Tattole & Tempel

1New ceramic pieces"Little Tattole and Tempel"

It was inspired by a book "planetarium no Futago" by one of my favorite author Shinji Ishii 2 This was my early summer read. And I loved it! If you read Japanese I highly recommend this book.  It's an adventure and a life story about twin brother Tattole and Tempel who were left in a planetarium in a small town as babies. It's a beautiful novel I read it in a super speed.

4 Tempel (left) becomes a traveling magician and Tattle works as planetarium as a story teller.

5 I'm using a new glazed experimenting now so the color of the Tempel head came out so different than I imagined.  But all the surprise is the best part of doing ceramic!

3 Their hats comes off :) Hmmm what should I put in? Salt and Sugar?

¡Capitán Canoodle en México!

Hi everybody!Eun-Ha Paek + Sara Varon + Aya Kakeda = Captain Canoodle We are having an exhibition at Rojo Bermelo Gallery in Mexico City, opening June 27!!  There will be Prints!  Posters!  Papier-mache masks!  A mural!  And New Products! Be there or be a pear! (http://www.canoodle.milky.org/)

Here are some sneak preview of what we've been working on!

canoodleSneakPeek3-1 canoodleSneakPeek111 2 3 4 5 bag1 bag2 bag3

Summer Bear for EeBoo stationary fair!

Hello!I'm back from Toronto.  Toronto Comic and Art Festival went really great! Met some wonderful Comic Artists in Canada, I will update the drawing diary from the trip soon. My first gig back in New York was my favorite client Eeboo. I went to their office and tried out their new products, shinny fancy papers and wavy card-stocks. I love their fancy sparkly papers!  I think this is the only company that I know of making these kids' craft goods with amazingly beautiful packaging! (Art Director Fumiha Tanaka does great package design!) So this is what I came up with, Summer bear!  You can meet her at the booth of EeBoo at the Stationary Fair this weekend in NY!

1 2I made this watermelon crown for this fancy lady ;) 3 4 5 6Eating Ice Cream Candy, summer is coming soon to NY!  I put a Bee on her cheek but it looks like a Fly in the photo. hmmm... that works, too I guess.

316212_10151678815932959_1261687979_nJust got this photo via Fumiha, Bear at the stationary show!

Chinese New Year!

IMG_1788 IMG_1789 IMG_1790Happy Chinese New Year! (I'm 10 days late for the real Chinese new year...)But I got this new year envelope in my mail and I wanted to share! I illustrated those for a department store in Hong Kong. I love the Foil printing, so shinny and pretty.  Not much in this photos but it's very shinny with gold and red foil! I gave one to my Chinese laundry owner, and he reorganized the company that I worked for so that was exciting.

HongKong Christmas!

Happy Holidays Everyone!I've been working on this project since late summer and finally it's done! It's a holiday installation in a department store in Hong Kong. I designed the background and the characters, and some products for their holiday season.  Here are some pictures and the original sketches!

backgrounddoneOriginal sketch for the installation! 1Final photo tree_new12lion11elephant10candy13 It's a very interesting feeling when you design something in 2D on paper, then it goes out of your hands and someone else fabricate them in 3D life size installation.  I have never seen my characters in life size which I'm super excited about! Hope kids in HongKong will enjoy this decorations!!!

If you know anyone in Hong Kong please pass it along. Here are the info: Dec 21st 2012 - January 6th 2013 Tai Po Mega Mall, Hong Kong Christmas installation http://www.taipomegamall.shkp.com.hk/20121203104354_field10TPMM_Dec_2012R4_AW_08-01 Here are more fun photos they sent me with model!

3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9

Printed Matter show at Giant Robot LA

alien2 548793_10151224425082886_570005647_nLooking for a Chiristmas gift LA People?Here is the best show for it. Printed Matter show at Giant Robot LA.I will have some silkscreens for sale!

