children’s illustration

Falling Into Art: new work and updates

art education, children's illustration, fine art

DotDayHenderson2015Fall is off to a great start here in Brookline! For one, I’ve begun year two at the Henderson Inclusion Elementary School in Dorchester, MA as an Art Teacher. I’m so excited to continue working with students old and new, and try out new projects and techniques! We just finished celebrating International Dot Day, culminating with a Dot Tree by first and second graders (shown above)

Some highlights of projects I’ll be doing with students include Tree Weavings with Third graders, Andy Goldsworthy inspired nature art with pre-schoolers, shape monsters with Kindergarteners, and Leaf People with First graders.

We are making murals on the bulletin boards around the school as a part of the after-school program, and students chose to decorate the lunch room boards with the phrase “Falling Into Art”. We still have some work to do, but it’s coming along:

FallingIntoArt15

In addition, I’m diving into my fine art and illustrative work. My illustrative work has been on a pause in lieu of Spit and Sticks launching in 9 days, and school starting. My fine art work has been developing since early summer, and I have two pieces in a faculty show at Brookline Arts Center. They are on display until October 16:

Both pieces are sold/on loan, but I have more pieces on the way that are for sale, and will have postcards and greeting cards of my Found Houses series available for holiday craft sales soon.

The Brookline Arts Center also launches their Artistic Migration Installation project today at Brookline Day! I was excited to be a part of the project marketing by creating a postcard and map depicting where the bird sculpture we are creating will travel to and from. Check out the postcard below, and click for more details on how you can be a part of the project:

Birdweb

Work from Fall coming soon!

Uncategorized

Beginning my new year long teaching position at Henderson Inclusion School has me super busy. Between schoolwork, teaching, and having a life, I have less time to update my blog. However, this does not mean I’m not creating work!! The 2 hours of back and forth commute each day have me drawing and inking in sketchbooks constantly, and I’m trying to get as many new ideas down on paper as I can.

Back in September, I had this idea to illustrate some sassy ballerinas. Here are the results (white-ish background, and collaged background. Watercolor original)

Ballerinas White Back webBallerinas web

Halloween Costume inspiration…Rosie’s Girls

Uncategorized

Spoiler alert..I am going to be Rosie the Riveter for Halloween this year! It’s a perfect costume because I own all the components already, plus, I have the hairstyle for it. I did a little picture research for how some others have done the costume, and came across some great looking youngsters. I was inspired to create an empowering picture of young girls embodying the Rosie pose, hence why I’m calling this one Rosie’s Girls. Watercolor and digital collage:

RosiesGirlsweb

Chocolate Chips and Rocket Ships

character sketches, children's illustration, freelance

I am so excited to share some freelance projects! Recently I  created a piece for a prestigious kidslit project bringing together 100 Artists in 99 1/2 days. It’s called Chocolate Chips and Rocket Ships, and was written by dad John O’Marra. He was inspired by his kids and family, which make the poems extra special – they are unique, funny, and inspired! It’s really a book for kids of all ages, and features artwork from artists of many styles, and poems of varying themes as well.

Here are two snapshots from the piece I illustrated. I will post a link to it once it’s up! Until then, check out these previews and view past pages on the book’s website today!

Image

 Image

Doodle Series is Back

character sketches, children's illustration, collage, kidslit, sketches

Especially towards the end of my senior year, one of my favorite past-times became illustrating me and my friends. Cartoons – no. Caricatures – don’t think so. I started calling them ‘Doodles’ when I created them for the team at Pinwheel Books and ever since I’ve been illustrating me and the people in my life. Why I haven’t yet done my parents, I don’t know. But most recently I decided to give my friends in Boston here a try:

Image

From left to right: Lilia, Me, Carmen, and Sonia. It may or may not be finished – I may add a few details here and there, some shiny things, but overall it was a great experience in drawing my friends and getting that likeness for people down.

A few weeks ago I did this one for Pinwheel of our next writer/illustrator Tim:

Image

I think this is one of the first men I’ve ever drawn with such ease.

Who should I draw next? I’m taking suggestions. And as per suggestion by my boss, you can even pay me to illustrate whatever you want via an etsy site in construction!