Len Libby Signing

Thanks to all who stopped by Len Libby Candies this past Sunday for our My Maine book signing event! It was a rather small turnout, (because let's face it, competing with the first 75° degree day after a month of rain wasn't easy!) but it was a fun afternoon either way. We met some great people, made a few new little friends, including a future children's book illustrator in the making, and of course couldn't leave without a helping of the best needham ice cream you'll ever taste. The book, along with matted prints from the book, and a few chickadee and moose prints on wood blocks, are still for sale at Len Libby. So if you were too busy at the beach, we understand, and you can still go check it out!

Me, Suzanne, and Maureen Hemond-Len Libby Owner

Our next book signing scheduled for My Maine is on July 9th, in Dameriscotta, ME. Stay posted for details!

Donate to a Great Cause, Local Business

To my fellow artists and illustrators-

I'm working on a mural in the children's trauma area of the Community Counseling Center in Portland with a few other artists, and was hoping as an extra help, to gather some artwork and children's books to donate as well. They recently moved into this brand new location and have many bare walls. They need art for both the adult and children's areas. If you have any prints you'd be willing to donate (unmatted, unframed, older work, is all fine!) or children's books you've written or illustrated (signed would be extra special!) please contact me directly at nicolefazio@yahoo.com.

There's an open house for the new facility on June 16th. We'll have the mural completed by this time and I was hoping to gather the art before then, too.

Any size, 2D works only, and please choose art that reflects the manner of the facility (wellness, positivity, peace...no dark and gloomy images!)

Thanks so much! Hope you can help this great place!  :)

Nicki

"My Maine" Book Signing, Memorial Day Weekend

Hope to see you there!!

Bailey Portrait

In memory of miss Bailey
8"x10" Oil on Canvas

Detail

I completed this pet portrait recently as a commission. Still new at pet portraits, but I really enjoy doing them. I want the pet to portray it's personality the best I can, or as much as I can through using just a photo or two of them.  I've used oils for both dogs that I've painted for clients, and I really like how many textures I can achieve with them. I'll probably do some in the future with watercolor and pen, my usual tools, to try some different styles, but oil paint is always a really fun change of pace for me.
Also, Bailey's family was really happy with how she came out.  It felt great being able to do this piece for them of their cherished pup.

Client website

I am no web designer (it's not easy getting these things up and running!) but I took my first stab at it for a client of mine, "Life's Healthy Pleasures". We needed  to create a simple, informational platform for potential new clients, as well as any consumers interested in learning more about the company. A couple of years ago, I designed the branding for "Life's healthy Pleasures" as well as the logo for the vending services, "Good on the Go", and the design of the vending machines themselves. Check out my first website here! It was a great learning experience and will hopefully do more now that I've learned the basics!

Advanced Copy of Down East Book!

Had an unexpected ring at the doorbell today from UPS, and this is what I found!

Down East in the Ocean--in stores this May!

Back jacket

This is my second book and I'm really excited about it and happy with how it turned out! I can't wait until it's published in May. This book was so much fun to do, was a fast turnaround, but well worth the late nights and hard work. 

An extra fun aspect for me is that Down East in the Ocean was written by Connie & Peter Roop. They are the authors of many, many, books...including one in particular that I grew up with and simply adored, Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie. 

Fun fact: First publication was the year I was born!

Pretty cool how life will give you a little wink and a nudge like that every once in a while.

March 2011: "My Maine" book release party!

Our launch party and first book signing event for My Maine was a huge success! It was held at the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine, and we had a terrific turnout.

Thank you to everyone who attended--all the kids and "big kids" had a blast. The adventurous second floor was all ours for everyone to play and enjoy pizza, juice boxes and Maine whoopie pies. Mmmm, delish.

It's juice box time for Tyler and Dani :)

We had a wonderfully long line of guests purchasing books and prints from the book.

Suzanne and I were thrilled by all the support from everyone who attended. We had a fabulous evening, and can't wait for the next My Maine signing event. There are plans for more upcoming signings very soon--check back on the blog soon for dates of events!

Suzanne Buzby-Hersey (author) and me (illustrator)

It Runs in the Family

Check out this blog article featuring my sister of many talents! Primarily a photographer, Dani dabbles in everything creative and produces beautiful works of art. She's working on a website, too, which is still under construction at the moment, but be sure to visit again soon to see more of her amazing photography!

Click here for the full article on the Road to the Farm Blog:
http://roadtothefarm.blogspot.com
&
http://danifazioart.wordpress.com/

Book Release Party-Hope to see you there!

Guest Illustrator at MHS Event

I've been invited to participate as a guest illustrator at the Maine Historical Society's annual birthday celebration of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I'll be there for an hour or two illustrating a few scenes from a couple of his poems on a large easel for kids and families to watch the process! The drawings will then be displayed during the duration of the event while we all enjoy some other fun crafts, a reading, and of course, some birthday cake in honor of Mr. Longfellow.


My children's book, My Maine, will be on sale at the event and is also currently being sold in the Maine Historical Society's wonderful museum store. 


It will be a fun day, all are invited and the event is free! Hope to see you there! 

Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, and studied at Bowdoin College. He was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and "Evangeline".