brilliant new day
This has been a heady week. I’m still feeling light as a feather and enjoying the blindingly bright mornings. It felt like January 20 would never come. Even my sixth grade daughter was excited to be watching the inauguration of President Obama at school. She voted in a mock election prior to November 4, and the school elected Obama in a landslide. This was a good sign. In the cosmic game of tag, youth is IT. All we can do is watch them outrun us, and be glad for the forward movement of the universe. Having children in the White House again brings an important dimension to the...
Read Moresix degrees of revelation
2009 has been mighty chill so far. On a recent morning it was six degrees, which prompted a discussion of Kevin Bacon with my daughter. Now there is a Facebook experiment attempting to prove the theory that everybody is 6 connections away from everyone else. Who needs proof? Just let every day be an inspiration and connection to nature, family, and the world at your feet, I say! The intricate frost on the window became curvy fronds of grass in a revision for my current project. When in doubt, I cut paper. My collage aesthetic runs deep. This drawing is a montage of sorts. Not going to be...
Read MoreRovers in the house
School age campers at the Peaks Island Children’s Workshop are known as the Rovers. I had the honor of hosting them in my studio recently, during Art Week, the first of many themed weeks of activities. Kristen Chalmers, lead Rover who coincidentally owns the Gem Gallery, brought them to my house after a full morning of swimming, finding jellyfish at the marina, and picnicing at Rover Rock. Six Rovers, including my daughter, squeezed into my cluttered studio (11′ x 14′) and got a quickie show-and-tell. They had the same curiosities I have about people’s collections and...
Read MoreFull strawberry moon
Some things are sacred around here: when there’s a full moon, there’s a bonfire. Last night’s Strawberry Moon was a sight to behold, as red and awesome as they come. The moment it breaks the horizon is a bit surreal. Is that the moon?!!! We gathered not just in awe, but in celebration of the milestone moment of the island fifth graders’ graduation, all seven of ’em. Now they’ll move on to Big Ole Middle School in Portland! Plenty to contemplate….all while the moon got higher and brighter. Is it any wonder the moon is so often a muse? This one is...
Read MoreWho needs Hallmark?
It goes without saying that we usually make our own cards in this house. Not that I don’t shop for lovely cards (usually at Ferdinand or Edith and Edna’s, but some occasions require the personal touch. Like with scissors and a gluestick. First, I made this for my friend, Ged, who was throwing himself a shindig in his brother’s backyard. Ged and I were cohorts at RISD and both moved to Boston following graduation, eons ago. We were both in CA for awhile, but now I must catch him on the fly when he’s in from LA. He is the Communications Director for the Aids Healthcare...
Read MoreWhatever floats your boat
It probably comes as no surprise that boats keep showing up in my work. This piece is currently at the Gem Gallery in the front room exhibit of the members’ collective. I have drawn this boat several times. Just love the color and shape. Even illustrations seem to feature boats pretty often. This was an unused cover for last year’s Cast Off bookjacket. Peg knit the boat piece for me, since I don’t knit. Had fun drawing lots of yarnish things, though. And I drew several boats for Greater Portland Landmark’s Activity Guide… This one is refers to Captain Lemuel...
Read MoreVisit JamieHogan.com
