isabelle stops in

Posted by on Jul 17, 2013 in Illustration, Portland Stage Company | 1 comment

Summer in Maine is a fleeting yet spectacular thing. It helps, when you’re on a deadline, to have an island outside your studio, an island that draws others into your world unexpectedly. Recently, Isabelle Dervaux knocked on my door, a famously talented illustrator visiting our neighbors across the street! I was in the midst of working on a poster for Portland Stage Company, and she wanted to take photographs. Now a photo organizer, she enjoys creating visual narratives.

I showed her some of my sketches for Words By: Ira Gershwin and the Great American Songbook, in which I tried multiple ways to tackle a wordy title.

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While these were both favorites all around, they didn’t get chosen. Instead, I went in this direction, captivated by the script in which Ira states he created a mosaic, fitting lyrics into fragments of music. I liked the visual solution of fitting the pictorial elements into a mosaic.

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Since arriving on Peaks Island, I’m a beachcomber finding shards of ceramics and sea glass. I made these mosaics entirely from bits found on the beach.

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I showed Isabelle my sketchbook with the inspiration I found of an old album cover and the color study I made. Isabelle took these photos in my studio.

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I drew the parts on paper, and planned to scan them and assemble the final illustration in Photoshop, fitting each bit into the whole design.

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She captured my clutter, too.

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Gosh, what a mess.

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We invited her and her kin back later for gin and tonics. Is this not a most sublime still life?

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Thank you, Isabelle, for your cool photos and warm laugh! Here she is on my couch.

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After she left, I finished the illustration.

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I get a moment to catch my breath and begin the next one: for Veils by Tom Coash. Stay tuned!

One Comment

  1. Love the finished piece Jamie! So great to meet you and Marty.

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