Bean Doodling

Going to the movies with all my buddies!

2012-01-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

New Comics Are Being Made

2011-12-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” -Rainer Maria Rilke (Letters to a Young Poet)

I found this quote scribbled into one of my sketchbooks from many years ago. Lately, I have been doing some research into what my days were like visiting and drawing gorillas at the zoo during graduate school. During that time my sketchbooks were bursting with drawings, I however did not a very clear understanding of what I should do with all of my work. Now that cartooning has graciously entered into my life, these old drawing are finding a new life. So, there it is... I LIVED INTO THE ANSWER. Rainer Maria Rilke totally called it. It was for comics. I was doing all of those drawings because eventually I was going to make my very own gorilla comic.

I wanted to show a few pages that I have been playing with over the winter break. They should not be considered "finished" or even in the correct order of how they are going to fit into the story that I am trying to tell. Hopefully they just present the style of how I will be drawing and give a little peek into what is coming. My plan is to have minicomic available in the Spring. I am setting in for a long winter of writing and drawing. I will try to update once in a while so you can see what is developing. (My "Ms. Bean" comics will continue to manifest themselves when necessary. You have not seen the last of the bean lady.)

And here is another page that does not go along with the last three:

I would like to give a shout-out to my friend Sally Carson who is also creating a comic book in a parallel universe. She is a User Experience Designer living in Michigan. Sally is a cartoonist that I really admire and am happy to know.

I Have Friends!

2011-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

I created this comic for my talented friend Jason Viola because he is putting to rest his web-comic Herman the Manatee after several dedicated years. I feel very fortunate to have Jason and his wife Rebecca just up the street from me. We try to get together often to plot out cartooning ambitions and adventures. Jason is a clever guy whose comics are more funny than the one that I drew. (Mine might be a little unsettling... poor Herman.)

I was lucky to have befriended many exciting cartoonists this year. One gal I particularly admire is Jen Vaughn. This is an illustration that I did of Jen and her boyfriend Ryan. Two very adorable people!

Adolescent Depression Workshop Notes

2011-11-27T18:30:00.001-08:00

Depression is a disorder that many teens that I care about struggle with. I was eager to attend a workshop organized by Randy P. Auerbach, PhD, Director of Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders at McLean Hospital. The workshop was an intensive all day event that provided a lot of food for thought. After reflecting on the concepts that were introduced, I approach the emotional state of my students in a more sensitive and educated manner.

Dr. Auerbach spoke about Causes, Consequences, and Treatment for Adolescent Depression. Christian Webb, MA from the Harvard Medical School talked about Treatments and Prevention of Depression. Pia Pechtel, PhD discussed her research on Maltreatment, Depression and the Adolescent Brain.

The cartoonist in me wanted to illustrate what I was learning and share it with my colleagues and anyone else who might find it useful. I have organized my drawings and notes to break down a portion of the presented ideas. Please keep in mind that this is simply my personal reflection / artistic filter on what I absorbed from the lectures.

If there is a young person in your life that you believe may be clinically depressed, please refer them to professional care. Information about programs for depressed adolescents at McLean Hospital can be found here: http://www.mclean.harvard.edu/patient/child/

Oh! And here are some links to information about the teenage brain:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/

ttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124119468

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/health-matters/201006/the-teenagers-brain

On Tuesday, December 6th at 7:00 pm John Porcellino will be coming to Back Page Books in Waltham to talk about comics and self-publishing. He is an artist that has really inspired me to pursue comics and I am very excited to hear him talk about his work. You should come too!

OPEN STUDIO THIS WEEKEND

2011-11-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Quit monkeying around, and come see my art studio this weekend!

For the last few years I have been reading, making, andthinking about independent comic books. The paintings that I have on display are to be used as cover imagery forupcoming minicomics.

These paintings were partly inspired by gorilla imagery fromthe Gold and Silver Age of comics. They have also been generated by personallyobserved drawings created from the gorilla exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo inSeattle, Washington.

