As an illustrator my life generally revolves around deadlines and collaboration with others. While this works pretty well for me, sometimes I need to take a step back and make art for myself. It is usually never planned; my life is super busy between teaching and book-making. Those flashes of inspiration are stolen gems and it … Read more
White Water on TVOne Check out White Water’s screen adaptation this Saturday, FEBRUARY 7th (and throughout February) on TVOne at 8PM. Starring Larenz Tate, Sharon Leal and introducing twins Amari and Amir O’Neil, White Water is the imaginative tale of Michael, a seven-year-old black child in the summer of 1963 who becomes obsessed with the desire … Read more
I didn’t work this weekend. On Saturday I posted my usual facebook mantra of “coffee . . . work . . .”, but only accomplished hauling the reference books I need for my next book upstairs to my bed from couch island. I am out of half-and-half and for the last couple of days, have been … Read more
I checked two major items off of my bucket list last week – driving to Maine, and visiting Ashley Bryan on Little Cranberry Island. When Deb Taylor asked if I wanted to drive up with her, it was a no brainer. Prior to our departure, a large hurricane had barreled up the east coast causing … Read more
I just put a second coat of stain on half of my deck. It’s been three years since I moved into this place, and until this summer, my backyard remained unfurnished and unused, which is a shame because it was one of my favorite features of my townhouse. This summer I committed and purchased patio … Read more
School finally ended. I took a week off to empty my brain of all things MICA and am now ready to wrap up this book. My plan was to finish et the end of the semester, but like a few of my students, I fell shy of my original goal by about three pieces. Those … Read more
I have read about women artists who’ve lived together in a hazy creative dream—even for a short spell. Trina Schart Hyman, Tove Jansson, The Red Rose Girls…It’s always made me envious and a bit sad that I didn’t have it for myself. As much as I have tried to live an interesting and free life, … Read more
Yesterday I read PLEASE, LOUISE aloud with students of The Wilkes School at Grace & Saint Peters and Midtown Academy. It was an enchanting afternoon sitting under the stars of Enoch Pratt’s Night Room chanting aloud the text from PLEASE, LOUISE. After we read together, I shared a bit of my journey as a young … Read more
Happy New Year! I can hardly believe how deep we are into 2014 already. Twenty thirteen was a stressful and exhausting year for me, but I am since renewed with the onset of a new year filled with possibilities and reaping the fruits of last year’s labor. Great things are on the horizon. I just … Read more
It’s the end of the semester. I’m fried. My students are fried. We’re all dragging ourselves across the finish line at this point. It has been a great semester for us, but man, I can’t wait for things to settle down. If you have never talked to a graduating senior on a college campus in … Read more