Zines

Skywatchers Downeast

Posted by on Nov 17, 2023 in Book: Skywatcher, Children's Book Illustration, Illustration, Island Readers & Writers, Pastels, Publisher: Tilbury House, School Visits, Travels, Zines | 2 comments

These have been heavy times, for Maine and for the world. I hope you’re holding on OK, dear readers. The natural world has been a tremendous solace. It’s a privilege to find sanctuary there. It lifted my spirits to see my book, Skywatcher, featured in Waterville’s Story Walk along the Messalonskee Stream. Serena at Waterville Creates, Miss Liz at the Waterville Public Library, and Amarinda at the Children’s Discovery Museum combined talents to create the catchy text that accompanies the book pages. It was a much needed exhale, to stroll along outdoors and read my book...

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Maine Art Educators Spring Conference

Posted by on May 3, 2023 in Art Classes, Book: Skywatcher, Illustration, Maine Art Education Association, Maine College of Art, Zines | 3 comments

What could be finer than meeting up with Maine art educators at the Ecology School at River Bend Farm? I was delighted to speak this past weekend at the MAEA awards ceremony and lead two zine making workshops. Bonus: my former MECA student, Liz Long, was my ride! She’s now in her second year teaching Commercial Art at PATHS. After finding our dorm room, we strolled to the river. We walked past other teachers painting en plein air, the Ecology School farm, and this row of trees. All the workshops were held in these yurts, which looked like stubby pencils to me. I brought a batch of...

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Picture Book Finale!

Posted by on May 2, 2018 in Art Classes, Drawing, Illustration, Maine College of Art, Portland Public Library, Zines | 10 comments

I couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying ending to my story at Maine College of Art than the Picture Book course that just wrapped up last week. I wrote about the first half of the semester HERE, and the second half  really picked up speed. After a snowy spring break, I returned to class with props for a life drawing session meant to warm us all UP. Students volunteered to model. Meet Queen Veronica. Drawing with my students is better than spring! The sheer variety of results is a delight. This sketch is by Aric. This one’s mine. My teaching assistant Liz Long’s sketch...

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Welcome Illustration MECA juniors!

Posted by on Sep 26, 2017 in Art Classes, Drawing, Illustration, Maine College of Art, Zines | 6 comments

My heart sang to spot this chalk drawing by Illustration MECA grad, Liz Long, greeting all of us returning to the hive at Maine College of Art in late August. The fall semester is in full swing, entering the second month. My class of junior majors brought in the summer sketchbooks I gave them last April. I had given them some prompts, such as making a list of their 7 favorite things to draw, and drawing them by observation, from memory, and in color. We began our introductions by viewing their sketchbooks. Here’s a snapshot of the wonders therein. Meghan McDunnah drew full-lipped...

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Tall Tales from ICON9: Day 3 & 4

Posted by on Jul 14, 2016 in Children's Book Illustration, Collage, Comics, Drawing, Fashion Illustration, Illustration, Maine College of Art, Travels, Zines | 3 comments

Welcome to more epic recapping of ICON9, the Illustration Con held in Austin. Last Friday July 8 more awesomeness awaited us in the form of Martha Rich, ICON’s Emcee and quick-change artist. Who needs a Martha Rich paper doll set? I do! Tall Tale or fact? Martha is a Mainer! She grew up in Pennsylvania, the daughter of ministers, and invited us all to exchange the peace, which the mob of 600 gladly did. Anita Kunz made a stellar presentation on why art matters. Whoever thought a cartoon could kill, she asked. With imagery, she showed how art can recruit or resist war, worship gods,...

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Tall Tales from ICON9: Day 1 and 2

Posted by on Jul 14, 2016 in Children's Book Illustration, Collage, Comics, Drawing, Fashion Illustration, Illustration, Travels, Zines | 1 comment

ICON9 was one giddy up good time in Austin! My sketch of Daisy’s boot, from a pair she bought the last time we were in Austin, became the opener for zines I brought along. I drew on the flights from Maine, too. Couldn’t believe what I saw out the window! After a hearty welcome from our dear locals, Kathy and Barton, Marty and I checked into the Hilton Austin which was HQ for the hoedown. July 6 began four rootin’ tootin’ days of the best illustration conference on the prairie. I missed the introductions, trying to find coffee to fuel me for the full day ahead of an...

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