The Purrrrrfect Halloween!...

Jack-gets-ready

It gives me great joy when I have the pleasure of experiencing bits of my wild imagination materialize before my eyes! As you may know, I have this fascination with placing conical party hats on the heads of my papier mache black cats. I know I am not the only artist with this urge to whimsify (if that's a word) the 4-legged creature companions we share this planet with. But, it is something I cannot resist! In fact, I just found myself making a mini party hat for my black cat, Jack! He is really a dear as you will see, and so, so kind to permit me to play out my silly fantasy. We had quite the chuckle as I dressed him for the occasion. He patiently posed on an old stool as we snapped shot after shot in utter amazement at his lack of concern. Perhaps, I am less of a loon than I had initially thought, for I have discovered that black cats truly do wear party hats! CHEERS to that, and may you have a purrrfectly HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ~ ENJOY ~ Johanna :-)

Sweet-jack
* Oh, look at that little dear in all his Halloween cheer...

Jack-sits-up
* Picture purrrrrfect poser.....

Jack-profile
* Loving that party hat profile.... utter cuteness!

Jack-looks-up
* In the background... a glimpse of my original black cat firescreen, complementing the Halloween scene...

Angry-Jack
* No words necessary to describe this image.. hehehehehe!

* © 2009 Johanna Parker Design *Photographs are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.

Put on Your Party Hat!...

Cheers, it's Friday, and time to put on your party hat!... You'll notice that I sorta goofed off a bit today, but all in good fun. I just received the party hat samples I designed for Bethany Lowe's 2009 Halloween line, and what FUN they are!... There are 4 festive conical hats, each depicting an illustrated Halloween scene. Enjoy the silly photos and scroll down for more info on how YOU can have your own set.....

~ Johanna


* I'm looking a bit mischievous here in my dancing black cat hat!...

* What a goof I am, taking these photos all alone ~ at least I can laugh at myself!...

* Ahh, thinking about which hat I'll wear on Halloween..... maybe ALL of them!...

* Uh-HA, I can decorate with these hats too...multi purpose!...

* Hmmmm, what sorts of hats will I design next.......

So, you might be wondering where you can acquire your own set of these delightful Halloween hats.... Well, I know you can pre-order them from  Christmas Traditions , Bayberry Cove and A Vintage Holiday, three wonderful websites offering a delightful array of holiday collectibles. If you are an online seller of Halloween collectibles, including these festive hats, please let me know, and I will include your link here too!..... Let the Halloween party begin!

PS... Remember my artist feature in Better Homes & Gardens Halloween Tricks & Treats Magazine?... Well the photo below inspired this current line of wearable hats. Originally designed to be worn by my sculptures, I adjusted them graphically to fit our heads!... Remember, they look whimsical both on your head and in your home for Halloween..... Love that multi-functionality :)


* Magazine image: Copyright 2007 Meredith Corporation
* All other images: © 2009 Johanna Parker Design * Photos of Johanna are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.
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It Starts with Black & White...

Today, I thought I'd mix things up a bit, and I don't mean papier mache this time! I spent the majority of the day designing, sketching and illustrating Halloween party hats. Like the title of this post states, it all starts with black and white! My ink pens and illustration board were my main focus, and I began illustrating fanciful jack-o'-lanterns, expressive moons and stylized bats. These whimsical images will decorate the one of a kind party hats that my sculpted Halloween folk art characters will be wearing this fall. It's all part of my signature mixed media look that I began dabbling in back in 2003. I was looking for a unique way to apply my love for illustration with my fascination for sculptural work. Now, it's a tradition for me to make 2 - 3 new illustrated hats each year. Stay tuned for their finished look in full color!...

~ Johanna


* A series of thin arched lines reveals the darkened wings of a bat....


* Jack-o'-lanterns from my imagination take shape on illustration board....


* You can see the hats slowly come to life, anxiously awaiting a warm wash of Halloween hues...

* I look up to stretch my neck after hours of intensive drawing.....

Hope you enjoyed the peek in my studio!.... By the way, I have good news! As a token of my appreciation for all of my supportive collectors and friends, I will be hosting my first ever Blog Giveaway soon! I'm working on a special one of a kind to share with one of my lucky fans... In order to enter, I ask that you do one or all of the following (for multiple chances to win) = Follow my Blog.....Follow me on Twitter.... Leave me a nice comment on the upcoming Blog Giveaway post. So, stay tuned and keep checking back. :)

© 2009 Johanna Parker Design * Illustrations are the property of Johanna Parker and may not be used without permission.
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