New Collaborations With Lili
December 29, 2009
My wife Lili Ong and I often collaborate as a designer-illustrator team on various printmaking and graphics projects. Among our favorite materials is fabric, which we return to time and again to create characters, toys, and books with.
Percivale, front and back.
Our latest fabric project is a series of hand-made plush toy owls, debuting with four prototypes named Percivale, Lancelot, Arthur and Galahad. They take their names from Nights of the Round Table, a perennial favorite of classic owl literature.
Lancelot, front and back.
Our production process starts with my drawings which Lili then translates into patterns for cutting cloth and assembling the dimensional figures. As our nocturnal noblemen take shape, we improvise with colors and textures through to the stitching and final details.
Arthur, front and back.
Each of the owls is awake on one side and asleep on the other. They are embellished with rare vintage buttons and feature unique motifs and personalities.
Galahad, back and front.
Percivale, Lancelot, and Galahad are currently on exhibit at Gallery Hanahou in New York City through January 9. The space is located in SoHo’s landmark Cable Building and is managed by CWC, the creative agency that represents my illustration work Japan.
Visit Gallery Hanahou at 611 Broadway (at Houston), Suite 730, New York NY 10012 |
tel. 646.486.6586 | info@galleryhanahou.com