Artist Q and A
People often ask about the artwork I create for Baby Blastoff!
Well, my wonderfully curious friends, here are answers to a few of those questions. If you have other thoughts or questions, I’d love to know!
Q: You often make designs of everyday kinds of things. Why is that?
A: Something I love about young children is how they find magic in the everyday world. On a walk in the woods, they might find a snail shell or a colorful rock. That object can become the most precious treasure. A rainbow, a cookie, a balloon–these inspire a kind of intense excitement and delight that we jaded adults forget to appreciate.
I want to create drawings that reflect that childlike wonder, and remind all of us of our unabashedly curious inner child.
Q: Why do you put dinosaurs on pink and purple?
A: In my mind, all animals, plants, prehistoric creatures, areas of interest, and styles are for everyone. Boys and girls. I want to celebrate children as they are and encourage them to explore a wide range of interests, whether or not those interests fit into the stereotype box. To that end, I print dinosaurs on pink and draw toasters with stars on them. It’s meant to be a surprise and a reminder that boys and girls are complex little people with a wide variety of interests.
I also do a lot of thinking about what kinds of designs are truly gender neutral. Gender neutral and compelling. This is where the salt- and peppershakers come in. The apple core and the banana peel. These pictures start a story that doesn’t start with gender.
Q: Why don’t your shirts have words on them?
A: I have gone back and forth with this. My designs all have names that make use of puns or word play, so people often say that I should print them on the shirts. Like “Bunz ‘n Roses” or “Darling, You Look Radishing.” I have moments when I am tempted, but it just doesn’t seem right. See, instead of telling children who they are or what they should be, I want my clothing to give kids the space to say, “This is who I am.”
I don’t want to put the words in their mouths and certainly not into your mouths, as caregivers. I want my artwork to start an open-ended story that you and your child can tell together.
Q: Which design is your all-time favorite?
A: I love the snail because it’s just so me: whimsical and quirky.
Q: Which designs are your customers’ favorites?
A: My all-time bestseller is the Buddha, but recently the Cutest Cactus has given Buddha a run for his money. The bunny, the radish, and the elephants are all close contenders. Also, recently, the noodles. I love the noodles too!
Thanks, everyone!
Want to see them? Check out all of my designs here.