learning moments
I’ve never met a library I didn’t like. When I arrived at the Patten Free Library in Bath, Maine, I knew I was in for a marvelous time. It was too good to be true: a model of a boat from Time of Wonder, by Robert McCloskey, begged to become the backdrop for a slide show of my illustrations for Ice Harbor Mittens, shown while author Robin Hansen read the book, to a small but appreciative audience. Robin led an orienteering activity, in which pretend sailors could find little lobster trap clues throughout the room. Her brother, Scott, shared some knot-tying techniques. The library...
Read Morefiber & fashion
I think I started drawing girls in clothes in junior high. I thought I’d be a fashion designer right up until touring the apparel design department at RISD and noticing the sewing machines. Sewing? Me? I don’t think so. I didn’t have fond times in home ec. And yet, the fervor of Project Runway caused me to buy fabric, thinking I would retrofit an old coat, um, about two years ago. Finally opted to show this battered sketch to Susan Hanley, proprietress of the renowned Peaks Island Fiber Arts Camp. Repurposing is all the rage, so why not update a dolman-sleeved coat bought...
Read Moreforces of nature
The tsunami in Japan and it’s aftermath remain unfathomable. I walk around my little island and say prayers to the trees, for recovery, for renewal. The sump pump burbles incessantly in the basement, as the snow melt runs down to the sea. I’m happy to have more studio time, for illustrations for a book project. This week, oddly, everything was under water. First, a spread about coral. This is a detail. Next, four species of fish, affected by warmer temps: trout, salmon, bass, and carp. This is a detail of the bass and carp, plus their tags for labeling. Then I drew a loggerhead...
Read Moredown the bay mitten tour
Last Friday was a gloriously frosty day to head down the bay for more Ice Harbor Mitten visits. I was feeling so hearty I even stayed on the upper deck of the Island Romance, my favorite little Casco Bay Lines vessel. The car ferry’s out of service for most of March, and commuters are happy to huddle in the lee. For those who can’t do without a car, here’s your alternative: the Lionel Plante barge. I no sooner arrived in Portland and then headed back out on the Aucocisco with author Robin Hansen and the gracious Patty Temple, Long Island’s children’s librarian,...
Read Moresnow splash book bash
It was quite the crowd at the recent Snow Splash Book Bash, in which DownEast, Pineland Farms, and Winter Kids joined forces to bring some outdoor fun and book lovers together. I shared a table with the sunny Karel Hayes, and we both enjoyed connecting with kids at the activity tables. This boy was getting into the pastels I brought, and made a colorful drawing of a big snowplow, thanks to an inspired poster by illustrator Amy McDonald. I also met Benton, who likes to draw owls. He got busy during one of the readings. And he gave me this drawing! Thank you, Benton, it made my day. The day...
Read Moremitten island
The Friends of the Peaks Island Library hosted a morning of book activities around Ice Harbor Mittens this past Saturday at the Doug MacVane Community Room, next to the library. Author Robin Hansen trekked down from Bath, and together we shared our inspirations. Robin met my model for the Josie character. Here is Finn, a good sport, with Robin. Robin brought a well-worn sailing chart and a pair of compasses, to talk about orienteering around tricky ledges in foggy waters. I brought my grandfather’s buoy, which I included in one of the illustrations. That’s a map of Peaks on the...
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