Baroness

Here's a quick little color vision I had to paint out before getting back to work! She came out of my chasing yellow all day and this song performed by the String Orchestra of New York City. She's named for Eleanor Parker: her well-known villainess role, her platinum blonde hair and austere little brows. The Baroness is gliding around in "Yellow Orange-15" Prismacolor taffeta, charcoal lashes, and a little peacock-ish crown. And now to stop playing and return to my assignments...! Today is so rich in color and inspiration–wishing you the same.

Chat with Chad

If you'd like a little behind-the-scenes for Dotty, here's a link to my interview with Chad Beckerman, art director and designer for Dotty. It's part of his Interview Adventure Series with the artists and authors he's worked with, be sure to check them out. (Also make sure you watch the video of Werner Herzog reading Madeline! Sooooo silly)...Many thanks, CW! Happy weekend.

Dotty's here too!

An advanced copy of Dotty trotted over to my mailbox yesterday morning, courtesy of the wonderful team at Abrams. Thank you to Erica Perl for such a stellar story about imaginary friendships. These two books are very different in nature and voice, and I approached them from two different visual perspectives as well. It's so freeing to work in multiple styles and realms. Dotty's cover also sports a fancy shimmer with spot glitter on the jacket. Yes, glitter! It hits stores this August!

Grandma's Gloves is here!

Before we left for Easter in Connecticut, something was delivered to our door. It wasn't an Easter basket. It was a picture book! My first advance copy of Grandma's Gloves :



It will be out in stores this August. Let's have a party in a flower garden then!
Much gratitude to the excellent folks at Candlewick and to Ms. Cecil Castellucci for her beautiful story. ♥ Interior sneak peeks soon.

Time of Wonder

Spring is too big to write about!

If I could capture a little moment from this past warm weekend (wasn't it a tease!?): windows yawning way open and birds fiercely declaring the season with tiny lungs, while we work in the loft and slowly turn our place into a home. The air is changing, the light is changing and my name is changing too (in a few weeks!) There is so much possibility and blooming ahead. Hearts and crocuses are opening up. I hope you are enjoying the thrill of it too.

"A little bit sad about the place you are leaving,
a little bit glad
about the place you are going.
It is a time of quiet wonder–"

-Robert McCloskey

Dresses

Right now, I'm working on visual concepts for a new book, I Had A Favorite Dress, by Boni Ashburn. To get in the mood, I've been doodling dressy things on hangers...Hope you are having a swell Thursday (it's so foggy here I can't even see the little hills out my window!)

Francine Friday

So Francine popped out of nowhere as an ink test a little while ago and I cracked up. Matt's a fan of this kooky little lady with her "jazz hand" + envelope purse and asked me to post her. What do you think she'd be saying in a speech bubble?

In Memory

It was this gentleman's 100th birthday last weekend:



Django! What would I draw without you? Thanks to your genius, perseverance and three finger hot club jazz, I can scribble and paint. Without you, I'd be many books behind and much gloomier. Many many thank yous.

Occasions For Color

Hello! Here's a peek at some of my desktop reference I was looking at as I finished painting the interior art for Just Being Audrey (art to come!)... Dreamy reference, right? The advertisement typography from the 1950's, Dior's "New Look" all over the place, gloves– And the palette. Oh the palette. Dandelion golds, frothy whites, pearly creams and most of all, that pale mint, a color I have been slightly obsessed with (which I have hunted for months for my bridesmaids-the color is so elusive!) Making this book and planning a wedding simultaneously has been crazy and grand. Matt and I are getting married in May! Couldn't be busier or happier, much to be grateful for and much to be done! Here is a Maid of Honor card I painted for my sister, Christa...

2010

Happy New Year to you!