New Work, Botanical

I've fallen in love with mushrooms! These are woodland mushrooms. In my original graphite drawing I left the leaf as just a contour drawing to highlight the mushroom. For the watercolor I added a tint to the leaf because it looked too stark and was distracting. This was done with Yarka pan watercolors.

Woodland  Mushrooms 1, botanical, Donna Miskend 2015

A Month Of Writing

After a spring filled with teaching, and an emotional roller coaster of a summer, I felt I needed to get back to my projects. So I'm all in for generating new PB ideas, working on those already sketched out, and starting a MG novel I've had on the back burner forever. Just making the commitment has  started the ideas flowing. Inhale deep breath, exhale.

2015 BEAUX ARTS EXHIBIT

Three works of some favorite things, plants and animals, will be on display at the Beaux Arts Exhibit:

The Dobbs Ferry Woman's Clubhouse

54 Clinton Avenue

Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

October 17 - 18, 2015

reception Sunday, Oct. 18 from 2-4pm

Stay tuned: A recap of the Fairy Tales show is coming soon. 

Exhibit News: National Heirloom Expo

Danish Flag Poppy,  2015

I am thrilled to have my work included once again for the Art of the Heirloom show at The National Heirloom Expo in CA,
September 8 - 10.

Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland

Join me as I read selections from Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland to kids, Sunday Storytime in Mr. Morgan's Library at the Morgan Library and Museum this summer during their exhibit Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland on view June 26 through October 11, 2015. 

Dates: 
June 28, 2015 at 3pm
August 16, 2015 at 3pm
August 23, 2015 at 3pm

FAIRY TALES Exhibit

I've curated another CBIG EXHIBIT- Twenty one artists come together to illustrate FAIRY TALES! On view at the Brooklyn Central Library June 11 through September 25, 2015.
And join me in conversation with Michael Patrick Hearn, children's literary historian Saturday,  September 19 at 2pm about the history and relevance of fairy tales today.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS:
Angelique Anderson, Lisa Cinelli, Deborah Cuneo, Maria Madonna Davidoff, Diana Ting Delosh, Nancy Doniger, Laura Goetz,  Amalia Hoffman, Melissa Iwai, Yuko Katakawa, Kitty Leech,  Marie McCann, Virginia Law Manning, Jennifer Merz, Donna Miskend, Christine Mix, Annie Raulerson, Roberta Rivera, Karen Romagna, Vicky Rubin, Wallace West

Programs:Saturday, September 19 at 2pm Info Commons Room, 1st floor

special guest Michael Patrick Hearn

VENUE:  BROOKLYN CENTRAL LIBRARY   10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11238

hours  Mon - Thurs. 9am-9pm    Fri-Sat 9am - 6pm    Sun 1pm - 5pm

transportationGet Directions
Google or HopStop

Free and open to the public
web site: http://www.bklynlibrary.org/events/exhibitions/

A Talk with Exhibiting Artists Here 

This exhibit and programming is underwritten by the Brooklyn Public Library.

NOTE:
Master Storytellers Exhibit extended through June 27
at the Poe Park Visitor Center 
2540 Grand Concourse, Bronx 

Master Storytellers Events Highlights

Here are some event highlights for the Master Storytellers exhibit. EXHIBIT EXTENDED due to popular demand, through June 27, 2015. On view at 

Poe Park Visitor Center 2540 Grand Concourse, Bronx 718.365.5516

Michael Patrick Hearn and me

 A panel discussion with Michael Patrick Hearn about the illustrations on view and the master storytellers represented: the brothers Grimm, Edgar Allan Poe, Mother Goose and more.

Artist panel discussion with myself, Hyo Kim, Nancy Doniger, Carol   Klio Burrell, Dave Kopka

Hyo Kim and Nancy Doniger

Exhibiting Artists: Angelique Anderson, Carol Klio Burrell, Lisa Cinelli, Nancy Doniger, Delphine Henault, Melissa Iwai, Yuko Katakawa, Dave Kopka, Candace Lee, Katherine Leech, Robin Meeks, Donna Miskend, Christine Mix, Clare Pernice, Roberta Rivera, Vicky Rubin, Shruti Sharma, Cheryl Taborsky.

Dave Kopka 

Kitty Leech

Yuko Katakawa, artwork top

Workshops: 

Roberta Rivera demo of pen and; ink

Roberta Rivera giving a workshop in pen and ink for all ages, and vegetable printing for kids.

pen and ink workshop

pen and ink workshop

  

vegetable printing w/Roberta

Donna Miskend, curator/artist
Pinnochio Cards, artwork background copyright artists

Workshop with me for school class of 1st graders making pop-up cards based on Pinnochio

Pinnochio Cards

Pinnochio Cards

Pinnochio Cards

I also did a similar public workshop with kids using Humpty Dumpty cards for Mother's Day. Unfortunately I lost all my photos, but one of the kids made 2 because she didn't want to give away her first one!   

Lucy Aponte, artwork copyright artists

Lucy Aponte of Poe Park Visitor Center giving kids a tour of the exhibit. She reviews different styles, materials and relates the work to the stories they know, such as Cheryl's work, Hickory Dickory Dock from Mother Goose.

69th Annual BEAUX ARTS EXHIBIT/Master Storytellers Exhibit

For MASTER STORYTELLERS EXHIBIT SCHEDULE CLICK HERE  EXTENDED through June 27 due to popular demand at Poe Park Visitor Center, Bronx, NY.

Classic stories by Hans Christian Andersen, Edgar Allan Poe, the Brothers Grimm and more master storytellers' books illustrated by children's book artists.

Visit http://conversationswithdonnamiskend.blogspot.com/ for a glimpse at some of the artwork on view and a conversation with participating artists.