In graduate school I went to the zoo everyday for a semesterand admired the gorillas as I accumulated many drawings. At the time, my intent was to learnabout behavioral science. Howeverin retrospect, it is clear to me that visiting those gorillas every day was akind of a therapeutic situation. I have always wanted to create a story about the experience and the project is now underway. Myintention is to create semi-autobiographical comics that explorethis “gorilla period” of my life.

Prints on found paper for sale: $20.00

My studio will have minicomics, screen-prints, various drawing / collage experiments, and paintings for sale. You may find something for yourself or an animal lover in your life. Of course you can just stop in for some treats and take a peek into what has been coming out of my brain lately. I will look forward to saying hello!

Location: Third Floor, Room 302, 289 Moody Street, Waltham, MA

Saturday 12:00:-6:00

Sunday: 12:00-5:00

Making Prints

2011-10-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

What I really like about making prints is the potential for stretching my imagination in preparation for future comics and paintings. Switching out different backgrounds under the same line drawing can create a whole new kind of scenario or mood that I may have not considered before. Below I have featured three prints from a larger assortment that were created over the past weekend.

It was interesting to see how the apes interacted with various colors and patterns. (If you didn't know it already, green is my favorite color.)

It was also fun to experiment with combining printing with collage. I like how the ape falls right into the center of the universe in this design.

Here I have rescued an abandoned drawing from my portfolio and given a new life as an environment for apes.

(These prints and many more with different backgrounds will be available for sale at the Waltham Open Studios.)

SOME ART IN PROGRESS (for Waltham Open Studios)

2011-10-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hey! Thanks for looking at my blog. I just want to put a little sneak-peak out into the world about what I have been working on in my studio since the school year has begun. I have been a bit of a shut-in trying to get this project finished in time for open studios. To find more information about the event visit: http://www.wmaastudios.org/events/events.php

These paintings are part of a series that are going to be used as covers for some comics that I am planning. I am referencing King Kong as well as gorilla imagery from the Silver and Gold Age of Comics. This body of work is also based on a lot of drawings done at the Woodland Park Zoo back in college.

My camera is not great for taking pictures of paintings, but hopefully this gives you a little idea of what you might find in my space.

This (unfinished) painting is inspired by King Kong poster hidden in one of classrooms at school.

The Waltham Artists Group is located at 289 Moody Street, which was once the Jordan's Furniture building. Here is the start to a mural that was recently painted on the side of the building.

Please disregard this picture. It is something that I need to print out tomorrow at school because I am have a tricky time trying to draw this hand gesture.

Parents Night

2011-10-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

These yelllow post-it note sketches were made while teaching. I draw my students when they don't need me interrupting their creative process.

Parents Night took place on Wednesday night. It was difficult to keep my energy up in the evening after a full day of teaching. However, the parents were really sweet, and it was great to see who my teenage students belong to. I decided to mix things up a little this year and requested that the parents doodle a picture for me while I described the class. (You can see some of the results below.) In addition to this I added a "performance element" to my presentation where asked for a parent volunteer to model for a drawing. I sketched a quick portrait with sharpie marker in one continuous line. It ended up being really fun despite whether I captured a good likeness. The drawings were kept up on the front board to see if students could recognize their parent. The kids figured it out right away during class today. It was fun. I really love my job and the wonderful people that I get to work with everyday. I feel very fortunate to work in a town that supports education and the arts.

Lisa's Mom

Nora's Mom

Zack's Dad

Charlotte's Mom

Abducted By Squirrel

2011-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Bad Pens

2011-10-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Events

2011-09-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite season, and it also happens to be my most busy. So there are some things I want to share. As you may know, I was born and raised in Massachusetts and am happy to be taking part in three upcoming local events.

