Papercutmas

It's been a busy fall/winter, but I did manage to make a couple papercut illustrations for my mom and sister as their Christmas presents. It's always fun to make something special for my closest humans.

J to the Unicorn

Comics Every Tues @ Junicorn Stories on IG

Have you checked out Junicorn yet? It's a web comic/bio tale that my little one and I have been collaborating on this year.

Junicorn has some special needs that only enhance an incredible brain and hilarious/weird sense of humor.

I collect all the bizarre and funny things she says and then illustrate them. Some of the art elements are also straight from Junicorn's sketchbook, such as creepy Baby Ethan the invisible boy who lives in our gross attic.

Comics post every Tuesday on Instagram @Junicorn Stories (which includes a link for all your Junicorn fan merch needs.)

Thanks for supporting our family project with your follows, likes and swag sales!!

I Like to Make Draw-er-ings

(Art by me) ©2018 MennoMedia 

(Art by me) ©2018 MennoMedia

I had the pleasure of illustrating a large collection of pieces for MennoMedia this fall. We have worked together in the past and it's always a great experience! At least it is for me... :)

These are a couple of my favorites from this project.

(Art by me) ©2018 MennoMedia

(Art by me) ©2018 MennoMedia

What Has Two Thumbs & Just Sold a Papercut Illustration?

The Moth, 2018 papercut illustration

This guy! Errr... ME! 

Framing my latest papercut illustration piece The Moth turned out lovely. So much so, that she fluttered away to her new home within days. 

I will miss her, but it's the absolute best feeling when a piece of art finds a connection with an owner.  And I can subsequently pay my bills... 

This Guy!

A Pirates Favorite Instrument is a GuitARGHHHHH

Getting sketchy for Pioneer Valley 

Working on the sketches for a new children's book with the lovely publisher Pioneer Valley Books! This will be my second book with them and spoiler alert: IT'S A PIRATE BOOK.

That's all I can say for now, but get ready because it's going to be a very fun adventure!

Kind is the New Cool

Maggie is a unicorn in our latest design

When people send me snaps of their littles sporting our "Junicorn" design, especially the "Different Not Less" shirt, it makes my heart explode.

I'm feeling so positive at the movement of people teaching their kids about embracing kindness and making safe space for Atypicals and Neurotypicals to be friends. :)

If you want to wear a little Junicorn on your chest, check out our swag store.  And be sure to follow us on Instagram, comics post every Tuesday.

Slice n stab

Trying my darnedest to get this fairly large papercut piece finished and framed in time for the Lansing Art Gallery holiday exhibit.

I'm pretty swamped with illustration projects for MennoMedia and Pioneer Valley Books, and they take priority on the schedge, so if I don't pull this one out by November, it will end up at the gallery eventually this winter!

Let's cross our fingers that all the things get done in the nick (knick?) of time!

New design for Junicorn

©2018 ME

Junicorn has a new design in the swag store celebrating Autism and the Temple Grandin quote : Different Not Less.

And be sure to follow us on Instagram. New comics post every Tuesday!

I Made That...

Papercut Pup

I did a little art trade with my friend, the amazing painter Mark Mehaffey. Here is the piece I made that will go and live with Mark & his lovely wife Rosie.

Buffalo Father

The real life Junicorn requested that her dad not be human, but instead a buffalo, a nickname we have for him at home. She was spot on! So introducing, my husband and Junicorn's dad "Mr. Algebra."  

Also Baby Ethan was hand drawn by the actual Junicorn and I made it digital for the comic. So credit for that creepy imaginary little brother goes to her.

For more, follow Junicorn on Instagram:

www.instagram.com/junicornstories/

Best Forevers Podcast Art

©2018 ME

I had a blast creating more fun art for my fave podcast Best Forevers! This will soon be gracing swag on an Internet near you... Stay tuned!

Introducing Junicorn!

Instagram handle: junicornstories

This is a passion project for me that was just launched on INSTAGRAM!  Check it out and support us with a tee shirt purchase if you feel like joining #TeamJunicorn.

Let them eat cake

©2018 ME

Hot off the presses today, a design/illustration for Best Forevers Podcast.  I hear there will be t-shirts, so start taking your measurements! Or perhaps wait until after you have eaten your cake...

ArtPath Revival

The ArtPath art that could... This piece has been through a lot... damaged by a kid w/ a stick (Thanks to my friend for rescuing it during her run!) I was able to repair it and remount on some weird scrap metal from Friedland. With the help of another friend's truck and my incredible partner who lived w/ it clogging up our tiny house, lugged all 5ft of it to the site, made a risky climb over the river water into a spidereee bridge that smelled a little like pee so that it could hang safely and he could have a happy wife and an arty community. 

