Beauty Advocacy Blog

Introducing The American Book of Fables!

5/12/2026

Confessions of an Artist's Wife Vol. 1
( aka: Notes from Deirdre )

What is The American Book of Fables? you ask.

The latest book from John and his friend and collaborator, author Matthew Mehan. It is for sure their magnum opus to date -- a much more ambitious and weighty (literally - it's 396 pages) book even than their previous two, Mr. Mehan's Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals and The Handsome Little Cygnet.

It's a compendium, a great collection, at once a sampler of traditional American wisdom and new American literature, and chock full of new American art (by John!).

Initial sketch for the oil painting that turned out to be the cover!

Nursery rhymes - old and new - poems, tales - old and new... Matthew has adapted and retold many of Aesop's fables with American wildlife (here the fox and the hare give way to the buffalo and the map turtle) and written original fables for today's reader. There are also selections from original sources: founding Fathers, letters from Abigail Adams, stories gleaned from accounts of the old Wild West, and much more.

Fables is divided into sections, each one exploring a different geographic region of the United States and each one also representing the principles put forth in a different literary section of the Declaration of Independence.

So you could say that it's a work, for the whole family to enjoy, highlighting the whole nation, as a grand celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

The book is available and set to launch officially on May 19th. Purchasing information is at the bottom of the page, but for now I just want to take you behind the scenes some more on the massive collection of artwork you will find in these pages!

Artists on Fire

One of the most amazing things about this book - to my mind - is how it was produced. Both author and illustrator are very busy guys, and they identified a window about 4-5 months long in which they could get this done.
After a lot of preparation in the form of deep research on Matthew's part and cross-country travel (John was able to join Matthew on a tour of some of the great National Parks for inspiration), they cleared their calendars starting in November and dove in!

Never before had John illustrated a book while it was being written. While Matthew, in Northern VA, was churning out the written Fables, John, in MA, was painting in tandem. Sharing ideas back and forth, discussing stories and imagery, plotting and planning, they both kept long hours and rode the creative wave for weeks upon weeks.

"Perfect for reading aloud together, The American Book of Fables is a loving celebration of America’s landscape, heritage, and enduring ideals. Beautifully illustrated by John Folley, this patriotic treasury reminds us — and teaches the next generation — of the high principles, dangerous freedoms, and shared memories that make our country not just great, but good."
Justin Shubow
President of the National Civic Art Society

At the outset, John's assignment was to produce thirteen oil paintings - each 3'x5' - one for each section of the book; a few dozen small watercolor paintings; and an accompanying collection of small line drawings to sprinkle through the text.
Matthew always has ambitious and complex visions for the illustrations for his books, every image loaded with symbolism and layers of references and action! Somehow John takes it all in and rises to the occasion time after time.

By day, John would paint the large oil paintings like this one here.

By evening, he would come home for family dinner, help settle the little kids to bed, read aloud to the big kids, and then either head back to the studio for more oil painting or set up shop in the dining room to produce watercolors, three at a time.

In between and while the watercolors dried, he had ink drawings to do. And there were always phonecalls to have with the author to go over the latest ideas!

By the time that the book was complete and heading to the printer, John had literally lost count of how many little paintings and drawings he ended up completing to enhance the many pages of this book.

As we hit March of this year, the clock was ticking. The pressure was on, as the publisher wanted to make sure to have the book in hand well in advance of a July 4th release to celebration the nation's 250th!
Believe me, this author-illustrator team worked until the eleventh hour, practically sending the final pages into the press while the first ones were already on their way out!
It was an amazing creative process to witness.

A thread running through the book is the travels of the lovably clumsy character Hugh Manatee (say it out loud - get it?). John produced this little guy from clay in order to reshape and re-pose him for the various adventures to be depicted in the stories. Definitely his most unusual in-studio model to date!

When the paintings were all done and dry, John brought them to his favorite art reproduction photographer at Image-Tec, where his buddy there worked the magic to render these works into digital form for the publisher. It's a masterful process and the rendering in the book is as close to life as you're gonna get with today's reprinting technology!

John has since handed the original paintings off to Matthew, who was visiting with us just a few weeks ago on the occasion of a book launch of sorts. They will continue to travel with him on his book tour and he has some exciting plans for where some of them may end up (if they're not purchased along the way!).

Why did they do it?

