Color of Peaks
The ferry to Peaks comes and goes, as always, carrying more people and memories than ever before. I have lived here for 26 years, and continue to marvel at the beauty. I document the boats, the reflections, the ever changing light, and they inform my personal work and my illustration. The 15th Annual Color and Pages of Peaks event held at the TEIA on Friday night was that kind of island gathering that reminds everyone what a shiny rock we share. I had spent the weeks prior preparing work for sale. I made this petite pastel titled Marsh Spirit and Marty placed it in a vintage frame....
Read MoreSome Illustrator!
My illustration orbit has been downright full of goodness and it’s only June. On June 5, MECA’s Illustration Department Chair Mary Anne Lloyd and I brought our art student daughters to see Melissa Sweet and Martha White discuss Melissa’s latest book, Some Writer!, about Martha’s grandfather, E.B. White. It’s always a joy to hear Melissa talk about her research process, and about the bounty of artifacts she was able to work with, thanks to the generosity of Martha White’s family archives. They both talked about what drew E. B. White to Maine as well as...
Read More30 x 30 at the Portland Public Library
At the invitation of Portland Public Library’s Program Manager, Rachel Harkness, a group of Maine artists created panel art that included a scene in a library. She said, “Portland Public Library aims to highlight the work and importance of this art (and literary) form through our partnership with the Maine Comic Arts Festival. Exhibiting work by artists at the same size and shape, displayed identically lets the viewer see just how wide ranging and diverse comic art can be.” While I don’t consider myself a comic artist per se, I was happy to contribute a panel with...
Read MoreMoody Point Creative Retreat
A retreat, even one that’s two nights away, can be quite nourishing. I traveled to Wells Beach, Maine last week with Kirsten Cappy to step away from our usual, thanks to the generosity of Lyn Smith‘s family. Each of us starting new picture book projects was the main goal. We arrived under foul weather, but that didn’t stop us from walking to the shore where Lyn got a windy weather report from Kirsten. Back at the Cottage, a little blue bedroom became my work and dream space. I found a nature journal by Lyn’s son, Eric, from when he was 9. It proved the best prompt as...
Read MoreBright Horizons
I traveled last week to a Boston area Bright Horizons. I made an evening presentation to early childhood educators about illustrating picture books and how visual literacy and drawing engages children. I always bring ample materials for discussion! The Riverpark Center’s Lead Teacher in Kindergarten Prep, Julie, helped me set up my table of books, art supplies, and props. While kids and parents were departing, I checked out the colorful rooms filled with stimulating shapes and textures. After talking about writing and illustrating Seven Days of Daisy, and answering questions, I...
Read MorePortland Public Library Bookmarks!
Here’s the tale of how my Portland Public Library 150 Commemorative Bookmark came about. When Marty and I were contacted last May about participating in a series of artists’ bookmarks the library would use for fundraising, we said YEAH!!!! Of course! Well, right after asking when did they need the art, because that’s always my first consideration. Project manager extraordinaire Heather Wasklewicz didn’t need the artwork until the end of August. That meant I could stall until a couple of weeks before. I have a saying (it comes from teaching) the more time you give an...
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