About this project
Thanks for taking time to check out our project. We'd be grateful if you helped us spread the word, regardless of whether or not you are able to contribute financially. Thank you for your support.
Note: Make sure you scroll down far enough to read the kids' letters - so cute!
Origin
When I was young, I spent hours doing step-by-step drawing. Having a sense of humor then, as I still have today, I thought it was fun to start drawings with a butt shape (like a rounded lowercase w) and challenge myself to see what I could create. In elementary school I'd draw Butt Art doodles to pass to friends (similar to my cat attempt, below). This evolved into a cocktail napkin party trick shared with college buddies.
When my daughter Madeline, almost three at the time, started to draw recognizable images, I was reminded of my own youth. Naturally, as every parent should, I asked myself, "What kind of parent would I be if I didn't show her Butt Art?" She loved the concept and immediately wanted to draw more; Everything Butt Art was born.
About Everything Butt Art
Our books and iPad app teach step-by-step drawing with a unique twist - drawings start with a butt shape. Believe it or not, this approach is grounded in science, using the principle behind the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking - start with a fixed line and see what you can draw with the initial constraint.
We aim to inspire creativity by making learning to draw fun and engaging. The scaffolding we provide allows children's imaginations to run wild. Children (and most adults) invariably find humor in this most universal of shapes. Kids love wisecracks about butts (sorry, couldn't help myself :). We take advantage of silliness that is innate by directing it toward creativity. And, by making drawing easy, kids gain confidence.
We think creativity and confidence are crucial ingredients for healthy, happy kids.
Kids Engaging
Kids' Drawings of Our Characters
Kids' Original Drawings Using Butt Art Concept
To date, we've published two books, Everything Butt Art at the ZOO (5/11) and Everything Butt Art on the FARM (9/11) and launched an iPad app (2/12). Largely due to our wonderful, Chicago-based distributor, IPG, our books can be found across the country. They're on shelves at large chains (Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million), cool gift shops (San Diego Zoo, MASS MoCA, and Brooklyn Museum), as well as hundreds of other independent retailers. We're grateful our books have been so well received.
What Kids Think About Everything Butt Art (or Kids Say the Darndest Things)
"Is this going to be on amazon.com?"
"I never saw a better animal."
"I could never have a better day."
"I know that one day Ill become a Illistrator like you."
"The work that you Do inspired me to try to become and artist."
"You gase are famous super stars..."
What Adults Think About Everything Butt Art
"The concept of Everything Butt Art immediately gains children's attention and engagement." - Bonnie Muir, 2008 Massachusetts Elementary Art Teacher of the Year
"It doesn't get any cooler than Everything Butt Art at the Zoo." - Eva, Cool Mom Picks
"... this unique approach is both humorous and simple enough to immediately engage children." and "... the founders seem to understand how kids think. And that’s the key because this is all about kids thinking." - MG Siegler, while with TechCrunch
"More than anything, Everything Butt Art
shows Snyder’s sense of humor
and love for parenting." - Justin Davidson,
Patch
"... I'm not an artist. Or rather, I
wasn't an artist before buying
this book." - Amazon Customer Review
"The first time we opened the book, he
insisted that we do every
animal in the book in that sitting!" - Amazon
Customer Review
"They are unique, adorable books that any
kid would love to have!" -
Amazon Customer Review
Why We Need Your Help
Unfortunately, despite the exciting progress we've made, it doesn't change the fact that we're an under-resourced, independent publisher. We're self funded, and our current revenues are unable to support the printing of our third and fourth books, Everything Butt Art under the SEA and Everything Butt Art in the CITY.
With the early praise Everything Butt Art has received, it would be a shame if we couldn't go to print. We need your help to continue bringing joy and creative inspiration to as many kids as possible.
From Doodle to Book
Use of Funds
The majority of the funds will go directly to printing costs. The balance will go towards finishing design and illustration and paying Kickstarter's and Amazon's fees.
If we're in the fortunate position of exceeding our funding goal we'll put the capital toward book five, Everything Butt Art back in TIME, due out in September. If our project is one of those crazy runaway Kickstarter successes, we'll consider using resources to add the new content to our iPad app (shown below).
Everything Butt Art back in TIME (9/12)
Our iPad App in Action
Our Team
In addition to me, Alexis Moniello is our extraordinary illustrator/designer and David Markle is our tech lead.
Madeline, now a five-year old, is also very much part of our team. She tests drawing instructions, appears in videos, and even made a little history when she became the youngest person to ever demo at the New York Tech Meetup - and she did it in front of almost 900 people before turning five (I'm a proud papa). She has big things ahead of her :)
Photo credit: Betabeat/Ben Weitzenkorn
Video Credits
Video by Flicker Filmworks
Music: Simple Gestures from John Gribbin's EP, Closing Doors
Find John on Facebook here and Twitter here.
Thank You So Much For Your Support!
Sincerely, Brian Snyder
Everything Butt Art on Facebook
Everything Butt Art on Twitter
Our distributor, Independent Publishers Group
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (30 days)