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!

a yarnish tale

We had our first snow the other night. Time to pull the woolly sweaters out of the trunk. I did the above sketch in early rounds for Cast On Cast Off by Leslie Ann Bestor, which Publisher's Weekly  just named one of the top lifestyle books of the year! Noting that "clear presentation distinguishes this reference guide that should be on the shelves of knitters who want to develop their craft and their own style" I am thrilled.

My first sketches were too narrative, and eventually my illustrations play a suggestive role, indicating a knitwear piece at the beginning of each section that is organized by specific stitches with detailed photography. I worked with the super stylin' Mary Velgos, who directed me through an elegant simplification for final art.

I wanted my figures to be doing something, rather than fashion poses. Marty became the salty fisherman reference for the section on Stretchy Cast Ons, modeling a Channel Island sweater.
That's my Grampy Hogan's hand-carved buoy from Nova Scotia.

First sketch round:

The illustrations became black and white with a single color that connected to each section.

My daughter posed with her signature mismatched knee socks.

First round sketch:

Final illustration:

Each illustration was merged over a page from an oatmeal paper sketchbook I have. Storey wanted 
a hands-on reference guide, small and portable for the knitter on the move. Here's a spread from the book:

So if you're ready to knit yourself some elegant beginnings and endings, this is a must-have.

Speaking of sketchbooks, I have cool news. The Art House Coop chose my sketchbook out of 22,000 to go on a mobile tour with 999 others! Curated by Colossal, this small batch is heading to the mid-west to spread the love of sketching in a custom-made library trailer. If you can't check out the tour, you can see my sketchbook here.

The Sketchbook Project has been a fun catalyst for seed ideas and just having fun. I've started my 2013 Sketchbook with this drawing of a favorite spot in Portland, Bresca.

Anybody curious about my fetching model?

Oh, more good news bits: A Warmer World received a great recommendation from Library Media Collection! Let's hope climate change is an acceptable topic now. Here it is:

For the record, I don't use acrylics. I work in pastel. Thanks to the librarian reviewers! I think I'll go throw on a sweater and get back to drawing.

Stay warm, peeps!

MECA mid-term musings

Things are busy in my junior illustration majors studio course at Maine College of Art. Students recently completed illustrating a rituals theme, with solutions ranging from an annual naked bike ride in Philadelphia, to Burning Man, to the piece below by Kiah Gardner, which fits today's mood in a fetching way.

Kiah's interest in fiber relief was renewed by a recent visit from Salley Mavor, who gave a fantastic lecture about her professional journey and working methods in early October. She brought original pieces of her unique fiber relief illustrations.

While students are working up ideas on any given project, we also do in-class studies. I borrowed a stash of interesting objects from my neighbor and fellow illustrator Doug Smith. Kiah drew some, and then started felting.

Doug's father, Dick Smith, is a legend in the make-up world. Doug loaned this life mask of his mother, which Maria Antuna painted.

I'm an advocate of working from life, more to sharpen observation skills than to render realistically. Each student brought their own signature to their studies. This gouache painting below is by Chris Vales.

An earlier project, "Flannel, Fiber, Fur" involved fashion illustration, in which students were called to interpret the Maine fashion scene. To get into the mood, Julie Smith, a MECA staffer in academic advising, modeled with her agreeable dog, Dexter.

It's a terrific challenge to draw animals, and the class captured Dexter's personality in quick sketches, as in this drawing by Liz Long.

Several of the final illustrations highlighted not dogs but lobsters. This lobster lass by Chelsea Canny shows a keen sense of style.

David Snider designed upscale fashions for lobstermen.

Molly Steinmetz created a frisky lobster claw bustier with fishnet leggings for her curvy model.

Declan McCarthy went for the fur, with his parody of fashion, in which a Maine black bear sports a fishy knit while eating out.

Miles Cook emphasized the flannel in his illustration.

Earlier in the semester, students tackled the campaign, creating posters for display as part of MECA's Public Engagement project, Provoke the Vote.

Maria Antuna merged two originals and added a graphic slogan.

Liz Long illustrated Mitt Romney wearing a dunce cap made of money.

Molly Steinmetz illustrated a young voter with in-your-face attitude.

Got freedom? Go VOTE!

firefly ball

Now that we've turned the corner on summer, I'll share my recent project.

I illustrated a poem by Dana Roffler, a whimsical verse about a midsummer's night frolick under a full moon.

 

It was a challenge, but fun, to bring together a parade of animals. 

Saturday night's September full moon hid behind soggy clouds, but that didn't stop the annual Sacred and Profane at Battery Steele. It's also a frolick of sorts that brings together art installations in the bowels of a World War 2 era bunker on Peaks Island, along with performances and eerie music echoing down damp halls.

This stone bird by island sculptor Robert Vandersteenhoven was a stoic sentry.

 

There's always new paintings on every surface, and in the darkness you never know what you'll find.

It's a perfect opener to autumn and the darkness that lies ahead, making the long light of summer seem like a distant memory. If only I'd captured some fireflies in a jar!