NEW WORK - Nature Illustrations

I'm adding to my repertoire of nature illustrations.

This and That, Donna Miskend 2014

These are things I've picked up that I thought I wanted to paint. Sometimes it's the color, or the design element, so to make sense of them individually I decided to put them all together. Acorn, ginko leaf, pine cone, the fruit from a cherry tree, maple seed pods, a dried cherry and I think the other seed pods are either also maple or oak.



This bunny was at the botanical gardens.

Red Cabbage and Rabbit, Donna Miskend 2014

Workshop: Beatrix Potter and Botanical Art

Beatrix Potter is most known for her children’s books about Peter Rabbit and other animal stories. How did she create such a believable world in which they live? Through observation of the natural world of their environment.  While it can take hours to create a perfect reproduction, in this workshop we’ll take our cue from Beatrix Potter to introduce you to botanical illustration and then use the work to create a spot for a children’s book scene. Come join me for this painting and drawing workshop. Children and adults.

Funding is thanks to Regeneron and Con Ed

July 19th -  1pm-3pm     at  ArtsWestchester
31 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10601
For further info: CLICK HERE
https://artswestchester.org/events/beatrix-potter-andbotanical-art/

ABFFE Auction 2014

Donna Miskend 2014

Once again it is time to support the fight against censorship in books for kids through the American Booksellers Freedom For Expression Auction of artwork by illustrators in the children's book industry. This year, the special tribute is to Dr. Seuss whose books were challenged for their content, especially those that made social commentary or criticized big business. This quick sketch in the Whoville Library is my contribution this year.

The Kids Right To Read Program is co-sponsored by ABC Children’s Group of the American Booksellers Association and American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) with the National Association Against Censorship.There will be an on-line auction open to the public CLICK HERE (opens: at noon Monday, June 2, 2014 and closes June 9, 2014 at noon), in person ticketed auction (Wed. May 28th at BEA may be purchased online) and a holiday auction in the fall. For more information visit the web sites highlighted.  

Examples of books that have been banned or challenged effecting availability:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; Angels in America by Tony Kushner, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Click HERE to see more books, many considered literary classics and important portrayals of American history.

ABFFE AUCTION

I've contributed this original illustration to an auction, The 19th Annual Children's Book Art Auction, in support of The Kids Right To Read Program against censorship of books sponsored by ABC Children’s Group at the American Booksellers Association and American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE). There will be an on-line auction (Opens: Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 9am and closes Friday, May 24, 2013 at 9pm), in person ticketed auction (Wednesday May 29) and a holiday auction in the fall. For more information click HERE. 

 

Ha! Bunny Splash, Donna Miskend2013

This is a reinterpretation of the Mother Goose Rhyme "Rain". In my version the bunny prefers a sunny day but makes the best of a gray day and jumps in the puddle to play. I will make prints available soon.

Mother Goose

Sunday, Jan. 6 at 1pm: Meet artists of the Children’s Book Illustrators Group (CBIG), and join us for a panel discussion about their art process, what it means to them to be involved in illustrating for children,  and their reflections on Mother Goose stories both as children and as adults.  We’ll discover the inspiration and personal connections behind the work on exhibit, with an art demonstration by Roberta Rivera. Moderated by me, Donna Miskend, President of CBIG with: Sara Lisa Lavoie, Marilyn Papas, Roberta Rivera, Clare Pernice and H. Ruth Karpes. The event is suitable for kids and adults. In association with the exhibit:

Mother Goose Re-Imagined

Illustrations by the Children's Book Illustrators Group

Exhibit runs: through January 16, 2013 

 Flinn Gallery, Greenwich Public Library 

101 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT.

view http://www.cbig-nycExhibits.blogspot.com/or call the gallery at 203.622.7947 From NYC: Metro North New Haven Line, Greenwich Stn.

