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News & Events
 Owl #95 Donated by Marcia Christensen Owl #95, created by Marcia Christensen, was delivered to Keene State College on April 21st. Marcia did the pen-and-ink drawings that are at the beginning of each chapter in Julie Hahnke's fantasy novel Through The Eyes Of A Raptor. Marcia shared the unique process used in creating this black and white owl illustration. "I created the owl using an eraser process. In other words, I created a drawing then erased the whole thing. Drew again on top of the erased drawing and then repeated the process. After several layers were completed, I darkened certain areas that I wanted to emphasize. The reason I chose this process was due to the nature of owls. They are silent when moving through the air and appear not to be there. Also the larger great horned owl preys on the smaller barred owls. The great horned owl is watching the smaller owls but all appear to slightly disappear." We are so pleased to have this new addition that gets us closer to our minimum goal of 100 owls. Daniel Mahoney's Owl is #94 With the arrival of Daniel J. Mahoney's donation we now have 94 owls in our collection. Daniel, who lives in Albany, NY, is an author and illustrator. An image of his owl with a reference to our Festival owl project can be seen on his web site at www.danieljmahoney.com. In describing his creation Daniel says, "I created the owl with acrylic gouache on gessoed linen paper. I painted my owl from a sketch I had laying around my studio. I've always been enamored by owls for their noble and mysterious looks, and I've always wanted to have one as a main character in one of my books. Maybe after finally painting up my owl sketch, I just might write a story about him." Covers and information about seven of Daniel's work can also be seen on his site. Eric Brooks Donates Owl #93 Erik Brooks, who lives in Washington State, has donated owl #93. He shared that "My particular owl was inspired by my general fascination with arctic animals. As soon as I hit upon an owl that roams above the arctic circle I was hooked. The owl's pose and his companions just sort of spilled out amidst the sketching. I wanted something celebratory, and also a reflection of my own fond feelings for winter and all of it's snowy activity. I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and currently live in Winthrop, WA. We don't have snowy owls, but we do have lots of snow, cross country skiing, snowman building etc.. The painting is ink and watercolor on paper." Erik's web site is http://www.erikbrooks.com. Amanda Shepherd Creates Owl #92 Amanda Shepherd's owl arrived in early January 2008. Her medium is oil on paper primed with gesso. She shares, "I just finished the book Fiona Loves the Night where I fell in love with the owl. The painting in your collection was also painted by finger painting with some brush work as well. One of my first memories when I was young was finger painting in kindergarten. There was a brief moment when thought I was the first to discover green. How amazing is that suddenly there is green. It was fabulous. Finger painting does not have the abrupt edges of a paintbrush - it is such an expressive form. I love being involved in the mixing. I feel it reduces the barrier between me and the paper and brings me closer to the reader. It is more a part of me. It is expressive and deeply human." Amanda lives in Arizona and one can learn more about her work at http://www.paintdog.com. Owl #91 by Marty Kelley Marty Kelley's owl increases our total to 91. In commenting on his owl, Marty says, "While the artwork in most of my books is a rather simplistic, cartoon style, my own personal artwork has always been realistic. I work exclusively in watercolor because I love the look of the finished work and I love the feel of the brush on the paper. My paintings are typically of people. I enjoy the infinite possibilities of changing expressions, lighting, and skin tones. This owl painting is my first attempt at any sort of realistic wildlife and I was intimidated at first by the various textures presented by the feathers. By combining several techniques and using hard and soft edges, I think I was able to capture the feel of the different kinds of feathers without it becoming overwhelming. As the eyes are the focal point of the painting, I used a looser, more gestural approach the farther I got from the eyes. I don't think I'll be specializing in wildlife but it was very enjoyable to expand my horizons and try something different." Learn more about Marty Kelley and his work at