Here at Make Studio, we have love and appreciation for many types of crafters and artists. Individually, we have our own favorites. We sometimes need to take pause and work to understand eachothers favorites. When it comes to the art created by Lisa Congnon, there is no pause. Everyone here agrees...she is awesome. A self taught artist who started her career originally in a law office. Lisa came to art in her 30s realizing her true passions and ultimately her talents were in

As mentioned in our previous FEATURED BOOKS post, the team here at Make Studio Inc. loves collecting design and special interest books. One of these special interest is children's books. We have found some of our favorite artists and illustrators penning pages with delightful illustrations and whimsical prose. Turning the pages of a well designed children's book can instanly transport children of all ages to the farthest reaches of their imaginations...an exciting place to go

Today, in children's book illustration, one can find a healthy mix of original artwork done in traditional mediums like colored pencil, watercolor and pastel. Just as common are books digitally illustrated with Adobe Illustrator and like tools. But, in 1990's this was not the case. Digital art featured in advertising and media had not crossed over to children's books. That is not until J. Otto Seibold. J. Otto Seibold, a self taught Bay Area born artist, had become an expert

In 2011, while in Paris exploring the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, I happened upon a retrospective of Czech toy designer, Libuse Niklova. The first piece I remember seeing was her black accordion cat, Toy Cat. Toy Cat stuck with me (photo below), even though I had zero knowledge of the fame of this toy, or the artist's achievement of subsequent accordian characters. Though unfamiliar with her work, I was drawn to it. Each one of her special designs felt special, and at

The Make Studio Inc. team is big into collecting books...B-I-G! And not just any books...books on art, music, humor - essentially creating - from tutorials, curations, artist biographys and/or instructional. Within this, the type and style of creative books we collect are as diverse as the works featured within them. We love to tour any town's local bookstore in search of a worthy book to add to our collection. There have been so many amazing book publishers willing to take r

On April 16, 1914, Paul Klee writes in his journal... "Color has claimed me. I need no longer run after it. It has claimed me once and for all, that I know. This is the meaning of the happiest hour: I and color are one. I am a painter." We can see this claim color had on Paul Klee. Much of his work shows evidence of an inquisitive explorer unearthing colors and comparing their many possiblities. It is this relationship that went on to influence so many artists after him. A re