Curtain 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 MorePatterns pre-pandemic
Are you as upside down as I am? These past two months have been deeply unsettling. As a freelance artist for almost 40 years, it’s not the working from home that’s an adjustment. It’s everything else. The global deaths, economic fallout, social distancing, mask-wearing, and swabbing of surfaces are overwhelming. Although it’s often hard to concentrate, finding a daily creative moment has kept me grounded. Back in January, before all this hit my world, I had eagerly signed up for a Maine College of Art Continuing Studies course, Pattern and Surface Design, taught by...
Read MoreNative Gardens
We saw the newest production at Portland Stage last night, Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias. Directed by Jade King Carroll, it’s a rollicking take on border relations in more ways than one. I worked on the poster a year ago, in the bleak mid-winter, when drawing botanical motifs was a quite welcome task. I presented a dozen rough ideas, here are some of them. The play centers on two couples, one older, white, and established in an upscale neighborhood in suburban DC, the other new homeowners, young and ambitious, and expecting a baby. The contrasts are striking and conflict ensues...
Read MoreBear and the Oxbow Island Gang
It’s for real! Rae Chalmer’s debut chapter book is here: Bear and the Oxbow Island Gang is an environmental mystery set on a Maine island for readers 8 – 11. Last fall, after reading Rae’s manuscript, I began illustrating the story by doing small, preliminary sketches for the cover. She’s a fellow Peaks Islander, so instead of scanning and emailing my rough ideas, I brought my sketchbook to her house a few minutes away. So analog and refreshing! These are a few more ideas, which all reflect an island setting that residents of Peaks may find familiar. I also did...
Read MoreLa Chance
I worked on a really different project this past summer, for Pathfinder International, a non-profit organization based in Watertown, MA. Since 1957, Pathfinder has partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems to remove barriers to sexual and reproductive health services. Together, they expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of HIV infections so young people can choose their path forward. They devised an educational game called La Chance aimed at young female teens in Burkina Faso, West Africa. I was...
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