This Saturday evening there is an art opening for original comic art for the Massachusetts Independent Comic Expo at the Atrium Gallery at Lesley College from 6:00-9:00. Find info here:
http://www.masscomics.com/2011/comic-art-new-england-at-lesley/

Next weekend, September 24th is the Massachusetts Independent Comic Expo. Independent comic artists gather together to share carefully crafted books. This will be my first time doing a comic show in the Boston area and I am really looking forward to it. Find info here:
http://www.masscomics.com/

And mark your calendars if you would like to come into my art studio in Waltham, MA. There is an open studio weekend that I will be taking part in for the first time as part of the Waltham Artists Group.
I am working on finishing a series of paintings for this event. There will be some original comic art for sale as well. This will take place on November 5, 12-6pm and November 6th, 12-5pm. I have so much to get done in a short period of time. Eek!

SPX THIS WEEKEND

2011-09-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

So happy to be attending and exhibiting with my friend Jason Viola at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland this week. Looking forward to reconnecting with friends and seeing if I can distribute some "Gremlins Movie Incidents."

WE ARE AT TABLE H-7.
Please come and say hello to me.

First Day Back Scratchy Doodle

2011-09-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

School Begins

2011-08-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am a hurricane of planning and organizing. Today I met my freshmen and they are adorable.

Oh

2011-08-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

Before I Get Swept Up Into the Details

2011-08-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is my last week of summer vacation, and I was just thinking… I had a really good time.

My life has become different between summer 2010 to summer 2011. It isn’t easy to talk about, but there have been a lot of changes.

My rescued racing dog, Tommy died after a long illness. He was dearer to me than a pet has ever been before and it was excruciating to let go of him.

Soon after that my relationship of the last six years came to an end. Our break-up was mutual and respectful. It was also incredibly painful and difficult to let go of. I don’t think I have ever felt so much sadness before.

Friends and family came out of the woodwork and lovingly nudged me forward with my life. I was lucky to have a talented therapist who has helped me examine aspects of my life that have been neglected. It is good to talk about difficult things with people you trust.

My students (without realizing it) got me out of bed each morning. The teenager-ness of teenagers kept my own emotional health in check. They demanded that I laugh with them, hold them accountable, and be creative on a daily basis. The momentum of the school year and the faith that my students placed on me prevented me from collapsing into negativity.

I moved into my own art studio and I have discovered an obsession with cartooning and comics. It never occurred to me that I could pursue this art form until recently, and now I am completely infatuated.

I also revisiting making paintings. I had abandoned the pursuit after having a difficult time in graduate school. What’s the big deal? Just paint. Who cares?

Ok, it is kind of scary to make art and to show to people that you are a really sensitive person, right? But, it is also sad and frustrating NOT to explore the parts of yourself that want to be expressed. Life is an unraveling mystery that I willfully surrender to. I hope to be good and to appreciate the love in my life. Let the new school year begin!

Store is officially open for business!!

2011-08-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

I am now selling comics and original Pig-dogs online. The internet is amazing, is it not?
Check out the store link to the right side of the blog. Or click here.

I am getting organized to begin another school year now. Summer is coming to a close and reality has set in. I want to keep being productive doing art for myself, but I also want to put forth my best effort as a teacher. This is going to require good organization and self-discipline. Wish me luck!

I was just organizing my flat file and found some old drawings (like 10 years old) that I thought I would share.

Inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Self-Portrait in Ink

I Was Completely Absorbed at the Center Of Cartoon Studies 2011

2011-08-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

I am back from my summer comics and cartoon learning workshop. It was a really intense and meaningful experience. After all the focused drawing and computer sessions I feel tired and happy about all of it. I will try to give you a little taste of what it was like.

I am pleased to report that I was able to complete my 32 page minicomic called "The Gremlins Movie Incident." Everyone seemed to like it, and I am excited to debut it at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland on September 10th and 11th.

Here is a page that I completed at the workshop after listening to a great lecture by two talented female comic book artists, Robyn Chapman and Ariel Bordeaux. I learned to pay attention to alternating words and images. Like any art, there are so many ways to create expression and so many levels of complexity to pursue. It is kind of daunting to learn, but at the same time, so rewarding when you achieve a desired effect.

