Haley Perkins and her husband, Ben, struggled to connect with people while living in Cincinnati. Seeking new friendships, lifelong artist Perkins joined a meet-up group that encouraged participants to bring any artwork they desired. Perkins, who had just begun painting toys from the 1990s, showed up with her easel, paints, and a McDonald’s McNugget Buddy toy to paint.
Perkins, finding herself among a younger crowd more focused on crafts, tried to engage despite the challenge. She placed the toy on her easel and participated in the conversation. “No one was curious about me or asked about me, but I tried to stay in the conversation as much as possible,” Perkins noted. At the end, someone noticed the toy and asked, “What is that?”
Explaining the toy didn’t clear the confusion, leaving Perkins feeling unfulfilled. She later realized she hadn’t shared her painting, which may have contributed to the misunderstanding. Now, as a public programs and engagement officer at the Stamps Gallery, Perkins reflects on the experience humorously. Most of her artistic connections have been more rewarding.
“I suppose the McNugget Buddy painting just wasn’t for that audience and now that I’ve finished it and moved away, it’s just a funny story,” she admitted. Her art often reflects resilience against feelings of rejection and celebrates her passion for painting. Growing up around antiques, Perkins’ love for art was influenced by her parents’ business and her sister’s drawing.
While her sister pursued graphic design, Perkins initially aimed to teach art before discovering museums and galleries. Her current focus is gel-plate printing, a technique using acrylic paint on a gelatinous plate. The process is both fun and frustrating, requiring quick execution. “It’s a monotype, so you only get one shot,” she said.
Though gel-plate printing can create crafts, Perkins elevates it to a sophisticated art form. “I’m going to sit down and try to make something that isn’t crafty,” she stated. Using stencils and photographs for inspiration, she appreciates the accessible nature of the technique, making it suitable for children and adults alike.
Perkins’ father recently found some of her childhood toys, sparking her interest in painting them, including McNugget Buddies and Polly Pockets. She hopes to explore lithography and return to ceramics but faces time constraints, having started a new job at the Stamps Gallery and expecting her first child in January.
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