Live Trees Are Always the Best

I turned in some finished art this week...

...and this is how I feel. There’s still much more to do, but hitting the “send” button feels pretty satisfying during my marathon year of picture book making. Be on the lookout for The Wrong Side of the Bed in 2016 (yes, another year to wait) written by Lisa M. Bakos, and illustrated by me.

Miss Marple’s Musings and Author Turf Interviews

It’s always nice when people take interest in your work, especially when commitments have you isolated and chained to the drawing board, as I have been over the past few months. Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in a few very fun interviews, by some terrific bloggers. Here are two I forgot to mention on this page.

If you are a fan of #kidlit, no doubt you are aware of Miss Marple’s Musings and Author Turf. Both were a hoot for me, and provide a little insight into my illustration practice—if you are so inclined.

Miss Marple’s Musings
Author Turf

Thanks Joanna and Brittney!

We Tell Stories

It was just five years and some months ago that I graduated from the School of Visual Arts MFA program, Illustration as Visual Essay, a two-year experience that, to be blunt changed my life. On view now in the school’s Chelsea galleries is “We Tell Stories,” an exhibition showcasing the vast array of work produced by three decades worth of graduates. Organized over two years by founding Chair Marshall Arisman and Director of Operations Kim Ablondi, it covers the breadth of the illustration world with editorial work, children’s books, graphic novels, and more on display. 

Very near and dear to my heart is the room dedicated to children’s books, designed with extraordinary florescent flare by alumni Aya Kakeda and Sara Varon—I mean, just wait until you see their rugs! About a month ago, the two hosted a bunch of us children’s book artists to paint an assortment of furniture for the room. (I had the pleasure of painting a lamp—grumpy on one side, happy on the other). But it’s the impressive display of picture books that takes center stage, from the likes of Brian Floca, Lauren Castillo, Paul Hoppe, You Byun, Stephen Savage, Andy Rash, Dasha Tolstikova, Sybille Schenker, John Hendrix…I could go on, and on. I am so proud to have some of my work included—some of my birds even made the cut.

There’s a public reception this Tuesday evening which I’ll be attending, since I spent almost all of my time socializing at the alumni reception last week, and not looking at the walls. It’s really an amazing show for fans of illustration; I hope to see you there. And finally, many thanks to this amazing duo who have nurtured the lives of so many artists — viva Marshall and Kim!

Re-Imagining Sendak at the Enoch Pratt Library

If you’re a fan of the work of the late, great Maurice Sendak and in the Baltimore area this fall/winter, head over to the Enoch Pratt Free Library for  Maurice Sendak: The Memorial Exhibition. Illustrators (including yours truly) have submitted images inspired by the master that have been collected and curated by illustrator and Maryland Institute College of Art Professor Shadra Strickland. It should be a lot of fun. Here’s a sneak peek at my contribution, fondly titled “Higglety Pigglety Pooch!”…

An Interview with Featured E-Magazine

Recently, I had the pleasure of answering a few questions from Featured E-Magazine. You can read all about my journey to becoming an illustrator (mid-life crisis?), and the reasons why I don’t consider myself a watercolorist here. 

What’s News with Me

By golly, I’ve been a bad blogger. Between looming deadlines and a vacation over the summer, I’ve really neglected this space. Anyway, here’s what’s news with me…

I’m hard at work finishing up illustrations for The Wrong Side of the Bed, by Lisa M. Bakos, to be published by Putnam in 2016. If you’d like to see some teaser details, check out my tumblr or  instagram feed. Then, it’s onto the art for Little Card, by Charise Harper also due out in 2016.

In the meantime, if you find yourself in the Midwest this month, I’m participating in a really cool exhibition at The University of Missouri that opens on October 7th. Assistant Professor John Malta has organized “Process Work: the Process Work and Illustrations of Contemporary Illustrators,” and the roster of artists is amazing—see the list on the fabulous poster John designed below. I’m showing the ugly underbelly for my sloths piece from World Rat Day.

More soon, or who am I kidding? Soonish...