Wednesday is for wee ones
A sharp-eyed troop of little artists from the Peaks Island Children’s Workshop visited my studio on Wednesday, for a reading of Seven Days of Daisy. I gave them magnifying glasses, for seeing every little thing and more. They saw my messy, messy studio, my camera collection, and a sneak peak at my next book. They also worked on their own stories with energy galore. They know the days of the week, but maybe not the order just yet. But they know how to make every day count! Too soon it was time for them to head off to their next adventure, holding hands and noticing new sights all the...
Read Morerock party
Islands have a certain magnetism. Is it any wonder that some folks live on more than one island? Our Peaks Island neighbor Elena recently celebrated her birthday on Monhegan Island, where she also has a home. I made her this paper collage card. Daisy made this one: We left our island in dense fog, drove up to New Harbor, and took the Hardy Boat in yet more fog. Upon arrival we stretched our legs by heading up to the lighthouse, where the view is spectacular no matter the weather. The fog lifted just at dusk, revealing a glowing full moon. We walked back down to the dock, where the Island Inn...
Read Moretouristas
It’s a little known fact, even among my island neighbors, that I ride a motorcycle. As my husband and I get older, the bikes wind up in the barn more often than not. But every summer, we blast off. The first trick is making it onto the ferry. Our pair of Hondas make a tidy fit next to the freight. Our first stop was Hallowell, where we visited the heavenly Hubbard Free Library. You gotta love a library that feels like a sacred space, and one in which the children’s section is at the very front. A divine place for reading if ever there was one! I entered a raffle for this bear...
Read MoreRickshaw Girl rides in India
Wow! I received my Marathi (India) copy of Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins. I love it! The reproductions of my illustrations are good, and they pair nicely with the text I can’t read. I have a cool book with typefaces that I turned to when working on the book 5 years ago. This was one sketch for the cover that didn’t fly. Anyway, I’m proud to see the cover in all it’s variations, especially the Korean, Japanese, and Indian versions: Bravo, Mitali, for bringing this story to life!...
Read MoreSketchbook Project at SPACE Gallery
Hooray! The Sketchbook Project was back in town, at SPACE Gallery in Portland, Maine. We were so eager to hold our own sketchbook once again, like a long lost friend. The Milan-based collective Carnovsky provided a stunning backdrop, with a wallpaper display titled RGB, which paired well with my fresh Tattly tattoo. We had our eyes peeled for all things sketchy, and just stare at this Caronvsky bit long enough to be hypnotized: you….WILL….sketch… It had no effect on this viewer. Every book checked out gets multiple views though, with viewers sharing. This one was a...
Read MoreHAVNFUN
It figures that on a hot, hot day my comp copies of Cast On, Bind Off should arrive. Hooray! I did the illustrations for this book with beginnings and endings for all kinds of knitted projects way back when people really were wearing knitted things. I also found reference from a long ago photo of Tessa McGow, a talented MECA student with busy hands who posed during a drawing session. Shortly thereafter, my family traveled to Minneapolis for a wedding. Even with 102 degree weather, this says it all. The wedding of Kirsten and David took place at the American Swedish Institute, a unique...
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