back to school

I have been teaching part-time at a private classical academy for grades K to 12. Today was the first day of my fourth year there. What could be better than to be teaching everyone's favorite class of the week?

summer project

Looks kind of like...Christmas doesn't it? Odd for a summer project but I have been working with another artist in my church to design decorative panels for a massive set of  doors to our new sanctuary. The doors will be hand carved in Asia, out of beautiful wood. I am so thrilled to be part of this, but scared too, this art is going to be around for a long time.

Lovely city

From this viewpoint we are looking south toward Navy Pier and the center of Chicago cityscape. Lake Shore Drive winds past many city parks along the coast of  Lake Michigan. As the day grew later, the water became increasingly deep turquoise. The quantity and beauty of the lakeshore parkland, beaches and views is amazing to people who visit Chicago for the first time.

Chicago Air Show

We viewed the Chicago Air and Water Show yesterday from a high rise apartment on the North shore. The action was exciting and we had great sweeping views of the acrobatic aircraft and the lovely city.

wish that summer never ends

Random pages from my sketchbook at the beach in Michigan.

meetings and more meetings

I am not so good at meetings. After nibbling on bagels and sipping more cups of coffee than I should, I constantly doodle and sketch. I give no mercy to all those sitting near me, not even the presenter of the moment. Don't move, just hold that pose, oh, got that profile, good line of the neck, go back to that gesture.

summer at the beach

Skipped my Life drawing group on Saturday and went to the beach in Michigan. Turns out there is a lot of life to draw at the beach. Fun sketching time trying to grab little attitudes and vignettes.

I enjoyed that I caught this bikini babe's jaunty stride, (carrying her cell phone of course).

I am promising myself to capture all the joy and warmth out of this fine summer that I possibly can.

(I sketched my son-in-law here, a fine beach volleyball player.)

summer days

The following illustrations are from a book I illustrated for Rigby Early Readers, titled "My Big Brother".

As I enjoy myself in the warmth and pleasure of this summer, I am reminded of  my summers of childhood.  How they seemed to stretch for an endless time, and how much I loved swimming, and tree climbing, and biking. How I could spend all day drawing, and dreaming. Best of all, stretching out in a comfy spot with a good book and reading all day long.

August Sun

Mixed media, acrylic and oil pastel on heavy Arches paper. 24"x30"

"Five friends I had, and two of them snakes."
Godric by Frederick Buechner

One of my absolutely favorite first lines from a novel. After that line you had to keep reading on.
This illustration and the one with a bird in her nest are my work from an Early Reader book titled "Summer Returns".

"There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."

Charles Dickens

friendship

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.
William Blake