At the end of the day, this huge creative push (the culmination of years of planning, pondering, research, and study) is the result of a pure artistic desire on the part of John and Matthew.
They genuinely wanted to produce a book that would be edifying, would be awesome, would be a continuation of a great tradition and also truly new and original... something great for families to share because it's beautiful and deep and inspiring, and also because it's fun!

We hope you will love it!

How to buy??

Enough of this behind-the-scenes chit-chat! You want to know how to get your hands on this book!!

Pre-order on Amazon!
Then, ASAP, please write (if you deem it worthy — we hope!) a five star review on Amazon!
Share the Amazon link to your friends and family (or just forward this email).

Launch week is May 19-May 22 - your purchase in this window is very helpful to us!

If you want to really support John's illustration work (and we have high hopes for the release of this book, which is why time is of the essence for orders), please also request the book at your local bookstore and local library! Every purchase, glowing review, and library request helps in the 'bestseller' tallies!
Thank you!

Rooted in the beauty, drama, and grandeur of America itself, The American Book of Fables invites young readers into our shared inheritance of place, principle, and possibility. These are not empty tales, but living stories that echo with the rhythms of rivers, mountains, and the enduring ideals that have defined this nation at its best.
...
This is the kind of book that belongs in every home. Read it aloud. Return to it often. Let it do its quiet, steady work."
—Jeremy Tate, founder of the Classical Learning Test

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What do you think of these poses for my son's portrait?

2/14/2024

39 Comments

It's that time again - time to try to capture one of these cute kiddos on canvas.

This time, it's my third child who was in the studio posing for me.

In case you're not tracking, my wife Deirdre and I have a sizable little posse now. Our little man here, from the middle of the pack, is one of the most vivacious little guys you could hope to come across. (In fact, it's fair to say that he's a more vivacious little boy than some people can handle.)

Having him in the studio was delightful. But it was also a bit of work to get a pose out of the little guy! On top of being lively, t.a.l.k.a.t.i.v.e, and squirmy, he's also one of the most facially expressive people I know. One second the light would be just right and the pose would be almost getting there... and the next second the moment would have passed and he'd be leaving us in his dust. But we got some good shots in spite of him!

I'm including a few of the outtakes here to give you a sense of his larger-than-life personality:

This is him on very restrained behavior, doing his best to be still and good:

I believe he would have provided excellent material for Rockwell.

But, as much as I love the comical side, I do want to focus on one of these images that will translate more naturally into a formal oil portrait.

So let's talk about some of these options:

A. This shot is lovable for the tight energy and high contrasts. I'm a fan of the warm gold going on here, of his hair looking neat and tidy, and of the twinkle in his eye. Beyond that, it's not the best depiction of someone who's generally rough-and-tumble and rowdy as a puppy.

B. The color and contrast are good; it's a fun, thoughtful pose. This has an air of 'The dreamer.'

C. The abundance of light and color in this is very winning. It's a good amount of focus while also capturing something of the electricity of his smile. I like that we have a good view of his eyes.

D. This is a very sweet shot and, again, I love the warmth of this background and the soft tones in the face. It captures the little boy time of his life, but we are losing a great deal with his eyes averted.

E. In terms of photography, this is the weakest of the bunch. But we find that the shot captures his smile perhaps most authentically of all the pictures taken. Although the focus isn't the best, I'm considering making use of this image.

F. Has many of the good qualities of E with a bit more polish.

The jury is still out on this one. Lots to think about here. (Most likely, my final decision will also involve another look at the cropping, as these were quickly cropped for the purposes of this post.)

Tell me: which one or ones is/are your favorite? Comment below -- Maybe you can help me decide what should end up on canvas!

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Lately Complete: Our Lady of the Cottonwoods

11/17/2023

3 Comments

I first heard from the patron behind Our Lady of the Cottonwoods over a year ago. She and her husband had just been looking out their window at their Texas property, a Cottonwood-shaded place which they open up to friends and acquaintances for prayer and Catholic formation, and wishing that they had a beautiful "madonelle" -- such as they had seen throughout the streets of Rome -- present there to inspire.

I'm so grateful that they turned to me to help them make this desire come to fruition.

