(Inside A Black Apple):

My upcoming show, The Deep Green Sea, opens in October at one of my favorite Portland places, Land Gallery.

A Sea Monster Carriage 14"x11" Acrylic on wood

Land hosted my last big solo show (Lost on the Midway) and this time I'm trading the sideshow for the sea and returning with all new work featuring mermaids, krakens, sea monsters, tattooed sailors, and all things watery & mysterious.

I'll be previewing it here (but not every single piece - I want there to be some surprises for those who can make it to the opening.) But, of course, eventually everything will be visitable & viewable online.

There is still some framing & finishing to do, but it has all come together in its melancholy, rather wistful watery way & I'm excited to share it.

See you soon with more seafaring mischief!

Hello there!

I know things are sleepy around these parts and all my dispatches are just little bits of process and/or odds and ends. But I am working so hard behind the scenes (much of it semi-secret), bits and odds and ends are all I can muster.

This is a little peek behind the curtain of work for my next picture book. I love looking at things like this, love looking at sketches next to final art, or in this case, pencil sketch next to color sketch.

Usually, I just make a pencil sketch and then transfer that to my painting surface and start painting. Since working on picture books, though, I've started using a middle step - color sketches. While they aren't necessary for every single illustration, they come in handy at all sorts of times. For instance, if you want to be sure everyone's on the same page about the feeling (dark? chipper? dreamy?) the color will impart to the illustration. Or sometimes, it's just difficult to show what you're imagining in grey shades alone.

They also come in really handy to experiment with and plan colors ahead of time on a small, quick little practice run (this is probably the best and most useful reason.)

There will be so much to share soon, a whole series of new work for my show in October at Land, excitement around the release of Dream Animals (also in October!)

See you soon!