It This weekend I was a guest of The RoadRunner Press to the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, where I was able to introduce my book to librarians for the first time.  I got to speak with many delightful librarians and book enthusiasts, and I got to see my book for the first time! It was very exciting to see it in person at last. 

Dear librarians (and Washingtonians): Thank you for being so kind and welcoming. I had a great time introducing my book to you, and to the lovely two Seattle women (you know who you are) who introduced me to the Seattle Public Library, thank you for taking me under your wing and for the insider tour.  I can't wait for March 26: my book birthday, and for the NYC launch of the book. Stay tuned for more information!  Attached below are some pictures from the conference. 

A welcome to the family present for my future brother-in-law.  "Sappho" Jessica Boehman 2018. Pencil and white colored pencil on brown paper.

"The November Before You Came" Copyright 2018 Jessica Boehman. Colored pencil, pencil, water soluble graphite, and gouache. 
NOT FOR SALE AS ORIGINAL OR PRINT--Private collection.

"Harper's Ferry" watercolor and pencil plein air study. Do not reproduce without permission.

I was commissioned by my first cousin once removed to draw a Madonna and child with the symbols of the Catholic deaconate.  This was a fun commission due to my training as an art historian. I wanted to make sure that all of the symbols in the image were appropriate to Mary. I imagined a sort of modern hortus enclusus, or enclosed garden, which was a symbol of Mary's perpetual virginity in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. For that reason, there is no sky, just garden. I added various flowers that were symbols of Mary: rose, lily, columbine, and periwinkle, seen in the garden and on her veil.  The gospel and chalice are symbols of the deaconate, and I added an image of Jesus' passion: the Crucifixion and Lamentation, on the pages.  The chalice and Eucharistic host was decorated with silver, as was her habit and flowers of the garden, while I gilded the haloes to catch the light. I will show it to you before and after gilding (the gilded images are photos as it's hard to scan).

A quick digital collage of a new sketch and an old drawing of the forest. "The Bear King" colored pencil, watercolor, pencil, and digital collage.

"Rattus norvegicus (Brown Sewer Rat)", seen in E. 31st Street, Manhattan.  Watercolor. 

Eryngium Thistle, watercolor.

 Male hatchling house sparrow, watercolor and gouache. Seen in Rego Park, NY

Eastern Cicada Killer, watercolor. Seen in Rego Park, NY

 American Woodcock, watercolor. Seen in Long Island City, NY

 Cicada Shell, watercolor. Found in Maryland.

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Seen in the Great Smokies, TN.

Eastern Comma Butterfly, watercolor. Seen in the Great Smokies, TN.

This summer, I've been practicing watercolor by doing nature studies of dead creatures I've encountered.  After all, the Italian term for "still life" is natura morta​: dead nature.

Yellowjacket. Watercolor and pencil.

Cicada shell, lateral view. Watercolor and pencil.

Green June bug, watercolor and colored pencil.

Female eastern carpenter bee, anterior, watercolor.

Female eastern carpenter bee, posterior, watercolor.

Female yellow breasted chat, watercolor and gouache.

Female northern flicker? Watercolor. 

The book will be launching this February in NYC!