Final Sale in the Big Bridge Studios Etsy Shop

Through Friday, February 22, 2013, I will be selling all of my Etsy shop's onesies and t-shirts for 50% off. To get the discount, you need to enter coupon code HALFOFF at checkout. After Friday, I plan to donate the remaining apparel to charity. Perhaps an Early Head Start program? Any other suggestions?

Edward Lear's Crafty Cat

Today's cutout worked really well, as I had both a sleeping model to reference (Tyco) and an enthusiastic assistant/participant (Archer).

I think this book page might need a background of some sort and possibly a more aggressive expression on the cat, but this is done for now. Comments and suggestions are always welcome!

Alphabet Cutouts and Edward Lear

Cricket magazine covers might be at the very root of why illustration has always been so important to me, and I love that I get to read Babybug to my son several times a week (or every day). While I tend to stare at the pictures, my son focuses on the words and rhythm of each poem, and he especially favors the nonsensical alphabet poems by Edward Lear. Today I cut out my own idea to the letter 'A' in Lear's alphabet. I believe this little ant needs a house, but its a start.

Little Ochre Airplane

I'm working on a children's book project, and I've been focusing on a short little poem about airplanes. Because its aimed at a very young audience, I feel I really should make these colors happier and brighter, yet I love the ochre, and I keep coming back to this. I might try a simple cut out tomorrow. I'll post it if I do. 

Archer I Love

Before I went to sleep last night, I decided to make a quick Valentine's Day card for my four year old to wake up to. I did not plan out the page, but I knew I wanted it to say, "Dear Archer, I Love You."
This is how it turned out: 

Although I received a humongous hug and various words of gratitude, my son finally said, "Where's the 'You'?" I said I'd kinda messed up, but the real message was there, and that in fact, it was much more of a solid statement this way. He was unconvinced but moved on graciously.

Open Rehearsal at the NY Philharmonic

I love the New York Philharmonic, especially when they are performing Beethoven. But because I do not enjoy being out late, I am limited to their matinees. A couple of weeks ago, however, I decided to attend a rehearsal for the first time. 9:45am on a Thursday morning. I loved it!

I was surprised by how many people were there, and how enthusiastic they were. I heard lots of Wows! and saw various people nodding at each other with big smiles. There was no shushing of others, no permitted "cough breaks," no sleeping elderly folks in their black tie wear. Very casual, enjoyable and the music was fantastic.

I highly recommend trying out an open rehearsal, if you like the Philharmonic. You can find their schedule here. Let me know what you think!

My first time sketching at the American Museum of Natural History

I very much prefer to stay on a schedule, planning each day's tasks in advance. But lately, I've been taking myself on impromptu little dates to the the city.

Today, I went to the American Museum of Natural History for the first time without my son. I took my sketchbook, a few pencils and two erasers. I have never understood the appeal of the North American Mammals wing, with all of its stiff taxidermy and fake backgrounds, but I finally kind of got it. I really looked at the animals today. I noticed their size and scars and hair length and the shape of their ears. It was all so beautiful.

I sat down in front of the grizzly bears and sketched for about 15 minutes. Then I walked through Central Park for a couple of miles and got on the train to pick up my son from school.

I felt wonderful.