http://martykelley.com Owl #90 Arrives With the arrival of the owl created by Laura Jacobsen of Arizona, we now have 90 owls in our parliament. In describing her owl, Laura shared, "The piece is done in pastel pencil over watercolor. My house here in Arizona, backs up to a flood control wash where the abundance of tall grass and open space make it an ideal home for all of the critters on which owls enjoy snacking. Occasionally, I will see an owl beginning its nightly hunt, and of course shiver a bit when I imagine those talons swooping down on its unsuspecting prey. This image, along with my favorite view of a low, orange Fall moon rising over the Superstition Mountains inspired me do create this piece." To learn more about Laura and her work go to www.laurajacobsen.com. Grace Lin Contributes Owl #89 Many of you know of Grace Lin, who also attended our October Festival, through her work with Robert's Snow. As a result of Grace's donation, we are within 11 owls of our goal of a minimum of 100 owls for Keene State College's Centennial Celebration next year. Grace's beautiful colored illustration has a girl sitting on a tree limb at night and she is folding origami owls. Learn more about Grace and her work at www.gracelin.com. Owl #88 Arrives After returning home to Missouri after attending our October Festival, Cheryl Harness sent us a very unique black and white owl. Cheryl shared the following information:
Cheryl has a web site at www.cherylharness.com. Abigail Marble1s Owl is #87 A donation by Abigail Marble of Portland, Oregon, arrived October 17, 2007. It is a watercolor painting of a mother and child in the woods at night with an owl perched above them in a tree. To learn more about Abigail and her work, go to her site at www.abigailmarble.com. We Actually Have 86 Owls Currently in the Collection My apologies to Beth Krommes whose name has been missing from our list of contributors. Beth, who lives in Peterborough, NH, donated an owl in 2006. Somehow her name was not inserted into our list of illustrators who have donated an owl to the Festival Owl Project. As a result, we actually have 86, not 85, owls currently in the collection. On October 12, 2007, 15 new owls were hung in our parliament; on October 19, 2007, the three most recent donations will be added. People at this year's Festival will have the opportunity to see 18 new owls added since last October 2006. Only 15 Owls Now Needed to Reach Minimum Goal! Owl #85 arrived on October 15, 2007. It is a black and white collage created by Kyra Teis of New York. Kyra shared, "I have been working for a while in this semi-abstract style of collage illustration, and I felt I got to really let loose on this one. No editors, no committees. Just the owl, a bunch of papers and glue, and me. Very nice." Kyra's web site can be found at www.kyrateis.com. Pam Hoyt Donates David McPhail Illustration Pam Hoyt was the Festival Assistant Director from 1981 to 2006. She recently donated an original illustration by David McPhail from Sam's Winter Hat by Albert Lamb. In her note she said: "Donated to the gallery in recognition of my 15 years as assistant director." Pam and her husband Dean, who also was a great help with the Festival, will continue to come to the Festival as guests. Jeannie Brett's Owl is Number 83 Jeannie Brett's donation, entitled "Friend or Foe?," arrived October 11, 2007. The image has a mouse nestled against the head of an owl. The media used in its creation were pen and ink and water color pencils. Learn more about Jeannie and her work at www.jeanniebrett.com. Owl Number 84 Donated by Alissa Imre Geis On October 12 owl number 84 arrived from nearby Hatfield, MA. Created by Alissa Imre Geis, it is a collage made using pencil, acrylic gouach and found paper. It shows an owl with a piece of paper hanging from its beak on which is written "The Brain - is wider than the sky -", a quote from Emily Dickinson. Alissa's web site is at www.alissaimregeis.com. By clicking on the "New" image at the top, you will find her illustration and what made her design it the way she did. Donna Berger's Owl Arrives Donna Berger of MA delivered her owl to KSC on October 3rd. This is our 82nd owl - only 18 more to reach our minimum goal of 100. Donna's donation is entitled "Flight Training." This joyous painting shows an adult owl training four young ones about the basics of flying. To learn more about Donna and her work, go to www.donnaberger.com. 19 Owls to Go! Owl #81 arrived on September 18th. Created by Liz Goulet Dubois who works digitally, it is an owl apparently performing Brunnhilde's role in the Wagner