The Pineapple Diary

Brattleboro, VT

I'm so far behind on all sorts of blogging and sharing of news, but I'm starting with a trip I made out to visit a friend a few weeks ago in Brattleboro, VT.

I was lucky enough to visit during Gallery Walk, which occurs on the first friday of each month. I was amazed to see how many people, including tons of young families, were walking around town enjoying the experience. The galleries are far different than what I'm used to in the Portsmouth area, with a definite lean towards contemporary, humanistic, and nature based work. There were musicians in almost every gallery and several out on the streets - it's a really unique town and definitely a great place to visit, shop, eat, relax.

Another surprise for me was at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. The building is a renovated train station and has a lot of charming spaces. After seeing a number of great works by new and emerging artists we stopped into what looked like perhaps the old train ticket booth for a beautiful exhibit by Chris Van Allsburg. I've always appreciated his books but seeing the art in person was really amazing. The scale was quite a bit larger than you seen in print and I hadn't realized the variety of techniques he used (charcoal, pastel and colored pencil, scratchboard, etc). The show runs until August 3rd, check it out if you are anywhere near the area or out traveling this summer.

Oh, and of course I can't recommend a visit without a plug for my friend's place of employment - New England Center for Circus Arts. They offer classes, workshops, and professional track programs in circus arts. They also perform locally and regionally and their shows are quite amazing to see. For pictures of my friend Suzanne (in black/red then green) performing at her graduation from the professional track program last year, click here. She is now a teacher at the school.

Vita goes to Surtex!

My good friend and talented illustrator, Vita Mechachonis is heading off to Surtex in a few days and I wanted to wish her a big public good luck cheer! You can find Vita's artwork at her agent Kolea's booth #2408 (1st floor, hall 1E). Be sure and stop by if you're attending! Below are a few of Vita's illustrations and pattern designs (all work is copyright of Vita Mechachonis):


I just love this bunny - he's round but still working it!

What a dilemma, no more milk?!?! Vita has more artwork than anyone I know - I'm looking forward to seeing what new stuff she cooked up for this year's Surtex. You can also visit her and see more artwork at her blog. Good luck Vita!!!! And good luck to all the other artists showing too!!!

I wish I were going as well - Surtex and the simultaneous National Stationery Show are so exciting and inspiring. If you want a better description of the shows, read about my trip last year here.

I've been illin' and chillin' fighting off some sort of strange cold. Computing hasn't agreed with me so I'm drawing on the couch for today. I'll be sure and share some 21 Day Exercises soon! Also, my apologies if your name got cut from my link list, typepad is going some strange stuff - I'll look into fixing it tomorrow!

Kennedy Studios, Opening Reception

Thank you to everyone who made it to the opening on Friday! I thought the event was a great success. It seemed busy and active the whole time. The show will be up until at least  early June so come visit if you find yourself in Portsmouth. Kids welcome of course!

I kept telling Robert that I am notorious for blinking in photos, but ironically he is blinking in the picture I grabbed from my Dad - sorry Robert, it was the only group shot he had. (You'll post a better pic on your blog I just know it!)

Me, Robert, Tess, and Teri. You can see Teri's lovely watercolor spread above my shoulder, David McPhail's work behind us at eye level and Robert's work just below. My work and Tess' is just out of sight here. Other illustrator friends who paid a visit were Vita, Andy, Eric, and Nicole. Ok, now back to work!!!

Children's Illustration Show, Portsmouth NH

I'm very excited to share the news that I'm part of a group exhibit of Children's Book Illustrations opening next week at Kennedy Studios in Portsmouth, NH! I will be showing work along with the very talented David McPhail, Robert Squier, Teri Weidner, and Tess Feltes. The opening reception is May 9th, from 5-8pm. This coincides with Art 'Round Town, a collection of galleries in Portsmouth that have openings on the same Friday so you can take a little tour.

I hope some of you living in the area can come and meet all of us. There will be originals, prints, and sketches to see (and purchase). The show will up for one month. Let me know if you plan on coming and I'll be sure to look for you! I'll be taking some photos at the opening to post on the blog for those of you who cannot make it.

Mini-break to Seattle

Since I'll be very busy for the next few months, my husband planned a short 3-day vacation to Seattle for us last weekend. Why Seattle? Why not! Cheap tickets from Jetblue didn't hurt the decision-making process either. We managed to see a tons of things in the short time we were there.

One of my favorite moments was exploring the downtown branch of the Seattle Public Library. It's architecturally stunning, inside and out, particularly for someone from the east coast who appreciates modern design but sees far too little of it nearby. But what was really overwhelming was the children's department of the library. Enormous and bright and fun, the picture below doesn't quite capture the size. I'd say this shows about 1/5 of the whole space.

