Sunday, December 9, 2012

Jamaican Matryoshka

Jamaican Matryoshka

Introducing my Jamaican Matryoshka, my latest illustration! She and all her prints, magnet prints, and coloring sheet PDF are now available in my shop! One of my kind customers, Sonia, who requested her, sent me some images that were very helpful with my research. I also found some other images and pinned them to a board to share with you here. Sonia also told me that the folk dress she is wearing is called a Quadrille dress. Thank you Sonia for the suggestion and all your help! It was fun coming up with the plaid pattern for this illustration and challenging depicting so much white fabric with the usual white surrounding the matryoshka, but I am happy with the results and I hope you all like her too! :)

Peace,

Amy

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Samoan Girl Matryoshka

Samoan Girl Matryoshka

This week I have worked on and completed my Samoan Girl Matryoshka. She is my sixty sixth culture/nationality and my second Polynesian. The first Polynesian I drew was my Maori. While doing research for this drawing I found many wonderful images on the web and pinned them to a board here, to share with you. I enjoyed drawing the wonderful textures of the traditional costume. All items for my Samoan Girl Matryoshka are now available in my shop. I hope you like her! :)

Next up on my list is a Jamaican Matryoshka, please stay tuned!

Peace,
Amy

Friday, October 26, 2012

Hungarian of Kalotaszeg, Transylvania Matryoshka

Hungarian of Kalotaszeg, Transylvania Matryoshka

This week I drew a Hungarian of Kalotaszeg, Transylvania Matryoshka! After I had a request to draw her on my blog, I received helpful advice on Facebook on what Hungarian words to use when researching the costume. Thank you for your suggestions and all your helpful tips! While researching I found many wonderful examples on the web and pinned them to a board to share with you here.

In the past I have received interest in seeing my original preliminary sketches so here she is:

You can see this and more of my sketches on my blog.

This is my second Hungarian Matryoshka illustration. You can see my first one in a blog post here, and I drew a Romanian Saxon Matryoshka you can see here.

Also this week, I've joined storylane.com/AmyPerrotti! It is a brand new site. I am posting these posts (my blog posts) over there too. Soon I am planning on posting some stories about what has inspired me to become an artist and to draw my international / cultural inspired Matryoshka.  So, please stay tuned! :)

I'll be researching and beginning my next illustration for Samoa in the next few days. If you have any tips regarding this culture please let me know. 

Peace,
Amy

The artist owns all rights to the content and artwork. Please do not reproduce without the artist's written permission. Thank you, © 2009-2012 Amy Perrotti

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Zulu, South African Matryoshka

Zulu, South African Matryoshka

Hello! I just completed my Zulu, South African Matryoshka. She is my third South African. My Zulu Matryoshka depicts a married woman or a bride (aspects of both). Married women wear a large red headdress and in addition to the headdress brides wear beads above their eyes. I found many images showing colorful bead necklaces and colorful design trimmed clothing. While doing research for her I pinned images I found on the web to a board here

All three South African Matryoshka are now available in my shop. Please come on over and have a look! :)
Zulu, Ndebele, and Xhosa, South African Matryohkas

Peace,

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Miao, Chinese Matryoshka

Miao, Chinese Matryoshka

Hello! This week I completed my Miao, Chinese Matryoshka! She is my 63rd Matryoshka! To give you an idea of how many culture/nationality suggestions I get, there are currently 38 suggestions on my suggestions list (you can see the list in the right hand column of my blog here) and I haven't updated it with new suggestions that I've received on my blog and from my customers in months! I must do that soon. I've just been working so hard on drawing that I've gotten behind on that sort of thing (it falls under paperwork. . . my vice).

While researching for this illustration I came across many beautiful images on the web and pinned a board here. The silver jewelry for this culture is awesome! There is so much of it, it is almost armor! And the detail of the jewelry and the clothing! Wow! I was speechless. So, needless to say I put a lot of time into this. I hope you like her. All of the items for my Miao, Chinese Matryoshka are now available in my shop, please have a look! :)

Next on the suggestions list is Zulu, South African! You'll be hearing from me again soon with the new illustration! Thank you for your wonderful suggestions! Please keep them coming. There are so many wonderful cultures in our world and I enjoy learning about and illustrating all of them.

