Jumpin’ July

A friend recently called July the “ADHD of months” and I agree. So. Much. Going. ON.

Normally I make blog posts about individual events, but they have been coming at me too dang fast. Here is the whole jam of July: kids books, talks, classes, travels, friends, family. A bounty of sun and color and amazing humans.

I was off to the Friends School for their Story in the Forest program on July 9.

I read Ana and the Sea Star and then eager campers played a lively game of Ocean Locomotion. They tried moving like sea stars!

They also drew sea creatures in pastel, with gusto.

I’m always intrigued by the results. Many enjoy the direct, tactile nature of pastel, using fingers and entire palms to blend colors.

This artist used his pocket knife to etch a design into his abstract fields of color like a true Modernist. This made me think of Paul Klee.

Another drew from observation, and gave his drawing so much expression and motion!

I am so jazzed by this bold composition.

I leave encounters like these completely inspired. Thanks, Friends School of Portland!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed my participation in the 100dayProject. Trying to draw and post something for 100 days is a MAJOR challenge. I couldn’t keep up daily. But I drew when I could. Here’s my ode to the last peony, which combines a still life with some collage.

On July 11, Daisy and I attended the opening reception for The Art of the Comic at UNE’s Art Gallery.

I don’t consider myself a comic artist, but Amanda Skinner, the curator, cast a broad net for an eclectic show that includes sequential and narrative art, anything that combines image and text. I’m thrilled to be in the company of so much local talent, such as Michael Proia.

Plus it’s a treat to share space with former Maine College of Art colleagues, Michael Connor and Mary Anne Lloyd, here in front of Eda French’s stellar illustrations on the right.

This was truly an all ages crowd. These three illustrations are from my Maine picture books, left to right: Island Birthday, Seven Days of Daisy, and Ana and the Sea Star.

Mary Anne Lloyd, Program Chair of Illustration at MECA, showed stellar personal work with her signature lettering.

She often co-teaches with Michael Connor, whose work impresses me no end.

Our former student, Joe Rosshirt, now faculty in the Illustration Program, exhibited this animated sequence.

Recent Illustration MECA grad Rowan Elliott included some fantastic senior projects.

Always swell company when the legendary Rick Parker is in the house.

The show runs through October 6, please go check it out.

The following night was an artist’s reception for Color of Peaks at the TEIA, an annual event that raises funds for island camper scholarships. I signed books while catching up with fellow artist/wild thing, Kathie Schneider.

One steamy Sunday Marty and I shared a breezy picnic at Sandy Beach with Melissa Sweet. Her partner, Mark, even braved the chill waters for a quick dip.

We saw Melissa again the next evening at an Illustration Institute presentation by Neela Vaswani. She talked about using photography to sharpen our perceptions and gave us a prompt involving our own hands, photographing them and finishing a sentence about them. How would the image and text pair up?

We bopped down to Kittery while my super talented cousin Mati McDonough was in town. When she’s not painting up a storm in her studio fort in California, Mati leads art retreats in places like Morocco and Costa Rica. So good to catch up with the McDonough-Lee family!

I had to make it back to Peaks for Pat Crowley Rockwell’s Story and Craft program at the Peaks Island Library. I shared some of my process for illustrating  What Makes an Opossum Tick? before she read the story.

Pat led the group in crafting little felt opossums. Gluing googly eyes can be tricky.

But once you’ve curled those pink tails, voila!!

Marty and I attended a rousing presentation by Ekua Holmes, who told us how mobile art lessons at Massachusetts College of Art sparked her early interest in art. She said art is a mirror, a catalyst, a bridge, and a forecast of hopes and dreams. She showed the process for several of her layered works, which often include collage.

One benefit of these Illustration Institute events is seeing the tribe of illustrators and book folks who attend. We met up afterwards with MECA alum Emma McCabe and her new husband, Nishant John. Welcome to Maine, newlyweds!

Even a heat wave couldn’t stop me and author Lyn Smith from a kidlit pop-up shop in my shady yard on July 20.

We enjoyed catching up over book ideas and gin and tonics. Lyn and I attended the next ii presentation, with Barbara McClintock, who actually called Maurice Sendak to ask how to become a children’s book illustrator. (Why didn’t I think of that?)

Barbara is a native of Jamestown, North Dakota and a college classmate of my cousin, Wanda (mom of Mati). Aren’t these two adorable?!

On July 24, I taught a Basic Pastels Workshop at the TEIA. That porch. Best spot to draw together. I did the quick demo drawing below, and then everyone was off and running.

I shared my favorite pastel paper for the first drawing. Chris created a vivid seascape.

I love pastels for their immediacy. Here Judy and Seohyam make color magic.

Some wore aprons, and Nancy brought gloves.

Fellow illustrator Annie O’Brien had fantastic results capturing color and form.

Jeanette discovered that a simple palette combined with texture could be all you need.

Thank you, TEIA, for a gratifying encounter with such a fine group!

Meanwhile, Daisy has been sharing photos from her travels in Spain. She traveled solo from Dublin to Madrid, then on to Cadiz, Barcelona, Portbou, and Girona. The botanical gardens in Cadiz inspired my drawing of her. This was my 100th post for the 100 Day Project! DONE.

Marty and I embarked on another moto anniversary, in celebration of 31 years of marriage. We exchanged handmade cards upon arrival at the New London Inn.

We met up with my sister, Bonnie, and her husband, Jeff Sanborn, who recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary! How can that be?!

Our vintage bikes look good with Jeff’s collection of old signage on his garage in Wilmot, NH.

Hey July, you zoomed by quick!

August promises to be full, too, of more visitors, illustration deadlines, and pastel dust. Bring it on!