opera "Diwalkure". Learn more about Liz and her work at www.studiodubois.com. 80% Mark Reached for Owl Project! On September 12, 2007, with the arrival of Jennifer Morris' owl, the 80% mark was reached for the Festival Owl Project. We are well on the way to reaching our goal of at least 100 owls by the end of August 2008 and then having a special ceremony in October as part of Keene State College's Centennial Celebration! Jennifer works digitally and she sent a giclee print of an owl created especially for us. Her humorous illustration shows an owl shopping at Owl-Mart, purchasing foods appropriate for an owl. To learn more about Jennifer and her work, go to www.jemorris.com. Owl #79 Arrives A new owl painting from Sarah Dillard of Vermont has just arrived. Her illustration is of a flying owl grasping a basket containing three mice. The label on the basket states "Owl Air." It is exciting that we are now within 21 owls of reaching our minimum of 100 for Keene State College's Centennial Celebration. To learn more about Sarah and her work, go to www.sarahdillard.com. #78 Owl Received from Jarrett Krosoczka To see Jarrett's contribution, done in acrylic, go to thejjkblogspot.com. To learn more about Jarrett and his work, go to http://www.studiojjk.com. Kevin Hawkes' Owl Arrives Kevin Hawkes donation is Owl #77. Rendered in pen and ink with acrylic washes, Kevin describes his creation as "the rare 'Owl-lion'...Rarely seen but highly respected, it roams the hills of New Hampshire showing itself only on certain 'literary' occasions." To learn more about Kevin and his work, go to http://www.kevinhawkes.com. Owl #76 Arrives On July 30 the 76th owl in our collection arrived! It was created by Christine L. Patete of Ashville, North Carolina. Her donation is an acrylic batik done on natural Kraft paper. Thank you, Christine, for this beautiful and bold contribution. Illustration Selected for 2007 Festival Flyer and Poster We are pleased to announce that an illustration by Festival 2006 speaker Kevin Hawkes has been selected for our 2007 Festival flyer and poster. The brilliantly colored and humorous illustration is from When Giants Come to Play by Andrea Beaty, published in 2006. In addition, the Festival has purchased this illustration for the Festival Gallery Collection. People attending our 31st Festival on October 27, 2007 will have the opportunity to see this wonderful piece. Festival Display Cabinet Dedicated In February 2004, as part of his sabbatical project, Dr. David E. White, Festival Director, initiated a fund-raising project to have a special Festival Collection display case built in Rhodes Hall, site of the Gallery Collection. Rhodes Hall is the most popular building on campus according to institutional research. Prospective students and their families tour the building when they visit our campus. In the middle of the Gallery is a large, curved cherry wall.  Left to right: Kevin Hawkes, Patricia MacLachlan, Paul O. Zelinski, Tracey Campbell Pearson, P.J. Lynch, and David E. White After two years, Dr. White was successful in raising enough money to have designed and constructed a lockable display case for this wall. The back of the cabinet is the cherry wall; the wood molding of the cabinets is cherry, as well. This cabinet will be used for rotating shows of various illustrations, displays of books by speakers at our annual October Festival, and additional educational presentations. The cabinet was designed by Maynard & Maynard Furnituremakers who also submitted the winning bid for its construction.  Left to right: Dr. David E. White, Mrs. Polly L. Croteau, and Dr. Mel Netzhammer, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs There were 70 donors who met the requirements for three different classifications of giving. Seven were in the highest donor category and they are Great Gray Owl Donors. Three of these donors are Mrs. Polly L. Croteau, former professor of Children's Literature at Keene State College, and her daughter and son-in-law. One donor was in the Snowy Owl category and 62 were in the Elf Owl classification. The display case was dedicated on Saturday, October 28, 2006 prior to the 30th Festival. It contained works by some of the 2007 Festival speakers. Great Gray Owl Donors Snowy Owl Donors Elf Owl Donors Parliament of Festival Owls Is Growing To see a complete description of this project, artists currently represented in the Festival Owl Collection, information for prospective donors, and the appreciation gift given to donors, go to www.keene.edu/clf/owls.cfm |
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Advisory Board