Angry Birds…?

Daily, I read my liberal newsletters and then these drawings happen. I’m searching for a different name for the series; “Angry Birds” is problematic but aptly describes the reaction of most of Creation to the things coming out of Washington, D.C. These ones here are new and drawn on old sheets of notebook paper.

I like the term “Liberty Tree;” it has a patriotic ring and since I come from Boston, I feel I can claim it. Still, to be honest, it’s a bit of a head scratcher from a weedy sidebar of colonial history. I’ll keep up the search as well as my little protest (more Angry Birds by me can be found in a flickr archive).

Envelope Paintings

in 1992, a couple of years after finishing graduate school with an MFA in sculpture, I was beginning a fledgling illustration career working for the Boston-area newspapers and anyone else who would take a chance on me. For fun, I started making small paintings on envelopes which I would then mail to my girlfriend/fiancée/wife Stephanie. Talk about taking a chance!

I did this every day for over a year. And I can’t recommend a daily discipline enough. So much creativity and problem solving must take place. Paying attention to my process and my materials continues to be motivational. Artistically, I was inspired by different artists at the time. For the idea of painting on the inside of flattened envelopes, I credit the Swiss artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. In terms of the imagery… I guess: Seymour Chwast, Paul Klee, Milton Glaser, Morris Graves, Disney, Leo Lionni, and many others I’m sure.

In 2012, Oprah Magazine reached out to feature me in an article about unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. But all series run their course and it’s rare that their form remains relevant as the artist’s road unspools over time. I stopped painting on the insides of envelopes in 1994 but I continue on my road.

Landscapes

I draw outside a lot. I draw pictures of what I see in nature so there are a lot of landscapes and pictures of birds mostly. I love Nature and have been an active environmentalist for decades. I also tag certain pictures I make in my studio “landscapes.” They don’t look like anything else I usually draw so it was a relief when their appropriate name popped into my mind. Maybe this line of reasoning will make sense if I show you some of them.

Many of these can be seen in a book I published a few years ago, IMAGINARY PLACES: Landscapes(on demand, 160 pages, color. soft cover, 7.44 x 9.68 in. US $38.00)

Angry Birds, continued

This series, an oblique commentary on the current state of things and a place to accommodate my feelings, has slowed a little of late. This is common in any artist’s work that is in a serial manner. The work leads us and demands our attention. Other times, it’s our dedication to the process, showing up and judging lightly and being open to the winter work that anticipates spring of one human consciousness at play. Moral: stay engaged!

Recent #crystalcities

I’ve drawn so many of these things. And yet… I don’t feel I’ve exhausted the style yet. They help me get through the time as I ask the question, “What and why should I draw?”

Sendak Foundation Fellowship

The Maurice Sendak Foundation has awarded me and three other children’s book artists fellowships this Spring. During the residency, which includes a stipend, private studio, and access to Sendak’s archive and home, we have been urged to work on projects of our own choosing.

To that end, I’ve been reviewing assorted story/picturebook drafts that I’ve started and not finished over the past decade, trying to decide which ones to focus on during my time in Connecticut. The lively and benevolent spirit of Maurice Sendak and the very real energy of the other fellows, JunJun Chen, Marianna Coppo and Gracey Zhang will create a unique atmosphere in which to sort, evaluate and move forward.

Below are a few teasers from my very mixed bag of story ideas.

I have a bunch more and those will probably be the ones I will focus on. I’m so grateful to have this time to be inspired and challenged to nurture this side of my career.

Angry Birds

Temporarily, until I have a better idea, I’ve usurped the #angrybirds tag for my drawings of fierce angry birds. As I may have stated elsewhere, these are my direct but artistically open-ended response to the predations of Trump government. Don’t wallow, get and stay mad.

The Birds are Watching

A flock of crows (11-06-24-crows)

A cardinal perching in the sere cattails at the edge of the river. (11-08-24-cardinal)

Avian Anthropologist (11-07-24a)

What's Appropriate?

I’ve been assembling old images loosely categorized as “Stories without Words.” These are paintings with strong characters in them but uncertain story lines. As I trawl through them from 2014, a shift seems to occur around 2019 to fewer images suggesting sweet endings. From 2019 forward, they’re often bleak or just about hoping and coping. I guess I’m an artist of my times and reflect the state of the world.

I must note that these are all uncommissioned works. In this same time period, I’ve illustrated a few well-received picture books (all written by others). There is work to be done I guess to develop some of these into meaningful and attractives commercial narratives. Onward.

It’s still a bit subtle but I don’t think these are your standard American picture book themes: “the long dark night of the soul”, Confused angels, Prometheus, birds pushing a bully over a cliff…?

Tree Bark

I’ve been convalescing from a leg injury. I have lots of stitches and I have to keep my leg elevated. This has curtailed my regular walks. So instead, I’ve been taking my pencils for walks. I call this tagged series “tree bark” because the obsessive rendering of the texture of tree bark. Then I stick some animals in there. That’s about it. Good mindless fun. The animals are watching!

These have their roots in my Crystal Cities drawings. Examples below:

Ibex Mountain

The view from up here is great. The warships sliding this way and that keep the peace. No people are allowed up here but many generations of ibex call this impregnable fortress home.

Problematic Arachnids

The spiders are getting quite active in my basement, in a corner of the bathroom and underneath seldom moved pieces of furniture. And, in my sketchbook too it seems. Moving into new directions often means (for me) accepting limitations and moving through pedestrian drawing strategies: In this case, I’ve accepted the network of intersecting lines on the right side of the paper. I’m right-handed.

Then I play with color and finally add a spider. Sometimes the spider is bad and mad —which probably reflects how I feel about American politics. The spiders all seem to be inside their webs and wish they could get at what’s outside. That’s about it. Trying to keep it loose.

Swans on view

This is one of my favorite drawings from 2023. It was made in October when the young swans had all matured and were anticipating their first New England winter. On a whim, I entered it and a few others into this show and I was pleased that it got in. Below are three additional drawings that didn’t make it.

10-13-23-swans01: this drawing can be seen at the Danforth Museum’s annual juried exhibition, June 22 to September 22.