A preliminary sketch to work out the concept for this painting of Our Lady of the Cottonwoods

The request was for an image that could be placed indoors in a featured position as well as a copy that could be weather-worthy, to go in an outdoor niche as a public witness, a madonelle. Because of a family devotion to Our Lady of Czeschtohowa, I was to look to that famous icon for inspiration, while of course keeping my own style of Boston School Painting. My patrons asked me to imagine Our Lady with dark hair and blue eyes.

Discussion back and forth led us to the inclusion of certain details. To adopt Our Lady firmly into the land of the Cottonwoods, we determined that she should hold a blossoming branch of that tree in her hand. This seemed all the more fitting as the branch of the Cottonwood hides a distinct star pattern in its pith; the discreet but beautiful star of this plant calls to mind Mary, the modest Stella Maris.

A small team worked behind the scenes to bring the proper elements to my studio for this project: a poised young ballerina served as model across several weeks, her mother looking on; my daughter squirmed through a session in my wife's arms, her fair hair providing the luminous quality for the Christ Child; and a skilled friend was seamstress to provide Mary's regal robe. I did a bit of horticultural hunting and learned that Cottonwoods do indeed grow here in New England.

The painting is now complete and the project is now in its final stages. I will have the image professionally reproduced as a giclee to be mounted on wood and weatherproofed for its outdoor shrine; this will be the madonelle. The original oil painting will be framed and hung indoors in the conference room-retreat space where my patrons host events.

Our Lady of the Cottonwoods, oil on canvas, 36"x24"

My goal was to depict the Virgin Mary as a woman who is very young yet steady and calm. Her demeanor is modest although her dress - like the impressive, powdery blossoms of the Cottonwood - is stately. On her hand is a ring featuring the Rose of Pallerols, a symbol with significance for devotees of St. Josemaria, founder of Opus Dei. The Bible in the hand of the Christ Child is also a reference to Opus Dei, as it is adorned by the symbol of that apostolate. As you regard the hands of the figures, you will notice that Christ's hand is gesturing towards Our Lady, while Mary's strong but delicate hand is gently gesturing right back to Him. The bright eyes of each call us in and yet both figures point us towards each other. The most luminous point of the painting is where the halos of the two overlap with one another.

It is my sincere hope that this image will be an aid to prayer and a source of inspiration for all the good folks in Texas who see it -- whether they're visiting and enjoying the original painting indoors, or just passing by and seeing it ensconced in its roadside shrine.

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Lately Complete: Our Lady of Victory

6/26/2023

2 Comments

Sometimes, an artist produces commissioned works, working with a patron's vision.

Sometimes, an artist produces independently, working out his own vision.

And sometimes, it seems, something happens that's a beautiful "in between."

This new work is one of those pieces.

Our Lady of Victory, 25"x9"
Ink and Watercolor on paper

Let me explain: a version of Our Lady of Victory wrought in a style inspired by the work of Alphonse Mucha. On the one hand, this was a bit of a segue from my main studio work which, as you know, is oil painting in the Boston School tradition. On the other hand, it's a strain of my work that has been growing recently, from my recent Children's books A Child's Christmas ABC Book and A Child's Christmas Counting Book, which were also inspired by Mucha, and just a general pull in the direction of the Beaux Arts master. If you've been watching my Instagram updates and following along with my newsletter, you've noticed this study of mine.

A Parisian encounter

Eleven years ago this month, I rented a tiny apartment in Paris for my honeymoon with Deirdre. It was barely large enough to fit me standing up straight; we affectionately called the spot our 'Hobbit Hole in the Sky.' When we arrived there in the 2nd arrondissement, we found that we were perched just over the little church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (Our Lady of Victory). Over the next few weeks of strolling the city streets, visiting museums, painting and drawing together and munching baguettes, arriving back at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires became familiar, and the church was our home base in a foreign place.

Like all the churches in Paris, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is architecturally stunning, imbued with a historic sense of holiness, and packed with painted masterpieces. Perhaps most strikingly, there is, in a side chapel, a large statue of Our Lady of Victory which is surrounded by artistically arranged piles of crutches that were left there by crippled pilgrims -- pilgrims who prayed for Our Lady's intercession and walked away healed, leaving their walking aids behind. It was before this same statue that St. Thérèse, whose sainted parents were devoted to Our Lady of Victory, once famously prayed for discernment about her vocation. We attended daily Mass there several times and became on friendly terms with the priest who was pastor there.

