Double the Beats
Hello February! After making it through a chaotic January, last year is looking ever better upon reflection. I had the honor of writing an Arts Beat column for the new Peaks Island News. I’d contributed regularly for almost a dozen years to the former Island Times with an Arts Roaming column, but the last issue was published in 2012. Leave it to a Rock only a mile long by a mile and a half wide to generate fresh local journalism in these turbulent times. The Peaks Island News is for, by, and about islanders, because our community of folks has much to report. You can pick one up at...
Read MoreLook up, lunatics!
Happy Fall, everyone! When the air is crisp and the skies cloudless, I enjoy wandering the neighborhood on nights like these. The moon inspires my life and art in so many ways. Taking little breaks to witness natural beauty keeps me balanced. I’m pleased to announce the arrival of the 2019 Lunar Calendar, which I illustrated back in June when the dandelions were in full bloom. Do they not remind you of the moon? The publisher, Nancy F. W. Passmore of The Luna Press, sent along an envelope full of poems in May. One by Beatrice Greene titled “ms. dandelion” struck a chord....
Read MoreFull moon soon
Calling all lunatics! This Sunday will be the last full moon of 2017. I know this because of my handy dandy Lunar Calendar, to which I have contributed since 1983 at the invitation of Nancy. F. W. Passmore, editor of the Luna Press. I worked on the cover of the 2018 edition during my trip to Ireland in May. Well, I did a quick sketch anyway. From the cottage where we stayed in Dunquin, I saw a distant island. Everywhere we went, it was there, like a body floating. It’s called Inis Tuaisceart and I couldn’t get it out of my head. Plus, there are goddess faces in unlikely places....
Read MoreFresh Eyes in Luna Land
Nancy F. W. Passmore is the venerable editor of Luna Press, which has published it’s 41st annual edition of the Lunar Calendar: Dedicated to the Goddess in Her Many Guises. I sketched her after our recent visit in Boston, which I will always consider Luna Land. I’m honored when it’s my good fortune to do the cover! These are some of this year’s sketches, done in June. In this rough idea, I have referenced my goddess figure sculpted by Peg Astarita. I tried a collage approach. This mosaic of blues was inspired by the work of Paul Klee. How about simplicity? This is...
Read Morelong live lunacy
Have you heard? There will be a full moon on Christmas for the first time since 1977. I’m well versed in lunar cycles, thanks to my contributions to the Lunar Calendar since 1983. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of creating the color cover several times, always a treat. These are a few of the ideas I presented to publisher Nancy F. W. Passmore for the 40th edition. The calendar is a vertical format with a fold, and I like to cross that, if possible. Nancy is fond of the idea of keeping her moon boat afloat, so she picked the bottom left. I was happy to develop the one idea...
Read MoreLughnasa
Whenever a moon can make it’s way into an illustration project, I’m happy. And I am over the moon to be working with Portland Stage on their 2015/16 season. In frigid January, I began illustrating all the posters, starting with the season opener, Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. I played my wee stash of Irish music while sketching, to help me capture the energy and spirit of the five Mundy sisters. These are a few of my preliminary sketches. The above design was chosen. I also visited a moonrise on the backshore, adding to my inspiration. Moon cycles are well observed in this...
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