“I never counted the feathers in the wings. . . . I just count the wings.”

Charles Harper is an illustrator that I have fallen in love with. I feel like I have known his work all of my life and yet I just discovered him. Thanks to a resurgent of his work, DWELL magazine did a great interview with him on their site.
l plus Todd Oldhams’s set of resin trays with ladybugs (a featured item that most home magazine’s are featuring this month, designed for la-z-boy) that were inspired by Charles Harper. His work takes me back to the illustrations of the 60’s and 70’s. He makes a great statement about how his work progressed into his graphic

Style Yes. I started realizing that in order to get a whole bunch of stuff on a piece of paper, you had to simplify it. So a Rocky Mountain or something like that, you couldn’t fit everything in, but you could get the impression by flattening it out. That appealed to me. “

Here are a few of my favorites. Also check out the illustrations from the original Betty Crocker's Dinner for Two (1958) recipe book as well as The Golden Book of Biology (1962)

The Kiddies!

I wanted to show off my darlings of an AP class. I must admit I really like Parkville Kids. They have tons of personality and adventure. Quite insightful and quirkily dedicated. I rag on their not working all of the time. Hence the new name “McTerror”. Only trying to be the art teacher I wish I had. I want them to be successful. I want them to be proud of the growth they will make in this year; All but one is a senior. Remember being a senior in high school? So much on the line. Lots of pressure and everyone telling you that this is the year that counts for your future. AGH! Glad I’m not there now. But hope I can help in all that I can.

with my apologies...

Sorry all. I feel like I have become a walking salesman. All these posts for my wares to buy. Yes, it would be nice if I could actually figure out how to sell what I produce. I’m feeling like van Gogh…not a single sale from the show at Salt. I guess people don’t want paintings of apathetic teenagers on their walls. If only I could be happy painting landscapes and paintings of people’s pets! Anyway, the Mill Center Craft Show was a bust. Too much football competition? Plus a horrible detour..blocked road in front of the Mill didn't help.Thank God for my buddy Tricia, or we would have been bored out of our skulls. Didn’t do too well. Not a big crowd. So here is my last post for a while about my stuff. Email me if you are interested in purchasing any tote bags, aprons, cards, etc. I made a card set of my past series of paintings. $10 for 8 cards.
Anyway here I am and my set up.

Mill Center Sale

Print out the flyer for $5 off any purchase. November 18 and 19. 3000 Chestnut Ave. Second floor. Noon to 5 PM each day. Hope to see you there!

Sam and the Perfect World

I took my students down to DC today to look at ART. We went to the Hirshhorn and National Gallery, and then we went up to the newly renovated National Portait Gallery. You have to go! Its part of the Smithsonian; its free to get in! We went up to see the Portrait Competition. Artists from each state were ask to submit a portait and the results are breath taking. The winner " Sam and the Perfect World" by David Lenz from Shorewood Wisconin is the pic I posted. Here is his artist statment:
Artist Statement:

"My wife Rosemarie had just given birth to our son Sam, and although he appeared perfectly healthy, something, nevertheless, didn't seem right. There was an awkward silence in the room, no words of congratulation or comments about how cute he was – even though he was cute. Five minutes later the diagnosis was given: Sam has Down Syndrome. "Are you going to keep him?" a nurse asked. Later that evening someone else came by to "console" us. "It's every mother's worst nightmare," she said.

Welcome to the world, Sam.

In America today, perfection is highly valued. We dump loads of chemicals on our lawns to try and get rid of every weed, every dandelion. Models and supermodels are tall, impossibly fit, their clothes stylish and wrinkle-free. Images like this tend to change our perceptions, our ideals, until finally they leave us looking around at the peeling paint on our own houses, and our less than fit bodies, and it leaves us wanting.

Perfection, I would submit, is overrated. And besides, I like dandelions.

In the painting Sam assumes the role of presenter, host, even tutor, of this most revealing examination of the civilization man has made for himself. Sam is not society's accepted definition of perfection. In spite of that, or perhaps because of that, he really does have an important message for everyone to hear."

You have to go and see it for yourself. Absolutely amazing!

New and Improved

Here are my last posts for stuff I'm trying to sell..then I"ll get back to more interesting posts. Here are my new line in Aprons. I re-vamped the vintage apron with heavier ,more modern design fabrics . The straps around the neck actually button instead of tie. I think the knot behind the neck is not the most comfortable in closures. I also made some really nice reversable, heavy duty bib aprons. The reverse side is made of denim, in either dark gray or blue. Two front pockets and an adjustable strap with the old over-alls clip. I'll be selling these along with my paintings and bags at the Mill Center in Hampden on November 18 and 19th. from noon to 5 each day. Look for me and my friend Tricia Lane on the second floor. We'll be out in the hallway somewhere.
Again, let me know if you're interested in any of these or would like to commission a bag , apron, etc.

