pools and schools
School’s out! Whoooohooooo! Now’s the time to play in tide pools. This is my page for the Peaks Island Childrens’ Workshop’s 2010 Coloring Book, which will raise funds for it’s fantastic program, where children play and learn to be stewards of nature. Like reaching into the shallow waters of a tide pool and finding their imaginations run deep. Cupping a hermit crab in their hand, but returning it gently to its habitat. Of course, in my view, there’s a mermaid sporting an anemone head dress… Just before school got out, Marty and I took a short blast...
Read Moresteampunk chronicles
I’m a proud member of the Maine Illustrators Collective, a group of illustrators that call Maine home, or pretty darn close. This Friday we’ll be showing our version of the theme Steampunk, a topic that seems to come up with increasing frequency. I happened to be thumbing through Maine Magazine and came across a sweet little ad for Portland Velocipede. Voila, my idea came to life. Hence, my rough thumbnail of a speedy cyclist with gears flying… Always in search of mo’ better reference, I got Someone to pose on a bicycle with appropriate determination: And because this...
Read Morecomic connections
I am bleary but satiated by the weekend’s big event: the Maine Comics Art Festival! First, a big bow to Casablanca Comics, for getting this plush ball rolling, and making Portland a destination for comic creators. I pass this sign on my way to the Portland Public Library, scene of a full-day of speakers on Saturday, as well as an exhibit of comic art in the new Lewis Gallery. I caught the tail end of Jay Piscopo’s presentation on drawing comics from basic shapes. He makes it look easy! Next up was John Shableski, who Kirsten Cappy introduced as the Buffalo Bill of the graphic...
Read Moreculminating events
With the heady fragrance of lilacs in the air, the season of fruition is upon us. Everywhere, there are culminating events. I’ve been to several recently. Recognition is a wonderful thing, after lots of hard work. At King Middle School, the Windsor 7 class made a powerful presentation on their expedition called Small Acts of Courage. They interviewed local citizens on their personal involvement in the Civil Rights era. Each student delivered one piece of an amazing story about the struggle for equality with tremendous poise and clarity. Besides transcribing oral history, writing many,...
Read Morebeneath the surface
I kinda fell off the blog rhythm, as I faced a perfect storm of tasks. This illustration from Nest, Nook, & Cranny is a good metaphor for feeling submerged. Sure, it’s field trip season at salmon hatcheries, but I’ve been way too busy with conflicting responsibilities, such as moving my 86-year-old mother into a local assisted living facility, wrapping up two classes, and completing a full-color picture book project. No wonder I am out of breath. The good news is that my daughter, ever resourceful, keeps making her own discoveries. While at the dock, eating ice cream with a...
Read Morepeep a thon
We’re slowly working our way through the candy loot. These three peeps are not just a metaphor for spring, but signal some good peeps about Nest, Nook and Cranny. Author Susan Blackaby has sent lovely reviews that quack nicely about our book. Here’s what Sheila Egan from Children’s Lit had to say: “Otters loll like whiskered boats,/Bobbing gently in the swells.” Utilizing similes and many other “figures of speech,” Blackby has created an enchanting tool for teaching as well as for pure enjoyment. Here her poetry covers five different habitats...
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