The Path of Most Resistance: The Life & Imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots

This is my most recent submission for They Draw And Travel. I've been obsessing over this illustration for about 3 weeks. Extensive research, maps, lineage charts, sketches upon sketches... I truly know everything there is to know about this woman, her 3 husbands, her staff, her dogs, etc. I think I may do something with Vlad the Impaler/Romania next. Ha!

Click the image for a larger view.

Illustration Friday: Swept

I really loved working on this illustration. I've always been fascinated with Elizabeth I. She was known as The Virgin Queen, but that wasn't because she lacked suitors. There was Philip of Spain, King Eric XIV of Sweden, and The Duke of Anjou (who she loving called "her frog"). However, it was Robert Dudley that swept her off her feet.

Robert, the first Earl of Leicester never married the Queen due to a series of unfortunate events. When his first wife, Amy Robsart, fell down a flight of stairs and died, he was free to marry the Queen. However, the rumors that he arranged for Amy's death caused too much of a scandal and ruined his chances. For 18 years he did not remarry for Queen Elizabeth's sake and when he finally did, his new wife, Lettice Knollys, was permanently banished from the court.

Double click for a larger view.

Visit Illustration Friday HERE.

best mail day ever.

This reminds me of when I was in college- my grandfather would write letters and in every envelope was a $50 bill. I would do a "I love my grandpa" dance when I saw his writing on the return address. When I got to my very full mailbox this afternoon- I did a similar dance.

- signed/doodled book by Mattais Adolffson (OMG- Go get it NOW!!!! holy awesomeness!)
- signed/personalized book from Dr. Lois Frankel (one of my fav clients)
- sketchbook 2012 tour t-shirt.

Seriously--- the only thing that could have been better is if there were some freelance checks and an 8-pack of Guinness.

Editorial Illustration

Fun editorial illo for a very sweet girls magazine. The story is called "The Scarf"

Installation Art

Worked on some installation art that is currently being put up in some amazing office space in NYC. Here's a sneak peek of the actual installation.

Welcome to Crazytown, I'm your captain... Captain Crazypants.

This is my 3rd map for "They Draw & Travel." I think I was trying to hard on the first two- this one is more "me." If you haven't looked at the blog--- GO. CLICK HERE.

double-click the image to enlarge... if you dare mwahahahahaha.
(I don't get out much.)

Interview with TDAC

So my favorite chef-illustrators interviewed yours truly for the Artist Du Jour column on their blog. I am beside myself with glee! Check out their two creative babies here:

They Draw and Cook
They Draw and Travel

Check out my interview:
They Draw and Cook Blog

Here's a photo of my workspace that I submitted with the interview- click to get a larger view!

They Draw & Travel

Here's a fun new project from Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell (the creators of They Draw and Cook).  It's called They Draw and Travel - Maps Illustrated by Artists from Around the World! They have an open call to artists worldwide to illustrate a map of their hometown or favorite place and send it in. They're hoping the maps will celebrate places that are "off the beaten path" and focus on sweet and personal things you won't find in just any guidebook, like a secret swimming hole or the best bench to watch a sunset. Click here to see the maps that have been submitted so far!


Here are my first 2 entries- Salem, MA and Dutchess County, NY
(double click the image for a larger view.)

Illustration Friday: Bottled

Took a hiatus from my usual history lesson submissions and did a bit of a self portrait. I like to call this one "Any Given Sunday."

It's been a long winter and I'm feeling a bit confined to say the least. Spring needs to come quickly or I may drown in my wine rack.

Illustration Friday: Toy.

Ahhhh.... Georgiana Cavendish. She was FABULOUS. Unfortunately, she didn't have what one would call a "happy" marriage. Ridiculed and abused for not producing a male heir - Georgiana found love with Charles Grey in a well-known affair. Their affair produced a daughter, Eliza. Sadly, she was sent into exile to have the baby and then was forced to give her to Grey's family. "G" was told she would never see her other children again if she were to keep the girl. Eliza grew up not knowing why her "parents" resented and disapproved of her (Charles' Aunt and Uncle.) Georgianna visited her frequently in secret and always brought toys (which were never given to her as a child by anyone but Georgiana.) It wasn't until the Duchess passed away that Eliza was told who her real mother was.

Eliza named her first daughter Georgiana.

They Draw and Eat Figs

Super Salli and Nate the Great have launched a contest for a Fig Recipe Illustration. For more information click HERE. This is my submission for that contest. Boy oh boy- this was a fun one. Click the image to see it larger. Happy Friday everyone.

Illustration Friday: Stir

Madame du Barry was the last Maîtresse-en-titre of Louis XV of France and one of the victims of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. She liked to stir things up from the very beginning- as she started her long and profitable career as a courtesan in a brothel-casino. Her remarkable beauty caught the attention of Jean-Baptiste du Barry, a high-class pimp/procurer - who eventually arranged for her to have a  title and falsified birth documents to make it seem as if she came from nobler descent. I personally, picture her life in the castle as the white trash girlfriend at an expensive restaurant.


Years after Louis' death, Madame du Barry was accused of treason and sentenced to death. On the way to the guillotine, she collapsed in the tumbrel and cried "You are going to hurt me! Why?!" Terrified, she screamed for mercy and accused the crowd. Her last words to the executioner were: "One moment more, Mr. Executioner, 
I beg you!"  

Illustration Friday: Warning

It's safe to say that Jane Seymour (1509-1537, NOT Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) had sufficient warning that her husband was a narcissistic sell-out. She married him only hours after he had his second wife, Anne Boleyn, beheaded. Granted, it was a fancy sword and not a "commoners" axe that removed her head. Some believe Jane was strategically placed in Henry VIII's presence specifically to draw him away from Anne.

For years she led such a passive existence that there is no record of her even speaking until she did what the first two wives could not--- deliver a male heir. Her marital servitude did not get her far. Jane died a few days after giving birth due to an infection. When asked if whether they should save the mother or the child, Henry said "let the child live, for other wives are easily found."

Although he married 3 more women in his time, Henry is buried next to only woman that gave him a son, Jane.

Good Vs. Evil

got to meet my heroes this past Friday night. I could listen to Ripert's accent all night long (he also had the most fabulous suit I've ever seen)--- I'm on a mission to try each one of his recipes. As for Bourdain, I just can't tell you how much I LOVE him, smart AND sexy.