Merry Barn Makers
I’d been invited to visit the Merry Barn in Edgecomb, Maine during April vacation in 2020. Nope, the pandemic intervened. Instead I visited virtually last July during their Sense of Place Writing Adventure week. Last Tuesday I finally made a visit in person, and it was oh so worth the wait! This old barn was given new life by founder, Stephanie Noyes McSherry, who greeted me upon arrival as I set up my show and tell. It’s every bit as welcoming inside as out. Old wood, fresh flowers, and creative clutter abound. And there’s my collage I sent last year after my virtual...
Read MoreHorse Island
Before I talk about horses, let me announce this: Rae Chalmers, author of the OXBOW ISLAND GANG series, is hosting a Book Launch on Sunday, June 6 from 12:30 – 3:30 at the Island Lobster Company on Peaks Island! Mark your calendars: join us for food, fun, and games on the lower-level deck to celebrate Rae’s great books. photo © Rae Chalmers Folks may think of lobsters when they think of Maine, but here on Peaks, there’s plenty of horses, too. It’s a little known fact that my first published book for children (2005) was MADDIE’S MAGICAL RIDE by another island...
Read MoreOxbow Island Gang Strikes Again
book cover illustration by Jamie Hogan Peaks Island author Rae Chalmer’s first book, Bear and the Oxbow Island Gang was published in April of 2020, smack in the early stages of what would become our relentless pandemic, with no opportunity to be out meeting her readers at book signings. She decided to just keep writing her second book. Lucky me! I began working on sketches in May after reading an early draft. It’s always a treat to use my habitat for the setting of a book, plus Rae provided some props and images for me. I didn’t have to scan or email my roughs, because we...
Read MoreThis Land Is Your Land
Happy New Year, dear readers! It’s been awhile. I hope you are safe and well in these turbulent times. I’ve been finding that walks, even short ones, re-calibrate my jangled nerves. What about you? Nature is the best medicine we’ve got. I recently learned that the Peaks Island Land Preserve has 12 miles of trails on the little Rock I call home. My partner is on the board of this quiet little non-profit org that protects 20% of the island from development, no small thing along Maine’s shores. My family and I roamed and rambled about on New Year’s Day, getting...
Read MoreCurtain Call
I knew in January before the pandemic hit that my turn illustrating posters for Portland Stage was over. The marketing director, Eileen Phelan, had left for other frontiers and it was likely the new hire would have other plans. But what a good run: 48 posters over the course of a decade of theater seasons. Thank you, Portland Stage! I owe this gig to my dear friend, island neighbor, and fellow illustrator, Doug Smith. He illustrated a poster for Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen, and gave us a pair of complimentary tickets to see the show, my first trip to Portland Stage. He enjoyed working with the...
Read MoreVote by mail
Readers of this blog may be aware that I am a devout snail mailer. This valentine I made a few years ago attests to my love for letters in all ways. collage © Jamie Hogan It was of course gratifying to illustrate a post office scene in Island Birthday by Eva Murray, where islanders congregate. illustration by Jamie Hogan from ISLAND BIRTHDAY by Eva Murray And with the writing of letters comes the collecting of stamps. I made this drawing/collage for Carson Ellis’ #transmundanetuesday drawing prompts on Instagram with a swell batch of stamps from Petronella Periwinkle. “Is...
Read MoreVisit JamieHogan.com
