In 2019, I discovered a unique partner for a collaboration project. I worked alongside 15-year-old Ryan Dunne to illustrate a children’s book. Ryan lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a debilitating disease affecting his muscles. He finds joy in art — painting, drawing and photography, and is also a “Lego expert”. 

Ryan’s mother, a Dear friend, told me many years ago that he loved to draw. So, I sent him some coloring pencils and he responded by giving me a nice drawing as a thank you.  I was immediately impressed with his talent, and it dawned on me that it would be fantastic to collaborate with a teen who loves to draw.

Ryan decided that endangered animal species could take center stage in our first collaboration, and I thought gathering them around a dancing party theme would be fun. Each animal has its own special type of dance. For example, Footsie the Blue Footed Booby loves tap dancing. “I really do have blue feet, and everyone notices that right away, so why not tap them?” Footsie says, as he introduces himself in the book…”In the story, all the animals connect and end up going to a “wild” party together.”

A celebration of the finished work, entitled “Animal Jam,” was held in November of 2019, after months of hard work, at Access Gallery in Denver, Colorado. The exhibition of the collage/drawings that made up the book and the book signing were a major success; all proceeds went to charity.  Access Gallery is an inclusive nonprofit organization that opens doors for people with disabilities to access, experience and benefit from the arts.  Lauren Harvey and Michael Schnelling collaborated with the text and editing.

A copy of “Animal Jam” is at the “Copyright Office” of the “Library of Congress” in Washington, DC.

Through this first creative process, Ryan and I have developed a close friendship.

During the Covid lockdowns of 2020, when travel came to a complete stop, we collaborated on another project called “The Designer Stamp”.  The project involved the drawing and collaging of various city maps around the world—Paris, London, New York, Rome, and Mexico City.  The finished work resembles a collectors’ post stamp, was printed on fabric, and affixed on upcycled black T-Shirts.  

This year—2024—Ryan turns 20 and we are again working together on another exciting project: “50 State flowers – realistic and abstract renderings”.  Sneak peek below!