An Oldie but Goodie

Some ten plus years ago a good friend of mine who worked for the Free Library of Philadelphia told me there was a competition to create a logo for the Pennsylvania Public Libraries. Because it was for the millennium year it was special and rarely does an artist have complete freedom on a project. I simply decided to show the children who read and was amazed when my idea was chosen. They liked the iconic quality and strength of the art and used it for their website, button pins, posters, tee shirts, canvas bags, cups and a full size banner for the front of the center city branch and lots of other things. Pictured here is the requisite bookmark. The other side is a ruler because the program blended math and reading. This was one of my early Adobe Illustrator creations.

Spring is coming—I hope!

Now that I have a brand new studio with lots of places to store things I'm discovering all the old stuff. It's like another life, a whole different mindset. I'm digging out all the drawings I did before I thought I could do them better on the computer. I miss my colored pencils and wonderful handmade papers and the feel of the surface. One thing I don't miss is the Rapidiograph pen and the french curves I used to outline things. Also, the concept of doing the drawing was so different. It was a complete thought that had a beginning and an end with no endless edits and revisions until you drained all the sap out of it. My drawings were never freehand. But all the designing went on way before the finish and when that came it was the grand finale—over, done, with no second guessing. If it wasn't right you had to do it over. You were committed.

Hummm! Computer generated vs Hand drawn...

Be my valentine had no computer assist. This was from my Atlantic Monthly stipple period when I did a lot of drawings with a Rapidiograph pen. Actually I was thinking the other day that I'd like to do some more. They had an airy ethereal quality without the outline and just the dots. They weren't funny like this one; they tended to be a little spooky and serious, discussing political issues and books. There are some things you want to do on the computer and some things you don't. It's just another tool. Before I got computer happy I remember being at some media expo where an artist was demonstrating his work in Adobe Illustrator on the Mac. But he only developed his sketches electronically because of the wonderful editing facility and then he did the finish by hand. I was very disappointed.

Be My Valentine!

Look who's appearing on Etsy

A Friend of Peter Rabbit?

Please check out my new Etsy Shop at www.cookiefriends.etsy.com. You'll find a collection of greeting cards for all sorts of occasions. Have fun sending them to friends and family.

Watercolor wins out

Disney's Family Fun Magazine

Collage of the mom who makes all the weird and embarrassing food for the family parties, holidays and school events that makes you want to run and hide under the bed.