Peace,
Amy
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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Ndebele Matryoshka

Ndebele Matryoshka

Hello! This week I bring you my Ndebele Matryoshka, another beautiful South African culture. The Ndebele culture is a feast of color and geometric shapes. So many wonderful design elements and adornments! I really enjoyed my research, learning about and drawing her. I hope you like her too! You can see some of my inspirations I found on the web and compiled on a board here. All items for my Ndebele Matryoshka are now available in my shop.

Two weeks ago I introduced you to my Xhosa Matryoshka my first South African matryoshka. In about another two weeks I'll complete my Zulu South African Matryoshka.

Next on my suggestions list is Miao of China. My daughter is Chinese American so I am hoping to get her to pose for it. I love to draw her so I am super excited!

Peace,
Amy
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Welsh Matryoshka

Welsh Matryoshka

Hello! I have had a couple of requests for my latest illustration, a Welsh Matryoshka. One friendly customer sent me helpful links (Always appreciated!) and we both believe the Welsh costume may have inspired Mother Goose of nursery rhymes. Also, while researching, I composed a board of images I found on the web here. I love their use of plaids, stripes and polka dots! I had to get my flower design in there somewhere, so I used it on the background. All the items for this illustration including prints, magnets, and a coloring sheet PDF are now available in my shop.

Next up, another of the South African cultures, Ndebele!

Peace,
Amy
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Xhosa South African Matryoshka

Xhosa South African Matryoshka

Hello! This week I've been researching South African cultures and traditional dress. I decided to start out with a Xhosa Matryoshka. I found some wonderful photos on the web and made a board of them here.

I wish I could put into words how much I love and enjoy drawing and learning about these different cultures. I love people. I want my work to communicate that.

Welsh is next on my list but I plan on drawing another South African after that.

Thank you for your interest and continued support!


Peace,
Amy

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sorb/Wend/Lusatian Matryoshka

Sorb/Wend/Lusatian Matryoshka
Hello! I've really been on a role here lately drawing a Matryoshka illustration a week. I hope to keep this up because my suggestions list is quite long. One of my customers contacted me and said that her heritage was Sorb/Wend/Lusatian. Wow! What a mouthful! After drawing 50 plus illustrations of different cultures it is always exciting to discover that there are so many more out there. And once again I am amazed by the uniqueness of the elaborate decorations used in their traditional dress. While researching for this illustration I came across some wonderful images that inspired me. I have pinned a board of these Sorb/Wend/Lusatian photos. . . check out all the scarves, embroidery and lace! All items for my Sorb/Wend/Lusatian Matryoshka are now listed in my shop.

Peace,
Amy
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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Ugandan Matryoshka

Ugandan Matryoshka
Hello! This is my Ugandan Matryoshka illustration now available in my shop in a variety of different size prints, magnets, and a coloring sheet PDF. My customer that suggested her said that Uganda is known as "The Pearl of Africa". Also, in my research for this illustration I learned that the traditional dress is called a Gomesi. You can see some of the inspirations that I found when doing my research on the board I created of pinned images here.

Here is a grouping Suggestion:
Southern Nigerian Matryoshka, Ugandan Matryoshka, Bahia Brazilian Matryoshka

Next on my suggestions list is Abigail Adams. I am searching for a good portrait of her in her youth to go by as a reference. I'm not happy with what little I've been able to find so far. I may skip on down my suggestions list until I am able to solve my Abigail Adams mystery.

Peace,
Amy

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, Empress consort of Russia, Matryoshka

Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova Matryoshka
Hello! This is my Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, Empress consort of Russia, Matryoshka, another wonderful suggestion from one of my collectors. An Empress of Russia seems a logical pick for a Matryoshka and if there are any other Russians you would like to see please let me know. I really enjoyed researching Alexandra and found lots of wonderful images on the web and pinned them in a board here. All size prints, magnets and a coloring sheet PDF for my Alexandra Matryoshka are now available in my shop.

The theme of my work is celebrating and honoring the different cultures/peoples of the world. Next on my suggestions list is Uganda! You can expect another pinned board of inspirations coming soon followed by a new illustration! Thank you for your suggestions and please keep them coming. :)

Peace,
Amy
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Monday, May 21, 2012

Moroccan Bride Matryoshka

Moroccan Bride Matryoshka

Hello! My newest illustration is entitled Moroccan Bride Matryoshka. The different size prints, magnets, and DIY PDF coloring sheet, are all now listed in my shop! I found some beautiful Moroccan images around the web and pinned them on a Pinterest board. Please follow my pins pinterest.com/amyperrotti. Right now I am doing research for my next drawing, an Ancient Egyptian Matryoshka and I am sure that will include a board of pinned inspirations too.

