The Red Chair

I studied illustration in the 1970's at the Rhode Island School of Design because I liked narrative work and the freedom the department afforded. Other possible matches, like sculpture and textiles were too specialized for me. My teacher recognized my interest in sewing and encouraged me to work outside of the yoke of traditional illustration mediums. I stopped trying to translate the pictures in my imagination through a brush or pen and found that I was happier and energized while manipulating materials in my hands. I was no longer struggling to keep in step. With a needle and thread, I could dance. For some reason, I'd been under the impression that in art school, one concentrates on serious fine art and I'd kept my interest in handcrafts underground. I used this time in school to experiment with different ways of working and taught myself embroidery. At this stage, I didn't think that my mixed media and stitched creations would ever be successfully used as illustration. By the 1990's, I had developed my fabric relief technique to the point where I was ready to enter the world of children's books. My first picture book, "The Way Home" came out in 1991 and I've published a dozen books since. In between illustration jobs, I make stand-alone pieces, like "The Red Chair".