Exhibiting members of CBIG: Angelique Anderson, Deborah Cuneo, Diana Ting Delosh, Laura Goetz, Leeza Hernandez, Mike Herrod, Sara Kahn, H. R. Karpes, Anna Kim, Ann Koffsky, Sarah Lisa Lavoie, Kitty Leech, Donna Miskend, Sawaka Norii, Marilyn Papas, Clare Pernice, Barbara Mason Rast, Roberta M. Rivera, Vicky Rubin, Tatyanna Starikova, Cheryl Taborsky, T.T. Tyler, Wallace West, Brian Yanish

check back for pictures from the exhibit

one of my paintings on view: Mother Goose Tales 

© Donna Miskend2012

EXHIBIT INFO

Working on the last details for the Dickens exhibit that opens August 25th at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. I'll have links to the relevant pages including interviews , the schedule and some pictures. Meanwhile, here's a taste of what I've planned: - Dickens, A Celebration In Pictures: Illustrations by the Children's Book Illustrators Group

COMING SOON

To mark the bicentennial of his birth, opening August 25th and running through October 31st at the Yonkers Riverfront Library Gallery is Charles Dickens, A Celebration Of His Work In Pictures: Illustrations by The Children's Book Illustrator Group. I've curated the show for CBIG and organized two days of events in support of the exhibit A Day Of Dickens  September 13^th that will include the artists’ reception, and A Day Of Dickens October 13^th.

I'm hosting a discussion panel on Dickens and there will be artist demonstrations, craft sessions, talks with Dickens experts, performance readings by The Friends Of Dickens, picture book story hours and a book signing and sale of published works by guests participating in the events and CBIG exhibiting artists. During the exhibit run, check the library for additional related Dickens offerings. I'm hoping to have films and other support material available. All events are free and open to the public, ages 3 and up, great for the whole family.

Look for further information on the exhibit including a detailed schedule on this blog and I'll post it on our new exhibits page for CBIG at 

www.cbig-nycExhibits.blogspot.com. 

Sign up for email notifications on both sites so you don't miss exciting news about CBIG and what I'm up to. Happy 4th of July!

New work

The Three Kings ©Miskend2012

Here's another work on the Bible theme. Scroll down to see Noah's Ark submitted for the Children's Book Illustration Art Showcase on view until March 30th.

Exhibit Info

Noah's Ark, gouache/acrylic gold/colored pencil © Donna Miskend2012

March 4 - 30, 2012

Children's Book Illustration Art Showcase

Featuring Bible art and other children's book illustrations

by members of LICWI and CBIG Illustrators

at Gallery Connect

320 Broadway

Greenlawn Road

Huntington, NY 11743

Opening reception March 4 12:30-2pm

After the reception date please call (631)271- 0272

T-F 11am-5pm and Sunday after services for viewing availability.

Thank you to Debbie Cuneo for organizing the exhibit

I have 3 pieces in the show, here's one of them.

The Lion And The Mouse

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

© Donna Miskend

Gouache, digital

Aesop's Fables is a great theme for playing with design. Here's a more painterly interpretation of The Lion And The Mouse at the moment when the mouse helps the lion escape in return for sparing its life.

Aesop's Fables

This is my entry for CBIG's 2011 second annual exhibition.

I conceived this program with last year's physical exhibit titled Dragon's and Magic at NYPL's Jefferson Market Library. The online catalogue can still be viewed with 19 participating CBIG members. http://www.cbig-nyc.com/DragonMagicCatSm.pdf The artwork is terrific!

This year we have an online exhibit, and our theme is Aesop's Fables.

Thanks again to Diana Ting Delosh for putting together the wonderful catalogues, and to all the members who sent their fabulous artwork.

