Maine Comic Arts Festival
This year’s Maine Comic Arts Festival brought another wave of sun and shiny artists together. The location really can’t be beat, sitting right over the water in Portland, Maine. I found many familiar faces from the MECA orbit. Front and center was Ben Bishop, who’s had recent success with his graphic novel for DownEast, ” Lost Trail.” We met years ago in an Illustration 2 classroom at MECA. Not far away I encountered colleague Michael Connor of Coelacanthus fame, who co-taught Illo 2 with me this past semester. Sitting next to him was former student, Jessica...
Read Moreeverything’s related
Sometimes you notice how everything’s related. I’m closing out an entire week in my studio, with not one trip off-island. Splendid. Even though it’s nice to be done with the MECA semester, I’m enjoying working with an art student, Olwyn. She lives across the street. I’ve actually drawn almost everyone in her family, who’ve been handy models on many occasions. Her younger sister, Imogen, posed for a drawing in my 2011 Sketchbook Project. And here’s their little brother, who provides plenty of amusement, in the same sketchbook. Nikolai also posed for a...
Read Morethe play’s the thing
Theater is on the brain here. Marty and I had the good fortune to attend Portland Stage’s annual Spring Gala benefit last week. I illustrated the brochure (above) and then created a layered collage in a shadow box, below. This was presented to L.L. Bean at the event, in honor of their loyal sponsorship of Portland Stage. Here’s Artistic Director, Anita Stewart, with the art: Her dashing husband, Ron Botting, then handed it to Rosemary Moser, Community Relations Director at LL Bean. Elements from my illustration were used in signage here and there, in curious company at the...
Read Morepop up show at Charlesbridge
In honor of Children’s Book Week, Charlesbridge Publishing had the brilliant idea for a pop-up show in the empty office space two flights below theirs, on Main Street in Watertown, MA. I bopped down with Curious Co-Pilot, Kirsten Cappy, in dotty style. Trivia question: what are we holding? I brought along original sketches and my toy polar bear that provided handy reference for A Warmer World. Some framed pieces were part of an incredibly abundant exhibit of children’s book illustration. I’m thrilled by the company I’m in! Here’s one of Rafael Lopez’s...
Read Morehurly burly
Here’s my “Moto Ood” for the Monsters show at Pine Cone & Chickadee, opening this First Fridayin Portland. He looks just like I feel this week. Since our return from London, I’ve been vrooming. I shipped off 5 framed pieces for the Children’s Book Week exhibit at Charlesbridge Publishing next week. I’ll be there on Monday, 2 – 4 PM and also for the reception. Do stop in! I also dropped off 8 art works at Portland Stage Company. My illustration on the posters for their latest production, “Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh” and...
Read Morelondon loop
We’re back from a blitz of a trip to London. From Darwin to Diana, the Beatles to the Bard, we covered a lot of ground, thanks to the Tube. Here’s a slice of our jolly good time. After wearily arriving at our hotel, we crashed for a few hours. Being right near Kensington Palace, we then had a lovely stroll through Hyde Park, past so much wide open green space and romping dogs, we felt restored. Especially by the Peter Pan statue. Nearby is the serene memorial for Princess Diana, where a rolling loop of flowing waters calmed our jet lag immensely. This sculpture by Simon Gudgeon...
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