Robyn Chapman has been a great mentor to me, not only at the workshop, but through-out the year she has really encouraged me as a cartoonist and I respect her intelligence and vision. She has begun her own small publishing company called Paper Rockets Comics and I am honored to be included as one of her artists. Check out this cute self-portrait of Robyn who loves comics so much, she juggles them all around her head.

My classmate Anthony Sorge (also a HS teacher) wore a Gismo short on the second day of the workshop which I took as a sign from the universe that this guy should be my friend. He made a really nice comic that he plans to share with his students and will enhance his classroom.

I was also able to finally conquer my fear of nib pens thanks to the instruction of Jon Chad. Here is a little Pig-dog action for you done entirely with pen and ink. Now that I know how to use them, I can teach my classes this year. It is tedious, but the lines are so much more lovely. (The squirrel better watch out for Pig-dog, it looks like he might want to nip his tail.)

Jon Chad may be supernaturally great at comics. I am still trying to decide if he is indeed human.

Jon's work has created some of the most beautifully crafted comics I have ever seen. Here is a page from his Bikeman series.

Another of my instructors who I also am claiming as a dear friend is Beth Hetland. She is SO FUNNY and playful to be around. Not to mention, she knows everything about binding books and takes her comics very seriously. I was happy to have spent time with her before she begins a new life as a teacher in Chicago.

Here is the cover a book that is a piece of a three-part story she completed as her Thesis project at CCS. It is really so wonderful.

Alec Longstreth did a lot of lecturing at the workshop this year. He is an engaging and passionate speaker who is so well informed about his craft. Alec's speech titled "Your Comics Will Love You Back" is so good. He is honest to his core, and really wants people to get into comics and love them as much as he does. His enthusiasm is infectious. I was so impressed with his generosity as a speaker and instructor, he gave as much as he could.

Above is a picture of my table-mate Sally Carson. She and I attended the workshop last year, and both came back to fill up our brains with even more comic knowledge. I found a wonderful friend in Sally and hope to keep in touch with this fabulously talented lady. You know how I'm kind of weird? Well, Sally totally gets me, and I'm not weird to her. When you make friends like that, you hold on to them as long as you can.

Dakota McFadzean helped me so much! Fantastic guy and cartoonist.

Melanie Gillman was a breath of fresh air and cheered us through to the end of projects.

Stack and stacks of comics... Above is a picture of the the CCS Shultz Library. An entire library devoted to comics. You could spends a month in here reading. I wish I had more time to check out, especially because Jen Vaughn works there and she is a sassy young cartoonist who I really admire.

Our drawing area.

binding

copying


Maia Bissette chops her stack of comics while the adorable Audrey Grieve and Valerie Fleisher oversee operations.


folding!

Me and my new cartoonist buddy Steven Krall happily exhausted after pulling a really late night getting out comics completed.


One last thing, I wanted to point out is that the bathroom in the basement is covered from floor to ceiling in cartoonist grafitti. Vandalism is encouraged down there and anything goes. Thanks to everyone who helped me!!

Where you bean?

2011-07-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is a page from the "Gremlins Movie Incident" story that I am in the midst of completing. The minicomic is going to be 32 pages and available at the Small Press Expo where I will be sharing a table with Jason Viola on September 10th & 11th, and I will also have a table at the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo on September 24th. (It is great to have deadlines, otherwise I would never finish anything.)

This week I am attending a workshop at the Center of Cartoon Studies in White Water Junction, Vermont. I attended this program last year and it was a wonderful experience. I learn so much that I am able to use in my teaching. It also really helped me further develop my own storytelling and comic narrative skills. It is such a special opportunity for me to attend a place filled with inspiring instructors in a quirky, quaint New England town. I hope to do tons of drawing and learning.

When I get back home, there will only be a few weeks of summer left to get started on the paintings that I would like to have displayed for the Waltham open studios in November. I will tell you more about that later.

Take care!

