Art in the Background ... in real life

I'm obsessed with the art hanging on the walls in picture books

I’ve been clocking the art that hangs on the walls in children’s books for quite some time. As an illustrator, that is such a fun part of making books and building worlds. I love to see how others do it. Then one day it struck me to start an Instagram (@theartinthebackground) dedicated to my little little obsession. In doing so, I then quickly saw folks were obsessed over a great many things in picture books — pipes, mailboxes, cutaway houses, and more. (Clearly I’ve found my people.)

I dream of a whole exhibit celebrating the art in the background. Just putting it out there. (Looking at you, Carle Museum) Part of that would be recreating art from picture books. The painting that’s in the dentist office in ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY hanging in your dining room? Putting that framed white poodle that’s over MISTER DOG’s bed over your bed? Yes please.

While I can wait for some things, I’m generally operating life on an impatient level. (I had to break the habit of telling people what I was getting them for their birthday.) I can’t wait for all the things to be done before I show some ART IN THE BACKGROUND … IN REAL LIFE.

I found this gem in Arnold Lobel’s PIGERICKS.

There was a slow pig from Decatur

Whose motto was “I’ll do it later.”

With the laziest slouch

He approached a soft couch,

Where he twiddled his thumbs in Decatur.

— PIGERICKS, Arnold Lobel

I adore Lobel. Embroidering is one of my favorite things to do. So is hand lettering. And, so is procrastinating. This felt perfect.

I hand lettered it on tracing paper and used my light table to transfer it to the fabric. Usually I like a sturdier fabric, but this weave worked just fine. I didn’t use a stabilizer on the back. Sometimes that nice to use too. I was eager to jump right in.

The Process

I found a frame that was close to the original. It even has these hatch marks on it, which feels like a nice nod to the hatch marks in the illustration. I mounted it right on the backing of the frame, pulling it tight with embroidery floss. It’s not pretty, but it worked!

And now it lives in the perfect home. Right by my computer. Apologies for being behind in my emails, but alas … I’ll do it later.

(And I swear I’m going to get a nice frame for that Tomi Ungerer print! That’s a placeholder!)