firefly ball
Now that we’ve turned the corner on summer, I’ll share my recent project. I illustrated a poem by Dana Roffler, a whimsical verse about a midsummer’s night frolick under a full moon. It was a challenge, but fun, to bring together a parade of animals. Saturday night’s September full moon hid behind soggy clouds, but that didn’t stop the annual Sacred and Profane at Battery Steele. It’s also a frolick of sorts that brings together art installations in the bowels of a World War 2 era bunker on Peaks Island, along with performances and eerie music echoing...
Read MoreSisters!
Final details are working into place for the opening of The Sisters Rosensweig at Portland Stage Company. I dropped off the original art as well as process sketches yesterday. Indispensable Intern and Marketing Journeyman Todd Backus helped me hang the works in the lobby. Portland Stage likes to showcase all aspects of what makes a production, including the marketing visuals. Lucky me! I enjoy seeing my illustration in it’s various incarnations. This large horizontal hangs in the lobby. There’s a sign on the sidewalk on Forest Avenue. And a narrow poster on each side of the...
Read Morenuts and bolts for all
The MECA semester has begun! Things got off to a rousing start with our first guest speaker of the year, the honorable Charles Hively of 3 x 3 Magazine. I’ve been a fan of his magazine and was thrilled to finally meet such a passionate advocate of the powers of good illustration. I drew a portrait for the above flyer before meeting him, and he’s more jovial than he appears here. His talk was informative and candid, and a good shot in the arm for illustrators of any age. His background as an illustrator, an art director, and creative director gives him wisdom from all angles. He...
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 Moreart roamings
I’m blessed to be immersed in art wherever I go. We visited the Portland Museum of Art last week to see A Cat in Paris, an animated film with a lush texture and fluid story-telling. LOVED IT, especially that some of the environments were done with pastel on Canson paper, a favorite paper in my stash. Where do artists always go in a museum? The shop, duh, to ogle books and goodies. Quelle surprise! Found my wee book there: From there I headed over to rendezvous with fellow RISD chum visiting from Brooklyn, Madeline Sorel. Caught her in a frenzy at Portland Fiber Gallery, fondling wool...
Read Morerock party
Islands have a certain magnetism. Is it any wonder that some folks live on more than one island? Our Peaks Island neighbor Elena recently celebrated her birthday on Monhegan Island, where she also has a home. I made her this paper collage card. Daisy made this one: We left our island in dense fog, drove up to New Harbor, and took the Hardy Boat in yet more fog. Upon arrival we stretched our legs by heading up to the lighthouse, where the view is spectacular no matter the weather. The fog lifted just at dusk, revealing a glowing full moon. We walked back down to the dock, where the Island Inn...
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