Winter is here!

Time for getting cozy with a favorite child and a favorite book! My dear friend Carol insists that Rainbow Stew is her adorable one-year-old grandson's favorite book, and I'm thrilled, of course. Here is Tobin with his Opa Carol. He certainly looks like he's focused on the story!

Tell Me A Story About Maine

I'm delighted to be a part of this show: Tell Me A Story: About Maine - Children's Book Illustrations by Maine Artists.
July 26th - Nov. 23rd at the Atrium Art Gallery, USM Lewiston-Auburn College. Opening reception is July 26th from 5-7. Work by 15 artists, including Dahlov Ipcar, Charlotte Agell, Jeannie Brett, Jamie Hogan, Laura Rankin and Chris Van Dusen.

The gorgeous image above is by Maine's Treasure, Dahlov Ipcar.

Here's one of mine that will be in the show. It's from Pond Babies.

Rainbow Stew meets Alphabet Soup!

Very pleased to toot my horn about Jama Rattigan's post about my new book, Rainbow Stew, on her blog, Jama's Alphabet Soup. She sent me a lot of interesting questions and a list of photo requests, and then she put it all together for a very nice piece. Even my Dad liked it! Here are a couple of the photos from the post. Read the rest on her blog.
Jama is also an author of children's books. You can check out her official website here.

My kids in the garden, many years ago

My Dad with the three of us, many MANY years ago!

Rainbow Stew!

Rainbow Stew is here! My copies arrived today, and more are on their way to bookstores.

The book also has a website of its very own: http://www.RainbowStewBook.com/

Please check it out as it develops for recipes, craft ideas, gardening projects and more.

Clean-out-the-studio art sale

I finally uploaded a bunch of stuff (about 60 pieces) that will be in the sale onto a Flickr site if anyone would like to see them. I hope to add more today. Here's the basic information, or scroll down a bit to see the poster.

AN ARTFUL AGGLOMERATION OF PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION

by CATHRYN FALWELL

A Clean-Out-the-Studio SALE of Prints, Drawings,

and Original Illustrations from more than 20 picture books!

Friday, April 12, 6-8 PM

Art and Book Sale and Reception

Saturday, April 13, 11 AM -4 PM

Art and Book Sale 

Zero Station

222 Anderson Street

Portland, Maine

For directions:  ZERO

-Reasonably priced, starting at $20.

-Credit Cards accepted.

-Librarians and Educators get a 15% discount if they are buying pieces for public display for children.

-A portion of sales will go to buy art supplies for an area childcare center.

 http://www.zerostation.com/directions.html

Love and Equality

My cousin Susan made this image, and I really like it. It embraces the symbols of love and equality so simply and beautifully. But until the Supreme Court hopefully makes the right decisions to make sure ALL people have the rights defined in our Constitution, this symbol can only exist in the sand. I'm holding out for hope. 

Pre-Spring Sale!

To see the artwork, see this FLICKR site.

Well, it's time to cut down the amount of mouse food in my studio. (They LOVE paper!) I'm having a clean-out sale at at a Portland (Maine) gallery, Zero Station, in April. There will be an assortment of stuff: sketches, drawings, sample pieces, giclee prints, and original illustrations from most of my twenty-something picture books. I will also have books for sale.
  Kirsten Cappy at Curious City suggested I offer a discount to teachers and librarians, which I think is a fine idea. And Anna Boll, who has launched a great site called Author & Illustrator Visits, said I should ask everyone to share the news!
Hope to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions!
UPDATE:  In celebration of their 25th anniversary, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds to purchase art supplies and books for Youth & Family Outreach---a fabulous early childhood center in Portland, Maine. 

Nature Lovers...

Happy Valentine's Day from Maine!

Kids and Dreams

Children participating in the kids program for the Martin Luther King, Jr Breakfast Celebration in Portland, Maine enjoyed lots of games and activities on Monday.
The annual event is sponsored by Portland's NAACP.

I began by reading my book, David's Drawings. In the book, a young boy draws a bare winter tree, and then welcomes crayon contributions from his classmates. The result is a joyful collaboration of friendship and imagination. Program participants made their own collaborative drawing, played cooperative games, made collages, and created their own inauguration hats ( it was, indeed, a two-event day!) They also wrote their hopes, wishes and dreams on paper leaves and added them to our "I Have A Dream" tree. Locals who visit the Portland Public Library can visit the tree and add their own leaves starting tomorrow, January 22nd.