emily dickinson
April 18, 2007
One of the jobs I’ve been working on is a poster for the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA. The museum approached me and said that this was to be the first new Emily Dickinson image released since they celebrated the 100th anniversary of her death in 1986. (Um, no pressure!) It was to raise awareness for the museum itself as well as promote tourism/travel in locations across New England. So I gulped, felt very honored that they asked me, and started to work.
Sitting down to sketch, I tried to get a sense of who Emily Dicksinson was and what her poetry said to me… I just kept coming back to that well-known photo of her and seeing her mona-lisa-esque expression and those haunting dark eyes. So I wanted to keep that present in the illustration. She was also known as kind of recluse, so I reflected that in her posture… drawing her sitting in a balled up pose with her arms wrapped around her knees. But I also wanted to keep it open enough so as not to make her feel TOO reclusive (she did have friends she was close to)… so it’s kind of a relaxed pose, and I think her looking out at the reader gives kind of an openness to it as well. Like she’s fine by herself, but inviting you in for a short while.
In the sketch, I made her bigger than the nature was around her… I thought this went along with her being the center of the world of words and poetry that she created for herself. It also sets the tone of her as an outside observer of the world and not quite a part of it…
I found that her poetry was kind of elliptical and solemn (even though she used exclamation marks). So I tried to capture that by showing the winter season… the trees are barren and snow is falling, giving it a lonely, peaceful feeling almost.
Working on the final, the colors were meant to also play into the cool, lonely feeling, with pops of red to make it more alive. (And did you know that she was actually a red head?)
The posters were produced last week and the museum is really happy with them. (whew!) I got a few in the mail on Monday and they look great (and huge! The image without the type is 18×24.)
If you’d like to purchase one for yourself and support the museum, they are only $15 including shipping. So cheap! Click here to purchase.
Thank you, Rachel, for working with me and giving me this awesome opportunity!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Lovely! Fantastic job of portraying a cool and solitary (but not totally unapproachable) larger-than-life Emily.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Wow! I think this is my favourite image of yours, Penelope. There really is alot of feeling in this illustration - everything you’ve described. And I appreciate hearing your thought process. You really do alot of research and thinking before you paint. You’d make an amazing teacher.
BTW, your articles and posts on how you & illustrators work have inspired me try painting something this week. I’ve bought most of the supplies and have drawn out the illustration and, well, we’ll see what happens! Thanks for being an inspiration!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Congratulations Penelope, this is a masterpiece, I love everything about it. It’s amazingly beautiful.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:10 am
I love this painting!! So beautiful - the colours and the composition..:)
April 18th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Wow. You did a wonderful job! You should be proud of yourself!
April 18th, 2007 at 11:10 am
wow…
April 18th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Wow, I love it! And how cool that it’s the first image since 1986!
I’ve got one question–I was taught she always wore white. Is that a literary myth? Did anyone at the museum comment on Emily wearing black? It clearly wasn’t a factor in their decision.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
That’s really beautiful, Penelope. Good work!
April 18th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Beautiful!
April 18th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Beautiful!! Great work Penelope!!
April 18th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Penelope! These are so beautiful!!! You’re amazing!
April 18th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I’ve purchased your prints in the past and faithfully read your blog. I also work at Amherst College — owner of the Emily Dickinson Museum. Imagine my delight to learn that you have created this beautiful poster! I love it.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
It’s beauuuuutiful, Pen. I think I shall have to have one.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
P.S. I love that their site says this: “created by nationally acclaimed illustrator, Penelope Dullaghan”…
April 18th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
heya Penelope, okay i’m lame and just now checked out your blog. oh, my girl. you really inspire me. i love the poster–the feel of it all and the composition rocks. i also think you are perfect to make a book of inspiration and creativity. you have nothing to lose and so much to give.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:34 am
It’s wonderful!
I love it!
You’re famous!