How Gremlins Are Made

2011-07-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would break it down for you... you know... about Gremlins...
What is with Cara Bean and campy movies from the eighties?
Well, this little drawing is being donated to the Brattle Theater for their annual art auction. It is was created as part of a autobiographical comic that I am currently working on called "The Gremlins Movie Incident" which is a funny and scary story from my childhood. This image was actually reworked and changed around a bit, so you won't see the same image of you read the book. Whatever poor sucker buys this baby at the auction is going to own a one of a kind original. Yahooooo!!!!!!!!

Book-it Pigdog!

2011-07-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

ART CAMP SKETCHBOOK

2011-07-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

Know Your Monkey

2011-07-07T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Gremlins Movie Incident

2011-06-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a preview poster for a minicomic that I am working on this summer. It is based on a story that my brother and I like to tell about seeing the movie Gremlins for the first time. A distressing and hilarious event takes place in theater that permanently traumatizes all of those involved. Stay tuned for more...

VACATION

2011-06-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that I have made it to the last day of school in 2011. Vacation begins. This summer is a much needed respite from taming hooligans, and also provides me the opportunity to really test out my art studio and try to make comics and paintings.

Soon I will post about two conventions that I am going to be a part of in September. Also, in November I will be having an open studio in Waltham.

Art Auction Owl

2011-06-17T07:24:00.001-07:00

My friend John Platt and his wife are organizing an art auction to raise money for a non-profit to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), most notably through the use of an innovative virtual reality community. Buy this sweet little owl drawing for a good cause.

(Bid starts at only $20.00.)

Check out the auction here:

http://shop.ebay.com/jplatt/m.html

Here is a great article about the auction:

http://ptsd-news.blogspot.com/2011/07/art-book-auction-to-support-ptsd.html

LATE EXCUSES

2011-06-17T05:09:00.000-07:00

When my students are late to class, I don't want them interrupting my lesson with their excuses, so I made a "late book" for them to sign when they enter the room. The book serves as a record that they were indeed present for class. When they are late, I don't always remember to change their attendance over from absent to tardy and the book is helpful if the kids receives a detention and need to prove they came to class. The book sat at the entrance of the room, and was somewhat ignored by me unless a real problem with attendance cropped up.

While reading the log over yesterday, I realized this might be entertaining to the outside world.

My Painting Girls

2011-06-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Click on it twice enlarge for reading.
Ok, I know I complain about teaching high school sometimes. But it is kids like these that make my job amazing. My students are so lovely. Really. They inspire me to keep making art.

BEAN ATTACK!

2011-06-09T13:01:00.000-07:00

Some lazy and disrespectful kids were getting on my nerves today. Luckily some LHS graduates dropped by to say hello and cheered me up. I convinced them to help me draw angry monster beans to vent my teaching frustrations. Check out the results:

This "Bone Crunch'n Bean" was created by Ben Hur who is studying Illustration at Parsons. (Ben helped to inspire me to create an Illustration class at Lexington High School.)

Arvind Menon is also studying illustration at Parsons, and he and Ben have been roommates for two years without killing each other. I like how Arvind has given me the ability to throw laser light out of my palm. Aughghghghghg!!!!!!!!!

Finally we have a very "primal fiery bean" by bearded Ben Abramson who reluctantly created this for me. It perfectly captures how I feel about ruined art supplies and misdirected disrespectful attitudes.

I love my students so much, except for the times when I want to devour them like Godzilla.
Is it summer vacation yet?

My Students Are Cute

2011-06-06T03:33:00.001-07:00

Nice Goodbye

2011-06-02T04:15:00.000-07:00

Click on it twice to enlarge.

Hanging Out With The Universe

2011-05-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

I got a haircut.

2011-05-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of things you can find in my desk drawer at school:
1.) a demo CD from my students' band the Symptoms who are surprisingly adept at rockin out for a high school band.
2.) a seashell
3.) strawberry scented hand sanitizer.
4.) 5 million pens (most no longer write)
5.) a marble
6.) a cow stamp
7.) bandaids
8.) mini pack of tissues
9.) mini action figures
10.) a wooden finger

Ready for Maine Comic Art Festival!

