The Last Five Years
To those who know me, I’m a fan of bridespotting, a sport I coined living here on Peaks Island, which has become a wedding destination, like it or not. My rules are to 1) be uninvited and 2) not go out of my way and when I spot a bride, I post a photo. I’ve been married over 30 years, am a believer in marriage, weddings, and saying yes to the dress. So illustrating The Last Five Years poster for Portland Stage was an eager challenge. The script by Jason Robert Brown was confusing to me, though. The story between two lovers, Cathy and Jamie, arcs from beginning to end for Jamie,...
Read MoreThe Welcoming Library
I am thrilled to contribute illustration to the Welcoming Library, a pop-up collection of children’s books that invites conversation about the new arrival and new American experience. The project is administered by Kirsten Cappy of Curious City and Librarian Kate Cutko of the Bowdoinham Public Library, and seeks to raise awareness and build sensitivity for all ages through children’s literature. This was my preliminary sketch for showing the library in use with two mothers and two children. I revised the sketch, with older kids, as well as the posture of the mother on the left, who...
Read MoreSkeleton Crew
April has been busy, if not with actual spring. We made it to Skeleton Crew in it’s final weekend. If you missed it, I’m sorry for you! It was one of the BEST shows of a quite fantastic season at Portland Stage. A year ago when I worked on the illustration, I began with character sketches of the four actors. My preliminary sketches are not at all pretty. I’m thinking as fast as I can sketch. By award-winning playwright, Dominique Morisseau, the story is set in the break room of an auto making plant in Detroit. Faye is the veteran, sneaking smokes. Shanita is pregnant,...
Read MoreCatalyst!
We’re back from a spectacular swing to Baltimore to see our daughter’s collection in the 26th Annual Benefit Fashion Show at MICA. The show is sponsored by the Center for Identity and Inclusion and is open to students of all majors. Daisy applied last October and was thrilled to be chosen to participate. We arrived last Thursday evening and enjoyed a dinner view of the first Washington Monument from the Hotel Revival. Daisy was still busy adding finishing touches and awaiting the final rehearsal at 10 PM that night. I sketched an anthurium in the cafe Friday morning, eager for...
Read MorePeaks Island Book Celebration
My beloved library invited author Lyn Smith and me to present our latest book this past Saturday, What Makes an Opossum Tick? How delightful to see my books lining the front window. Thank you, Peaks Island Library! Lyn brought cookies from the 1690 House in Wells. Someone else got a photo before me! These tasty cuties were a big hit. Kids snacked on gummy worms, too, getting into the opossum spirit. Lyn talked about her writing process, based on real events at her family’s nearby summer cottage in Moody Point. As Literacy Specialist/Instructional Strategist for Kennebunk Elementary...
Read MoreKidlit Con Providence
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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