to do a bunch of sketches, as many, as quickly as I can. The old quantity over quality exercise. So, I made twenty drawings, I inked the ten I liked best, and scanned em. Now I should be caught up.
I also didn’t do last week’s Illustration Friday. That’s kind of why I got behind, I was frustrated with my sketch for immovable I could not figure out the perspective or the composition.

daily drawing round-up - week 7

2010-08-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm concentrating on drawing people instead of monsters (except for one drawing here). I realized I was drawing monsters with a lot more variety and expression than I was my people. I'll pry stick with people for a while maybe throw in a few elves here and there too.

(*click for bigger view.)

Illustration Friday - Atmosphere

2010-08-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Atmosphere, ink on paper, 8 1/2" x 11", scanned and colored on paintshop pro

I had a little trouble thinking of something for this one. I had a few ideas that didn't really work, so I went with a guy in a weird looking plane. Once again the perspective is crazy. I've been trying to draw people this week, maybe next week I should do all buildings.

Plush You! L.A.

2010-08-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a little peak at the plush monsters I sent to L.A. for the Plush You! show there at Munky King. Go check out the show if you're in Los Angeles and definietley stop by Schmancy if you're in Seattle.

PLUSH YOU!
8.26.10 – 9.19.10, Opening Reception: Thurs, August 26th 7-10pm
Munky King Melrose
An exhibition of 65 of the "best of the best" plush artists from around the globe curated by Kristen Rask of Schmancy Toys in Seattle. Plush You! will be held for the first time in L.A. at Munky King Melrose.

daily drawing round-up week 6

2010-08-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here's my daily drawings for week 6. I was just continuing with the weird theme from last week with most of these.
I think this whole daily drawing thing is working out pretty well for me. I'm feeling more and more confident and a lot more willing to let a drawing happen and not worry so much about it not working. It may not seem like a big deal but shaking off self conscious doubt was a goal of mine in starting this.

Illustration Friday - Star Gazing

2010-08-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

Star Gazing, ink drawing scanned and colored with paintshop pro
This drawing just kind of happened. I didn't really think about it too much, I just drew, but I like the way it turned out.

illustration friday - caged

2010-08-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

I probably could have used my drawing for breakfast to fit this as well but I wanted to try something else. I was kind of thinking about that classic performance of jail house rock by Elvis with all the guys in stacked cells.

Caged, ink drawing scanned and manipulated with paintshop-pro
(*click for bigger view.)

daily drawing round-up - week 5

2010-08-08T21:40:00.004-07:00

This week, I started to concentrate on embracing my weird a bit more. I think, I need to stop editing my ideas, trying so hard to be cute, funny or clever. Maybe its not a perceivable difference to anyone but me but I'm really digging it and will probably continue for a while.
(*click for larger view)

illustration friday - artificial

2010-07-30T19:12:00.001-07:00

I decided to go with artificial intelligence gone awry. I think it turned out fun but I might need to practice perspective a bit more. oh well.

Artificial, ink on paper scanned and colored with paintshop pro

daily drawing round-up, weeks 3&4

2010-07-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

I guess, I forgot to post last weeks drawings on here. So, here's a whole bunch of them all at once. I need to keep better track and date them all.
(*click for larger view)

Illustration Friday - double

2010-07-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Double, ink drawing colored and edited in paintshop pro. I think, at some point, in the book I plan on writing, the main characters will stumble into a monster tavern. It would pry look something like this.

I also decide to draw up the second idea I had when thinking about the word double.
(*click for larger view)