Lisa Telling Kattenbraker
contemporary american batik

are you a nice creature?
The nice creatures are a series of pieces derived from my childrens drawings. The images are taken from a collection of drawing by my son Maia j. and daughter Stella d. that grace my studio as well as plaster every surface of our house. The original drawings were all created and named by Maia and/or Stella between the ages of 2 and 6 (so far).
I've taken the images and turned them into batiks by either tracing the original picture or by drawing it left handed onto the fabric. The colors and backgrounds I add, trying to maintain the integrity of the intentions, emotions, and stories that go along with the original drawings. Maia and Stella supervise, advise, critique and name each piece. They do, however, allow for some artistic freedom by the mom holding the wax and tools!
The original drawings were all done in pencil, pen, crayon, marker, chalk, paint, bath paint, or dirt.
I have fallen more and more in love with the way that children draw. There is a universal aspect to their approach, and I am finding their honesty and simplicity to be anything but simple. The big eyes and long legs represent, to me, a willingness to see the world in all its glory, and to move about in it fully...they are constantly teaching me...

"Monster King"
(maia)

"Schoolbus with balloons"
(maia)

"Waiting Room"
(stella, maia, Lisa)

"a girl taking a walk with a nice creature who is a boy"
(stella and Lisa)

"Protector"
(maia, stella, Lisa)

"Nice creatures love birds"
(maia, stella)