Book Friends

Way back in 2009, I visited the Friends School of Portland to read my first children’s book, Seven Days of Daisy. Friends do make the world go ’round.

Fast forward to a recent sunny Tuesday, when I headed off island to visit their Stories by the Forest program. When I arrived at the Peaks Island dock, it was oddly quiet. Where is everybody? Well, yours truly had missed the boat! The summer schedule change got me! So, I promptly called the trusty water taxi.

Here she comes, zipping across a placid Casco Bay.

I made it to Cumberland Foreside in a timely manner and set up my table of drawing supplies and books, beneath a shady tent. How sweet to find a vase of daisies provided by Summer Program Director, Laura Glendenning!

These events are free and open to the public, and plenty of summer campers gathered, ready to hear what happens in Here Come the Humpbacks! by April Pulley Sayer.

I did a quick bear drawing on request, and one little artist added his curious lines to mine, to everyone’s delight.

Everyone tried out pastels on little pieces of the sanded paper I use.

This loopy drawing echos the snake on another artist’s shirt.

Here is a mini seascape by Michelle Chetwynd, a friend I made at a book visit to Ocean Park a few summers ago. I will be there again this August 14!

Her daughter Claire made a pretty pattern in multiple colors.

I’m always intrigued by the variety of responses to materials. Thanks, Friends School, for a lively encounter with such an engaged group of campers!

Back on Peaks, I made some new friends and saw familiar faces at the recent Color and Pages of Peaks at the TEIA club. This annual community event raises funds with a portion of sales going to summer camp scholarships.

Readers can find plenty of familiar Peaks scenes and friends within the pages of my books. If you’d like to draw with me, join Maine College of Art’s Sketchbooks Workshop, co-taught with Judy Labrasca here on Peaks on August 5. We always have a grand time!