of rats, sloths and other notable creatures...

In case you’ve been wondering why you’ve been seeing fewer birds and other such imagery up in my slice of the blogosphere of late, it’s because I’ve been hard at work on an exciting new project.

A few months ago, I was approached
by Candlewick Press to illustrate a collection of animal poems by the hilarious and prolific J. Patrick Lewis, the current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate. As you might imagine, I jumped at the chance. The book, due to be released in Spring 2013, allows me to immerse myself into the minds of rats, bulldogs, sloths, and mata-mata turtles, to name just a few. While I can’t share much about the illustrations until publication, I will occasionally throw a little detail at you here and there...like here, in the sketch at left.

Meanwhile, I’ve also been working on two pieces for the November issue of the South African magazine Migrate. Since we’re almost halfway through October, I’ll be able to share those in just a few weeks. In the meantime, here’s a detail from one, titled Above. Happy Autumn!

etsy updated, and a little etc.

 

Summer’s end finds me busy with several small, ongoing projects and one really big one. But more on that in a later post. In the meantime...

It’s been a while, but I finally updated my Etsy shop. There you’ll find a selection of digital prints from Ornithoblogical, as well as some etchings and other goodies. This batch features “cock a doodle do” and “cock a doodle drew” (seen above), as well as some perennial favorites.

I take requests, so if there’s a piece that is not available in the shop, just let me know, I’m happy to put it up there.

kiwi magazine - august issue

We’re all told not to play with our food when we’re little. But when it comes to the Cooking Class section of Kiwi Magazine, I can’t seem to restrain myself. This month is no exception, so in the off chance you need to teach a little one how to properly empty a muffin pan, you know where to go...

And as usual, you can also find one of my illustrations on the last page of the magazine, accompanying this month's essay on homeschooling.

3x3 children’s show winner

It seems the fine folks at 3x3 Magazine didn’t think one of my birds was decorated enough. So...pin another award to the little guy’s chest! In addition to American Illustration 30 and Print Magazine Hand Drawn, “In General” has received a Merit Award in the 3x3 Children’s Show and will be included in their Illustration Annual No.8, due out in December. Bravo to one of my favorite illustrators, Gary Taxali, for winning Best in Show, and to all the other winners!

blue canvas magazine

The current issue of Blue Canvas Magazine includes an article on the MFA in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts, and I’m tickled to be amongst the distinguished alumni (John Hendricks, Nathan Fox, Brian Floca, Yuko Shimizu, Sam Weber, Daniel Lim, Martin Wittfooth...the list goes on) whose work is featured. 

make something 365 interview

Recently, I was interviewed by artist/designer/entrepreneur and all around great guy, Noah Scalin, for his 365 blog as a follow up to my ongoing Ornithoblogical project.

He is also the author of 365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life! and creator of his own award-wining, year-long blog Skull-A-Day.

As you know, I’m still creating birds, so it was rewarding to take stock with Noah, and muse a bit about where it all started and where it has taken me so far. You can read the interview here.

a collaboration with mom

Last year, when my friends announced they were expecting a baby, I never expected my mom to suggest learning how to make a quilt as a gift. “You design it, and I’ll make it,” she said enthusiastically. And so we did, but most of the credit goes to Mom, who did all of the heavy lifting.

The centerpiece of the quilt is my portrait of Sadie, our friends’ beloved 16-year-old pointer, familiar to some from invitations and Christmas ornaments over the years. The cityscape and row of evergreen trees represent the move they made a few years ago from New York City to Portland, Maine.

Earlier this week, I was privileged to present the finished product to Meghan and Jim, and their gorgeous, little girl on behalf of my mom. It seems like Claire approves. Thanks Mom!