I've reworked an old drawing to show how I'm feeling in the soon-to-be-post-pandemic world (I do hope).
1. "Hope" colored pencil, pencil, gouache, and digital

Jessica Boehman, "Tom at a Gig" watercolor and digital, 2021. 

​A thank you for a friend and colleague.

I recently did some work with my brother, Joshua Boehman, on a project that fell through, but I had a lot of fun experimenting with watercolor and with working with a professional letterer. I'd like to share some of the drawings I made in watercolor collage with digital drawing. (Awesome lettering by Nate Pride--thanks, Nate!--you are truly outstanding and it was such a pleasure to work with you.)

In loving memory of Laura Anderson Wingard (1973-2020), my best friend, who came to say goodbye to me in a dream this summer. 

"A Goodbye of Sorts" 2020, Jessica Boehman. Watercolor and digital. Lettering by Nathan Pride. 

As many of you know, a poem, "And the People Stayed Home" by Kitty O'Meara, has been going viral again for the second time this year. The original post included my "Bedtime Stories" image without credit. It has been shared hundreds of thousands of times without my name on it. This is not the only time it has happened, and each time, it is a bit heart-wrenching. That viral post generated a book deal for the author from a prominent house. Many people found me looking for a "hibernation" image.

This is a plea to be aware of the artists behind the pictures in posts. Artworks come from our heart, they have deep personal meaning, they are made after years of practice, and they should, at the very least, be credited. It only takes a simple reverse-image search to find the artist of any artwork you want to post. Adding the artist's name and website is a simple thing to do--and it's the right thing to do.

I'm deeply honored that many of you have been touched by this image. It came from a place of deep longing that clearly has spoken to you, as well.
Please, stay safe and well as we move into the colder season, and let's get through this together. Wishing you every health and comfort.
​
Jessica Boehman
 "Bedtime Stories" 2013, colored pencil and pencil.
www.jessicaboehman.com

"The Fox Woman" Jessica Boehman, mixed media, November 2020
Based on this tale, retold by Martin Shaw
https://soundcloud.com/mjp-shaw/the-fox-woman-martin-shaw

I had the good fortune to make a logo for my "big little brother" who is not really my brother for his wedding gift. Andrew is a baker of Netflix fame (he and his sister won an episode of Sugar Rush) and is starting his first bakery in Raleigh, NC. Because he said I gave him the bakery name ten years ago, he wanted me to draw the logo as well. The logo can be adjusted for a few different purposes--but here is the base drawing.

"Blue Ox Bakery" for Andrew. Congrats, Andrew--on your bakery and on your wedding.
​
Here we are at my actual little brother's wedding last weekend, where Andrew was best man--and made the cake.

It's cicada season in Maryland, and the sound of their rattle makes me feel like I'm home, wherever I hear it. This year, the 17-year cicadas are out, and the sound is deafening. They are the kings of summer, leaving their perfect shells behind like so many relics of kings of old.

"The King of Summer" Jessica Boehman, Summer 2020, mixed media.

"Diogmites Neoternatus (robber fly)" Digital drawing.

A robber fly that I found in my parents' backyard in Maryland. They hang by the foreleg as they consume their prey: other insects.