“It was a very long road to becoming an illustrator and an even longer one to get published,” local artist Priscilla Alpaugh stated.  “I studied at the Decordova Museum, MassArt and UMass Amherst. After I received my BFA I attended Syracuse University for my Masters in Illustration.

“I’ve always been drawn to pencil, colored pencil, watercolor and pen and ink. I also use acrylic or enamel paint for the characters, murals and utility boxes I’ve painted around town. I’ve learned to use digital tools to imitate various mediums. I also make clay sculpture and sew. I enjoy going back and forth from 2D work to 3D work,” she continued.

“It is nearly impossible to become a published illustrator,” Priscilla said. “The teachers were right about that but when it’s the only thing you really want to do and you have the skills and desire, it is possible! Once I moved into ArtSpace Maynard in 2001 I started to get the time I needed  to practice. Attending conferences put me in the midst of my competition. I saw that I needed to prove I could do professional work. 

“I worked hard on my portfolio and sent out postcards in 2006. I worked on several projects for local authors who wanted to self-publish. At the end of 2014 I got frustrated trying to get published traditionally and decided to give up. Right then an editor offered me my first book. (Eight years after sending out my first postcards.) That was the beginning of my education in children’s books. I knew I needed to find an agent. In 2018 I signed with the CAT Agency. I finally knew I was good enough to work in the industry.”

Priscilla said “we moved from Acton to Maynard in 1993. I was working in Concord and my husband worked in Waltham. Maynard was very affordable at that time and we loved the small town feel. This was in one of the quieter times in Maynard as the Mill was nearly empty. We assumed we’d stay for a few years. 

“I joined ArtSpace in January 2001. Jero Nesson agreed to run ArtSpace and I immediately signed a contract. A dear friend, Linda Mackey, and I were to share a studio. Tragically Linda died in August of 2000. I met several of her friends and two of them were willing to share the studio with me. We became very close friends and they introduced me to a whole new group of wonderful people in town. I began to find out what a magical community Maynard is. 

“ArtSpace became my second home. With increased time to work I made logos for the Maynard Family Association, The Conservation Commission and the Maynard Education Foundation. I painted characters to advertise musicals at the High School and a huge mural for the library at the High School. A group of students used my space so we could design and paint the large painting that hangs in the teen section of the library. The last big project I did there was to make all the characters that decorate the triangle downtown in the holiday season and others you may see around town. 

“Our annual Open Studios brought in thousands of people from the area and became a well loved event in town. I have talked to many people who told me they moved to Maynard in part because ArtSpace was there and they could see that the arts were important to the town. 

“The Maynard community welcomed ArtSpace artists. People were thrilled to have us there and were eager to learn about the artists in the building. Art teachers brought students from Green Meadow through our studios. Student art shows in the gallery were packed with parents. The gallery on Nason Street worked with ArtSpace to create a monthly event that featured exhibits and food and drink in both locations. Artists ran several classes at ArtSpace, bringing a constant stream of parents and children into the building.”

When asked about what living here means, Priscilla said, “the size and walkability of Maynard meant that we could work at our studios and pop downtown for lunch or go to the Post Office, library, shop at downtown stores…even stay and have dinner and a movie after work. When ArtSpace was on Summer Street however, we were a little removed from downtown and therefore less connected to the community. ArtSpace is now downtown and is committed to community involvement and eager to welcome everyone into its circle.”