Imagination Station

Teaching art to middle and high school students has been such an inspiration for me. Until recently, I taught classes at Imagination Station in Red Hook, N.Y.  I learned just as much from my students as they did from me. Projects were based on actual illustration assignments, or are inspired by great artists.

paintings and drawings on blocks of wood.

We covered a lot of ground in each two-hour class; illustrating book covers, calenders, shopping bags, posters, murals, graphic novels, New Yorker covers, etc. Or we'd touch on themes  such as Black History Month, U.S. presidents, Earth Day, or famous women.

working big in preparation for Halloween.

A slideshow was part of each class, where we view and discuss the art of famous artists, illustrators and designers. I try to mix things up from week to week - so my students feel challenged - but are never bored.

M.L.K.  portrait for Black History Month

This was an excellent opportunity to work with kids,  and learn about teaching.

Portraits of famous musicians for Black History Month

U.S. Presidents workshop

Overseeing New Yorker cover illustrations

a vampire on the cover of The New Yorker: - =

Big Sumi ink drawings!

Spooky murals

Earth Day Workshop

Paper-bag masks inspired by Saul Steinberg

Horses for Rhinebeck's Sinterklaas Celebration

shadowboxes inspired by Joseph Cornell...and Halloween

a beautiful elephant from my animal portrait workshop

Artwork inspired by Saul Steinberg's paper-bag masks

My students remind me of the many different approaches you can take to drawing

 and solving problems. 

Most of all, they remind me to have fun when I'm making pictures.

Mercersburg Cover art

Mercersburg Academy is one of America's premier boarding schools. They publish this magazine for "family and friends" three times a year. The latest issue is dedicated to stories about how the academy is literally a "home" to many students and faculty during the school year. The editor, Lee Owen, asked me to visualize this theme for the cover - and I had a blast sketching out ideas. The winning solution combines the school's logo (and color scheme) with a traditional house - conveying Mercersburg Academy as a peaceful and happy abode. Thanks to Lee for opening the proverbial doors to a really fun assignment.

The cover art was modeled after this logo:

Here's my sketch process, from the final comp to initial thumbnail ideas:

After doing initial thumbnails and revised sketches, this comp was approved to go to finish.

I had fun incorporating the logo and map of the school into these skectches

My clients initial idea was to incorporate the school's logo into a house key - which opens a door.

The cover art was born out of the simple thumbnail on the left.

Thanks for visiting!

Rutgers Alumni

What's so fun about contributing to Rutgers Magazine? It's never knowing which direction each assignment will take me. There are so many interesting activities going on at this great university - as as well as fascinating lives being lived by faculty and alumni. The above piece accompanies an article about a retired couple (both Rutgers graduates) who explore the U.S. in their RV. This vehicle is literally a home on wheels - allowing them to live spontaneously on the road .

"Around the United States in Fifty Days"

Another story follows an alumnus who realized his dream of playing on fifty golf courses in fifty states in fifty days. I can see Bill Murray buying the movie rights to this incredible fete.

"Five on Five"

The drawing above addresses ways to promote various Rutgers functions.

"Oh, The Places You'll Go"

Still, other stories address the career paths you can take.

Here are a few examples of sketches for this project:

Sketches for "How Rutgers Proud RU?"

"How Rutgers Proud RU?"

 Thanks to John Van Cleaf and Michelle Cody for another fun assignment.


You can view my new illustration website here!

Atwater Gallery Exhibit

 

I'm thrilled to be included in a group show at the Atwater gallery in Rhinebeck, N.Y.  The six pieces I submitted are part of a series called World Tour. The drawings were inspired by a dilapidated old atlas. You can read the story behind them here, or see the full collection here. This exhibit will be on display today through May 18th, 56 E. Market Street, Rhinebeck, NY.

Inspired by Robert Smithson's Sprial Jetty

Veiled Societies

Weathervane, Massachusetts

Lovers, Italy

Ford, Cuba

some framed World Tour drawings

A special thanks to Doug Shippee for the opportunity 

to exhibit my work at his fine gallery.

You can purchase beautiful prints of these prints here.

Word Works Exhibition

I'm thrilled to have drawings included in Word Works; an art exhibit running in conjunction with the Red Hook Literary Festival. All of the pieces in this group show are inspired by literature, books, and the written word. The five pieces I submitted are part of a larger series called World Tour. The drawings were inspired by a dilapidated old atlas. You can read the story behind them here, or see the full collection here. The exhibit runs until May 12. Have fun at the festival!

Young Woman Sewing, Denmark

Rapa Nui, Polynesia

Maori Carving, New Zealand

Elder, Australia

George Orwell

Stereoscopic Palmetto State

Some of the framed pieces from this series.

This Stephen King portrait was not framed in time for exhibit,
but I'm including it here because of the literary theme of this festival.

A special thanks to Rebekah Aronson for putting together this exhibit.

You can purchase beautiful prints of these pieces here.

A Wedding Songbook...

With wedding season approaching, I thought it would be fun to dust off this songbook I illustrated years ago. It was created for the nuptials of a wonderful couple, Sven and Barbara - who are fans of American popular standards. As part of their reception, guests sang and danced to songs by Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin and other greats. This little book helped people follow the lyrics to these classic love songs. A special thanks to Carol Neiley for designing such a beautiful piece - and for supervising the glorious embossed printing.

were scanned directly out of my sketchbook, going for a fresh vitality.

A rendezvous under the moon...inspired  by Edward Madden's classic song.

Red book binding - the color of love?

Inspired by Edgar Leslie's song ( I wish I could pull off this dance move)

Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars  ~  by Antonio Carlos Jobim

song ideas from my sketchbook

Thanks for viewing, and here's to a season of happy parties.

{ It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely! }

~ Cole Porter

Palms, Passion & Penitence

I'm back from a fabulous weekend in Philadelphia with my family. I travel there every March to judge a bookmark-design contest at the Abington Library (where my sister volunteers). Yesterday we attended church, and participated in the Palm Sunday service. I sometimes struggle to understand biblical language, but having a sketchbook in hand helps me feel more connected to the service.

Robin (on the upper left) is a wonderful minister; she'll be retiring in April after leading this congregation for over 25 years. Here, she and fellow parishioners play roles in reading the Passion Gospel.

Our tour-guide is the guy just under the cell-block"5" on the right.

On Saturday we visited the Eastern State Penitentiary - a former prison in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Cell Block #11 on the left. The entance to a cell on the right.

The prison was 'designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts' - many of whom lived in solitary confinement.

Al Capone's cell  (ready for a write-up in Design*Sponge?)

Most inmates experienced a bare-bones existence in tiny cells, but there were exceptions. Legendary gangster, Al Capone, was allowed to live in relative luxury.

Only a handful of inmates have escaped over (or under) the walls towering around the prison.  Fortunately, all these convicts were rounded up quickly. It's striking how nice the neighborhood surrounding this prison is. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is only a few blocks away.

Luckily, I'm just visiting.

These are just a few snippets from my weekend of palms, passion and penitence. A special thanks to my hosts, Ellen & Rob, for a great time - which also included delicious Mexican food and margaritas at la Calaca Feliz . We also watched another type of passion play - in the form of NCAA March Madness basketball on the tube.

Thanks for visiting. You can see more sketchbook images here.