Printed Matter – A Show of Multiples Dec 17-Jan 9th, 2013

Reception Saturday, December 22th 2012, 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. Giant Robot 2 2062 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025 gr2.net (310) 445-9276

Andrice Arp, Apak, Aya Kakeda, Bigfoot, Bradford Lynn, Bubi Au Yeung, Christopher Chan, Dan McCarthy, Danni Shinya Luo, Darth Rimmer, David Horvath, Deth P Sun, Elliot Brown, Gabe Gonzales, Gary Musgrave, James Chong, Jay Horinouchi, Jay Ryan, Jeni Yang, Jeremiah La Torre, Jesse LeDoux, Jesse Tise, Jiyoung Moon, Kaori Kasai, Ken Taya, Kerry Horvath, Kevin Luong, Kio Griffith, Louise Chen, Mare Odomo, Mari Inukai, Mark Ingram, Masato Nakada, Miso, Nick Arciaga, Sara Saedi, Sashiko Yuen, Scott Wilkowski, Seonna Hong, Shawn Cheng, Shawnimals, Shihori Nakayama, Sidney Pink, Stasia Burrington, Tessar Lo, Tru Nguyen, Yejin Oh, Yumi Sakugawa

Hello Crafty --- eeboo spring

FxCam_1355436175037 FxCam_1355436195963 FxCam_1355436242683I went into Eeboo office for few hours yesterday and made some spring crafts for their show room.Here are "happy spring caterpillar" and "flower polar bear with little penguin!"Still long winter to go but eeboo office and making those fluffy springy color objects made me warm inside!  thank you fumiha and eeboo!

Mr. & Mr. beautiful products!

ground+by+aya+kakeda aya-kakeda Picture 2 My lovely friends Pierre and Alexis launched a new brand call " Mr. & Mr." I love it!  All the products are so beautiful and unique.

Pierre, my soul sister Celia Picard, incredible illustrator Marina Vandel, and I have designs in their unique product "Ground by" it's a nice concept that you can decorate your floor with the stencil of different artist's art! I'm very excited to be part of this project. Thank you Pierre and Alexis!  Congratulations on your new brand!

Check out their beautiful site: http://www.mr-mr.fr/

 

Studio Breakfast

Today I finished making the piece for the Giant Robot Biannual 3 which opens in L.A. in mid Sept.  For this show each artist has to use 2 of their vinyl products and customize them in your own way.  I decided to cook them into my Sunday breakfast!Gochisou sama deshita~

Eeboo Felt Pillow

Getting a call from Fumiha Tanaka is always a good news and a start of fun projects!Fumiha is the head designer of Eeboo, a paper toy company where they also create a fantastic craft item. This felt project was great, something I really love to do (crafting and making character) and felt like this is not a job but pure fun which is the best kind of job I can imagine ;-) Thank you Fumiha and Eeboo!

My job was to create stuffed pillows using those 18 different color package for people to see what they can make with this product. And the photo of the pillows went on the back like this. Here are the photos of all the pillows I made for each color!

See you in MEXICO!

Hello everyone.My Mexico trip is starting next week!!! 6 months of planning and working with my warm Mexican friends over tons of emails, it's finally coming to reality.

I've been to Mexico twice and I was in love with the country and people there, this is a dream come true projects for me!

My First stop and this trip's sponsor is Amarillo Centro de Diseño June 27th to 30th Stop motion animation workshop June 28th Exhibition "Aya Kakeda works from 2000~2012" opens at http://amarilloespacio.com.mx/

Amarillo Centro de Diseño is a design Center in Xalapa, Mexico which invites both Mexican and  international artists to have workshops and Exhibition. My talented and top illustrator friends Yuko Shimizu, Marcos Chin, and Brian Rea have shown their work here in the past years. I'm honored to be part of this group!  Thank you for inviting me!

Here is some exciting photos that they sent me! they are also painting my characters on their window!!! wowwwww~ I'm excited about what kind of stop motion animation the students will make. I will update you on that soon!

I'm also launching 2 toy lines in Mexico, one is a hand made ceramic figure "Box-kun Mexican version"  and " Hanabi Monster" plush which I collaborated with Mexican Artist TOLOACHE. My Ceramic Toy " Box-kun Mexican version" will be launched on July 6th at SK Sarukaku Toy store in Mexico City.  It's super limited and comes with hand made silkscreen book, I'm only bringing 10 figures.  [vimeo 44558034 w=500 h=375] box-kun mexican version promotional video from aya Kakeda on Vimeo.

