Nov 4

Nov 4 Whimsical Art | Laughing Moon

There is a lot I could say about why I have chosen to make my art about Jumping Jacks and Clocks that move. I could tell you that I have been a painter ever since I could hold a brush and that as an art major at Mount St Mary's College in CA I had more fun cutting up my canvas and making puzzles and kinetic art out of my paintings. I had a very strong affinity for Folk art and kinetic art of all kinds. This was fostered when I studied under Corita Kent at Immaculate Heart in the 1960's.

We had been creating hand painted one of a kind Jumping Jacks and other collectible pieces since 1967, combining my art and Richards wood working talents. These were collected and featured in Museums art galleries and private collections all over the world. We also designed and licensed our Jumping Jacks and ornaments to several large companies during the 1980s.

There came a time that we needed to create a line that we could offer to the wholesale market. So around 1994 we figured out a way to re-produce my original paintings, and we also decided in addition to our Jumping Jacks to make Pendulum Clocks which we felt would work very well with the Jumping Jacks and would be a perfect vehicle for my art and Richards woodworking expertise..

Our goal was to make kinetic wall décor that would bring joy to our customers. Each piece that we make is designed to bring a smile or a sense of wonder to the beholder whether that be a child or an adult.

My art is inspired by my love of nature and animals, vintage children’s literature, my garden, the ocean and the random joy and silliness that I often see in many of these things.