Brian Bags

Allison Bags

All $45 bags have interior zip pockets with complmentary color siding and zippers, 3 accessory pockets and exterior pocket. $35 bags has 2 accessory pockets.
Email me to order by clicking envelop next to comments.

Flowers, Quik Boy and Lucienne Bags

The flowers bag has an interior zip pocket, as well as 3 accessory plus one other inside pocket. Outside flower design is also a pocket. Quik Boy also has zip and 3 accessory pockets as well as outside pocket. Red Lucienne Day tote has interior zip and acessory pockets.

Elsy Totes for Sale

Elsy Totes : The one that is sold is a two pocket design, A red pocket with the black line drawing of Elsy is on the reverse. Can be duplicated for $45. $35 totes only have the three inside accessory pockets. The $45 also has a zip pocket along with the 3 pockets. The two Elsy prints are also pockets.

New Jenny Jen Products

New from Jenny Jen...the attractive utilitarian tote bag. Tall bags with zipper inside pocket and three accessory pockets. Wider bags with three accesory pockets. Silkscreen favorites: Allison, Brian and Elsie. Olive green, cardhardt gold and silver gray. More to come!
Put your order in today. Up coming shows: MAEA c conference at Towson University’s Fine Art building: October 20 and Open House at the Mill Center: November 17 and 18th.

Also coming: apron made of heavier fabric! Aprons and Pillows are still for sale at the Women’s Industrial Exchange on Charles Street. Or anytime: Special order: 410-206-8400 or email me at j.mcbrien@verizon.net

more picthas

Had to post more of these. That strange guy with the hand motioning stop was the photographer.
Next post...Vegas!

Wedding Season

September begins another wedding season. Our great friends Chris and Emily have made the big jump into matrimony with a big shindig of an event. The ladies started the weekend with karaoke down at Cross Street Market...the big pick-a-me-up a rowdy college dude territory. Horrible for bad flash backs of the 80's college days. Anyway, the night was full of Emily's female friends and relatives. Many from the protest days of the feminist days, anti-Regan and banning the bomb era. Great bunch of gals singing songs like "The Age of Aquarius" and Emily's best rendition of "War, ugh! What is good for"? I don't think those college types knew what to think about us! Unfortunately I did not bring the camera but hoping maybe someone will forward me some.

The big event occurred on Sunday at the Cloister's. A beautiful setting for a beautiful event. Great group of people! Lots of dancing. I truly found my partner in the cheese ball dancing troupe! I actually married him.

Here are some great pics that cheesy dancer. Enjoy

In the Recoup

I always seem to forget about the big let down. The depression that occurs when you work so hard in your studio. Working towards a show, working day and night, and then….its done. Out of the studio, out of the house. Hanging in some stranger’s house. People drinking and eating and saying god knows what about my work. Or worst, not even noticing it. You don’t know.
You have the big opening. The cheese plate and the wine and the beer that you have to drink to cover up the nervousness. The fact that you keep thinking of all the invites you sent out and who said they were coming. They don’t all come of course. I am guilty of that one, so I can’t be angry. I am very happy by my guests. Even some wonderful unexpected guests! People from many different period of my life. The ages ran from 4 months on. The babies were wonderful! I think we made the owner’s mother a little nervous. We took over the bar and ordered dinner. I wish I remembered my camera before then to take more pics. But here is the left over gang! The work looked terrific. I know if I painted really bad landscapes or portraits of cute children I would have sold out. I took a closer look at the clientele of the Salt Tavern. A strange hip older crowd.
The work will be up until November, so go see.

Aprons for sale at the Women's Exchange

The Aprons are now for sale! Along with pillows and sock monkeys. Wendy and I put up the window today,for the Women's Industrial Exchange on Charles Street in good old mobtown, for the month of September. I really love the premise for this place. Check its web site at http://www.womansindustrialexchange.org. And go by the window on 333 N. Charles Street. The window will be set up with our items until October 9th.

more aprons

The studio has now been converted back to the sweatshop. This friday, Wendy Wu and I will be doing the window for the Women's Exchange on Charles street. My aprons, pillows, and sock monkeys will be offically on sale at the Womens' Exchange. Here are three of my newest aprons that I completed this past weekend.

The Show is UP!!!!

Patrick, Beth and I hanged the show at Salt this morning and it looks great! The colors go so well with the green glow of the lights that hand from the ceiling. We got to hang more than I thought we would. There are eight of the new paintings, i snuck in a self portrait too! Four of the pieces that I completed Spring of 2005 and then some flag paintings that I framed from 2004-05. They look good in that environment. Now I have stark walls in my studio. I had Elsy hanging in my living room and it really looked great there. So I priced it at $1200 , as well as Brian (see first blog entries in June) figuring that is the price I could let them go without too much heartache. So if you want an early peek, head on down to Salt for dinner or just a drink. Don't forget your pockeybook though.