Maria Madonna Davidoff in the New York Times

I was one of the artists featured today in the New York Times (Metropolitan Section) The article is  entitled  Summer Rituals, Painting in the Park

In the article, I was mentioned as a freelance childrens book illustrator who does plein-air painting in Central Park. In this online version,  a photo of my artwork is not shown but is shown in the printed version of the New York Times, June 20, 2010. To read about me, scroll down the link to about the middle of the article.

This is a  painting (watercolor and ink rendering) I did today in Central Park. 

Once again, I've included a Little Girl character by the Turtle Pond.

I used Central Park as a backdrop for a story that seems to be evolving visually in my head .

A little girl character keeps on appearing in my Central Park painting series.

Her name is Marilyn.

Below, just  resting after a few hours of painting:

Painting in Central Park, NYC

Here I am,  sketching in the Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

I've always enjoyed painting outdoors especially during my travels and
I actually have a portable studio which I can easily carry with me wherever I go.
I found this artist traveling bag which holds a lot of things

 like brushes, watercolor pencils, mini sketch pad, etc:

Below is the artist travel pouch which I can tie around my waist and

inside this artist travel pouch are some tools and materials below:

Another view of the my artist travel pouch with some mini-sketch pad and watercolor papers:

Here is my favorite tool: a brush that you can put water inside
( no need to dip in water anymore)
I found this brush while traveling to Tokyo, Japan, but
some art stores now in th US carries them. 

Here is a really small and cute but handy material I have, the size of a business card:
A mini colored pencil case with its own miniature sharpener:

At the Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

 Madonna Davidoff with their paintings

created in Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

and below is my painting entitled" Little Girl in Central Park"

I used watercolor pencils and colored pencils to create this:

© Madonna Davidoff    

Illustrators Exhibit at Book Culture and Book Launching, NYC

 I participated in the "One of Us" Illustrators exhibit at Book Culture, 

at 536 West 112th Street, NYC on May 24 - 28, 2010.

The show consisted of original post card sized art, 6 x 4" done by proffesional and published illustrators. The exhibit was sponsored by Tilbury House, Publishers and a dinner reception was followed at Community Food restaurant. All illustrations are for sale to benefit Powered by Girl.

Some photos from the event:
all photo credit: Leo Armamento

Madonna Davidoff in front of  Book Culture, NYC

Madonna and Penny Weber signing a book she illustrated entitle " One of Us"

The book launching of "One of us" authored
by Peggy Moss and illustrated by Penny Weber

The Illustrators exhibit

Madonna Davidoff and her postcard size illustration

Madonna Davidoff  illustration above

CBIG( Childrens Book Illustrators Group) members:

Madonna Davidoff, Patricia Keeler and Marilyn Pappas

Sara McGinnis from Tilbury House Publishers and
 a musician who entertained during the event

Madonna Davidoff and her Artist Bio and artworks in the Art Book

Madonna Davidoff and Sarah McGinnis

Carol, Mitchel,Madonna and Mariln at the reception in Community Food Restaurant

Reception above

As a member of CBIG and one of its officer, Here is
the CBIG ( Children's Book Illustrators Group) postcard 2009 which I've designed.

Formed since 1987, CBIG is a Children's Book Illustrator Group based in New York City.

More information on membership and meetings may be found here.

MOCCA Museum of Comic and Cartoon Festival

Another Event I attended was the MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon) Art Festival 2009 held last weekend from June 6th and 7th at the Regiment Armory at Lexington Avenue and 25th Street in New York City.
It was in this same building where the first major exhibition of contemporary art in America was held and where for the first time many Americans saw the works of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso.

Here I am with some Illustrator friends in front of the Regiment Armory Building:
Chris Margeson, Marilyn Pappas and (myself-Madonna Davidoff)

Chris Margeson is an illustrator from Baltimore who took these 2 photos inside the Cartoon Festival:
THANKS CHRIS!

Madonna Davidoff at the MoCCA cartoon festival 2009, Photo credit:Chris Margeson

Note: The Rest of the photos below where taken by myself:

I bought a graphic novel by Keenan Rubenstein-His graphic novel was done in a calendar format and I've never seen anything like it before: It has no text, just visuals using the different months to depict the development of his story. It's really cool and his line art were fantastic.

Here is Keenan's Booth with his Calendar/Graphic Novel which he signed for me:

Also met some of Chris Margeson cartoonist friends at their Twin Comics booth:
Cartoonists are fun people don't you think?

Fellow CBIG member  Stephanie Ruble, author of " Sheila, The Zombie Cheerleader"
below signing her book for me:

Stephanie Ruble and Madonna Davidoff

Another amazing cartoonist is Ken Wong who does Origami Cartoon.
He taught me how to construct one below:

The MOCCA Festival in New York City was a great weekend of comic and cartoon art exhibitors, panels, lectures, sketches, autographs, and more! Some of the world's best cartoonists, animators, and graphic novelists were exhibited there. For anyone interested in the art of making cartoon and comics, I highly recommend it.  I'll be back again next year!