Curious City

Kidlit Con Providence

Posted by on Mar 30, 2019 in Children's Book Illustration, Collage, Comics, Curious City, Drawing, Illustration, Travels | 0 comments

A week ago today I was in the thick of children’s books everything at Kidlit Con Providence, and I’m still unpacking all the goodness. I checked into the Hotel Providence with my travel mates, Lyn Smith and Kirsten Cappy. Author and illustrator Jarrett Lerner joined us in the hotel bar for dinner. He got our robot groove going. This year’s organizer, Charlotte Taylor, gave welcoming remarks and thankful applause to author and blogger, Mia Wenjen, who gathered the panel participants last fall. I learned about the conference via her @Pragmatic Mom. LeUyen Pham gave a stellar...

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Moody Point Creative Retreat

Posted by on May 28, 2018 in Book: Porcupine's Promenade, Children's Book Illustration, Curious City, Drawing, Illustration, Pastels, Travels | 12 comments

A retreat, even one that’s two nights away, can be quite nourishing. I traveled to Wells Beach, Maine last week with Kirsten Cappy to step away from our usual, thanks to the generosity of Lyn Smith‘s family. Each of us starting new picture book projects was the main goal. We arrived under foul weather, but that didn’t stop us from walking to the shore where Lyn got a windy weather report from Kirsten. Back at the Cottage, a little blue bedroom became my work and dream space. I found a nature journal by Lyn’s son, Eric, from when he was 9. It proved the best prompt as...

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Bright Horizons

Posted by on Apr 12, 2018 in Book: Seven Days of Daisy, Children's Book Illustration, Curious City, Horse Island, Illustration | 1 comment

I traveled last week to a Boston area Bright Horizons.  I made an evening presentation to early childhood educators about illustrating picture books and how visual literacy and drawing engages children. I always bring ample materials for discussion! The Riverpark Center’s Lead Teacher in Kindergarten Prep, Julie, helped me set up my table of books, art supplies, and props. While kids and parents were departing, I checked out the colorful rooms filled with stimulating shapes and textures. After talking about writing and illustrating Seven Days of Daisy, and answering questions, I...

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Postcards from the Rock

Posted by on Aug 31, 2017 in Book: Tiger Boy, Curious City, Drawing, Illustration, Illustration Institute, Maine College of Art, Peaks Island, Portland Stage Company, Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, Publisher: Tilbury House | 1 comment

I have always been a snail mailer. Even when I was growing up at the Red Doors Motel, I cultivated pen pals. Creating post card promotions as an illustrator is one occupational hazard that I enjoy. These are just a handful from many years of mailing out samples. Here’s the scoop behind my most recent postcard, Summer in the Slow Lane. I’ve always hankered for little campers and the time to take road trips. I made a sketch on the ferry one day based on a photo I took a few years ago on the way to Stonington, Maine. Kirsten Cappy happily modeled inside this camper we spied for sale...

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Illustrationland

Posted by on Jun 28, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Children's Book Illustration, Curious City, Illustration, Peaks Island, Portland Public Library | 2 comments

Today’s rain is a welcome break in the action.  June’s been a swoon of events involving illustration all over the Maine map. Things began with a bang on First Friday with the opening of Cathryn Falwell’s exhibit in the Children’s Room at the Portland Public Library. My show is up next, so I needed to see How It Is Done. Bravo, Cathryn! Besides showing the original illustrations from her latest book, The Nesting Quilt, she also made it real. As well as a big nest for little peeps to play in! From the library, I flew to Pinecone & Chickadee, where I am part of a...

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MECAF follies ’15

Posted by on May 19, 2015 in Comics, Curious City, Drawing, Illustration, Maine College of Art, Zines | 0 comments

I inexplicably missed the last couple of Maine Comic Arts Festivals, for shame! But the fog lifting over Portland pulled me right in this year. It’s important to check out the local peeps first. Here is the inimitable Fulton Beal, wacky dad and crazy cartoonist. Former MECA peeps here, Meagan Gibson and Declan McCarthy: Something about Murilo Martins book, I’m A German Shepherd looked familiar. When I found out he was from Brazil, I gave him one of my PDX zines, about the Other Portland. Lo and behold, he was at ICON8, too! Funny how tight the circle of illustration/zines/comics...

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