But as well as donating the illustration, I also contributed to a special collaborative piece. Eleven different illustrators painted a letter to spell out We ART Boston. My friend (and new neighbor) Jarrett was in charge of finding artists and I was happy he contacted me:
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| the handing off of the art--like a marathon baton! |
to paint the second "O". Here is the sketch:
All around my sketch is reference material but it's not placed there so that I can see it. It's placed there to protect the other artists' letters on the paper. Because the other artists' letters are amazing! AND my "O" was right next to a "T" by Eric Carle!!!
I was so nervous painting next to that!
But I did it:
I wanted to do something Boston Chinatown inspired, but the more obvious features--like the Chinatown gate--didn't make an "O" very well. So I decided to modify a Boston Chinatown telephone booth, added a mediating Boston Terrier for added Boston flavor and then had the whole thing levitate in a random homage to Dr. Who (the Sasquatch's favorite TV show).
And the whole piece now looks like this:
Isn't it neat? Other letter artists include Joe McKendry (founder and creator of the project), Kelly Murphy, David Maculay, Brian Lies, Adam Rex, Barbara McClintock, Matt Tavares, Jarrett Krosoczka, and Eric Carle! See why I was so nervous?
But now it needs the final letter...who will it be? What will it look like? I can't wait to find out!*
The whole piece will go on auction with the other We ART Boston art, check the website or facebook page for more info!
* edited to add that the final letter was done by Tony Diterlizzi and it looks like THIS!