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.💜
Moosehead Lake, Maine
Publishers Weekly–
Happy news! Best company you could ever wish for too📚
RSAD Class of '02
With Mom at my own Senior show, 2002. My Dad gave me this pic, apparently Mom kept it in her wallet. Of course I’m thinking of her today and these sweet memories–
CIA Class of '22
Our graduating Seniors presenting their thesis work this week at Cleveland Institute of Art. As you can see, it’s been a gift getting to work with this talented, thoughtful, and inspiring group of illustrators. Three grads told me they are in the interview/hiring process for their first jobs!
Giving Thanks
New picture book collaboration with author Denise Kiernan and Philomel Books - Penguin Random House coming out this fall! Giving Thanks explores the origins of our national holiday and beloved Thanksgiving traditions, and concepts of gratitude all around the world as well.
Sarah Josepha Hale was the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book Magazine. She loved Thanksgiving and the holiday featured prominently in her magazine and in her novel, Northwood A Tale of New England. Later, it became her goal to see Thanksgiving celebrated as a national holiday. Sarah lead a letter writing campaign, reaching out to 5 U.S. presidents.
President Lincoln loved the idea and saw it as a chance to bring together a country torn apart by Civil War.
Learn more about this inspiring history and the origins of the traditions we still observe today in our book, Giving Thanks– available fall 2022!