Donna Miskend 2015
How the Leopard Got Its Spots
cut paper collage

I'm highlighting nature this season. I chose animals for my entries in the Master Storytellers exhibit on view at Poe Park Visitor Center, 2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx through May 30th.
CLICK here to read comments by participating artists.
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Donna Miskend 2013
Mexican Sunflowers, gouache

69th Annual Beaux Arts Exhibit
It almost feels like spring, so I decided to enter flowers for the  on view until April 29 at the Bronxville Women's Club, in Bronxville.

Donna Miskend 2013
Over In The Meadow, gouache/watercolor

Environment-EARTH DAY

It's EARTH DAY, and a good time to highlight a post from last year about illegal logging and how you can help.

A single tree can be worth $10,000. The real cost is the effect on our environment as rainforests help to regulate climate. Yes, they also provide unique food sources and drugs, but what about the effects on the animals, endangering species and destroying their habitats? The changes eventually effect us as a species too. How can you make a difference? Buy sustainable wood, and only wood from a company that is transparent in it's sourcing and follows best environmental practices. To learn more about this issue and a company that works to thwart illegal logging, watch the video about Rainforest Connection. They can use your old cell phones to help combat the problem. Get involved - before you upgrade your phone as a trade in, consider donating your old cell phones to them HERE

EXHIBIT INFO: MASTER STORYTELLERS exhibit EXTENDED through JUNE 27
Classic stories by Hans Christian Andersen, Edgar Allan Poe, the Brothers Grimm and more master storytellers' books illustrated by children's book artists.

Visit http://conversationswithdonnamiskend.blogspot.com/ for a glimpse at some of the artwork on view and a conversation with participating artists.

ALSO http://www.nycgovparks.org  and here for a schedule.

Schedule of events:

Saturday April 11

12pm - Artist panel with Nancy Doniger, Hyo Taek Kim, Carol Klio Burrell, Dave Kopka moderated by Donna Miskend

The panel event is over, but go to the conversations blog link above for a talk with the artists.

1pm - A conversation with Michael Patrick Hearn

The interview event is over, but check follow the conversations blog for a full discussion with Michael Patrick Hearn, coming soon. 

Saturday May 30 at 11am - 12 open to the public

Learn Pen and Ink with Roberta Rivera

April/May school groups are scheduled with Carol Burrell, Donna Miskend and Lucy Aponte of the Poe Park Visitor Center.

The exhibition is underwritten by the NYC parks department.

Master Storytellers Exhibit

due to popular demand

EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 27, 2015

I've curated a show you don't want to miss with amazing illustrations for children and teens. Poe Park Visitor Center, 2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10458

Special guest:
Michael Patrick Hearn, children's literary historian, and author of Myth, Magic and Mystery: One Hundred Years of American Children's Book Illustrations, and the forthcoming Annotated Edgar Allan Poe,  for a conversation about classic stories in children's books by master storytellers: Hans Christian Anderson, Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare, the Brothers Grimm, Kenneth Grahame and more. Saturday, April 11, 2015

Workshops for school groups, and to close out the show, join artist Roberta Rivera for a workshop on using pen and ink May 30.
Visit www.cbig-nycExhibits.blogspot.com or http://www.nycgovparks.org  and here for a schedule. Subscribe to my blog (at the right).

Schedule of events:

Saturday April 11

12pm - Artist panel with Nancy Doniger, Hyo Taek Kim, Carol Klio Burrell, Dave Kopka moderated by Donna Miskend

1pm - A conversation with Michael Patrick Hearn

followed by reception

Saturday May 30 at 11am - 12 open to the public

Learn Pen and Ink with Roberta Rivera

April/May school groups are scheduled with Carol Burrell, Donna Miskend and Lucy Aponte of the Poe Park Visitor Center.

The exhibition is underwritten by the NYC parks department.

DICKENS TRAVELS- Dickens, A Celebration In Pictures

Based on the show I curated in 2012 at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, a selection of work travels to Poe Park Visitor Center for Dickens' birthday month. And to celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's birthday in Jan., I will host a  conversation with Michael Patrick Hearn, children's literary scholar, on the relationship between Dickens and Poe, February 14th.

Also scheduled, Clare Pernice, author of Circus Girl, and I will lead an art workshop for kids from PS 246. High Schoolers will join me for a talk about illustrating Dickens, illustrators he chose and illustrators' work from the current exhibit. I will moderate a panel of some of the exhibiting artists and guest Carol Burrell on Feb. 21*. (read my interview with Clare on the Conversations blog, click here and read an interview with Dickens' biographer and author of Visionary American, A Biography of John Quincy Adams, Fred Kaplan on the blog as well.  (*new date)

More events are scheduled. For further information and a link to some extra cool info about Dickens, click here for the CBIG exhibits blog

PLEASE NOTE: SNOW DELAYS OPENING  - February 3 new date 5 - 21, 2015

DICKENS, A CELEBRATION IN PICTURES: ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS GROUP

exhibiting members:

CLICK on name to view artist's web site

Lisa Cinelli, Diana Ting Delosh, Peggy Dressel, Laura Goetz, Leeza Hernandez, Sara Kahn   Doreen Marts, Donna Miskend, Marilyn Papas, Clare Pernice, Roberta Rivera, Vicky Rubin   Cheryl Taborsky,  T. T. Tyler

Guest Speakers:  CLICK on name to view web site

Michael Patrick Hearn        Fred Kaplan (biographer) 

Carol Burrell (a.k.a Klio, comic artist)

Poe Park Visitors Center Gallery                      Hours:   Tues. - Sat.   8am - 4pm2640 Grand Concourse                                         Exhibit and Events FREE
Bronx, NY 10458