Artist Erin Chainani was home with her 2 1/2-year-old twins and looking for a creative outlet. One day, the Miami mom decided to paint portraits of her kids’ favorite toys.
“I wanted to do something that was important to them when they were little, so that when they grew up, they would have something they loved as a child,†she said.
Daughter, Uma, and son, Kaveen, screamed in delight when they saw the portraits of the pink monkey and the blue elephant. Soon friends were asking about toy portraits for their own kids. Chainani started her business, First Friends Portraits, in January 2011.
The big idea: First Friends Portraits (www.firstfriendsportraits.com) offers custom toy portraiture. Clients supply a photo or the actual toy, and Chainani uses watercolor called Gouache and pen and pencil to create an original portrait of the toy. Portraits are available in three sizes and are sold framed or unframed.
Prices range from $65 to $165. Personalized stationery using the custom toy portrait include note cards and address labels and range from $9.95 to $29.95.
Via Miami Herald
Photo by Michelle Brunner