Art is for everyone, everyday… this is a basic philosophy both Poketo and Creative Growth Art Center share. Since 1973, Creative Growth has been working with adults with mental, emotional and physical disabilities, giving them a creative avenue to express themselves.

This visual art center and art gallery and nonprofit abounds with creativity. We’re proud to be working with Creative Growth to produce artist wallets showcasing the work of their talented roster, which includes Merritt Wallace.

Born in Japan in 1963, Merritt Wallace’s Poketo wallet traces out a colorful cityscape that started out with simple black and white lines. You can see the wallet here. Now, lets get to a quick illustrated Q&A with Merritt!

What’s your idea of a perfect breakfast?

How are you feeling today?

Thanks so much, Merritt!
Check out Creative Growth wallets and an interview with Creative Growth Projects Manager, Jennifer Strate O’Neal here.

No holds barred. That’s Hellen Jo. Her illustrations of brooding young teens with an attitude never get old.

Here’s what she has to say!

Find more of Hellen at helllllen.org.
Check out Hellen’s wallet and zine at poketo.com.

As promised, we’re continuing our run of illustrated interviews with our awesome new artists!

You guys would probably remember Esther from our previous collaboration, where we asked artists to illustrate the stories written by children at 826LA. This time around, Esther’s taken Tammy Pierce, from her now-famous “Unlovable” zine, into a work of art you can carry anywhere with you.

We’ve already had time to chat with Esther (and her hubby Mark) the last time we collaborated, so this time, we’re showing you guys a different side of Esther with this illustrated interview. Enjoy!

What’s your current state of mind?

Your dad had a hobby of building huge flying saucers out of scrap metal, so it made us wonder, what an a new undiscovered planet would look like to you?

Tammy’s gone through some tough times growing up. We wonder, what was your first date like?

What’s the best advice you’d give to 13-year old you?

Thanks, Esther!

Find more of Esther on funchicken.com.
Check out Esther’s wallets and Unlovable zine on poketo.com.

Poketo for Target artist Leah Chun does a little bit of everything, from animation, paintings, and drawings. If you’ve been following Poketo, you know you’ve seen Leah’s designs for years now. We are always blown away by her cute characters and her fantastic imagination. We were delighted to receive little painting for her interview. Here we go!

If you were stranded on an island, what would you need to survive?

A dear friend.

If you could have a mythical animal as a pet, what would it be?

The Birdfish.

What was the last dream you remember?

Giant insects dancing to the sunset.

What would your house in an alien jungle look like?

A mushroom villa.

What does your inner child look like?

A little girl with an acorn hat

Check out some of Leah Chun’s Poketo for Target collection items below. And more designs she did with Poketo at poketo.com.

More from Leah at LeahChun.com