a close shave with sketchbook project 2014
I sent off my latest Sketchbook Project in the nick of time. Big exhale! I knew it was optimistic that I could complete it on top of my John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall deadline. But I couldn’t resist! I decided it would keep my pencils sharp by drawing yet more Muir and yet more beards. The more I learn about him, the more I love him. I drew a few other bearded wonders from the same century. In fact, the 19th century is apparently famous for big beards, in a complex blend of historical factors, according to this article in the Atlantic. Anybody know this man? Flash forward to the 2013...
Read Moreholiday homestead
We’ve sent off our annual greeting cards, and this one above by Marty really captures the feel of holiday around the ole homestead. It’s an artful combo of our barn door and the view from the rear of the barn. Yes, that’s Marty stacking wood. The holiday season always gets so compressed. I have to remind myself of the blessings that come with it. Like snow! And amazing light And shopping in Portland And thanks to a recipe in my favorite Christmas book by Tomie de Paola, I enjoy baking some cheer. I do like words and baking! We may be the last ones to trim our tree, but it...
Read Moreland of knit
Now that it’s only 15 degrees out, I can share my hot- off- the- press Land of Knit prints. They are currently hanging at Knit Wit Yarn Shop in Portland, Maine, which I sketched for my 2013 Sketchbook Project, above. Dare I confess I’m not a knitter? I learned long ago, but left needles for pencils sometime in middle school. I’ve happily illustrated several knitting books though, including this title by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. It’s chock full of spot illustrations like these. A fan called out of the blue to inquire about the map on the cover. This led to creating a...
Read MoreMECA merry
The second half of the semester in the junior illustration majors studio at Maine College of Art has been a blitz of activity. Students worked in November on bottle and package designs for the annual Geary’s Summer Ale contest. Here’s Sarah Oppelt’s mock-up. Katie Ackley created a lively pattern, which she made use of later, stay tuned. The next project was to create an image to promote Circus Atlantic, the school arts program of the Circus Conservatory of America, coming to Portland in 2015. President Peter Nielsen gave an informative talk to students on the history of...
Read Moreukulele yule
Tis the season once again. Somehow the holidays always rush me. I’m still scrounging around for Halloween candy, and it’s time to think about holiday cards. I love making greeting cards, always have. I found this old one (me in a beard!) to show to my students, along with a fantastic collection received from other illustrators. This is back in the day, before color printers were a household item. Hand-colored xerox did the trick then. I decided I should include two things in this year’s holiday inspiration: a beard and a ukulele. We’ve had ukulele music in the house...
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