Bubbles

My darling hubby has experimented with lots of bubble recipes, and this one is absolutely his favorite. Enjoy!

Digital kid doodles

I had mentioned in an earlier post about how sketching has shifted from a solo activity to much more of a mother-daughter activity. A popular way to pass odd moments of time is "dibujando con dedos," drawing with fingers on the nearest touch-screen gadget. I so enjoy watching these explorations take place that I have started doing screen captures as the process unfolds. Which means, gif time!

On Slug Marmelade and Life Stages

An anthropologist friend of mine pointed out that even the niftiest artists and crafters go through life stages where their work has different levels of meaning and focus. Parenting a toddler is a life stage that is not to be trifled with. Which is to say that rather than sketching on this amazing sunny weekend during which spring was indeed starting to spring, I found myself...

• Introducing the kiddo to the concept of catkins, and showing how the pollen poofs out when you shake them,
• Clarifying that crocuses come in a whole range of colors, from yellow to white to purple, and
• Inventing fancy new common names for certain wild fungi (in Spanish, no less) to clarify that even though they are stunningly pretty, they aren't meant for human consumption. Thus, "witches jelly" is now "mermelada de babosa" (marmelade for the slugs) in my book.

And in turn, the kiddo did some marvellous drawing on the lids of cardboard boxes. Not only do I applaud the control she had to make all those broad parallel strokes, but she also 

• Clearly articulated the differences between "light" and "dark" versions of colors (claro/oscuro) for the first time I've heard, and
• Narrated a very specific strategy for which colors she wanted to use first and then which would come next, in a very deliberate way.

Dang. Landmark city in my brain, at least.

Plus, she declared "I love the catkins," which is the first time we've ever heard her say "I love (x)" about anything.

Am not sure if I am realistically going to keep updating this blog much in the near future, so this post can be a nod to the dynamic force of life stages in the meantime.

Our Bodies, Our Bikes

Just got my copy of the brand new Our Bodies, Our Bikes book. I am sometimes nervous to see my work in print, how will it turn out in the final form? But this book is quite simply gorgeous.

 Snapshot of my first draft of the cover art above with finished books alongside. The color and paper choice of the cover are so satisfyingly lovely. (It's the little things, like how it feels in our hands, that can really make a book special, you know?) And the graphic design inside is super great too: lush, sophisticated, yet very reader-friendly layout and color pallette. Bravo.

Super proud to be a part of this collaboration. Learn more at the Microcosm Publishing site!

Wigwags and Zucchini Muffins

A favorite attraction at the Oregon Zoo is now the wig-wag train crossing signal that's across from the leopards. Sorry leopards, but you don't go "ding ding ding" or have a red light in your belly, do you?

A slightly clumsy attempt to capture the dynamic wiggler bouncing around in the cafe chair while eating her muffin. The proportions are all cattywampus, but the general concept of seat as jungle-gym is coming across at least. 

Oh Bacteria, My Bacteria!

I work as an exhibit developer at my local science museum. Folks often ask what the difference is between an exhibit developer and an exhibit designer. Short answer: I read all the scientific papers and figure out how to make the juicy data fun for 8 year olds. And then I coordinate with the exhibit designers, who do everything from color schemes and fonts to figuring out how to make structures that won't fall over when countless 4-year-olds throw themselves headlong at them.

It's mostly a writing and thinking job, but I do get to scribble in the margins to help me communicate my ideas. And I will admit that I've gotten very fond of creating fast scribbles of microbes in fat felt-tip markers. Kind of a zen circle sort of thing.

My big new project, Zoo in You: The Human Microbiome, is just now packing up and getting ready to head to the next stop on its national tour. Look for it in Ashland, Oregon, or San Diego, California, or Boca Raton, Florida, or beyond!

Sunset, ballpoint pens

Experimenting with new angles on portability in this new life phase of sketching, knowing that my toddler's needs (diapers, wipes, spare clothes, books, snacks, etc) outweigh the bulky kit of art supplies that I used to carry before.

This little series used a set of 3 double-sided ballpoint pens, total of 6 color options, in a super-slim little pocket notebook. Not terribly elegant, but it's enough to keep me having fun!

(Perseid meteor shower star party, Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon)