between deadlines

I'm in that delicious place I call "between deadlines" during which I get a teeny bit more sleep, and fill my well. Recently, this meant spending more time in Portland, drinking in the vibe there and being inspired by art and artists.

My illustration class enjoyed an engaging visit from Mike Gorman, who previously taught illustration at Maine College of Art. Now he does web design, and maintains a prolific freelance career.

He shared his formative years working feverishly for multiple regional papers, as well as the process from preliminary sketches to final art for two recent clients. Thanks, Mike!

He also confessed that he believes in Bigfoot. Below is one of his paintings for a show at Sanctuary Tattoo.

Somehow the idea of Bigfoot really made a mark on my, um, brain. I used him as a metaphor in
a brand new site for A Warmer World.

Thanks to Kirsten Cappy, colorful publicist and kids book advocate, the site offers e-postcards for young readers and anyone concerned about our warming world.

We met one gray day in Portland to brainstorm. Spring, anyone?

Portland was our fling over the weekend. Marty and I saw a magnificent documentary by Michael
Maglaras at the Maine Festival of the Book.

The filmmaker opened the evening by saying he fell into Lynd Ward by reading a new edition of his Six Novels in Woodcuts. As illustrators, we were already familiar with Ward's work and know at least a few illustrators who claim him as inspiration. The film proved a fascinating immersion into the historical, cultural, and personal influences that shaped his pioneering art.

From there, dinner at the East Ender and a comfy stay at the Inn at Park Spring made us islanders feel at home. We walked around the immediate neighborhood the next morning.

Portland's got such architectural character. Spotted these in the span of two blocks, my radar always up for a good face, like this knave.

A hearty lion protects this house.

A scholarly profile ornaments the old Baxter Building, current home of VIA.

Baxter was the site of my first class taught at MECA in 2003. Quite gratifying that a former student, Tom Dowling, had his sculpture play a role in Heroes at Portland Stage, which we saw, right around the corner.

The play, an adaptation by Tom Stoppard, is fantastic!

Afterwards, we wound down by walking the labyrinth near the Art Gallery at UNE.

 

Yes, a grand blast of culture now settling into my bones. 

I confess I've done precious little drawing. Just a few sketches for the Sketchbook Project like these.

 

This is my Mum, who's on my mind. Back when she was 18, getting a hug from her beloved aunt.

 

There, my well is filling up, just in time to start anew on another deadline!

b is for book

 

How better to spend a sunny Sunday than in the swell company of bookish folk? I did that last weekend, sharing a table at the Book Arts Bazaar at USM, with fellow artist and educator,  Judy Labrasca. We became fast friends when I took her Picture Book course at Maine College of Art years ago.

The Book Arts Bazaar featured over 40 vendors with all manner of offerings: hand made paper, bookbinding, zines, comic books, art books, posters, paper sculpture, vintage ephemera...I was in heaven.

Here is Judy, setting up her beautiful wares.

She was next to Allison Villani, art teacher and maker of paper lovelies like these:

It can be awkward manning a table for a whole day. Good to have colored pencils on hand; I did this sketch of Allison to stay busy.

 

Judy took this photo of me, and my books and cards. Had to bring along a few tulips to remind myself that spring WILL come.

Next to me was the very prolific Michael Connor, infamous author and illustrator of the Coelacanthus series. Here he is seriously sorting his groovy oeuvre of collectibles.

There was a steady stream of book lovers browsing and buying, and the day went remarkably fast.
I did this quick profile of another artist, Svetlana Prudovskaya, who had intricate drawings and hand made books.

It was surprising how many other vendors I knew in the room: Scott Mullenberg, who crafted several portfolios for me, had a modern pile of riveting books.

 These made me think of my motorcycle, and then I saw Scott Vile of Asencius Press, a former island neighbor and bike racer.  The Portland bookmaking crowd is a tight one. There was dynamic Rick Lowe of Casablanca Comics, and the inimitable Crystal Cawley, whose delightful book making workshops I've taken, and who continues to inspire me. And of course, the master of book arts, Rebecca Goodale, who spun this whole event into being.

I took a quick swing around the other three rooms, marveling at the diversity of work. Spotted this,
"Imperfect Anxiety," perfectly titled by Solange Kellerman.

The order and color bursts of this display by Purplebean Bindery caught my eye.

I have a weakness for paper dresses, don't you? Nice visual pun by Libby Barrett here.

M is for moon, another of the alphabet cards I made for the day.

And for a marvelous event, that proves the book arts are alive and kickin' in Maine.

In other bookish news, I just found out from author Susan Blackaby that Nest, Nook & Cranny is
included in the 2011 edition of the Bank Street College Best Children's
Books of the Year! Great news, and just in time for Poetry Month.

Now I'm off to Charlesbridge Publishing, to deliver the final art for my latest book project.
Stay tuned on that front.