Gabriel García Márquez

 

 I attempted some magical realism while depicting one of my daughter’s favorite authors. No doubt, this beloved Colombian belongs in the pantheon of Latin American writers. 

Stephen King

 

Just as the boogeyman was jumping out of the closet, Stephen King was emerging out of Maine. At age 14, I picked up my first collection of short stories by this author, Night Shift. Foolishly, I brought this book on a camping trip, deep in the New England woods. While reading in the isolation of the forest, his stories scared the crap out of me, and I loved every minute of it. Decades later, I'm still hooked on the King of Horror.

Signed prints of this piece are available here, in my Etsy shop

Patti Smith

 

Last year, my dear friend Bernadette found a beautiful Hammond Atlas at a Brooklyn yard sale. Knowing that I’m obsessed with drawing on old maps, she generously gave it to me. I wanted to give her a thank you gift, and she suggested a portrait of the great Patti Smith. Knowing that they’re both Jersey-girls at heart, I was sold on this idea. I hope I captured an inkling of this artist’s poetic spirit. Thank you for this incredible gift, Bernadette!

Sylvia Plath

 

Early on in Sylvia Plath’s classic novel, The Bell Jar, the main character, Esther, attempts to take her own life by drowning in Boston Harbor. This would set the tone for her struggles to maneuver through life with mental illness. In real life, the author enlightened us to the deep depression so many people suffer through silently.   

Signed prints of this portrait are available here, in my Etsy shop 

Giovanni Verga

 

Giovanni Verga was an Italian writer who's novella, Cavalleria Rusticate, was the inspiration for the classic opera, Rustic Chivalry.

Louisa May Alcott

Concord, Massachusetts was was home to respected American writers like Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne. Not to be left out is this beloved author, who knew a thing or two about Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. 

 

Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

As we live through this pandemic, I’ve been reading a lot of nonfiction, but also finding escapism through classic literature. One particular story which was assigned way back in high school English class, Young Goodman Brown, has always stuck with me. Having recently reread it, this devilish tale still spooks the hell out of me. The author is the descendant of a judge who presided in the Salem Witch Trials. With that kind of family lineage, no wonder his writing is so vivid and haunting.

Signed prints of this portrait are are available here, in my Etsy shop! 

John Steinbeck

Much of this author’s literary universe is set in the fertile lands around his hometown, Salinas, California. If he didn’t have the life experience which was shaped by this region, we would never have The Grapes of Wrath, or Of Mice and Men.

Signed prints of my John Steinbeck portrait are available here!

Henry David Thoreau

Living the majority of his life within the borders of this map, Henry David Thoreau would dream big ideas on Walden Pond. His essay, Civil Disobedience, is an argument for peaceful protest against an unjust state. Right now, while our leaders consistently favor corporations over everyday people, this concept is more vital than ever.  

Signed prints of this portrait are available here, in my Etsy shop!

Zadie Smith

Here’s a portrait of noted author, Zadie Smith, who was born and raised in London. Her novel, White Teeth, is my younger daughter’s favorite book.  

Signed prints of this piece are available here!

W.E.B. Dubois

Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, he’d grow up to become a founding father of the civil rights movement. W.E.B. Dubois

Signed prints of this portrait are available here! 

Samuel Beckett

This portrait of Irish playwright, Samuel Beckett, is one of many literary figures in my exhibit at the Starr Library, Rhinebeck NY, up all of February. I'm having a reception today, 5-7 PM. If you live locally, please stop in and say hello!

Jack Kerouac

Born in Lowell Massachusetts, he was destined to go on the road. Jack Kerouac emerged from this New England town to become a poetic voice for the beat generation. 

Prints of this piece are available here!

Samuel Beckett

Here’s a portrait of renowned playwright, poet and writer, Samuel Beckett, born in Dublin, Ireland.   This piece was drawn directly on a 1966 road map which my parents used to navigate this beautiful country. This is piece is inspired by a series called World Tour - in which I used pages from an old atlas as canvases - painting images relating to the place on each map.

Signed prints of this piece are available here!

Please visit my website to view more fun portraits.

Georges Sand

On a recent visit to my local recycling center, I came across a mysterious book, Esoteric Astrology, which was published in 1912. It was filled with strange diagrams, as well as astrological charts of notable people.  Here’s a portrait of French novelist, Georges Sand, drawn on her birth chart. More to come soon!

Please visit my Etsy shop to view more interesting portraits (signed prints are available)!

Or visit my website to see more cool stuff!

Margaret Atwood

Spawned in the creative wellspring of Ontario waters, a literary current flowed down to southern daughters. Spreading into bible-belt tributaries, this handmaid’s tale bled into harsh realities. When fiction dilutes into fact, Margaret Atwood foresaw these repressive acts.

Signed prints of my Margaret Atwood portrait are available here!

H.P. Lovecraft

Here’s a portrait of legendary horror author, H. P. Lovecraft, who hailed from Providence, Rhode Island.  Prints of this piece are available here!

Donna Tartt

Here's a portrait of one of my favorite authors, Donna Tartt. Born and raised in Mississippi, she went on to write three superb novels, The Secret History, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch.

You can view a complete collection of my map drawings here.