Congrats to Obama!
It was almost a year ago today, the conversation that started it all. My bearded, History teacher brother (whose birthday happens to be on Nov. 4th, voting day) and I were talking at my parent’s house. The news was on the television in the background. Journalists in ties and others in Jackie O. pearls were debating the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Instead of discussing that, we focused on past American presidents such as TR (Teddy Roosevelt) and John Adams, who was suddenly ‘Mr. Popularity’ with a few new bios and his own mini-series. I had been looking for a non-freelance, personal art project to work on, a theme to savor. Advice was needed as well as some inspiration. Suddenly, at that moment, surrounded by my two other brothers with facial hair, the idea clicked. Presidential Facial Hair Hall of Fame…of course! Oprah would call this my ‘Aha!’ moment. Tears would be shed.
Drawing the 9, I mean 10* bearded, mustached, and mutton-chopped portraits taught me so much about the presidents. In grade school and high school I knew them as facts for a test or paper. In college I ignored them almost entirely, except for Abe Lincoln, choosing instead to focus more on the ‘art’ side of history. (Sorry, guys!) Who knew
they were so interesting? Drawing this theme also solved the 42 or 43
presidents mystery for me.**
The ten portraits were such a blast to work on, I had to draw the rest of them. That was my next project, which is now complete. What next? A search on Etsy for fun and interesting presidential items!
On Etsy, you can find hundreds of items for 2008 candidates: McCain/Palin…
Folk Art Political Pin by daydreamdesigns77
John McCain Glow-In-The-Dark 3D Fridge Magnet by rovakada
Lampwork Glass Sarah Palin Portrait Bead Pendant Necklace by helensharvest
Obama and Biden are in the mix as well…
Barack Obama Crochet Doll by deadcraft
OBAMARAMA Charm Bracelet by emilyfloyd
Obama and Biden 1-inch Button Set by eddeezy
There are so many other presidential items!
For now, let’s look back at some former leaders of the United States, and the Etsy sellers who’ve included them in their shops!
General George and Martha Washington by UneekDollDesigns.
She says, “…famous pair, George and Martha Washington. He led the young United States into victory during the Revolutionary war, and she was a young widow with two children whom George married. Later, Martha was a reluctant first lady of the United States, but she apparently supported George in the presidency in spite of her misgivings.”
PellinorePress‘s George Washington Mask “is one of many printed on our Vandercook letterpress printing press. It’s printed from a hand-drawn, hand-carved woodcut. We initially made these for a ‘George Washington’ Halloween party. Everyone who came got a George mask.”
johndelucca did a series of Presidential prints with wild animals perched aloft, besides lesser known Franklin Pierce shown here. “I did them just to be funny, but also to express how ultimately unimportant our society and system are and how unconcerned nature is with them. These animals don’t care who the people are, they just see a comfortable looking head to rest on.”
susanestellekwas on Abraham Lincoln: “I had made that Lincoln image as my first experiment in gocco. It was a doodle in my sketchbook that I drew on July 4th and I thought was funny! You can be pretty horrible at capturing famous people’s likenesses and still score with Lincoln!”
woodartbyal started making this Teddy Roosevelt portrait for the Boy Scouts. “My council is the Theodore Roosevelt Council BSA. I could think of no better way to honor him. It takes about 3 to 4 hours of work on a scroll saw and then more time to finish the portrait and frame.”
akeywithin says of Woodrow Wilson: “I got all my stamps from my grandpa, who got them from his grandma. I do know that Woodrow Wilson was President at the start of WWI.”
JFK Earrings by artenergyalchemy. She says, “I have met so many interesting people all over the world because of my funny jewelry. They tell me when they wear my creations it lifts their spirits and puts a smile on their faces.”
ArtbyMarilyn‘s shop has almost all of the presidential portraits in print, card and bookmark forms that are extremely affordable! This Jimmy Carter Print shows her favorite former leader: “He is a sweet person and was a good president, but people don’t recognize that. I think our country should know about their forefathers and be more patriotic. That is why I painted them. My father came through Ellis Island, as did my grandfather. I had three brothers who fought for our country and I worked for the USO to help our troops overseas.”
DIYorDIE made this Ronald Regan Necklace, and has this to say about Reagan: “In the days when Transformers and Michael Jackson ruled the airwaves, Ronnie’s wrinkled face ruled the world. I remember being in school and reading about our then president. Did you know he was an artist and liked to draw for Nancy when he was on the phone? I kid you not, I read about it in Weekly Read in the 80’s. It was then that I realized he was the coolest dude ever.”
44 Presidents and a letter to a Cat is comic illustrated by MariaSputnik, which her friend Mza wrote: “America can get awfully polarized during election year. I decided to draw this comic because I think it’s important to remember that the people with whom we disagree are human beings doing the best that they can.”
roska‘s Pick Your Favorite President Pins
Some vintage presidential items:
Vintage Presidential Card Game from timepassages.
The President Could Be You Cup from dahlilafound
1979 Susan B. Anthony Collectible Doll from backstashandbygones
1924 Presidential Campaign Buttons from HummingbirdEyes
So, there you have it. There are many more presidential items for sale on Etsy; take a look for yourself or for someone else. History is fun!
The Storque has a handful of other election-related posts, take a look!
