Susan Tooke at Long Branch Studios

I had the great pleasure and opportunity to work with the poetry of George Elliott Clarke earlier this year. Lasso the Wind: Aurélia's Verses and Other Poems will be out this fall.  Here are several illustrations... a bit of a preview!

I have been here at Banff for about 10 days.  Veronique MacKenzie and Lukas Pearse are here working with me.  It has been wonderful working with these two dedicated artists.  We seem to be overcoming obstacles and getting on with the project which is starting to come together.  I have been going back decades to my days at the New School in New York, where I was immersed in animation of the stop motion sort, plus painting under the camera.  In the photo you see some of my figures which I am working with... miniature Vs have a life all their own.

Just got back from a wonderful few days in Sydney for the occasion of the opening of Up Home at the Centre for Craft and Design.  I spent several days working with the sixth grade students at Harbourside Elementary.  They did a wonderful job writing and illustrating special memories.  Their work is on display along with the original illustrations and text from Up Home by Shauntay Grant, published by Nimbus.  Her Honour, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis, ONS, DHumL, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia opened the show with a moving speech.  The exhibition was made possible through partnerships with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, African Nova Scotia Service Provider Network and the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board.  Thank you all and thank you, Kris Webster and Carol Beaton.

Today I put the final touches on the illustrations for my next book with Shauntay Grant and Nimbus Publishing called The City Speaks in Drums.  I have been working on this in one form or another since last July... a long haul, but I am happy with the illustrations.  Once again, I was working with members of our community on this book based in Halifax, following the adventures of two boys as they explore the city. Thanks to Dante and Chris, two very patient young men, and the stars of the book.

Richard Rudnicki and I share our painting studio.  It is a pleasure to be able to look up and see him deep in thought, working away at his latest painting.  Here he is painting an illustration for Groundwood's upcoming book on Viola Desmond.  We are lucky, in that this would not be possible with just anyone!  It is good to have a second eye ready to comment when needed.

Now, for all of you who wonder how we manage to make ends meet, here is Richard working hard to supplement our income.  Well, actually, he is posing for  The City Speaks in Drums.  Great job, Richard!  We swooped down on the Public Gardens, and Richard demonstrated his technique learned from a quick lesson on Youtube.  We left in a flash right after hearing a child say "Look, Mom!  He's going to play the spoons!".  

It is harder than it looks, but Andrew manages to "whip air to the beat" with some advice from a passerby... another detail. Models are very sympathetic, lending their personalities to the creative process. Behind, sitting on the bench, a local celebrity helps support the pigeon population, wings mimic the flying dreadlocks.

Starting to post, and finding that people know, people recognize this fellow intent on his crossword outside the public library. I am interested in dissecting my paintings, finding small parts that become a passage unto themselves. Capturing the fleeting moment, holding it in your hand, in your mind's eye, then returning to it months later to examine it once again.