Yes, you really are,
Penelope, the Famous.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:07 am
So beautiful! I loved reading the process behind everything. You are an artist in every sense of the word.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:41 am
That looks great!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:13 am
it is really stunning!!! it conveys all that you put into it without your explanation (though i really enjoyed hearing about your thought process) congratulations! it is gorgeous!!
April 19th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Beautiful poster! I am so impressed with how fantastic it is and your process. Thank you for sharing. I am inspired!
Best to you.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Fab piece you did of Emily…you must be so proud!!!!
April 20th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Wonderful! Thank you for your detailed description, why you created this illustration the way it is. A great inspiration! I’m looking forward to your book ;-)
April 20th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Oooh!! I love it!!
April 20th, 2007 at 6:05 am
this is WONDERFUL penelope! my daughter (born the same day as E.D.)and a budding poet, and i love her works. this is a monumental work and what an honor. good good good for you!congratulations x100
susan
April 20th, 2007 at 6:10 am
Maybe it’s just because we toured all those museums last week and read so many notes on the paintings, but your ingenious explanation of this piece makes me love it TWICE as much. And I didn’t think that was possible.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Penelope, it’s lovely.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Absolutely stunning, I love all your work but this is amazing, you must be so pleased. Well done!!
April 20th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
This is gorgeous, Penelope! I also like the thought that you put into this project, it totally shows in the result which is eye catching and inviting. I haven’t been to your website in a while but came here tonight when Susanna mentioned you in her post. And I am glad I did, because not only am I still very much enjoying the wonderful painting (Second Thoughts) that I bought from you last year when I still lived in England, but also because I now live in Western Mass and work in Amherst! I haven’t been to the ED museum yet but will definitely go there now and get one of your posters. I am really glad to see how well things are going for you, it’s well deserved!
April 20th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Elegant and beautiful!!
April 21st, 2007 at 6:32 am
So pretty. Peaceful. Well thought out. I really like it.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:41 am
This picture is fabulous! I really love it.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:53 am
Wow, this is beautiful! Congratulations on soooo many wonderful things happening!
April 21st, 2007 at 10:15 am
You have a great talent. This piece is absolutely gorgeous!
April 21st, 2007 at 8:31 pm
The way she quietly towers over her world… her pensive yet somehow mischievous expression… perfect.
April 21st, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Very nice work! You really captured something here. I think I have two E.D. poems roughly committed to memory. Here’s one…purely from memory.
I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea, yet know I how the heather looks and what a wave must be.
I never spoke with God, nor visited in heaven, yet certain am I of the spot as if a chart were given.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:58 am
Beautiful portrait poster. Plus, I just saw your illustration (another one!) in the New York Times today - congratulations!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Lovely. I hope you get to go to Amherst… and while you are there, be sure to swing through South Hadley (site of Mt. Holyoke) and/or NorthHampton (Smith College). It is definitelyh awesome country… though my favorite season there is in Fall. Sorry I missed the by line in the NYT… I take the Sunday times… hmmm.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:15 am
hi penelope!
this is absolutely gorgeous. really…
i wish i had your talents-
have a great day & take care of yourself-
maureen
April 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I absolutely love this piece, Penelope. :)
May 16th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Simply gorgeous!
July 24th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Oh– well done! I think you captured her beautifully!
July 24th, 2007 at 11:35 am
stunning. I love the hand made feeling. Very evocative of the poet and her poetry
July 24th, 2007 at 11:46 am
It’s wonderful! What a fantastic opportunity! Congratulations on a great job.
July 24th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Beautiful, what an honor, you did Emily proud!
July 25th, 2007 at 7:35 am
lovely!! beautiful colours
July 25th, 2007 at 8:43 am
This is absolutely stunning Penelope. The composition and colors are perfect. I’m sure this will make lots of money for the museum! And what an honor to have this assignment. You’re making me long for the Berkshires :)
September 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
This is so lovely! I just ordered one via the museum. Kudos for such a nice representation one of my favorite poets! :)