Funky Junk's newest Maker/Artists are Richard Kissel and Kelly Kenard, the inspired creators of Our Secret Treehouse. If their art seems familiar you may have seen them before! They were participants in the Black Friday Holiday Sale last November at Funky Junk. Their work was featured at the Museum of the Earth for several months this past winter. And there was an article in the Ithaca Times about them in November. Whether you like ancient dinosaurs, or laugh at cute cartoon critters, or just love to support local artists, take a moment to enjoy the Our Secret Treehouse art at Funky Junk!
Richard: "For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts. From the deserts of Texas to the mountains of Germany, I’ve had the opportunity to excavate dinosaurs, ice age mammals, and the earliest of reptiles and amphibians, and one of my favorite aspects of science is reconstructing primeval worlds based on these bones and other fragmentary fossils buried within the earth.
Science does not exist without art and creativity, so I always found myself drawing dinosaurs and other extinct creatures—both scientific and cartoon-y depictions. While a scientific illustration is the representation of just an object, a cartoon represents a personality. I love dinosaurs, and I love characters, so cartooning allows me to revisit the world of the dinosaurs but add a whimsical twist to their existence. Our motto—scientifically whimsical—reflects this perfect pairing."
Kelly: "The six-story treehouse at the Nature Center [is a favorite place in Ithaca]. It was the very first place that we visited together in Ithaca, and it's also where we were married. As you can tell from our business name, treehouses mean a lot to us."
Richard: "My little cartoon critters make me smile, and I simply love creating them and their stories. It's very satisfying in a hard-to-describe way. And doing things that make me smile is the best way to live life."
Advice for aspiring artists...
Kelly: "Use the community available to you. There are so many resources available, and fellow artists and crafters have been wonderful about sharing advice. Also, regarding the business, we discussed starting it long before we moved forward with it, developing a business plan, etc. That time and research has really paid off. But most importantly, trust yourself and be confident with your art. Every artist is unique; celebrate your self and your art."
Richard: "Everybody's an artist."
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| Photo by Carla at the Scientific Seamstress |
Kelly: "Richard is a paleontologist, author, educator, and artist. As his art evolves, it seems to simplify, and I'm continually overjoyed when one of our simple creations brings a smile to the faces of those who see them. I have always had a fascination with greeting cards and how a simple piece of paper can completely alter someone's day. I have dreamed of screen printing cards for years, but it wasn't until I saw Richard's cartoons that I found the images that finally pushed me into it."
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