october fest
October is my birth month, so the opal in my soul shines a little brighter these days. I received a fantastic surprise via Caroline Arnold, author of A Warmer World: my first book trailer! One luxury is being between deadlines, and having time to enjoy the busy scene in Portland. Marty and I attended the preview opening for Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey at the Portland Public Library. Kudos to Scott Nash, who found the sponsors to bring this incredible show to town. Here he recites a few of his favorite Gorey rhymes. It was a delighted crowd, and one filled with familiar faces,...
Read Morea Brit, 3 bears, and a book group
Some folks think being an artist is like a fairy tale. On certain days, I might agree. Like Wednesday, when I encountered a Brit, three bears, and a book group. For starters, I met fellow children’s book illustrator, Hazel Mitchell, for a chatty lunch at the Liberal Cup in Hallowell, Maine. Never mind pie, face time with another artist is a really big treat! Hazel hails from Yorkshire, England, but finds the rolling fields of Detroit, Maine much to her liking. Thanks, Hazel, for making the trek! She documented my prize: a carved bear by Dan Burns, a surprise win in the Hubbard Free...
Read Moreworld of wonders
I’m pleased to be included in an exhibit at the Atrium Gallery at USM’s Lewiston Auburn College, a collection of children’s book illustration with a science/nature theme called Tell Me a Story: A World of Wonders. These are 3 of my originals from A Warmer World. A very small hermit crab illustration became part of a digitally created pattern for the end papers in Nest, Nook, and Cranny which I illustrated. Love these end paper illustrations for Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Kevin Hawkes, a former island neighbor, and how Velma not quite disappears in the...
Read Moreanimal power
I keep my eyes peeled at all times and a camera in my back pocket. I never know when my image bank will come in handy. I just finished a piece for the 2013 Lunar Calendar, illustrating a poem by Sarah Fuhro that mentions a heron. I found this shot, recently taken during our trip to London, at the Serpentine in Hyde Park. What a handsome fellow. And here’s a sighting on Peaks Island just last week: I made this drawing, using a bit of collage, and incorporating a feather found on the beach. Another bit of paper moon found it’s way into a card made for my friend, Susan, who makes an...
Read Morelove that dirty water
I left some of my heart in Boston years ago. It was my formative post-college city for 8 amazing years. I did the above illustration eons ago, but it still captures my vibe for Kenmore Square. See the moon? I recently connected with Nancy F Passmore, esteemed publisher of Luna Press, to which I have contributed for 30 years. We roamed about the MFA for three languid hours, catching up under the lights. I have Buddha on the brain, for a current project. Plenty of exquisite places to pause for meditation. We made our way through the maze of galleries to see Seeking Shambhala, an exhibit that...
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...
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