Kickstarter

Update:

I have recently researched the cost of screen printed promotional t-shirts for my project. It is a significant cost and I sincerely hope that it will garner further support for my project. I hope that if you are reading this that you will take the time review my project and consider pledging. My Sincere Thanks.

About my projects:

I would like to share some information about who I am as an Artist, Illustrator and Author. 

I'm an American Folk Artist. Illustrator and Published Author. 
I've been painting my own unique style of American Folk Art for the last ten years.  My main online gallery at http://www.artwanted.com/mikefilippello has received more than 250,000 hits since I opened the gallery in the fall of 2005. I've had some of my paintings published in the Artwanted yearly calendar that they publish every year.  

I am also an Artist for a company called "Artomat" http://www.artomat.org. This is a unique company that sells art out of refurbished mechanical cigarette vending machines.  I've been with this wonderful company since 2008 and in that time frame I've sold more than 400 individually hand painted miniature paintings. My work regularly sells out of every venue it's available in, and my work is requested by my name. 

I have had some of paintings published in newspapers and magazines and in March 2007, I was published as an "Emerging Artist" in the American Trade Magazine-"Art Business News." This is just to give you an idea about my work as an Artist.

I'm very lucky that I have a great love and passion for both art and writing. It is the culmination of these passions that I have put into my picture books.

I've been writing and illustrating my own line of kids picture books for the last 20 years. I came up with the idea to write my books based on the simple premise of an imaginary planet called "Twinkle Winkle." This premise allows me to have total creative control as to what I can write about. For me the "sky is the limit." 

In 2004 I had my first book "Miratambo Moonsong" published and in 2009 the second book, which is the follow up to "Miratambo Moonsong" titled "In a place called Barrontippeny." The 2 books that I want to publish now are called "The House of Top Hat-remembers-A Journey Through Christmas" and "Dreamship Ruxtengallo" 

When my first book "Miratambo Moonsong" was published in 2004. I was thrilled to have my very first book out for the world to see. I immediately went to work and had 5 press releases published in the local newspapers over a series of many months. I pursued every single newspaper I could find in my local region to get the word out. I also appeared on the local news and on a local radio show to tell the world about my book. 

In early 2005 I was presented with the opportunity to read my book to school children at a local school. I was thrilled at the chance to do this. I immediately went to work on designing a special presentation box called "Miratambo Moonsong 3D." I had no idea how to do this kind of thing because I'm not really someone that's very good at constructing things. I designed on paper this box and spent the next 3 months custom building it so that the kids would have something unique and special that would make the reading of the book to them that much more special of an experience --I have here 2 links that will take you to the pictures that I have of "Miratambo Moonsong 3D" http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=280693&SGID=13306 this is the inside view of the box and this link will show you the outside of the box. http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?ID=280681&SGID=13306&IRV=1 the inside version of the box has the colorful borders outside of the picture just like the inside of my book does, there are also words hidden inside the borders of the box just like in the book also. Reading to the kids was a blast and I was thrilled to have the chance to do so. If you'd like to see more information please feel free to check out my blog at mapleskydreamtree.wordpress.com and I will be sure to have information available for you to see. 

My second book "In a place called Barrontippeny" was published in 2009. I again had press releases published in the local newspapers and did signings at some of the local bookstores to promote the book. 

"The House of Top Hat-remembers-A Journey Through Christmas" is a story book that I have wanted to publish for a long time. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and this story puts a different perspective on it. It's about my main character called a "Zinkle Quinkle" and how he discovers what we know to be Christmas. I'm very excited about this book and want very much to see it come to life. The story is complete. The illustrations will have to be created in to the paintings that I think will best depict the story.

"Dreamship Ruxtengallo." When I sit down to write a book, I try to think of how  original can it be? This story is by far for me a story that comes directly from my heart. It would be truly an accomplishment for me to be able to publish this book because it means so very much to me on so many levels. 

If you would like to see a sample of my work. I have a book called "A Polka Dotted Pine Tree in Pipladunka" it's a unique story about the mystery of the beloved "Rising Star Evergreen" tree and how it wound up with polka dots all over it. The story can be read in it's complete form at  http://mystorytown.com/tree/pipladunka.html. I hope that you will have the chance to stop by and have a look at it.

Finally--if there is no funding there are no books. I really want very much to see these projects through to fruition. 

I will use my knowledge and skills to promote these works to the very best of my ability. There will be facebook fan page for each project. I am on Twitter and Linked In and have a blog.  I plan also to create another box of dual purpose for both books. 

My Art and My Books are My Life's Work and My Passions.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask. 

I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration for my beloved books and your kind donation to bring them to life.