Smart Phone Separation Anxiety
Here is an illustration that I did for the February issue of Washingtonian Magazine. The Article, written by Courtney Vinopal, is about how many summer camps ban electronics, creating both happy and unhappy campers and parents. Thanks to Kellie at Washingtonian for the Art Direction!
Renewal. Oil on panel. 2018
As some of you may already know, last fall I began teaching myself to paint with oils. It is something that I never thought that I would be able to do...they take so long to dry, I hated working with acrylics, painted for years in watercolor, didn't want colors to mix into mud, didn't want to have to start over....you know, all of the self imposed excuses why I WOULDN'T be able do it.
Anyway, I chilled out, watched a couple of Youtube tutorials, bought some Liquin (a brand name dryer) to speed up the process and after a little trial and error, to my surprise, started painting. And now it is all that I think about.
Many of these are small mementomori type studies. I wanted to start out by doing simple skulls and such to get used to the medium and how the paint works. SURPRISE! I've already sold some, and have a gallery show lined up this summer (TBA).
Now that I have more than 1 or 2 decent paintings, I have made a new section on the site under Fine Art called "Oil Paintings" where you can see them. I'll update it regularly, when there is a piece that is worthy of adding. Thanks for looking!
Michele
Smile, Honey!
This illustration for the article, "Stop Telling Women and Girls to Smile", by Katie Kohler is for the February/March issue of Main Line Today. I personally do not know any woman who has not had to deal with a man giving unwarranted and unwelcome "helpful and well intended advice" of this sort at one time or another. From the article:
"Smile, honey. You would be prettier if you smiled," is one of the first interactions I remember having with a "stranger." It's not that I was a miserable kid, quite the contrary. I was happy...and still am but I don't have a perma-pageant grin glued to my face.
Over the years, it has happened to myself and others who are approached by a usually older male telling us to smile. I've had this happen while carrying out trays full of food during dinner service when I was a server and recently, when I waited for a press conference to start and was going through my notes.
I have never seen a man being told to smile. But women who don't are often accused of "resting bitch face."
Here is a portrait illustration that I did for a recent issue of the AARP "Girlfriend Newsletter".
Sometimes, for whatever reason, an illustration will go unpublished. There was a last minute design change for the layout of the page where this one would have run. It is a funny picture though, so I'm posting it here.
The article, about wrinkle treatment, is a professional's advice on the different options which are available that give the best result. It also talks about how to pick a qualified provider who won't make you end up looking like one of the "Real Housewives" when you get botox or other cosmetic injectables. (Hint - a qualified provider doesn't need to lure patients with a Groupon).
