pop up show at Charlesbridge

In honor of Children's Book Week, Charlesbridge Publishing had the brilliant idea for a pop-up show in the empty office space two flights below theirs, on Main Street in Watertown, MA.

I bopped down with Curious Co-Pilot, Kirsten Cappy, in dotty style. Trivia question: what are we holding?

I brought along original sketches and my toy polar bear that provided handy reference for A Warmer World.

Some framed pieces were part of an incredibly abundant exhibit of children's book illustration.

I'm thrilled by the company I'm in! Here's one of Rafael Lopez's paintings:

Love this phoenix by Ralph Masiello:

And I was delighted to see a piggy by David Hyde Costello:

I had the honor of meeting several folks, like Hazel Mitchell, Leslie Evans, and Stuart J. Murphy.
And the publisher, Brent Farmer!

Familiar faces not seen in way too long totally made my day: Richard Goldberg, Jim Roldan, Sarah Goodman, Sue Gilzow, and Ina Rubin.

Nancy Wovers brought her talented daughter, Isabelle, who shared her sketchbooks and some recent paintings. Wow, the girl is good!

Keep drawing and painting, Isabelle!

I also saw first proofs for my most recent project, Here Come the Humpbacks, due out next year.

 

Lots and lots of blue, yes.

On a good tip, we discovered a rare breakfast destination before leaving town the next morning.

The Deluxe Station Diner is something out of the past and the future, with stylings by none other than Mark Fisher. He happened to be on the same trolley I took to my first portfolio visit at the Boston Globe. Um, over thirty years ago.

 We gobbled down banana bread under the shiny eyes of this fellow.

Time to hit the road. My trusty co-pilot led the way from our blast to the past back to Maine.

Thanks to Donna Spurlock, princess of the pop-up show, and Charlesbridge for showcasing the joyful labors of the children's book world!

hurly burly

 

Here's my "Moto Ood" for the Monsters show at Pine Cone & Chickadee, opening this First Friday in Portland.  He looks just like I feel this week.

Since our return from London, I've been vrooming. I shipped off 5 framed pieces for the

Children's Book Week exhibit at Charlesbridge Publishing next week. 

I'll be there on Monday, 2 - 4 PM and also for the reception. Do stop in!

I also dropped off 8 art works at Portland Stage Company. My illustration on the posters for

their latest production, "Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh" and an exhibit of my work will be in the lobby during the run of the show. C'est magnifique!

The semester has now ended at Maine College of Art. The day after my last class, esteemed colleague Mary Anne Lloyd brought her class to visit my island studio. Welcome, soon-to-be-seniors!

A year from now, I'll be ushering this band into the world of illustration. Time flies when you're juggling deadlines, students, and the fickle fauna of life.

I cranked out the last few sketches in my Limited Edition Sketchbook Project. I drew my Aunt Eleanor, favorite auntie of all time.

Meanwhile, my 2012 sketchbook will be on view in Chicago this weekend. Now that I've done 3 of these projects, I've gotten the hang of it. Fall in love with a blank book, fill it with your heart, and then fling it off in the mail. Brave, but liberating. 

Yesterday I met with a private art student and we made Sudden Color Studies, starting with a box of excess Color Aid, the time-honored staple from any 2D course.

First, we made 3 quick color collages on separate sheets of paper from:

3 warm colors

3 cool colors

warm/cool imbalance or contrast

Then we drew an object in simple line, copied it onto colored paper, cut it out, and added it to one of the above color collages. (I drew a ranuncula, from a bouquet at Rosemont Produce Company that I simply couldn't resist.)

Then, we added another random element from the “collage stash” pile.

Compose!

Here's a couple of mine. This began as a collage of 3 cool colors.

Now it's a birthday card, with the drawn flower and cut-out balloons.

Here's another, that began as 2 warm colors and a cool.

I added the scrap of tissue paper, and then the drawing. Voila, happy May.

Simple whimsy keeps me moving forward, into the perpetual hurly burly.