2011-05-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

See you at the Maine Comic Art Festival on Sunday. I am really looking forward to this, and I am now ready with my newest book! It has a screen-printed cover, check it out:

P.S. I was able to meet John Porcellino this week because he gave a talk at the Thoreau Society about his book, Thoreau at Walden. He is a wonderful artist and person. Check out his work if you haven't already.

Teen Bean: How My Self-Esteem Was Drama Clubbed

2011-05-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

My new comic will be available at the Maine Comic Art Festival on Sunday, May 21st. Teen Bean: How my Self-Esteem was Drama Clubbed is a story about my most humiliating high school experience in the most embarrassing play ever written for teenagers to perform in a drama competition.

Reliving high school comes naturally when you work as a high school teacher. I empathize with my students, sensitive creatures that they are. This book is my memory of first learning that not all adults are infallible. I've told some of my students this story before, but it is so much better depicted with drawings.

The comic began last spring, and then was completely overhauled, after I participated in a workshop at the Center of Cartoon Studies last summer. It is the first book of a series that I would like to continue working on about teaching and living.

The image featured above is the potential cover. I will let you know about purchasing on-line soon.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

Things are slowly happening.

2011-05-04T04:41:00.000-07:00

Hello there my friends and strangers. I am very busy finishing my comic and that is why you haven't seen much of me. More updates very soon, I promise! Here is a quick brush sketch of my lovely students.

Bunnies

2011-04-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Thursday

2011-04-07T09:18:00.001-07:00

This Isn't Working: Comics About Ex-Boyfriends

2011-04-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! I was honored to be invited by Robyn Chapman to be a part of a comic anthology that she masterfully coordinated. Even more exciting is the fact that that I was invited to draw the cover design featured here. The book will be making its debut at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Festival this weekend in New York City. I will not be able to attend because it is the same weekend that my adorable cousin is getting married. (Congratulations Pammy!) If you are in New York (I am talking especially to my LHS alums) check out the show, it is so cool and fun.

For those of you who would like to purchase a copy of the book, but can not make it to MoCCA this weekend, you order a copy from the This Isn't Working: Comics About Ex-Boyfriends website. Please keep in mind that the subject matter is adult and my story is a bit dark, so this book is not appropriate for kids or for people who prefer to think of me as innocent.

Now I just have to keep drawing so that my Teen Bean book will be ready in time for the Maine Comic Book Festival on May 22th. (Robyn and I will both be attending that festival.) If you you see me getting lazy, tap me on the head.

Snack

2011-03-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Figuring out how to use a brush and some nice dark speedball ink.

New Character

2011-03-25T14:04:00.001-07:00

Interrupting Hard Working Students

2011-03-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

Howie Wowie

2011-03-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Recently I was reading over some old letters and early printed emails and came across some funny ones from my brother Howie. The email was from 1994-95, and we were both attending college at U Mass Dartmouth. Emails were a novelty at the time and we would send them to each other for a laugh, even though we saw each other on a regular basis. The comic below is a visual interpretation of one of his sleep deprived emails. Double click to be able to read it.

Studio Happenings

2011-03-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

Today I am finally able to dig out my comic that I started last summer at the Center of Cartoon Studies and get organized about finishing it in a timely manner. It will be a sixteen page mini-comic with a screen-printed cover. The story and pages are planned, now I just need to redraw most of the pages and make sure all the puzzle pieces flow together.

This book which is tentatively named "Teen Bean" will be debuted at the Maine Comic Art Festival in May with my amazingly talented table-mate Matt Smith who will be featuring his comic Barbarian Lord.

You may be looking at these pictures and asking yourself, "Do you live in this incredibly cool space?" and "Who is that super awesome dog on your couch?" Well, yes I now live at the Lincoln Studios in Waltham, MA where I plan to make a lot of art and comics in the coming year. That dog is a visitor who belongs to my friend Tom and her name is Harley.

Watercolor Project

2011-03-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

Pick a random picture.

