lupine land
My students are working on their first illustration project, Mixed Media Memory. It’s pretty wide open to interpretation. I like to start out with an open mind and see just where they are at, what they are fixated with, dreaming about, or eager to share/show off, how they pull together their drawing skills with materials and techniques. When I gave this assignment to a previous class, there were some very revealing results. I worked then on an image, too. This is my “Lupine Land.” I combined a variety of preoccupations at the time: a fantasy world not far from reality here,...
Read Moremy mermaid month
Yay, it’s my mermaid month! I was chosen by NPR last year to illustrate a page in their 2009 calendar and finally my month has arrived. Yeah, August is almost over already. Though the summer has been steamy and swift, I relish this month of mermaid friends. NPR asked illustrators to convey their listening experience and even wanted us to write about the inspiration for our illustration. Here’s mine: All Songs Considered, literally and metaphorically…..Living on an island brings me into direct contact with the ocean, but only skimming the surface. While listening to a book...
Read Moreseeds of conflict and peace
One aspect of illustration I relish is the chance to do research. Maybe I miss doing those book reports from school, or maybe it’s my keen curiosity. I had a fantastic opportunity to go back in time, waaaay back, when I worked on a project for Cricket Magazine. “Jason and Jonathan” is a story by Eric Kimmel, set in ancient Judea. Two boys from opposite sides of their village, one Greek, the other Judean, meet in the caves above the town and become friends. Art director Karen Kohn provided some reference, mostly of Greek soldiers and Greek vase art, while I scoured the local...
Read Morepixie peeps
Here’s a detail from the piece that is in the Maine Illustrators Collective’s “Working Artists Show” at the Kennebunk Free Library. Man, that is a lovely library. When delivering my art, we got there a bit before it opened. We enjoyed taking in the magnificent entrance, complete with cheery cafe umbrellas outside and a bronze statue of kids reading on a bench. There is a stellar permanent collection of Maine children’s book art that includes familiar greats like Kevin Hawkes, Melissa Sweet, Charlotte Agell, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Judith Hunt, Wade Zahares, Holly...
Read Moreworking artists show
This original illustration will be part of an upcoming show: The WORKING ARTISTS SHOW, organized by the Maine Illustrators’ Collective, will be featuring art by many nationally known and internationally published artists at Kennebunk Free Library in Hank’s Room, a gallery space, in Kennebunk, ME. Show runs July 2nd-July 31st. Artist’s Reception is July 8th 4:30-7:30pm. The public is welcome. This show, featuring professional, commercial artists was created to promote public awareness of an art form usually seen for a few fleeting moments in print or film. Most consumers are...
Read Morepuzzling together history
Memorial Day seems like a good time to mention that I recently worked on a puzzle activity for the Fifth Maine. Built as a reunion spot for Civil War veterans, now it is a museum and community hall, site of countless weddings, concerts, and educational outings. I’ve visited the Fifth Maine on Peaks Island many times for events over the years, but learned plenty during the research for this assignment. Marty designed this sharp logo awhile back that captures the clean lines of this antique structure. I browsed around the cases of artifacts, all of them locked and in the actual...
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