As a gift to you and all those following my blog here is a 10% discount coupon code to use in my shop: BLOGFRIEND10

Other news in my shop:


At a customers request I added a red box to my Matryoshka party favor box PDF. So it is now a seven page PDF in the colors above.

Jack in the Box Pop Up DIY PDF toy crafts
And, back by popular demand my Jack in the Box Pop Up DIY PDF toy crafts! My shop has evolved over the years into specializing in internationally inspired Matryoshka. But I still get requests for this sweet duo so I'm giving in and giving them residence in my shop once more. 

Also, please don't forget, for each purchase of my Nepalese Bride Matryoshka prints I will donate 50% of the purchase price to the BlinkNow Foundation. To learn more about BlinkNow, Kopila Valley Children's Home and School, and the care and education of children in the Surkhet region of Nepal please visit: BlinkNow.org 
You can see all the Nepalese Bride Matryoshka prints here:http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmyPerrotti/search?search_query=Nepalese&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5485470&shopname=AmyPerrotti

Peace,

Amy
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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Maori Dancer Matryoshka

Maori Dancer Matryoshka

My latest Matryoshka illustration is from New Zealand a Maori Dancer! I came across many interesting and fabulous videos, and photos while doing the research for this illustration. I've posted a couple of videos I found to my Facebook and Twitter pages, and I pinned some photos from around the web on my Pinterest. I love watching the Maori Dancers Poi dance it is entertaining to watch and looks like a great form of exercise. Who wants to Poi with me? I hope my drawing inspires you to learn more about the Maori culture and New Zealand. Please visit my shop and see all my Maori Dancer Matryoshka items! :)

Peace,
Amy Perrotti

P.S. 
I have updated my Suggestions List in the right hand column of my blog. If you have given me a suggestion and don't see it on the list please let me know so I can add it. Thanks!



Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Kony 2012


This includes some graphic images so I encourage viewer discretion and parental viewing prior to children viewing. This is just too important not to post.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Grand Matryoshka Magnet

Grand Matryoshka magnet surrounded by regular size Matryoshka magnets








































So, it was sort of a light bulb moment for me. You know, I was going along, doing my normal thing, putting each new Matryoshka magnet I make in a row on my freezer door. When all of a sudden, out of nowhere, an idea hits me like a pie in the face and I stand there looking at myself with pie on my face thinking, "Why on Earth haven't I thought of this before???" I mean, it's a Matryoshka! They do open in the middle, duh. Anyway, I think it is a brilliant idea because it is simple and I believe in keeping it simple in design and in life. So I turned my refrigerator into a giant matryoshka. Now I just open my matryoshka whenever I want a snack. All my Matryoshka now have their own Grand Matryoshka magnet listed in my shop in case you would like to add some whimsy and culture to your refrigerator too! :)
Peace,
Amy Perrotti


© 2012 Amy Perrotti

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Panamanian Matryoshka

Panamanian Matryoshka
I've been itching to draw this Panamanian Matryoshka for about a year now! Most of the time I work exclusively from my suggestions list and you all give me really great suggestions too but this one I added to my suggestions list myself. I was so inspired by the Panamanian Pollera (dress) and the Folklore dancers, such a beautiful culture. :)

Last winter I was on a search for marketing knowledge and discovered Mayi Carles a wonderful Artist/marketing guru who is a wealth of knowledge and delivers it in a very entertaining way. Her Friday video posts on her website are a hoot and I look forward to watching them every week. Mayi is Panamanian and she is so delightful and intriguing that I just had to learn more about Panamanian culture. I signed up for one of her shop critiques and received so much great advice from her that going on a year later I'm still in the process of implementing it all! You can learn more about Mayi on her website heartmadeblog and "subscribe" to receive emailed updates from her.

Also, I am proud to say that just last week I was able to check off another one of the things on the list of great advice Mayi gave me— I added a "Follow by email" gadget to my blog (it is at the top of the right hand column) it is brand new to blogger! Just enter your email address to receive updates from me and keep up with all my latest Matryoshka illustrations! Please sign up and thank you for all your support.

Peace,
Amy Perrotti