After the shell development I tried paper clay, (air dried) then painted with acrylics. Finished them of with soft hair, embroidery thread, fur, dried flowers and feathers.

 

 These were pretty tough but hard to get a lot of fine detail.

 They were so much fun to make!

Every one came out different.

 

I started naming them and drawing them. This was the first-"Mr Achoo".

&"Mr Achoo" the 2nd.

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 Around this time I wrote a children's book inspired by my two young girls.

They loved to play with them so I wanted to write a book for them.

 "Mr Achoo's Shoes" All illustrations done in watercolor by me. 

Available for purchase: on Etsy $20.00 

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 I tried to publish in the 90's but no takers. So it has sat until last year when I self published the book.

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Mr. Whoodo. a paper clay character on the left.

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  Then I started with real clay but the bake in the oven kind. All finished with Acrylic and sealer.

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 I experimented with clay and started using a local ceramic shop kiln to fire my people and other projects. I loved the clay. I could get much more detail. The characters kept evolving. Even in clay I created the pistachio shell shape.

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 Finally I bought a kiln and started my own firing. A learn as you go education in ceramics which is pretty much how I have evolved as an artist,

self taught by books and doing.

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 The Pistachio People designs were really starting to take shape and were selling. Their shapes became more humanized but I have always kept the big head and feet!

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 I had some commissions and retail art space. Unfortunately the time it took to make them made them harder to sell for a profit.

 My painting, family and work became my priority. Ceramic production tapered off and I focused on my career in graphic design.

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2011- I lost all my ceramic equipment and the lower part of our home in Hurricane Irene which was a game changer.

 It was very hard to recover but we did and then a year later we lost the whole bottom of our house again (Hurricane Sandy). Disaster really slows you down. I am finally starting to rebuild my creative inspirations. A very long 6 year lapse.

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 These are looked at fondly as the best evolutions of my beloved Pistachio People. I have many creations still in storage.

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 I am not done. I am just getting started. Someday, hopefully my art will be who I am and what I do.

 

2021 Now the time has come to retire from the job that paid the bills. I am now doing what I love to do: create.

 

I am looking for Gallery or retail representation so please contact me if interested.