September Goes On

It would appear that summer is over (although the fan cooling my office down would like a word). To kick off the school year, I have a fresh new drawing sheet (with fun facts!) for the Alligator Gar. I couldn’t find any kids’ books to round out a lesson, but the video below the drawing sheet was fun!

August proved to be a month full of work deadlines, but I did manage two last art-related outings. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Mice in the Bookshelves Exhibit at the Wells Maine Public Library. They are entirely different, but I highly recommend visiting both. The Mice exhibit runs through November 15th.

Sometime this winter I need to take a solo trip here to draw and soak up the warmth of that atrium. Also, the painting on the right triggered my new AI radar (those hands!)

Mice in the Shelves, Illustration credits: Top Row, left to right: Louise Darling, Paul Galdone, Teagan White. Middle row, left to right: Isabelle Arsenault, Lesley-Anne Green. Bottom row, left to right: Anne Hunter, Priscilla Alpaugh Cotter, Wanda Gag.

I waved my kids back to middle and high school and went off to Squam Lake for a NESCBWI writing retreat. I had a lovely time meeting new writers, working quietly by the lake, having a long swim, walking the path to and from the cabins (once with a pair of porcupines!), catching the Squam Art Workshop’s art sale, and listening to faculty talk about writing. Oh! And reading all the picture books that Alexandra Hinrichs brought along for us to enjoy. I’m so glad I tried something new and got to experience the magic of Squam for a few last summer days.

I’m thrilled that New Hampshire finally has a book festival!!! The lineup for the children’s events is amazing. Kate DiCamillo (keynote), Kekla Magoon, Matt Tavares, Lita Judge, Linda Sue Park, Melissa Stewart, MT Anderson, Jannie Ho and more. I will be volunteering on Saturday, October 5th. If you see me, be sure to say hello!

Reading/Listening: Holly by Stephen King. I loved this audiobook. I had previously read The Outsider after watching the HBO series. I loved Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Holly and while I found her to be a very different character on the page, just as endearing.

Watching: Volleyball! I know. I usually share a TV show or movie. But it’s volleyball season and my 8th grade daughter is playing her last season at our K-8. For several years my bio used to read “I could never serve a volleyball but I could draw a dragon that would leap off the page” - so it’s been really awesome to see my daughter progress from a kid who rarely played sports and had to build up her volleyball skills over a few years and extra camps, to a kid that just served 3 times in a row this week. I really enjoy seeing not just her, but her classmates get more skilled as each week and season goes on.

Walking: I’m very lucky to live near the ocean and a gorgeous stretch of walkable coastline. I tried to do my long (3.25mi) beach walk as often as possible this summer, and I hope I can keep at it through the fall. I rarely stop to take photos but lately, I will sit on the bench at my turnaround point for a few minutes. Sometimes I walk with my husband, but often it’s just me. I’ll listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. That rock in the middle photo is one of my favorite things where I live. I’ve always called it poop rock. My husband jokingly calls it the Mt. Fuji of New Hampshire. It’s normally home to cormorants, hence the white ‘summit’. Do I have grand book ideas while walking? Nope. But I know I need it to keep myself happy and healthy and ready to work on joyful, creative things when I’m done.

I’ll be back next month with new author headshots (eep!) and hopefully some good photos from the NH Book Festival. I’m always open for requests on the next drawing sheet. Feel free to add any ideas in the comments!