Last but not least! On July 13th at Rojo Bermelo store in Monterrey, I'm having an event "Hanabi Monster!" where collaboration plush toy with TOLOACHE and  limited edition silk screen will be launched! Fluffy cuteness!!!! And here is some photos of the limited edition silk screens getting printed for this event! If you are in Mexico, I really hope to see you in one of those events!

Love from New York trying to pack huge mustache in my suitcase!!!

MEXICO!

Hello. My Mexico shows and events are coming up soon! Please come and visit if you are near, And spread the word to your friends in Mexico! Thank you!

Xalapa June 28th, 2012 Opening 7pm Solo Exhibition at Amarillo Centro de Diseno Address: Antonio Franceschy no.17 Esquina Guerrero y Perú, Xalapa http://amarilloespacio.com.mx/

Mexico City July 6th, 2012 Event 7pm "Nice to Meet You Box-kun!" Premier of New Custom Ceramic Toy at SK Sarukaku Toy Address: Isabel la Católica #87, local 101, 1er piso, entrada por Regina, Col. Centro 06080 Mexico City, Mexico http://www.skarttoy.com.mx/

July 7th, 2012 Opening 8pm "It's a Pink World After All" all female group show at Rojo Bermelo (their new space in Mexico City!) Adress: Amatlan 106, entre Campeche y Michoacan. Col. Condesa, Mexico City TEL: 63030596 http://www.rojobermelo.com/

Monterrey July 13th, 2012 Opening 8pm "Hanabi Monster Party" Premier of Hanabi Monster Silk Screen Poster and Plush Toy at Rojo Bermelo Address: Plaza fiesta San Agustin local 2099, Monterrey TEL: 83631523 http://www.rojobermelo.com/

 

StumpTown Comic Festival this weekend!

Hi Everyone!I will be a part of StumpTown Comic Festival this weekend in Portland Oregon. I'm bringing all my hand made books that I've been working on at the silkscreen studio since January and also some hand made products!

I have a booth sharing it with Sara Varon and Jen Tong. Two of my favorite comic artists! So come down and say hello to us!!!

The 9th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest April 28 & 29, 2012 • Oregon Convention Center Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-6 • Buy Tickets Now! at TicketsWest More info: http://www.stumptowncomics.com/comics-fest/

Here are some toto bags that I made for the festival! <Front> Front image is two Kokeshi chan And the back is mixed and match Kokeshi chan.

<Back>

Print Shop Today

Busy day at Print shop today.I did a drawing on a blank note book and I wanted to make it in color by silkscreen. It was so hard because the book wasn't flat. but eventually I got it. fewwww there is always something new to learn. Original Drawing

Silkscreen Version, the color is hard to tell in the photo but it's a nice hot pink in real life. Also the project that I was putting off from January...I finally printed out the cover of my new accordion book "Snow Day."

Starting out with white. Front and the back cover. second color black. I like how it came out! Looks like a wall paper all together. Last color, only the front cover has gradation snow pattern. There are pink version and purple version.

Long Long day but productive, covered in paint.

Tonight at silkscreen studio

I worked on covers for my new silkscreen book "BOX" tonight.(First Color for the front cover) (Second Color ---- BOX!) (And this is my back cover--- Empty box, where did the character go???) (Then I was playing with the ceramic figure that I made which goes with this book) (Mmmmmm...... ESCAPE!) I had a little time left at the studio, I printed some characters on Matches. ( well it looks like matches but actually sticky notes inside. Nice product idea, I got them at an art store in Baltimore, I should have gotten more!) Done for Today! Good Night.

MICA lecture and Toy making blog

Hello.I'm going to MICA ( Maryland Institute College of Art) next week to have a lecture and a week long Toy design workshop. Here are the link to the blog I've been making for the class.  I thought maybe some other toymaker will be interested! I will keep updating this blog with students work and interview with other toy makers so stay tuned. http://micamfaillustrationaya.wordpress.com/

Info about the workshop: http://fyi.mica.edu/event/aya_kakeda_lecture