When I was just a baby, we had a Scottish Terrier named McDuff. For a log time, I believed that all Scottish Terriers were called McDuff. It is a perfect name. It turned out that McDuff did a runner one day, and got hit by a train. Even though I don’t remember him, the story still makes me sad. After McDuff came Magnus the Great Dane. He also did runners ––mostly to visit us in the schoolyard –– but he never got hurt. It’s a shame the two didn’t meet. Magnus & McDuff –– what a pair that would have been.

I came across this photo of artist, Rafa Macarrón in his studio and I was intrigued to see more. His mixed media canvases have all the colour, naivety and whimsy I look for in a painting. I see elements of Klee, Miro, and Matisse. I think his style would lend itself beautifully to a children’s book. “Through his colourful palettes and pseudo-cosmic narratives, Macarrón attempts to capture the world’s innocence, and the beauty and surprise of everyday life.” Take a look if you have a moment today –– his skinny legged camel and peculiar giraffe will make you smile.

It was this beautiful pair of gloves that first caught my eye. And once you enter Bunnie Reiss’ world, you’ll find it hard to leave. From cosmic costumes to richly patterned quilts to murals adorned with peacocks and moons and evil eyes, Reiss’ universe is pure magic. Doesn’t everyone want a tent atop their car? And what kid wouldn’t go bonkers building an art fort? I’ll take one of her nature paintings –– Charlie Harper meets early Kandinsky.