Little Ari

This photo was taken in 2009, in the lane way outside 

'Our Little-Big House' in the city (as Ari used to call it).

A Little-r Ari in his winter woolies. So cute and

how cute are those bunny mitts?!  Too small now :'(

I drew this picture in 2008 of Ari and his best friend Henri,

(who was one of my earliest toy creation).  I recently uploaded it

to my online portfolio of Art and Illustration... take a peek↓

Another World Recordings

Shinro Ohtake and Misaki Kawai

Shinro Ohtake and Misaki Kawai collaborated on these fabulous 

artworks for gallery Take Ninagawa's installation at fiac in 2010.

Although I've long been a fan of Shinro Ohtake's beautiful art,

I've not come across Misaki Kawai's work before. A true delight!

More fabulous colour and patterns here on Pinterest... 

(Yes, it's become quite an addiction for me. So much to wonder at!)

Make Art Not War

You can read more about my art & illustration work 

on my other blog: Welcome to the Dollhaus and

I plan to be selling prints of my originals in that shop
when I am ready to throw myself in to business and open.

from the 'Playtime Series' circa 2008-9

copyright Anna Maria Drutzel

It's a strange thing, but I hadn't seen much of Sir Peter Blake's artwork
when I put this series together (bar the Sergeant Pepper cover that is). 

We must have very similar aesthetic interests, Sir Peter and I, I think.

Len Lye

Len Lye's animations are magical viewing for little ones... 

Ari loved them when he was two or three.

I love ACMI. They have some excellent exhibitions which are often great 

for kids (like Len Lye back in 2009), a collection of thousands of flicks 

on DVD and film reel (and available for us Victorians to borrow through 

our local libraries) and a fantastic shop filled with all sorts of cinematic 

resources. If you find yourself in Melbourne, you must make time to visit.

If you like this Len Lye animation there are lots more on YOUTUBE

AFRIKA

Yesterday, we threw on our warmest winter woolies,

and braved the dismally cold Melbourne weather to

take Ari into town to see this wonderful exhibition...

Igbo water spirit mask from the exhibition

UNESCO video via youtube

'From spiritual beliefs to daily life, masks to music, cloth to carving, West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit  explores the array of 

vibrant and dynamic cultures of West Africa.

This exhibition features over 200 objects from 28 different West African cultures, exploring kingship and authority, carved figures, pattern and adornment, divination, masks, masquerades and trade.'  

description via the West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit exhibition page

Ari made this using stamps provided in the gallery.

It's on until the 29th May at The Immigration Museum 

and is well worth venturing out into the cold to see!

Today, we are home sitting infront of the pot belly stove,

sipping hot chocolates, watching Noddy stories on DVD,

and colouring in our own beautiful African masks...

image and template found via the Immigration Museum's facebook page

I hope that you're all having a lovely weekend too. xo

Dreams Come True

I know it's Disney, I know, I know! 

But I saw 'The Princess and The Frog' 

for the first time with Ari yesterday, 

on the big screen, and I was touched.  

It was showing in conjunction with

here 

which is exhibiting at ACMI until the 26th April.

There's as much beauty in this movie, 

in it's art and quality of storytelling, 

as in wonderful Disney Classics 

like Bambi, Snow White and Cinderella

and I wanted to share a little of it with you....

My poor boy's been sick in bed all Easter holidays

with the flu, pretty rough when you're a preppy!

I was so looking forward to taking him to see this 

on the big screen, and we almost missed out.

We rarely go to the cinema, it's so expensive

but  ACMI kids' flicks  are very cheap!

'Tangled' is now showing in the ACMI cinema.