We took a class field trip 2 hours south to Northampton, MA today to visit the Eric Carol Picture Book museum and Mirage Studios. The museum was fantastic, quaint and right next to an awesome farmers market. The featured show was Virginia Lee Burton's original artwork from several of her childrens book, including Mike Mulligan (I read that constantly growing up, the original work is amazing!)

After a stop at the market for sandwiches we all drove 2 miles down town (went from cows and cornfields to hip, college town in a matter of minutes!) and spent 2+ hours in Mirage Studios. We spent at least an hour talking with Peter Laird, the co-founder and now principal owner of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (with Kevin Eastman in 1983) and then toured the studio. We got some awesome freebies and spent more time talking to current Turtles artist Jim Lawson, actually interrupting his work on the July 09 issue.

Afterward we went around the block to the very nice Modern Myths comic store where I spent some money. We got dinner at a great authentic Mexican restaurant (I'm still full I think) which was across the street from Thai, Indian AND Japanese restaurants. We stopped at the local arts store and I spent more money on a $9 Windsor Newton series 202 #2 brush, my first pro brush!

I came home a little late but still got a few hours in at work, then hit the bar for my Thursday night beer and shmooze with my classmates and a few local cartoonists. All in all an exciting day and a great way to get excited for my 24 page final project, due in a month!

-RD