At the end of our visit, this kind priest presented us with a small replica of the famous statue of the Victorious Virgin as a gift to take home with us. We were deeply touched by the gesture. We felt a special connection to this little corner of the City of Lights and a new patroness for our future family: Our Lady of Victory. The statue has always held a place of honor in our home.

A new take on the Madonna

Two years ago, I was commissioned by a patron in the Midwest to produce an oil painting of Our Lady of the Rosary (the same iconic image as Our Lady of Victory, under a slightly different title and understanding). It was an occasion to bring my little statue into the studio for study and inspiration.

That painting was settled in Indiana some time ago, but the image of Our Lady of Victory/Our Lady of the Rosary has been on my mind and heart... An ink and watercolor, "Art Deco" version needed to be born onto paper. This seemed perhaps to be a bit of a 'pet project,' a pure labor of love... something for me to go ahead and try.

But it seems that the goodness of this idea is not just inside my head. As I was sharing the work in progress through Instagram, another patron reached out to inquire about it and ended up purchasing the painting when it was about halfway done. As you can imagine, this was truly a thrill for me! To have my 'concept' adopted at that stage was very affirming and exciting.

Since then, not only have I received many more inquiries and positive feedback from many of you about this painting, but I have also had inquiries about further commissions along these lines. So, clearly, my experimental marriage of sacred art with Mucha-style technique has much territory yet to be explored -- and I can't wait to go there. If this is something that you're interested in being a part of, please be in touch to discuss a commission; I would love to have a conversation with you!

About the piece itself

You will notice the symbolism of celestial bodies in the image. Mary is Queen of Heaven and has often been likened to the Moon -- she is not the source of life herself but the perfect mirror of grace, just as the moon reflects the Sun. Here she is imagined as a Lady strong but serene, powerful through her Son but humble in herself. Her mouth is resolute but quiet; the infant Jesus is more poised to speak to us and He offers us the Rosary, that powerful prayer. All the colors of dusk and dawn are around the two figures, but they stand forth in pure light, triumphant. In the corners are stylized lilies which represent Mary's purity. And the various stone touches hearken back to the architecture of Paris. I wanted the crowns especially to stand out with extreme dimensionality and splendor.

(Bonus detail: You may notice a similarity between the face of Jesus and the face of the angel who has just carved Our Lady's title into everlasting stone... both are modeled after my little daughter Symphorosa.)

I have heard from many of you that Our Lady of Victory is a title that seems very relevant at this historical and cultural moment. Perhaps you are sensing, like me, the spiritual battle taking place around us; perhaps you're occasionally feeling beleaguered and looking to Our Lady as the fair champion we need. We know the gates of Hell will not prevail against Christ's Church. Even when we feel besieged, Mary is a heroine of this story and shares her power through the Holy Rosary.

Prints!

While my original Our Lady of Victory is awaiting framing in its new home in Texas, I am making prints available for all of you because of the way this image seems to have resonated with so many.

I have worked closely with an excellent giclée print maker here in Massachusetts and am very excited to have him reproducing my work on beautiful, archival, creamy paper with slight texture that is reminiscent of the original watercolor paper. I vetted a few test options and am confident that the quality and color of these prints will be a beautiful and excellent representation of the original work!

I'm trying out a print order form for your ease and my organization.
Please click through to place your order!

order prints!

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Introducing The American Book of Fables!

Confessions of an Artist's Wife Vol. 1
( aka: Notes from Deirdre )

Artists on Fire

Why did they do it?

How to buy??

What do you think of these poses for my son's portrait?

It's that time again - time to try to capture one of these cute kiddos on canvas.

Lately Complete: Our Lady of the Cottonwoods

Lately Complete: Our Lady of Victory

A Parisian encounter

A new take on the Madonna

About the piece itself

Prints!

Author

Categories

Archives

Introducing The American Book of Fables!

Confessions of an Artist's Wife Vol. 1 ( aka: Notes from Deirdre )

Artists on Fire

Why did they do it?

How to buy??

What do you think of these poses for my son's portrait?

It's that time again - time to try to capture one of these cute kiddos on canvas.

Lately Complete: Our Lady of the Cottonwoods

Lately Complete: Our Lady of Victory

A Parisian encounter

A new take on the Madonna

About the piece itself

Prints!

Author

Categories

Archives

Confessions of an Artist's Wife Vol. 1
( aka: Notes from Deirdre )