These are not things I could have done myself. So if you see any of these beautiful people, please thank them for going the extra mile to support #LoveLansing #PublicArt #LansingArtGallery and a more beautiful river trail. #OaklandBridge #CantKeepArtDown #ArtPath

Nesting Birds vinyl cut by ME

Nesting Birds vinyl cut by ME

Oxford Comma

I was honored to create a couple medical illustrations featured in my smarty-pants sister (and recently tenured) Dr. Bridget Sweet's new book, soon published through Oxford University Press.

©2018 ME

I've always been an anatomy nerd, so this was a lot of fun to flex some science muscles this summer!

©2018 ME

Froggy Freebies

©2018 ME

Spring 2019 is going to be popping with free pre-order swag to help celebrate the release of And the Bullfrogs Sing, summer 2019!

Which means, summer of 2018 involves a lot of freebie design on my part... I live and work IN THE FUTURE.

Here's a sneak of the art for upcoming bookplates in a classic black and white illustration format.

New Cuttings

I had so much cutting these free-form organic pieces.
Expect more!  SO MANY MORE!

New Book Alert!

Calamity Jane and the Wild Horse Race

Pioneer Valley Books has recently published a tall tale about Calamity Jane that I was lucky enough to illustrate.  This is a very fun early reader with an emphasis on literacy for all kids.

The books are also priced extremely well and group discounts apply.  You can order straight from their web site. 

In Living Color

What is THIS I see?! Why it's all the color spreads for my bullfrog illustrations that will be published by the amazing Holiday House in 2019, looking back at me!

It always feels extremely satisfying to see illustrations reach the color draft stage.

Soon we will make those final tweaks and then I just sit back, bite my nails and wait for it's book birthday!

Bullfrog Picture Book in Full Effect

 Sneeeeakkkk peek!

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!!

©2018 ME

Happy Book Birthday to my special lady friend Dawn Ius and her latest YA novel Lizzie!

I am DYING (I know, I KNOW) to read it! And you should pick up a copy OR ELSE...

Congrats Dawn!

The Verdict is IN!

Nesting Birds: Art in Progress

I received word that my piece was one of the lucky ten selected by jury for the Art Path: Public Art exhibition this summer.

Nesting Birds will be installed at the Oakland Bridge in Lansing MI early June. More details to share as they unfold, but I hope you will be able to take a wander under the bridge and see it with your own eyes.

Now I just have to finish creating it... Pass the blades.

Slicing into Spring

I'm working on a new mid-size papercutting that will hopefully be part of a public art show this summer in Michigan.  Due to the slow and intense nature of this art process I couldn't wait for the jury nod prior to starting. So either it WILL be in that exhibit OR large-ish art piece for sale. Get out your piggy bank...

Stay tuned...

Preorder Presents

I designed/illustrated some bookplates and other neato swag for the amazing Dawn Ius's preorder campaign and her latest YA book Lizzie. Have you ordered your book yet?! Don't miss out! #YA #LizzieBorden

The Highlight of my spring

I am SO EXCITED to announce that this spring I will be scholarshipping off to a workshop at the beautiful Hightlights Foundation in Pennsylvania.

Big, giant, enormous thanks to Highlights for awarding me enough funding to be able to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. I wonder if I'll get to meet Goofus and Gallant...

Spring Fever

I Illustrated and designed this Patagonian Cavy love letter for Potter Park Zoo's upcoming spring Wine, Stein & Spirits.  Hope to see you hop on over there (Cavy's kinda hop... in case you are not that dialed into the ways of the Cavy and their adorable body language...)

Lizzie Borden Took an Axe...

*Cover Art by Simon & Pulse

©2018 ME

Acclaimed author Dawn Ius contracted me to create/illustrate some promo give aways for her latest novel Lizzie.  (Book is available for pre-order now and available wherever you buy books after March 2018.)

I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST creating visuals for this project! I love true crime and the tale of Lizzie Borden has always stuck in my mind.  I was able to read a few chapters this fall to help me capture the characters and I seriously have not stopped thinking about them.  I cannot wait to read the entire book!

©2018 ME

New Year, New Art, New York...

©2018

©2018

A lot of fun in the pipeline for 2018! Here's a couple more glimpses of a travel adventure that will hopefully be available soon!