the play’s the thing
Theater is on the brain here. Marty and I had the good fortune to attend Portland Stage’s annual Spring Gala benefit last week. I illustrated the brochure (above) and then created a layered collage in a shadow box, below. This was presented to L.L. Bean at the event, in honor of their loyal sponsorship of Portland Stage. Here’s Artistic Director, Anita Stewart, with the art: Her dashing husband, Ron Botting, then handed it to Rosemary Moser, Community Relations Director at LL Bean. Elements from my illustration were used in signage here and there, in curious company at the...
Read Morepop up show at Charlesbridge
In honor of Children’s Book Week, Charlesbridge Publishing had the brilliant idea for a pop-up show in the empty office space two flights below theirs, on Main Street in Watertown, MA. I bopped down with Curious Co-Pilot, Kirsten Cappy, in dotty style. Trivia question: what are we holding? I brought along original sketches and my toy polar bear that provided handy reference for A Warmer World. Some framed pieces were part of an incredibly abundant exhibit of children’s book illustration. I’m thrilled by the company I’m in! Here’s one of Rafael Lopez’s...
Read Morehurly burly
Here’s my “Moto Ood” for the Monsters show at Pine Cone & Chickadee, opening this First Fridayin Portland. He looks just like I feel this week. Since our return from London, I’ve been vrooming. I shipped off 5 framed pieces for the Children’s Book Week exhibit at Charlesbridge Publishing next week. I’ll be there on Monday, 2 – 4 PM and also for the reception. Do stop in! I also dropped off 8 art works at Portland Stage Company. My illustration on the posters for their latest production, “Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh” and...
Read Morelondon loop
We’re back from a blitz of a trip to London. From Darwin to Diana, the Beatles to the Bard, we covered a lot of ground, thanks to the Tube. Here’s a slice of our jolly good time. After wearily arriving at our hotel, we crashed for a few hours. Being right near Kensington Palace, we then had a lovely stroll through Hyde Park, past so much wide open green space and romping dogs, we felt restored. Especially by the Peter Pan statue. Nearby is the serene memorial for Princess Diana, where a rolling loop of flowing waters calmed our jet lag immensely. This sculpture by Simon Gudgeon...
Read Morecircus of wonders
It must be spring. Illustration 2 students are warming up for their final project: a circus poster. With the Shriners Circus due in town next week, we drew from a model who was a ringmaster, a clown, and strong man in the eyes of the class. I made the above drawing pretty quickly. Chris Snowman drew this on a Wacom tablet, upon being handed a small plastic animal toy. I asked students to incorporate one somehow in relation to the figure. Here’s a drawing by Morgan Cremins: Below, Lucas gets loose with brush and ink, and the idea of looking but also imagining. The model didn’t...
Read Moreon the Illustration 2 trail
My amazing troupe of sophomore illustration students at Maine College of Art are stretching their skills in many ways. Recently, they invented 3 dimensional characters drawn from fables and folklore. Here is a sculpy Baba Yaga in progress, made by Shannon Owen. Now, she’s dressed and ready for a good story by the fire. Isaac Atkins decided his character needed a glossy coat. Hana Firestone made resourceful use of paper and plastic for her Fox and the Crow. Beware, Eric Wilbur’s Hydra fiercely guards Casco Bay. Molly Steinmetz’s Leshy found his way to the woods in the...
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