Southern California Contact

Ok, I am home at last.....Post Pasadena and a side trip to Northern California to visit family. I feel like the quintessential weary traveler. But must get back in the groove for the run up to Thanksgiving. Here's a few pics and I'll be adding more now that I am home. Met some amazing and inspiring illustrators thanks to Murray Tinkelman and the MFA Illustration Program. Carol did a great job keeping us all organized. The best was meeting up with everyone again. A truly talented and great group of fellow illustrators.
We took turns driving our rental car on the dreaded Los Angeles freeways--quite the experience. After that you pretty much feel like there's nothing you can't do....especially with GPS. Lots to see in Pasadena and LA but little time. Did get to the incredible Gamble House, Huntington Gardens, The Getty, Old Pasadena, and The Grove. Then it was on to San Francisco and a brief WOW trip to Sonoma and Napa Valley which I'll post about later. I'm experiencing a little overload and trying to debrief and process everything I saw and heard. Looking forward to diving into thesis work after Thanksgiving. Had a good meeting with Doug about the direction I'm going in.

Hartford Summer 09

Tomorrow turned into two weeks. But, I am back from Hartford initiation (complete with a champagne toast) into the MFA Illustration program. The best description I heard was from graduating Ron Spears. He said, "It's like drinking from a firehose...but exhiliarating!" That pretty much sums it up.The fun for me was boarding up with so many talented artists and illustrators who all pretty much talk the same language...something I had been really missing. Even commiserating bleary-eyed each morning over breakfast was enlightening. We were all in this collective boat that landed at University of Hartford each morning. Murray's lectures on the History of Illustration, putting the art in context, was fascinating. It was also nice to see how strongly the university supports this limited residency program. Deans and faculty of the Hartford Art School were visible, supportive, and engaged. The first week with Alice Carter and Dennis Nolan was the most intense with assignments of 50 thumbnails of this and 50 thumbnails of that flying at us. But the learning was profound. "Tough love" works well. The lack of sleep took its toll though. The Saturday between was spent at The Clark Museum and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. --all extremely inspiring. Week two featured children's book authors/illustrators Ted and Betsy Lewin who helped us formulate storyboards for our respective stories. Both weeks peppered with slide presentations from illustration giants CF Payne, Gary Kelly, Nancy Stahl, Jean Tuttle, Chris Spollen, Danny Pelavin, Ted Lewin, Betsy Lewin, Alice "Bunny" Carter , Dennis Nolan and Murray Tinkelman. Then we had the pleasure of attending the reception at the exhibit of graduating MFA's in a beautiful gallery. Extremely talented group has just graduated. So the onus falls to the class of 2010 next and then to us. Part of the initiation is to let us experience what will be the culminating moment (exhibition, written thesis, and oral defense) for us newbies as well in 2011. The very best part is a new network of artists to communicate with from the isolation of my studio. Fast friends, and reliable shoulders:) The experience was extremely exciting, stimulating (almost too much), and rewarding so far. So stay tuned. I'll be working on assignments we have and planning for Pasadena trip in November and Dallas Fort Worth trip in March.

Lift Off

Ok, just finished with an extremely focused push on the assignments for Hartford. Whew! I'll be posting when I'm there. At least I promise to try:)... I am excited to see the graduating MFA's exhibit as a prelude for our class in a few years and am anxious to meet new compadres in art. We may be going to the Eric Carle Museum of the Picture Book Art in Amherst MA next Sunday. Meanwhile the garden is starting to top out with cherry tomatoes and garlicscapes that may be on the dinner menu here:) Here is a nice site for how to grill them. The garden has been wonderful primary source material for one of my projects...nothing like opening the back door and doing some research. So have a nice weekend.....and think happy thoughts for me:) Stay tuned.....

"Riding the Wave"

Great article , "Riding the Wave" in Communication Arts (June Illustration 2009) about the Hartford program by Lisa Cyr. It is getting close to time to leave. I'll try to keep posting while I'm there. Finishing up some required reading and and working on the Dream Assignment...