Crop a portion of it, and then use it as a beginning to an entirely different idea for an image.

See where your imagination takes you.

(double click to see detail)

Cardboard Monsters

2011-03-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

An old ink example that I made for drawing class.

Painting Class

2011-02-17T10:32:00.001-08:00

My advanced painting class was working so diligently this morning. There was a nice concentrated vibe to the group. I did a quick sketch:

Gathering

2011-01-28T07:54:00.001-08:00

Oh hello

2011-01-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

I drew this comic while feeling all mushy about how much I love my friends. After creating it, I realized that it might have been sub-conciously slightly inspired by a Tootsie Roll Commercial from my youth. Here is the link.

a toad for the road

2011-01-13T04:50:00.001-08:00

Hike Continued

2011-01-03T06:00:00.001-08:00

Vacation Come Quick

2010-12-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

This illustration is taken from a pop-up book that I made last year. The little Ms. Bean spins around confused while everyone asks for her help at the same time.

It Different Now

2010-12-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

Here is a random sketchbook page which was made sometime last year while watching television. I chose to post this one because it has a sketch within all the other weird stuff of my dog Tommy who passed away over the weekend. His image is throughout my sketchbook and in many of these blog posts. (My book Squeaky Noises was also based on Tommy.) I will be missing him for a long time. Loved that little rascal like crazy. Sigh.

Laundry Mat

2010-12-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

Allie's Quote

2010-12-06T05:54:00.001-08:00

Wearing fuzzy socks is not just about cold feet.

I love food.

2010-11-24T09:59:00.000-08:00

I made this page in my sketchbook while I waited to meet my close friend Kathleen for dinner in Harvard Square. We have a great friendship that often includes eating delicious treats. Yummy.

Worm Eaters!

2010-11-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

Friday Free Block

2010-11-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

Spent a block with my students Amy and Jessica who have been friends since 1st grade. Jessica was assembling a birthday gift with great speed and fury while Amy contemplated the pros and cons of friendship for her psychology class. I tried to draw them but none of us could sit still for very long.

My Best Friend Jane Goodall

2010-11-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Did I ever tell you about the time I was invited by Jane Goodall to visit a baby chimpanzee refuge in Africa? I didn't? Well maybe that is because it never actually happened. However, when I am having a bad day, let's pretend that it did happen and it was unforgettable. Love that lady and those apes that are so much like us!

Dream Bean

2010-11-01T04:39:00.000-07:00

What would you do?

2010-10-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

If we can not find pants that fit right, how can we expect our children to find them for themselves? It is not children, but the fashion industry that we have to blame for this problem. We never asked for this.

Scribbles

2010-10-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't want to wait too long in between posts, so I flipped through my sketchbook to see if I had anything fun. I am featuring some cartoon sketches from the beginning of the school year that I didn't like enough to make polished versions of. Insecure wobbly lines are where the ideas begin and they may have the potential to become confident and secure lines if the idea is deserving. (These two did not make the cut.) I have also include a pig/dog hybrid which is something I like drawing for fun. You should also know that I am working slowly but diligently on my little comic and will show some sneak peaks sometime soon.

Halloween Beans

2010-10-12T06:01:00.001-07:00

Da'tention

2010-10-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

Being at school until 10:00 pm for Parents Night and then spending my after school time the following day in a make-shift correctional facility was enough to make me unravel a bit last week. Here is my sketch that was completed in the detention room.

Thankfully I had Mr. B there to keep me company and we were able to catch up a little bit. Did you know that he is doing a project where he asks strangers to draw his portrait?

I should also note that at one point during detention, a student that I had known as a freshman had a coughing fit and I attempted to make a joke, "There is no coughing allowed in detention." Nobody laughed except for Mr. B.

I Love Strangers

2010-09-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Illustration Assignment

2010-09-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yippeedidooo!!!!!

