amber vanhatala stene • artist

For each birthday of my son’s fourth decade, I made an accordion-folded book featuring his two sons.

Here’s one more 5-inch square accordion-folded birthday book. Happy 50th Birthday, Zach!

Family portrait at the dog park on the last day of Christmas vacation, 2021. Watercolor on cardboard.

Max picks up his graduation award at Odyssey’s graduation ceremony, June 11, 2022. He and his friends shaved their heads for graduation. Watercolor on Fabriano Artistico before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Leo, Lazor and Zach on a hike in the west trails, Tucson, December 2021. Watercolor on Fabriano Artistico before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Max cheating during the height comparison shot with Leo, June 2022. Watercolor on Fabriano Artistico before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Boys leaping off rocks a Cannon Beach, Lazor in his new bed. Walnut ink and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. June-December 2021. Inside pages follow.

After growing his hair out during Covid-19 shutdowns, Leo decided to keep the longer look. Max prefers his shorter. Watercolor on Arches featuring a limited color pallet. This shows work before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Zach and Aleks with Lazor at the dog park. Watercolor on Arches featuring a limited color pallet. This shows work before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Comparing heights shows Max is still taller than Leo, although both boys are taller than ever. Watercolor on Arches featuring a limited color pallet. This shows work before trimming to 5” high x 30” wide.

Boys with long hair after months without haircuts due to Covid-19 shutdowns. Watercolor over gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. June 2020. Inside pages follow.

With new puppy Lazer Beam at Gabriel Park. Sitting on the wall at the winter dog park. Watercolor on Arches paper. Flat trimmed size of finished book: 5x30-inches. 2020

Comparing heights in mid June. Watercolor on Arches paper before trimming. Folded, trimmed size of finished book: 5x5-inches. 2020

Covers: See-sawing at Spring Garden Park in the summer of 2019. Watercolor and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2019. Inside pages follow.

Boys showing their Floss Dance skills. Watercolor on Arches paper before trimming. Final trimmed and folded size of finished book: 5x5-inches. 2019

Boys comparing heights. Watercolor on Arches paper before trimming. Final trimmed and folded size of finished book: 5x5-inches. 2019

Covers: Boys standing back-to-back in the summer of 2018. Watercolor and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2018

With Kibkib, favorite stuffies, and comparing heights. Watercolor and water soluble graphite on paper. Each column is 3 pages. Final accordion-folded size: 5x5-inches. 2018

At the Oregon beach. Walnut ink and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2017

Before the race at Gabriel Park, July 2016. Watercolor on paper. Two untrimmed pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2017

Freeing butterflies at Auntie Hazel’s Celebration of Life, May 2017. Gaming on Dad’s iPhone. Watercolor on paper. Two untrimmed pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2017

Watching a karate lesson, and new mohawk. Watercolor on paper. Two untrimmed pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2017

Father & sons, Mother and sons, at Joshua Tree National Monument. Walnut ink and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2017

Sitting on a cop motorcycle, standing with Police horse at Multnomah Days in August 2015. Walnut ink and water soluble graphite on paper. Each page: 5x5-inches. 2017

Inside the antique train at the Forestry Center after seeing art at the Sitka Invitational, November 2015. Walnut ink and water soluble graphite on paper. Each page: 5x5-inches. 2017

Playing T-ball and shooting hoops. Posing in front of new Renegade, May 2016. Walnut ink and water soluble graphite on paper. Each page: 5x5-inches. 2017

Abstract cover art by one of the boys. Watercolor on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2015

Boys playing on snake-like teeter-totter while parents run 5K. Walnut ink and watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2015

Boy scout, soccer, and playing with dad’s model chopper. Walnut ink and watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2015

Sand castle building with feathers at the beach. Dad twirling boys with infectious laughter. Walnut ink and watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2015

Cover art by the boys: abstract with watercolor on cardboard, figures with graphite and gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2014

Loosing first tooth eating mac’n’cheese. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2014

Winter day portrait. Older brother reading to younger brother at bedtime. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2014

Sucking on a sucker. Brothers riding sled on a snowy slope at Gabriel Park. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2014

Kite theme. Gesso and graphite on cardboard. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2013

Assembled accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 30x5-inches, folded to 5x5-inches. 2013

Left-handed drawing on new chalkboard, flying a kite at Gabriel Park, September 2012. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2013

Throwing a water ballon, 2nd birthday party, February 2013. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2013

Fast walking downhill at Gabriel Park. Father and son. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2013

Watercolor and gesso on cardboard. 5-inch square. 2012

Assembled accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 30x5-inches, folded to 5x5-inches. 2012

Eating grass and sweeping patio, 2012. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2012

Dancing with bubbles, in a swing at the red park. Watercolor on paper. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2012

Gesso on cardboard. 5x5-inches. 2012

Assembled accordion folded book. Final trimmed book: 30x5 inches, folded to 5x5 inches. Watercolor and walnut ink on paper. 2012

Getting good at crawling and posing for pics. Watercolor and walnut ink on paper. 2012

Balloon fun. Watercolor and walnut ink on paper. 2012

Toy giraffe and walker. Watercolor and walnut ink on paper. 2012

To thank my nephew for his generosity, I painted this 5-inch square accordion-folded book featuring his family.

Backlit world traveler, 2009. Family shadow, 2015. Gesso on cardboard. Each cover: 5x5-inches. 2018

Seven-months pregnant, 2006. Mother and son riding a streetcar, 2007. Watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2018

Favorite toy, collecting sand at the riverfront, 2008. Watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2018

Two cousins, 2009. Portrait at Tokyo’s Tire Park (Nishi Rokugo Koen), 2015. Watercolor on paper. Two pages of accordion-folded book. Final trimmed book: 5x5-inches. 2018