Out this week! The Great Lakes Our Fresh Water Treasure, written by Barb Rosenstock and published by Knopf. Thank you Sarah Hokanson, Michelle Frey, and Lindgren & Smith for this dream job and most special book. So proud of our collaboration and the opportunity to share about this natural wonder - making these illustrations was the next best thing to driving up M-22 with the windows down, the oldies playing, alongside some of the most pristine coastline you’ll ever see! Please check out the book and plan a visit!
Top of the World, Cornish, NH
Signal Hills–
Last week, we took the dogs up to Signal Hill, one of the higher hiking trails in the area. The Lebanon, New Hampshire city website says, “Signal Hill is a part of the old chain of signal hills and mountains that date back to the Revolutionary War days when signal fires were lit atop the hills to indicate that the Redcoats were coming.” The beauty of the landscape and knowledge of this cool history, makes it a new fav spot! I thought it would be fun to feature the scene on our 2023 holiday cards. Hope you enjoy!
The Wall Street Journal–
A sweet story and collaboration with Viet Thanh Nguyen and the Wall Street Journal, in the weekend edition, available today! Many thanks to Art Director, Maria Amador, and Lindgren & Smith—
Sneak peek at a fav illustration from an exciting new picture book, coming in spring ‘24!
Grafton Pond–
A running start bellyflop is a thing of beauty (wait for it!)
We've moved!
Brad, the boys, and I packed everything up and moved to New England! Brad has a Fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and I have a couple new books in the works. We’re excited for the change of scenery and many new swimming spots and trails– This old illustration feels right for our new chapter and all the adventures that await!
J + B ♡
Photos by Dr. Zeba Kahlid and Jeremy Daugherty
Brad and I have big news to share, we got married! It was all very last minute and I initially thought we would just be going down to the courthouse - but standing there together and having our relationship recognized ‘officially’, with prayer and a blessing, felt pretty damn good! It’s been quite an adventure and this was and will always be our wonderful and meaningful milestone. We’re so very grateful to Brad’s parents, Allen and JoAnn, for all your love and support over the years and to Brad’s fellow doctors at Summa; faculty, graduating residents, and Chaplain Shannon Blower, for the very special ceremony and celebration. We’ll never forget the sweet memories made this day–
President's Day 2023
You probably noticed we really get into the U.S. Presidents around here, especially today! The illustration of President Lincoln on the homepage (and detail above) were among the first spreads created for Giving Thanks, in 2021. Like with other historic figures in our books, it took me a couple tries to get his likeness, but when the lines came together it felt right, almost spiritual. Sparkling, wise, a little mischievous and rugged, perhaps our greatest president (who hailed from the most humble circumstances imaginable by the way, a little cabin in the wilds of Kentucky) was looking on approvingly.
Around this same time, I was invited to speak to a class of freshmen at Cleveland Institute of Art on character design. I focused the presentation and a related exercise on picture books and specifically looking to historic personalities and faces for inspiration. I know it can be a dry subject, but I tried to make it fun and suggested Lincoln’s distinctive, weathered face and features could be recast as a Captain Ahab (students reminded me Lincoln was also a pretty effective vampire hunter!) What other characters and scenarios could get his iconic treatment? I wanted to share the students drawings here today, as well. Most of the class seemed enthusiastic for the challenge, hope you enjoy too!
Almighty Physician–
Around this time of the year, I’m always in need of a little sunshine and hope. Just wanted to share my drawing of the sun today! Thomas Jefferson apparently had similar feelings, he referred to the sun as being his "Almighty Physician“.
I made an assignment (and demo) for my students, using Adobe Illustrator, to create your own personalized sun.. If you’re interested, check it out here.
Christmas Eve 2022
Paper Nativity ornament made for American Greetings, many thanks to art director Tom Page. I sent out a small stack of these to family last week - apologies if you didn’t receive one. I could only find 6 samples out there, scouring Walmarts in northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. Hope they bring them back next year! Gallery pics courtesy Walmart.com.
Quick New Hampshire visit–
Brad and the boys on the Dartmouth Green, December 2022.
A couple more ‘holiday greeting card’ shots from nearby, Cornish, NH, back to see Saint-Gaudens’ Lincoln, and keeping warm at Harpoon Brewery Windsor, VT.
Giving Thanks at the Fireside Book Shop
Giving Thanks spotted with the Holiday selection at the Fireside Book Shop, Chagrin Falls, OH. Thanks Fireside for including our book among your beautiful new offerings!
Giving Thanks at Appletree Books
My niece, Helena, recently visiting Cedar Fairmount for the holidays– Thanks so much Apple Tree Books for prominently displaying and including Giving Thanks in your Thanksgiving window!
Delivery Day!
Delivery day! Giving Thanks is now available! Have been sharing a lot about this book and have so appreciated your excitement for it and support. Denise Kiernan’s message of gratitude, tradition, and unity feels meaningful as ever. Hope you enjoy too. Thanks so much for the collaboration Ellice Lee, Pat Lindgren, and Piper Smith!
Giving Thanks (Dedication Landscape)
Giving Thanks (Owen cameo!)
My amazing and kind Art Director, Ellice Lee, let me ‘sneak’ Owen into the scene.. Ha! Even gave him a place at the table❤️
Giving Thanks!
Giving Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday comes out Tuesday!
At the center of the history is Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1878), editor of Godey’s Ladies Book, the first woman to sit at the editors desk of a magazine. Hale eagerly promoted the works of fellow women writers, advocated for women in higher education, and introduced the country to a custom, few outside her native New England had ever heard of, the feast day of Thanksgiving.❖
Angels on Earth Magazine–
For the September - October 2022 Issue. Never, ever, ever, give up!
Connie Christoph Art Room
Hillcrest Elementary, Lake Wales, FL
Mom would be preparing materials for the day with her ‘morning helpers’ right about now. mixing up tempera in every color of the rainbow, placing paint brushes on the tables, soaking giant bags of clay in the sink, or maybe she would be out front of the school, welcoming kids on bus duty? She chose to teach up until the last 6 months of her life, her love for the kids and their art kept her going– kept her dancing and singing, from I want to Hold your Hand to Peanut Butter Jelly Time! It’s why she was so dear, why so many still miss her, feel lucky to have known her.💜