The teen area was nothing sort of beautiful also, I noticed Carolyn Mackler's Vegan Virgin Valentine on the display table in front.

And away we go, up the glowing escalators!

And the view from the 10th floor...

Other highlights from the trip were: the Seattle Art Museum; gluten-free baked goods and pastas at the public market; dinner at Wild Ginger; the views from the space needle (of course we went!); the Experience Music Project building designed by Frank Gehry; our picnic-style lunch from public market treats like fresh cheese, fruit, fresh bread for my husband and italian specialty meats; coffee tasting; bookstores; eating junky fastfood out of desperation but overlooking Mt. Rainier while doing it; watching artists work in the hot-shop at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma (look below - they are stretching hot glass!)

views of the hotshop, outside and inside looking up

I'm now fighting off a cold from all the walking around outside and traveling but I'm glad we went. And now... back to work!

Mass MOCA

Last week, I traveled out to North Adams, Massachusetts to revisit Mass MOCA. (The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art)

Only open since 1999, it's a relatively new museum, set on the grounds of the old Sprague Electric Company. There are many old factory buildings that make up the museum. One gallery spans the length of a football field and rises a few stories making for a spectacular exhibit space. Much of the charm of visiting the museum is seeing the old spaces converted but preserved, brick walls layered with paint not always masked by fresh sheetrock. I lived in North Adams for about 4 months in early 2001 and was quite fond of the grounds, spaces, and the excitement of the community in renewing a depressed-closed-factory town. The upside-down trees just outside the entrance were my favorite part of being there.

New and fabulous restaurants abound making this a great day trip or even weekend. We had lunch at Cafe Latino located on museum property. My beet salad was delicious, fresh and delicate. We also stopped into an old favorite of mine, brew haha, a cafe just down the street. I remember the pressed sandwiches being delicious and of course they have great coffee.

I hadn't been back to this area since 2001 and will try not to let that much time go by without another visit. If you've never been and you live in New England, it's a must.

Chickens and Oxen

This weekend was the Deerfield Fair in Deerfield, NH. My sister and I went a few years ago and had so much fun seeing all the animals up close. We were raised in the suburbs of Massachusetts where I don't think I ever saw chickens for sale or a horse pull! My parents and niece and nephew came along and a good time was had by all.

My favorite parts of the fair are the poultry barn and the oxen. I've never seen so many beautiful varieties of chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, and roosters. And to see an ox up close is amazing. They are ENORMOUS!!!

The patterns on the chickens were particularly inspiring, I'm not sure how/where but I think they'll end up in my work...

Day out in Boston

I had a nice break yesterday by visiting with friends and spending the afternoon in Boston/Cambridge. For some reason, the city was mobbed with people, a bit unusual for a Thursday afternoon. After a tasty lunch at Wagamama's in Harvard Square we did a little shopping at a few of my favorite stores: Black Ink and Museum of Useful Things. If you've never been, you have to check them out. Chock full of the coolest products, beautiful cards, handy gadgets, housewares, and of course, kid's stuff. I picked up this:

for my niece's 6th birthday. Eeboo products are all beautiful and I was happy to find something that fit her VERY girly personality. I would have loved a game like this at her age too and I was never much for fashion! A big goal of mine is to work with Eeboo someday as an illustrator for their lovely products.

I also saw Becoming Jane. It was a really lovely film, just as I expected. I'm glad that I went into it not knowing much about Jane Austen's personal life so the events were all a surprise. I admit that if I did read an Austen novel in high school I disliked it (apparently I can't remember, I've blocked the memory as I do with many things I've disliked!) I know it goes into the same mental pile as Wuthering Heights and Anna Karenina. I may try to read some of her work now that I'm older but I can't promise much.

Arizona, Pics

So I got back from Arizona on Saturday. I was so happy to be back home, I'm not the best solo traveler and it's the longest I've been away from my husband in years. I was a bit too busy to do all the things I hoped to do while there (for work) so I was just happy to sit quietly a few nights at the resort and watch the sunset with a good meal in hand.

I loved taking walks on the property, it was very peaceful there.

My favorite part were the cottontail rabbits everywhere. With big ears, small bodies, and a very cute cottonball-white tail, they seem much more 'rabbit-like' than the New England variety I'm used to. My only regret was not getting a good picture of one. They are skittish and I really tried to be present in the moment instead of taking photos at every turn. I like swinging both arms while I walk, unencumbered by tourist accessories.

If you must visit the desert in the middle of the summer, at least you'll find cheap hotel rates and less crowds. The heat wasn't as bad as I anticipated but my first hours back in Maine (I flew into Portland) then New Hampshire were SOOO refreshing. Cool and breezy with the scent of the ocean and greenery in the air.

Up next, sketches!