Serendipity

Since the summer I’ve been working on a picture book that is dear to me for many reasons, but especially because it is deeply meaningful to the family who commissioned it. I don’t want to reveal too much at this point, but I can say this: I’m illustrating a poem in the form of a 24 page picture book to be printed in a small edition.

Here’s where serendipity comes in: a couple weeks ago, while immersed in the illustration and design of that book, I received an email from Richard Reitz Smith, the Book Arts Program chair at Maine Media Workshops & College. When all of his programming moved online in the spring, he was able to expand the school’s offerings; he was reaching out to me to teach a picture book workshop via Zoom in early 2021. Specifically, this is a workshop guiding artists through the process of creating a self-published children’s book. Participants will come to the workshop with a story in mind, ready to dive in and committed to taking their idea through rough draft, thumbnails and dummy book, to final art, layout and design. The small size of the workshop will allow for great discussion and lots of individual attention, feedback and critique, plus industry tips and resources, a virtual visit with at least one guest author-illustrator. Over two months, participants will commit to meeting online for one full day of group instruction each week plus additional one-on-one instruction by appointment. If self-publishing a children’s book as the author-illustrator is on your bucket-list, take a look at the workshop description here I’d love to meet you online and help you make that wonderful book!

UPDATE Dec 29

I can share illustrations from the poem book now! Here are some favorites - these are gouache (pochoir), watercolor and ink on Arches hot press paper.