Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure is an online charity auction of some 200 snowflake art pieces created by children's book illustrators. The proceeds from the auction go to cancer research at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Won't you put in a bid? They make excellent, one-of-a-kind gifts. Visit the Robert's Snow/DFCI web site to see the particulars about buying the snowflakes. The bidding starts next week.
Maggie Swanson's snowflake, "The Birdfeeder," goes up for auction starting Monday, November 19th. This piece of art makes me happy just to look at it, and I am honored to feature Maggie's work here at Chicken Spaghetti.
First off, a bit of biography:
Maggie Swanson wanted to be an artist for as long as she can remember. As a child growing up in New Haven, Connecticut, she spent many hours in her parent’s grocery store drawing and coloring pictures with the customers. After graduation from the Rhode Island School of Design, she spent three years illustrating and designing product for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. Returning to Connecticut, she started her family and her freelance career. Since then, Maggie has illustrated more than 100 books for many different publishers.
At Maggie Swanson's web site, you'll see that she has illustrated many "Sesame Street" titles. Time for Bed, Elmo is one of our favorites. Don't miss the photographs that she takes at a local animal shelter, too. Beautiful.
In a recent email, I asked Maggie about her recent publications. She writes,
"I have two new books for Christmas. One is The Kitten's Christmas Lullaby, which I wrote and illustrated for Regina Press. This one has an interesting back story relating to my work at Paws. The book is based on an Italian folk tale that I read on a bulletin board at the shelter. It was a torn off page from a 'Cat of the Day' calendar. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I don't normally write, but this book was so clear in my mind that I figured out the words and layouts in only a few hours. The other is A Scratch & Sniff Night Before Christmas, published by Sterling Publishing Company."
Maggie sent along these images from A Scratch & Sniff Christmas (below, left) and The Kitten's Christmas Lullaby (below, right). Aren't they wonderful! Many thanks to Maggie for sharing the illustrations with us.
Don't forget to bid on "The Birdfeeder" at Robert's Snow.
She's great... one of my favorite illustrators!
Posted by: Rick Wetzel | November 13, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Thanks for stopping by! Isn't that snowflake two tons of awesome? I love it!
Posted by: Susan T. | November 13, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Wonderful ... and I will HAVE to get that Kitty Christmas book!
Posted by: Linda Acorn | November 13, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Thanks for the link to Maggie Swanson's cat photos --- they're great.
NT
Posted by: NT | November 13, 2007 at 10:59 PM
i love maggie!
Posted by: leigh | November 14, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Wow, this one is really beautiful. For some, it seemed as if they were running out of space, but for this artist, she can do a BIG character and still have detail. All those teeensy hairs on the bear!
I'm considering what a Scratch & Sniff Christmas smells like...
Posted by: TadMack | November 14, 2007 at 07:57 AM
I love love this snowflake. Tadmack is right. It's absolutely beautiful and has remarkable detail. It's laid out perfectly. Thanks for the great feature!
Posted by: jama rattigan | November 14, 2007 at 09:51 AM
Such happy colors!!
Posted by: Kelly Fineman | November 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I'm so glad all of you could see Maggie Swanson's snowflake, which I think is grand. I've so enjoyed viewing all the art during Robert's Snow & Blogging for a Cure; it's been like gallery-hopping online.
Posted by: Susan T. | November 14, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I'm late getting to the features today, but I'm here!
Yes, that is a great snowflake. Like TadMack, I love all the detail. And that page of cat photos? Oh my, cuteness overload. Very lovely.
Thanks for doing this, Susan!
Posted by: Jules | November 14, 2007 at 04:54 PM
That is just a perfect shade of blue.
Posted by: adrienne | November 14, 2007 at 05:07 PM
My pleasure, Jules, and, Adrienne, that blue is perfect! I agree.
Posted by: Susan T. | November 15, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Thank you all for your kind comments! I feel lucky to do what I love best and to be able to support such an important cause. And thank you, Susan!
Posted by: Maggie Swanson | November 16, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Hello, I came from Indonesia. I saw your illustration first at the highlight magazine. It's so great! I really like it. I'm a beginner on ilustrating, I will be very delighted if you comment on my work, on my deviant art pages. thank you very much =)
Posted by: Audelia | November 19, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Thanks for the great post.
Posted by: Michael (Snowman) Thomas | May 16, 2008 at 01:34 PM