Day 3: The Rey Residency - Grand Theft Adirondack

Well, after nearly getting lost forever and starving to death yesterday (I had lunch almost an hour after I normally do), I have started to settle into a routine and get a lot of work done.

I spent the morning today working on a painting for an upcoming book. I managed to get quite a bit done and I'm happy with how it's coming out.

You can see the obvious influence of Curious George, right? Right?

After slaving over a painting all morning, I biked over to the Curious George Cottage and started on a sketch for an alphabet book I'm illustrating for Sleeping Bear Press.

Having trouble with the kid in the front right. I might just change him into a fire hydrant or something. That will teach him to be hard to draw.

I also did some work on a personal project.

Don't ask.

And created a new Olde Tyme Portrait.

This is how I've been grooming myself during the residency. I look dapper.

I decided that the day was too delightful to spend all of it hunched over a drawing board in a cottage, so I biked over to the town center and hunched over a drawing board in a different location.

Work, work, work...

I was looking for a spot to sit on the delightful beach and found, to my great joy, that there was one plastic chair sitting all alone on the deserted shoreline. I quickly stripped off my shoes and socks and dragged the chair to the edge of the water and sat down to draw.

I had been working for 15 or 20 minutes when I sensed a disturbance in the force. A feeling that I was being watched.

Turning around, I saw a lady in a sun hat sitting next to the spot where I had dumped my belongings, staring at me.

Hard.

The kind of stare you give people who drive down the breakdown lane and then squeeze into traffic that you have been patiently waiting in. The kind of stare you give people who have 19 items in the 14 items or fewer line.

The kind of stare you give a guy who took your beach chair.

I patted down the hair on the back of my neck and went back to work, assuming that if it were actually her chair, she would say something. She never did say anything, and the next time I dared to turn around, she was gone.

So, lady, if it was your chair, I'm sorry, but I thank you. It was very comfortable and I hope to steal it again later today.

Eventually I tired of stealing chairs and headed back to my glorious abode to make dinner (pasta with spinach, feta cheese, and pesto if you're wondering).

Along the way, I took the time to take another picture of the inside of my pocket to share with you. Because I care.

This particular piece looks alarmingly organic to me. Maybe my camera can see inside my spleen or something.

Then I spent some quality time working on another personal project that involves staring at my friend Dave's beard for excessive period of time.

His beard is hypnotic. Do not stare directly into it. Do not look at it while driving or using heavy machinery.

I decided to head off to bed a bit early then, because I want to get up early to go stalk chairs by the lake.

Where Have I Been? - Oh, I've Been Everywhere. Almost.

I try hard to update my blog pretty regularly, but I've failed miserably since February.
I've been at a LOT of schools and done a LOT of stuff. I hope that a brief pictorial history will redeem my failure to update.

This was my school visit calendar for March.

I am an acclaimed author at Roosevelt elementary school, thank you very much.

I don't know why I took this picture. I think I liked the words, "Malodor Counteractant".

I got Thai food that came with a lovely straw wrapper flower.

Proof that I am the favorite. End of story.

Some fun work that I did with the kids at Roosevelt Elementary.

Yes. I'll be your valentines. All of you. This is so flattering!

I worked on a new portrait in my 37 seconds of free time.

I dressed up for a school visit to Gossler Park School on my birthday.

They had banners and cards for me!

Yay! A fun birthday at a fun school!

Some classes even made cards for me!

Flat Stanley, my foot. I got flattened at Ledge Street School!

Finally! I got top billing over my musical buddy Steve Blunt! Mwaaa hahahahahaaaaaa!

The kids at Underhill Elementary made up their own rules. They were fantastic!

I even visited a school in Massachusetts that had a lovely little dining area in the bathroom.

I went to a great author festival in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Last year, I offered a free bag of Cheetoes to anyone who would sing to me. Last year's winner, Eva, came back to offer me Cheetoes if I sang to her. They were delicious!

Thanks, Eva!

My friend, Hazel Mitchell wasn't able to make it to the author festiva so I manned her table and signed all her books, "You should really go buy Marty Kelley's books. Love, Hazel.:

I left a poster for my friends at Pine Cove Elementary.

Lynn Plourde put us all to shame with her amazing fashion sense.

A fun display of my books at Lisbon School.

The music teacher in Lisbon MIGHT have a Pez problem. Wow.

The annual Authorfest in Winchester, MA. All authors are really, really good looking. Proved by me and my good pal, David Biedrzycki.

I made the school sign in Laconia!

While walking in Laconia at lunch, I found a great old house.

I also found this chalk drawing on a playground in town. Love the artwork!

Campton School went all out with some amazing bulletin board displays.

A few kids in Campton even came in wearing Marty Kelley t-shirts. Maybe I should start a clothing line!

The Campton Library shut down so I could hang out with the librarian.

They had the Marty Kelley reading corner all set up in Campton.

And a lovely display of my books!

At Lancaster School, they continued my book, Twelve Terrible Things!

And they totally finked out kids who had REALLY messy desks.

I ended April with a music show at the Parenting NH Expo with Steve and Joe.

Joe demonstrated some sweet R-rated dance moves while the Radio Disney ladies were on stage.

Then the Radio Disney lady told him, "Those are not Disney approved dance moves."

View from the stage.

So now we're all caught up, right?