The Homefront Team, Etsy Sellers who have family in the military, will be having a Trunk Show on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 7pm Eastern Time in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Anyone is welcome to come. They’ll be showing off items they make and socializing. Please join in!
*Van Buren is the honorable mention. He wasn’t included on some of the online lists I found. But seriously, how could you not include this guy! His mutton chops are quite impressive!
**Moustached Grover Cleveland was president in 2 non-consecutive terms: both before and after the term of bearded Benjamin Harrison.
38 comments
Sign in to add your ownmopsical says:
Wow; some of these items are adorable/hilarious. I had no idea there were so many presidential collections on Etsy! Guess I need to do more browsing. ;)
3 years ago
MetroGypsy says:
Really quirky cute stuff! :-)
3 years ago
HomemadeZen says:
hehe, love UneekDollDesigns's dolls!
3 years ago
kittyd says:
Love the Martha and George dolls! :)
3 years ago
tinaseamonster says:
awesome piece elloh! you are one of my favorites.
3 years ago
spaceoddities says:
aaaahh! i love it. elloh, i was eyeing your presidential facial hair a tote awhile back, I should have snagged it!!
3 years ago
helensharvest says:
Thanks, elloh, for including my Sarah Palin portrait bead, in your article. Her virtue truly inspired me to try to capture her beauty in glass, not an easy task.:) Helen Simon, helensharvest♥
3 years ago
dogties says:
Awesome stuff! Love that facial Hair.
3 years ago
Sneddoniart says:
Love all this stuff :D
3 years ago
BettyTurbo says:
i confess! i checked your daily ode blog first thing this morning to see if you had posted a portrait of Obama!! you rock!
3 years ago
TotallyCrosses says:
Unbelievable talent here on Etsy. But that Sarah Palin bead by helenharvest is really amazing work!
3 years ago
RaeGun says:
so funny!
3 years ago
4TheSparrowsNest says:
I'm glad both candidates (and some past Prez's too) were fairly represented in this collection of goods. :)
3 years ago
JLMould says:
Great collection of items. Thank you for sharing it. Jessica Lynn
3 years ago
MeadowbelleMarket says:
Elloh's narrative about how the presidential facial hair series is so interestingly written. I love how politics have really taken on an element in the artistic realm more now than ever. Did anyone see that guy on TV last night with the urban wear jacket featuring a huge, sparkling silver outline of Obama? Awesome style :)
3 years ago
lolos says:
Wow, super collection!!! Love it!!!
3 years ago
Slowshirts says:
Great article Elloh!
3 years ago
sweetlilnothings says:
I have to say, I like a lot of the representation of presidents passed. As strongly as I feel/felt about this election I have to wonder, are people just creating Obama and McCain products just to try and jump on the bandwagon? I don't even know if I believe this. One has to keep in mind that this is the election of the century. I'm not passing judgement, just trying to get a dialogue going. But again, I love how people depict Lincoln. Hehe.
3 years ago
SilverSunshine says:
I have never thought about presidential facial hair before! That is so funny!
3 years ago
kat4526 says:
Wow...that was wonderful...who knew there was so much political themed art work going on here at Etsy! I'm so glad I took a look!!
3 years ago
KalliopeJewelry says:
Great article and selection! I'm so proud of Barack Obama and all the Americans that got out there and voted! Congratulations!
3 years ago
thewhimsytrove says:
What a wonderful compilation! I loved the whole thing. And congrats to us, America!
3 years ago
sandscrochet says:
wonderful work- keep it up
3 years ago
kateblack says:
Hahahaha Lampwork Glass Sarah Palin Portrait Bead Pendant Necklace Such excellent craftsmanship! And a hole in the head to rival the real Sarah. Love it.
3 years ago
helensharvest says:
Glad you like her so much, Kate! This Bead is actually a gift for Sarah, as I found someone in AK who knows her. It had been reserved for a buyer, but she said I could make her another. I think this is my best to date, so goes to my much admired candidate.
3 years ago
SlinkyCalhoun says:
Love the buttons by eddeezy! And, as always we love everything elloh does. Can't wait to buy that presidents poster. Awesome job!
3 years ago
CarryMeAway says:
WONDERFUL TREASURY!! YES WE CAN!
3 years ago
KarmaRox says:
YES WE DID!!!!!! LOVE SEEING THIS ON THE FRONT PAGE!
3 years ago
PatternGirl says:
Yeah!!!!!! Great front page!!!
3 years ago
modflo says:
wonderful collection!
3 years ago
ThePeachTree says:
I love that: whatever you are, be a good one :) Perfect.
3 years ago
thepaintedlily says:
Really fun things here! Thanks for the great collection and the giggle over a few of these really cute pieces!
3 years ago
coup says:
OBAMA is my Etsy store's speciality since June '08, and I NEVER get featured. What happened?!
3 years ago
curlyfrysc says:
LOVE the front page "treasury" featuring Obama! Thank you Etsy and thank you America!
3 years ago
TeenAngster says:
YES WE DID!
3 years ago
AutumnLeavesJewelry says:
Awesome review! ...and Yeah we DID!!!! :D
3 years ago
kateblack says:
" helensharvest Glad you like her so much, Kate!" Well, I like the glasswork bead. And that she's going back to Alaska.
3 years ago
risamay says:
Your illustrations are tops, elloh. And hilarious, to boot. You rule!
3 years ago