Everyone should adopt a black animal

Today was my first day off in what seems like an excruciatingly long time. I have started a new job as an assistant printer at a letterpress which is replacing my former part time job at a children's bookstore. In the overlap, I have been working both jobs and been trying to squeeze in my freelance work in the night time. Basically, today was the end of the overlap and back my normal part-time life.

I told myself I would do nothing but read today. Instead I suddenly was struck with the urge to do a small triptych I'm now referring to my "Domestic Trio". I was thinking about black animals in shelters. They are less likely to get adopted because they are more likely to blend in and people have a hard time seeing them. So I created some homely little black animals that I now love.



Can you tell that I am painfully lacking both a cat and a dog...

soon, soon I tell myself.

The Parting

This is my newest illustration for a short story by Evelyn Hampton. It will be in the new issue of Smokelong Quarterly.



On a different note, this is my favorite new (old) book by Bob Gill. The drawings and the design of this book are extremely thoughtful and, I think, brilliant. I've recently found some other favorite books but I will save them for later because they are all by Marc Simont. Maybe I will do a highlight on him next...

Poets, Literary Journals and Me

The newest issue of Oranges and Sardines is out and there is an interview with me along with some of my artwork. Oranges and Sardines is a new literary magazine put out by Didi Menendez and is available for purchase here.

Here is the full list of all the contributers:

Featuring Artists: Ethan Diehl, Marcia Molnar, Holly Picano, Cheryl Kelley, Jennifer Wildermuth, L.D. Grant, Niel Hollingsworth, Steph Chard, Jeremy Baum, Jeff Filipski and E.B. Goodale. Poems by Blake Butler, Dana King, J.P. Dancing Bear, Josh Olsen, Steffi Drewes, Matthew Hittinger, Patrick Leonard, Diana Adams and Greame Mullen. Short story by Kirk Curnutt. Reviews by Miguel Murphy, Michael Parker, Cheryl Townsend, Courtney Campbell and Jim Knowles. Columns by Talia Reed and Caridad McCormick. Grace Cavalieri interviews Mark Doty.


Also, this weekend is a reading at Brookline Booksmith with Zachary Schomburg, Rauan Klassnik, Chad Reynolds and Carl Annarummo where I will go and meet Rauan Klassnik who has so kindly purchased the print "Don't Be Afraid" which was based on one of his poems. Above is the framed print in all it's glory.

Also, I was just asked to illustrate a short story for the lit magazine Smokelong Quarterly by a lovely woman named Evelyn Hampton. I will update on that when it's out!!!

God bless bunnies

Those of us that live in the neighborhood adjacent to Harvard tend to have a love-hate relationship with Harvard. The one undeniable goodness that Harvard hosts is the abundance of bunnies that live on the grounds. Almost every time I'm out walking at night, I see their mysterious little silhouettes in the shadows. This was the inspiration for my little painting "night rabbit" (see right.)

Tonight (just now) I was out walking and saw a little bunny running across the street. I involuntarily shouted "No, bunny, no!!" but then watched as it safely reached the other side. Then I walked in the door, sat down at my desk and did this:



the end.

I have been busy with the birth of Summer

Smelling flowers, rowing boats, and designing wedding invitations have all been part of what has been keeping me busy lately. Appropriately enough, I am also reading The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, a recent reissue of one of her adult novels. (of course she is most famous for her invention of the Moomins...)
So far I have enjoyed reading this book, with it's bizarre relationship between a disgruntled grandmother and her even more disgruntled granddaughter living on a mostly uninhabited island in the gulf of Finland. I can't help but feel though, that there is something a little awry with the translation. oh well. The nature descriptions alone are worth it.




I guess I've also been taking a lot of photos. Once upon a time, that was all I did.

I've also been hanging out with friends:



And looking at babies with potato-sack-legs:



And drawing little potato-sack girls:



ps. I've also been mourning the death of Polaroid. To see some more beautiful Polaroids, go here and here.