Halloween Peaks Island style
I’ve been getting into an eery mood watching my middle school crush. Sketched this from an episode of The Best of Dark Shadows. Despite the vintage production values, the show remains creepy as ever. Only two pumpkins survived the warm, wet weather in order to be carved. Our trick or treater scopes out the moonrise before setting out. We stopped in at the Gem Gallery early on. It’s a tradition to see what Witch Kristen has to offer. After avoiding the haunted house at the Lions Club, but scoring an apple, we were drawn to our final destination, best saved for last: the Nash...
Read MoreMECA mid-term musings
Things are busy in my junior illustration majors studio course at Maine College of Art. Students recently completed illustrating a rituals theme, with solutions ranging from an annual naked bike ride in Philadelphia, to Burning Man, to the piece below by Kiah Gardner, which fits today’s mood in a fetching way. Kiah’s interest in fiber relief was renewed by a recent visit from Salley Mavor, who gave a fantastic lecture about her professional journey and working methods in early October. She brought original pieces of her unique fiber relief illustrations. While students are...
Read Morefirefly 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...
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