Hot stuff

It’s probably no surprise that our island home has it’s share of nautical elements. After all, it was built by a sea captain, Henry Trefethen in 1844. There’s Marty’s Uncle Jack’s ship in a bottle.

I’ve drawn my share of ships, like the beautiful Wendemeen, below.

I was in a nautical vintage mood when I created my valentine card this year. I’d come across an old snapshot, circa 1985, of a ship sailing in Penobscot Bay, as well as a stash of old letters to my Grampy Hogan. Some are from my father during World War 2, when he was in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy.

I did only a single rough sketch. The tricky part was making the collage pieces work, bits of letters in the sails and hull.

I got my cards locally printed at Bayside in Portland, Maine.

I’m tickled to see my cards in the Illustration MECA Valentine Pop-up Shop at Maine College of Art!

YESSSS, you won’t find these original valentine offerings anywhere else! The shop is staffed by illustration students, drop in between 12 – 3 PM this week, as well as 5 – 6 PM. Support your local talents, please.

There are valentine cards of infinite variety, plus pins, stickers, zines, prints, and more.

There’s even art by MECA faculty, including recent Caldecott winner, Daniel Minter.

Meanwhile, did you know this February is a leap year? It’s certainly bounding along pretty fast.

I created a calendar of good luck for 2020, from a dozen rabbit, rabbit posts on Instagram, which I’ve been making for a few years now. It was a limited edition, they’re all gone.

I also illustrated another cover for the magical Luna Press lunar calendar, dedicated to the goddess in her many guises.

In honor of Maine’s bicentennial, the Maine State Library is marking the occasion with a calendar full of Maine picture book art. I’m so grateful to be in the company of stellar peers in the children’s book world in the Maine Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar, with a cover by my own Marty Braun.

In other news, I contributed a print of my sketchbook portrait of David Bowie to Quiet City Books’ group show, The Stars Look Very Different Today, which will be on view through February 29. If you’re in Lewiston, do stop in.

Big surprise: Rickshaw Girl is now available in Hindi!

What ties this together: all you need is love. Make sure to tell your loved ones!

Life is short. Our neighbors’ seasonal display is a perfect reminder.

Happy Valentines Day, dear peeps! xoxox jamie