art from there to here
It’s always good to get off the Rock. We enjoyed a rare visit to the Amherst home of James Steinberg and Paola di Stefano, fellow artists and fond friends from way back. Their feisty chickens inspired this quick pastel. After a breakfast of fresh eggs, James gave this wee book he illustrated to our juggling daughter. I love their art collection, especially a mask with some Year of the Snake spirit. They pointed us west and we headed to Mass MoCA, where we were riveted by Xu Bing’s Pheonix Project. It’s gigantic and resourceful, made entirely from construction debris in...
Read Morehappy new year
I’m very fond of the Chinese New Year. As a former resident of San Francisco, I relate to all the Asian wisdom and ritual around new beginnings. And, it’s nice to have another fresh start, since the calendar new year seems to come too close behind the holidays for a truly clean slate. However, I am NOT fond of snakes. In fact, I am totally phobic! I repurposed my illustration of a snake from Nest, Nook & Cranny by Susan Blackaby for a New Year’s card for my SF neighbor, Frank Ching. I guess the snake is all about transforming with ease, so I will embrace my fears,...
Read Morelove letters
‘Tis the season: love’s gonna get me through the blizzard outside. I’ve got my valentine making station all ready. If the power goes out, I still have hands, glue sticks, scissors and paper. I’ve been thinking about the power of old fashioned love letters lately. Who still sends them? What a joyful greeting this door made when I visited my dear friend Mary Anne Lloyd! We share a love of snail mail and fond attention to hand lettering, groovy stamps, and stickers. Oh, and illustrative tape, too! Here’s a recent batch of my mail on it’s way. My love of...
Read Moreboston blast with MECA seniors
My Maine College of Art senior illustration students recently blasted to Boston, with department chair Scott Nash at the helm of our rocket ship. Our first landing was Cloud Kid, where we received warm and furry greetings. Creative Director Dave Schlafman gave an engaging talk about their work, specific projects underway, and a tour of the lively studio. It’s true, every member of his team has their head in the clouds! We loved the murals.. and the toy collections.. Thanks to Cloud Kid for sharing their professional wisdom and awesomeness. The glimpse of real-life creativity totally...
Read Morethe life aquatic
Hooray! Here Come the Humpbacks! has arrived. When the box of complimentary copies shows up, it’s official. Since the non-fiction story by April Pulley Sayre is about a mother humpback and her calf’s migration, my dedication is to my daughter, “who crosses water twice a day,” her own six-word memoir, written in a comics class exercise. Yes, we live the life aquatic here on an island, crisscrossing Casco Bay. She headed to the ferry one morning wearing a t-shirt she designed. The same day I hung up a sparkly piece I bought from Maine College of Art student Devon...
Read Morebeauty buzz
Meet my gorgeous cousin, Joanne McDonough. We call her Jojo. She’s also the premier make-up artist and skin care therapist at Joya Beauty, where we made a visit recently. She has the original art of this illustration I did for Maine Magazine, for an article called Get Your Glow On, about skin care. Jojo shared her make-up wisdom with my daughter and her friend, showing them how to mix their own custom colors. Part chemistry and part color theory, all calibrated with style. Each of them got a custom batch of products. Here’s Imogen sitting pretty! Found some fun illustrations...
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