Here on the front porch are the family pumpkins for 2011: Autumn Leaves, Scary GOP Elephant, Tribute to Steve Jobs, and Batman. Squash as a form of art, sentiment, and political expression is everywhere coming into its own.
Category: Illustration
It’s a Party
For all you October 25th Birthday Babies.
Benny
Geneviève
Chiquita
This image is now available as an 8.5″ x 11″ archival high-resolution print.
Columbus Day
On this anniversary of the arrival of America’s most celebrated immigrant, I refer you to the comic Illegal Immigration.
Birthday
Today is the birthday of my cousin Dianne and her twin sister Monica. Dianne would have been 53. She passed away this past Sunday, October 2nd, after a year-long struggle with two rare blood disorders. Dianne was so optimistic and cheerful throughout the course of this painful condition and its equally (if not more) painful treatments that both family and hospital staff really thought she would pull through. She leaves behind a beloved husband and two sons, as well as the large extended family of siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews who provided a warm loving ongoing support system, for her and for each other. Now continuing, as necessary as ever in the wake of her loss.
I see that the card I made for her last birthday (detail above) has an entirely different meaning today.
Dianne 
Monica
Dianne 2011
Michaelmas/Rosh Hashanah
This year two festivals of autumn fall upon the same day: Michaelmas, the feast of the dragon-conquering St. Michael the Archangel, and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. And appropriately so, since both, although from different spiritual traditions, call for reflection upon and atonement for our deeds and misdeeds of the past year and a courageous awakening to our innermost thoughts. The days now grow shorter, and as we head into winter we plan consciously to nurture the light within.
So in our family we honor the season ecumenically, if perhaps sacrilegiously, and don red garments, blow our tofu horn, say special verses and blessings to help us reflect, and share apples dipped in honey and challah baked in the shape of a dragon. A light-filled MichaelmHashanah to you.
Dad
The Survivor Tree
This summer I completed the illustrations and layout for The Survivor Tree, a book by Cheryl Somers Aubin, created to help children deal with the traumatic experiences suffered on September 11th, 2001, in particular, and with loss and the struggle to heal, in general. Here is a brief summary of the book.
A month after the collapse of the Twin Towers, workers on the site discovered a few green leaves showing through the gray concrete and ash. Clearing the debris, they found a badly injured Callery Pear Tree. She was rescued and taken to a nursery outside the city and put into the care of Richie, a City Parks worker. No one was sure if she would live, but the following spring, a dove built a nest in her branches, and new green buds appeared.
Over the years, the tree, although still bearing scars, grew tall and strong, and last year she was replanted on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. This story imaginatively describes the experiences, memories, and feelings of the tree throughout her healing and her eventual return home.
The book is available from Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. All profits from its sale go to charity.
Jim
Nest-building
Another detail from a recently completed project. More to follow.
Ride to the nursery
Another detail from a recently completed project. More to follow.
Carol
Green leaves
Some of you are aware that I have been very busy with work this spring and summer, and especially with one project in particular, which is now complete. Here is a detail from its pages. More to follow.
Phyllis
Ben