boston blast with MECA seniors

My Maine College of Art senior illustration students recently blasted to Boston, with department chair Scott Nash at the helm of our rocket ship. Our first landing was Cloud Kid, where we received warm and furry greetings.

Creative Director Dave Schlafman gave an engaging talk about their work, specific projects underway, and a tour of the lively studio. It's true, every member of his team has their head in the clouds!

We loved the murals..

and the toy collections..

Thanks to Cloud Kid for sharing their professional wisdom and awesomeness. The glimpse of real-life creativity totally fueled our jets!

Next, we were off to the Boston Public Library, to view in dim light and hushed quarters the Dwiggins Collection. William A. Dwiggins (1901 - 1986) was a type designer, calligrapher, typographer, illustrator, marionette designer and performer, and writer from Hingham Massachusetts.

These are a few of my favorite Dwiggins' covers.

Scott gave a brief talk about Dwiggins and we saw original sketches for his typeface Caledonia, as well as a room full of his books and personal effects. Even his pipe.

His marionettes were the biggest hit, like ancestors to animated characters.

 

He even carved one of himself. Love this!

From there we launched over to FableVision, where art director and illustrator John Lechner gave us some company history and showed us behind the curtain.

 

They have a reception area chock full of collectible fun, too.

Our final stop was at Mike's Pastries in the North End, for sugar to take us all the way home.

Yeah, Boston, we love your dirty water.

What's a trip without some illustrative gratitude?

This is Daelyne Bell's thank you:

Noreen Torelli"s:

Andi Croak's:

 

Hannah Rosengren's:

Even I could not resist drawing the marionettes:

Michelle Cooney drew this for FableVision:

And Devon Johnson summed up our feelings with a pun:

Thank you, Scott Nash, Cloud Kid, Boston Public Library, and FableVision for giving my class a trip to remember. 

The inspiration certainly took Peter Rimkunas' first project for class out of this world:

 

 May the rogue mothership of MECA seniors be ready for another blast-off soon!

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.

lovey dovey loot

O how I love this day. It's full of all of my favorite things: paper hearts, doilies, pink icing, and a swelling love for everyone. I should be working, but I can't seem to pull away from the glue sticks and scissors. I've been making valentines galore. Here's a few.

First, for my man. Vroom vroom valentine.
Our romance began with letters.

Next, for my sweet daughter of moonlight and magic.

I also send love to those I am fortunate to work with. Like the hotties at Curious City, who unlock the mysteries of literacy.

 Like the Maine Magazine. Groovy folks there.

I'll have some illustrations in an upcoming book from Storey Publishing. Hooray for Casting On!

Yes, yes, only one more whale illustration for Charlesbridge!

 

You'll notice a recurring element here, the above urchin was part of the endpapers in Nest, Nook, and Cranny. 

The above went out to my fellow colleague in the MECA trenches who spends a large part of his time at Strange Maine, not to be confused with IL 206.

This valentine is for Kim, designer friend who keeps my soul singing.

And this goes out to all you hotties, you know who you are....feel free to share this handy message.

I've made a ton of valentines, not as many as last year. So little time! But the more you give, the more you receive. Lovey dovey loot is priceless.

 

 It's a glorious day when the love signs can be found on the beach.

And then the neighbor brings over a plate of love. Shall I be trusted with this? Can I sneak one or two before my valentines return? Pretty please?

The window at the Gem Gallery says it all.

You better find somebody to love. Happy Valentines Day!

word.

Fun things are happening in the Teen Zine Factory over at the Telling Room. I'm leading a workshop on making zines with a group of very fresh kids, thanks to my fanaticism about the punch that can be packed in such little paper vehicles.

Zines are any kind of self-published statement, maybe words, maybe pictures, ideas made real. I've used them as an ice-breaker assignment many times, and have quite a collection. Here's just a few of my favorites:

At the Telling Room, everybody spreads out and gets into their creation.

Some were sketching, like Elias, who drew a favorite character called the Blob. Camille drew fluid, flying horses. Janine drew cute comic girls.

Lily was clacking away on the vintage typewriter, making up "lies no one ever told you."

Stay tuned for the upcoming debut of a round of original zines!

In between classes, I trekked to Curious City, where words are always at play. Notice how Curious Chief Kirsten Cappy works under the watchful eyes of her beloved friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.

She served up a hearty lunch and a brilliant publicity plan for A Warmer World, my most recent illustrated book, due out on February 1. And only Kirsten could deliver a cup of tea with such delightful character. Here's my sketch:

The semester has begun again at Maine College of Art, with sparkle and great expectations.

 

In Illustration 2, we got rolling with a quick exercise called Alphabetic Landscape, in which one draws a word like it sounds or feels or is.

Here's a good one by Isaac.

And I love this one by Molly.

 

(I added the green for emphasis.)

These two words together are good indicators of what the semester will hold: lots of expanding ideas!

Meanwhile, a delightful package came in my mail from Melissa Sweet, who's just won another well-deserved award for her latest, "Balloons Over Broadway."

Somehow, she can't sit still, and sent along these very groovy potholders! Oh. My. Word.

They are too cute to use, but look lovely hanging next to her other work in our hotsy totsy kitchen.

Bravo, Melissa!

Now it's back to work, drawing more whales. In honor of the Chinese New Year, here's a book jacket I illustrated, which may make you hungry for a bowl of good fortune.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!