Participating members:

Beth Bogert · Lisa Cinelli · Gwen Connolley · Deborah Cuneo · Diana Ting Delosh · Carrie Eko-Burgess · Doris Ettlinger · Lisa Falkenstern · Laura Goetz · Leeza Hernandez · Mark A. Hicks · H. R. Karpes · Jennifer Merz · Donna Miskend · Ginger Nielson · Sawaka Norii · Marilyn Papas · Barbara Mason Rast · Roberta Rivera · Karen Romagna · Jada Rowland · Vicky Rubin · Tatyana Starikove · Teresa Tyler · Penny Webber · Wallace West

View the catalogue here:

http://cbig-nyc.com/CBIGAesop%27sBksm.pdf - http://cbig-nyc.com/CBIGAesop%2527sBksm.pdf

Dragons

R. Dragon, © Donna Miskend, watercolor

And now for the lighter side. I love doing the the elaborate borders, but I also like to work in a simpler style. He's the dragon in Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon, who prefers poetry to dragon-like behaviour. You may know Grahame's other popular work, The Wind And The Willows. But don't miss this little gem too. The townspeople hear there's a dragon nearby and rush to call on the dragonslayer. But a young boy knows better. He knows all about dragons, and goes to see for himself. What he finds is a dragon who loves poetry, nature, and wants to live in peace. Yep, appearances are deceiving, and now it's up to the young boy to save the dragon. It's a wonderful story.

I couldn't decide between the 2 books chosen to inspire 18 illustrators for CBIG's exhibit Dragons & Magic on view at the Jefferson Market Library through October. But as the September theme on our web site is dragons, in the end I could do both.

Dragons and Magic

Donna Miskend, Title: The Magic City: "You go through the dreams and come out the other side where everything is real."
Medium: watercolor and colored pencil, Image: 14"x22"

The Children's Book Illustrators Group, (CBIG) exhibition of work is now installed at the Jefferson Market Library branch of the NYPL. There are 18 members participating, and the work is truly wonderful. The theme, Dragons and Magic, comes from the books chosen by the librarians: The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame and The Magic City, by E. Nesbit. I chose The Magic City. Here's the passage that inspired me:

" Philip's buildings had been made on the carpet...And this carpet had turned into grass...following that strange law which caused things to change into other things, like themselves, but larger and really belonging to a living world."
In my illustration, the green border represents the green carpet. The border contains the found objects that Philip used for the construction of his cities: dominoes laid out for paths, a mother of pearl calling card becomes the square pavement, chess pieces, toy soldiers, candlesticks with inkwells on top he used for columns, a toy set of Noah's Ark, finger bowls that became domes, vases and the domino box that became buildings, a glass ashtray with a silver needle holder that transformed into a fountain, and especially books. Philip loved to read and had books about different places, mythical beasts, poetry, literature and history.

The center of the painting is the magic part where all these things transform to real life. The carpet extends up to the rook chess piece as it becomes a castle. In the distance is his first construction, Stonehenge, made from wooden blocks. The inhabitants of the cities are an international cast of costumed people, along with the toy soldiers, Noah and animals that come alive. On one side of an opened book on Roman History is a picture of Caesar, on the other, one of the illustrations of a Roman soldier is crawling out of the book and border, into the center/real world. Philip appears in his pajamas and slippers about to slay the wind up clock lizard that the inhabitants call a dragon. This is the moment when he closes his eyes just before he strikes.

Throughout the piece I played with reality and imagination. I loved working on the painting and there is a lot to discover in it. You do need to read the book to understand all the references, but that's part of the fun!

I recommend you take the winding, castle-like staircase to the 2nd floor where the works are displayed around the Adult reading room. Mine is a bit out of reach to see all the details, but a print out copy of all the pieces are also on display in the Children's room on the 1st floor. They are mounted on foam core and can be used during story time, and gives the kids an opportunity to view the work up close. There are also coloring pages and activity sheets available. The library is planning additional activities and readings related to the exhibit, so check their web site, blog and Facebook pages. I'll post these here and on my web site under NEWS, and a larger image of the illustration is also posted there at www.DonnaMiskend.com.

The exhibition runs from September 7 - October 29, 2010. Enjoy!