One of my facebook friends sent this message to me yesterday: Hey Shadra! Hope you are well. I wrote a book a few years ago and am interested in trying to get it published. Do you happen to have any contacts you could connect me with or your advice on attempting to publish? If you … Read more
Summertime has become the time of year to tie up loose ends, plan, and organize for the future. Because I am so busy during the school year serving our students at MICA, my personal work moves at a slower pace. Recently, I wrapped up and delivered final art for Toni & Slade Morrison’s latest picturebook, Please, … Read more
A Book Drive for Schools Affected by Hurricane Sandy December 10th – December 21st Help Us Donate Books to children coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Purchase a copy of “A Place Where Hurricanes Happen” and Random House will match your donation. How the Book Drive Works: Step One: Purchase a copy of … Read more
Last week I visited Penn State Harrisburg to discuss my work and speak directly on the topic or “Art as a Healing Process”. I was initially a little intimidated about approaching the subject since I’m not an art therapist, but I remembered the article that Dr. Mary Napoli wrote in the Journal of Children’s Literature … Read more
Happy release day to Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams for their charming middle grade novel, The Diary of B. B. Bright, Possible Princess! I contributed cover art and black and white interior drawings for this title. B. B. is a 13 year-old-orphan who is coming into her own as a young princess. This is … Read more
This weekend I hung out in Harrisburg with Jonathan Bean, Taeeun Yoo, and Lauren Castillo for 3rd in the Burg. The third Friday of every month, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, artists open their doors and invite the community into their studios to learn about their work and process. During that time Jonathan Bean hosts an art show … Read more
Tomorrow I will be working with researcher Charles Limb in his research on creative improvisation. Me and a few of my MICA illustration colleagues were invited last week to come to Johns Hopkins and draw while having our brains scanned. Ummmm, yes, please! It’s my Sheldon Cooper dream come true. Mr. Limb gave a TedTalk … Read more
Kudos to two of my SU friends for this collaboration! Sara Gates, owner of Kingsland Printing in Brooklyn, NY, shares her work and love of the craft with film maker, Nadirah Iman. At Syracuse I knew Sara as a painter. We met in our foundation year and remained friends throughout. When I moved to NY … Read more
I am a huge fan of design. Those who know me, know that I majored in communication design before I moved completely to illustration. Fortunately, I have been lucky enough to further my design practice along with my illustration and am now able to find balance between the two disciplines. In NY, I sharpened my … Read more
Last week was senior portfolio week at MICA. By a strange stroke of luck, four of my SVA homies all ended up at MICA to participate. Though we didn’t get to see each other at once, it was great getting hugs and catching up with everyone in small groups. Taeeun, Lauren (MICA graduate), and Nora … Read more