I finished a map and sent it off for approval. NAILED IT. Love going into the weekend with this feeling. And then going on a short vacation from next Wed-Sun.

Who is it! youtu.be/mcrZIK3gqbU?...

A process shot of drawing in trees.

I did not have Homoerotic military May/December love story on my Foundation TV show bingo card.

Making sure the studio is tidy before I leave is a really satisfying feeling, especially after making physical things.

Made these open boxes to help organize different size and kinds of papers that I’m using to make books. While I didn’t plan it, the two bottom ones fit perfectly between the pipes.

Announcing my new think tank

If you see this, require with the energy you bring here

I came up with a blank journal design that included a magnetic flap. However the endpaper I picked rippled from the glue. I’ll finish it, but I’ll also start over. Figured out a solution to the rippling. #book #bookbinding #bookmaking #journal

I love tools. Sometimes I buy tools when they are a great deal. I bought this tool a few years ago. Kinda forgot about till I moved into the studio, and found it again while packing up. Today I have a use for this tool!!

Made another blank journal this morning, with graph paper inside. It started out a different design idea. But I realized o made a mistake. So finished as just a regular journal. Restarted the design I was going for.

Sidewalk face made from someone’s leaking bag .

On my way to the Studio. Morning moment

QRP with something watery

Making a journal for a friend as a surprise gift. Graph paper inside. The two papers I’m going to use to cover it. It’s also going to have a wrap around flap that snap close with magnets. It’s my first design of my own. #bookbinding #bookmaking #book

Slightly diminish a book The Ok Gatsby

We pickled a bunch of fruit. The apples came out to tart. So the husband made some apple cakes with them. I said, add the brown bananas as well. The result is so good. The cake is moist and airy. The fruit pieces are so tasty, the tartness cooked out. The banana gives it a carrot cake feel.

Open Studio Update! In a little over two weeks we will welcome you to the 2025 Open Studio for Donato Arts on Saturday Sept 20th. The event will features dozens of new paintings & drawings, sketchbooks for perusal, heavy discounts on prints, books & art, and the popular Lottery for give-a-ways!..

and the latest newsletter, which features a preview of the map from #TheSovereign courtesy of @tybber.bsky.social!!!

We are pickling a bunch of fruit, and when it’s ready, we’ll mix it together for a pickled fruit cocktail. Strawberries, pineapple, cherries, apples, and peaches. And then we’ll add some clementines un-pickled to it.

For what might be the first time ever for me. I saw a commercial and actually thought, I’m going to buy that and went and bought it. It was the collapsible handle swiffer.

Character designs for a project that never got past the early stages. It ran into one of the biggest reasons projects fail. The client didn't know what they wanted. They worked from the "I'll know it when I see it" approach. So I could never get to that goal.

I got an email from a gaming company, asking for permission to alter a map I did for a novel, that they were turning into a TTRPG. I own the image, which they hadn't gotten a license to use it from me. Rather than get mad, or I simply talked to them. /1

So after being in the studio for several months, figured out my needs and flow, spent the last week making some changes and additions. So it’s back to work and book making.

sʇod ǝɥʇ ʇɔǝnnoɔ ,ɐl ɐl ɐl

A pet peeve of mine. Shows with large casts, and in the opening title/credits, the names of the stars don’t match up with images of the actors, so I can never put the actors name to the character. How hard is it to do that?

At least there is still some good on the internet left.

What GIF pops up first when you type your name?

I love New York

I bought a poncho today.

Found this on a scrap of paper today

Some took their pet turtle out of a walk and a snack this morning.

This week I finished making 6 hardcover blank books. Learned a lot. Learned from my mistakes. Happy with my less than perfect first time attempt. #bookmaking #bookbinding #books #saddlestitch

There was a cardinal in my courtyard this morning. First time seeing one at my building.

Show my your get away vehicle

I’ve turned 35 today! The best present for an artist is their art reposted, and I’d be grateful for that too ) especially since I’m currently open for new opportunities :3

This week I made 6 text blocks (the guts of a book) with end papers. 8 signatures each. Trimmed to size. Next week I’ll decide on the covers. #bookbinding #book #books #bookmaking #textblock

To whom it may concern: There is an open acces Anti-Autocracy Handbook (2025) calling to action, resilience, and collective defence of democracy, truth, and academic freedom in the face of mounting authoritarianism. Download: zenodo.org/records/1569... #academia #academicchatter #academicSky

My first attempt at making a hardcover book. I’m doing 6 at a time. Sewing the signatures together came out pretty decent on the first one. #bookbinding #book #books #frenchstitch #kettlestitch #hardcover

We are making pizza dippin sticks for dinner. There’s ricotta and herbs under the mozzarella. The tomato sauce is on the side and you dip the stick in the sauce. The husband came up with it years back and it’s a favorite meal of ours. Tonight we got artistic with the pepperoni.

A high of 98 today in NY. Guess I’ll be staying home as the studio would be too hot to work in.

Back in April I did a panel on maps. One of the other people on the panel works for the Library of Congress. My maps will be part of their collection now. So excited!!

A map for the novel The Last Vigilant by Mark Latham. Done in an illuminated manuscript style.

The crew from Star Trek: SNWs has become my favorite crew. I love Piked style. I love he cooks as a bonding experience with his crew.

Two if the maps I did got the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee.

The new Golden Edition of the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee can be preordered from Orbit Book! @fondalee.bsky.social Congrats Fonda! This is my third Deluxe edition for a book series that I’ve done maps for. The other two are for the Witcher and Broken Earth Trilogy by @nkjemisin.bsky.social

I'm setting up a Redbubble shop, since society6 went kinda snobby. Having to reformat everything. Thank goodness my years as a production artist had drilled into me the need to make sure my files are organized. And layers named.

Yesterday I pulled a calf muscle which is causing my knee to give out making it hard to walk. Much better today but stranded at home today.

I eat macaroni noodles with cottage cheese and seasoned with ground pepper.