2010-09-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my 100th post! This has been a nice outlet for sharing sketches and getting to know folks. To celebrate I have included a dance scene from the comic book I am currently working on. I hope to complete it by Spring time. (Please hold me to that proclaiment so that I don't procratinate.) My Weymouth High School amigos might recall the costumes featured in the illustration.

About Stoopidness

2010-09-06T12:02:00.001-07:00

I'm off coffee

2010-08-27T09:29:00.001-07:00

Let's see if I can stay that way once the school year bursts open.

What is in the works...

2010-08-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

After my time at the CCS, I was given so much great information. I am going to use what I learned not only to be a better teacher, but to also restructure a book project that I am working on about my own most humiliating high school experience. Here is materials test page that I recently was playing with. I plan to work on this book in my free time this year. Stay tuned for updates. (By the way, there are no owls in the story, I just really like drawing them.)

CARTOONISTS

2010-08-12T12:32:00.001-07:00

colodny crazy, originally uploaded by Center for Cartoon Studies.

I highly recommend the Center of Cartoon Studies! A spectacular and wondrous place for drawing geeks like me.

Comic Camp

2010-08-12T12:28:00.001-07:00

cara, originally uploaded by Center for Cartoon Studies.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Cartooning Workshop at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White Water Junction, Vermont this summer. What an amazing and inspiring experience. I have so much great information that I can now share in my classroom, and I met some of the coolest artists in the universe.

Art Auction

2010-07-22T05:40:00.000-07:00

Hello there.
I am toiling away on my drawings this summer as promised. I had to scan something and decided to put it on the blog for anyone who might take interest. For the past few years I have been participating in the Brattle Theatre Art Auction. This year they decided to throw out the theme of movies and here is something that I came up with, inspired by one of my favorite movies from childhood "Ghostbusters".

"I tried to think of the most harmless thing, something I loved from my childhood, something that could never, ever possibly destroy us... Mr. Stay Puft"

You can check out the actual scene on You Tube. So awesome.

summer

2010-06-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

I drew this one very fast and didn't fuss with cleaning it up. You will have to click on it twice to make it big enough to read. I want to thank you for following along with me. I hope to keep my promises and have lots to show after this much needed break.

Unpredictable Forecast

2010-06-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

Heat Wave

2010-05-26T15:58:00.001-07:00

Maine Comic Art Festival Sunday

2010-05-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

You will find me at the Maine Comics Arts Festival this Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 10-5 at Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine. There will be an extremely limited number of new things in addition to copies of my Squeaky Noises and Early Birds books. This week I made some Ms. Bean wheely pop-ups and am trying to crank out some new magnets. Be on the lookout for zippy watercolor scraps.

you know I mean business when I bring the shillelagh

2010-05-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

(click on image to see)

Overlap Friends

2010-04-28T17:54:00.001-07:00

Gracie's Promise*

2010-04-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

*about whether going to art school is a good idea.

more old sketchbook

2010-04-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Old Sketchbook

2010-04-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

While cleaning out my parent's basement and found a long lost sketchbook. These two sketches were done when I was a nanny for a little girl who always wanted to pretend to be a Unicorn-Pegasus.

tuesday

2010-04-06T02:27:00.001-07:00

underlap

2010-04-05T03:10:00.000-07:00

bun bun

2010-04-04T05:15:00.001-07:00

visit

2010-04-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

bird scrap and cousin

2010-04-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

i keep seeing birds

2010-03-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

splash

2010-03-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

Apron

2010-03-28T17:43:00.001-07:00

bunny scrap

2010-03-28T09:14:00.001-07:00

spring

2010-03-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

scrapiness

2010-03-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

even more scraps

2010-03-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

more scraps

2010-03-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Scrap Collection

2010-03-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

There has not been much time for drawing comics, however I have taken up the practise of gathering unwanted watercolor scraps from my students and turning them into things. It is addictive. Creative recycling of sorts. Here are a few:

bad day good day

2010-03-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Why all artists should adopt greyhounds.

2010-02-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

My Voices

2010-02-06T05:24:00.001-08:00

Wise One

2010-02-04T14:52:00.000-08:00