The Bunnvale Library is a wonderful local library where you can find a great selection of books, rotating showcase displays, free talks and concerts, and great reading programs and activities for the kids. So when they contacted me to design a mural for one of the doors to their children’s section in the library’s basement as well as some wrap around illustrations for the section’s five lolly columns I was thrilled. I have many fond memories of childhood reading, and of daydreaming while looking over the illustrations that accompanied the books and stories. At left are the initial thumbnails for the project as well as a photo of the main painting near completion. Stop by the Library to see the finished work as well as the newly refurbished children’s section.

I was asked recently to donate a piece of artwork to the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival for a gala and auction to support the Theatre.  One of the suggestions was to develop a poster design for one of the plays for this years season.  I picked The Tempest as it has always been a favorite of mine.  After making a number of thumbnails for the piece I decided to talk about Prospero and his daughter.  Prospero is a man of learning which has helped him to gain the power to summon a tempest through dominion over a wind spirit Ariel. Since hair is a symbol of knowledge in many cultures – I chose to design the storm from the title and the opening scene of the play into his hair.  That lead me to reference to Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, as a youth flowering into womanhood. She becomes smitten with Ferdinand the moment she meets him.