Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing, 12x15", Graphite/ink/digital

Howdy all. The above is a new illustration about cloud computing. I've been reading a lot about all of the advancements in cloud computing, browser based applications, and new services like Google Wave. It's a broad term, but the illustration focuses on the idea that your computer is not the end destination of your computing experience but rather a gateway to these greater capabilities.

The original sketch included a halo element that was the Google Chrome logo, Google being one of the largest components of the technology, but it felt too overt.

Cloud Computing Line Drawing

Paper Components

Further Experimentation

Kanye, They're After Me, A Suspicious Man

The above are results of further experimentation. Average time under 1 hr. More to come.

Starting with no direction

1hr., Digital/Ink

Grief Through Times of Strife

Grief Through Times of Strife, 21x16", Colored Pencil/digital

This is the latest in a small series of promotional images interpreting common editorial themes. I hoped to find some interesting ways to solve the issues and satisfy myself at the same time. The above is Grief Through Times of Strife. These pieces are further meant to express one of my favorite aspect of editorial illustration- a collaborative nature that lets an illustrator step outside traditional modes of communication to express some concept or mood to a viewer and enhance their understanding or participation in a given material, written or otherwise. Meaning, the chance to create images that are essentially fantastic in nature. You can find lots of examples of illustrators who combine an amazing craft with a truly unique/extraordinary thinking, and for me I've always strived to expand on both. So, more to come but I hope you enjoy the piece.

Recent Sightings at the Sketchbook

Recent drawings from life, television, reference, and other sources.

Forthcoming

Click for larger view

Much of my work recently has been either long term illustration projects or comic book work, all of which has a pretty long turn around. I felt the blog here has suffered a bit for that, and I wanted to write this little note saying I'll be concentrating on keeping my updates more consistent. Above is a sample of work that I'll be posting about in the future, but I'll most likely be sharing more of my personal work and sketches- something I've tried to keep on the down low in this space to focus more on full fledged pieces. In any case, I hope you enjoy the new work when it comes around and stay tuned.

I also wanted to mention some shows I'll be participating in around Philadelphia:
11/5-11/30: Creature Double Feature @Brave New Worlds in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Cartoonists Society.
11/14-11/30: Solo Show @Hobb's in Swarthmore.
11/20-11/30: Taking part in a 3 person show at a new Manayunk gallery, Unlimited Editions, run by my friend and fellow illustrator Karen Hagen. I'm very excited to be hanging with Rachel Reinfurt and art buddy extraordinare Reau.

The New Space

Click for larger view

Building Bridges

Building Bridges, 13.5x16.75, Colored pencil/digital

I just wrapped up 1 of 2 promotional pieces recently. I'm trying to explore some common editorial themes in interesting ways, hopefully stretching my illustration-vocab in the process. I can't exactly remember how this piece began; sketching samurai, puzzling together a bridge, and the color palette were all separate ideas that came together in this piece. Beyond the concept itself I wanted to incorporate elements of past pieces that has worked out well, and also to try working a bit larger. It came out pretty good, I'm happy to say. I even got a mini-illustration out of the 1st detail posted below. I think that little crop has some neat possibility in itself.

The next piece will be out shortly once some other jobs are wrapped up, so stick around for some more content shortly. Hope you enjoy, thanks.

Detail

Detail

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, 6.385x10.25", graphite/digital

I was invited to participate in the Autumn Society of Philadelphia'a first invitational show, the theme of which was the holiday Dia de los Muertos. It's odd that these shows are getting a little regimented, but hopefully this new venue and the artists involved will make for a good show. What little I know of the holiday has been gleamed from Ray Bradbury's Halloween Tree and a Venture Bros. episode, so it was interesting to read about the holiday to get some ideas for the piece. One of the coolest things about it was how people believe that the ghosts would be attracted by marigolds- the "flor de muerto." So, the image of a ghost boy spectrally floating about this flower came to mind immediately.

I had limited time to get the piece done so I focused more on the drawing than the painting, but I was able to try some things I've been thinking about recently- like, oddly enough, ghosts! Enjoy.

Golf, for the New York Times

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to work for the New York Times; a publication I've dreamed of working with for a long time. I was a bit nervous because the piece was running as the cover of a special section for the PGA Tour, but the art directors there were very positive, supportive, and great to work with.

The original piece, 9.5x24", pencil & digital

The piece was to inaugurate a new elite golf course in Jersey City called Liberty National. Built by major golf professionals, it's situated in such a place on the river that is has a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty. The AD wanted the statue to the main focus of the piece, and as we went on with sketch revisions the piece got more airy and atmospheric (which is totally awesome).

Sketches

Sketching While Away

I've had a fair share of traveling this season, but thankfully last week was spent relaxing in New Jersey with family. While waiting to post some new work, I thought I would post some sketches I did while away. I've been trying to work with ink lately, so most of these sketches are my very early experiments with what is, for me, a new medium. In any case, enjoy.

8-Bit & Beyond, Tonight

Just a head's up, the image below will be on display with lots of great video game inspired works at Brave New Worlds in Philadelphia. This opens today, Friday the 7th, and is up until the end of the month. So far we've gotten a lot of great coverage, so here's hoping the turn out is just as great.

NC's Shadow

Hi guys. This was a little spur of the moment study I did while sketching out my submission to the Autumn Society's 8-Bit and Beyond show. The theme is, of course, video games and I immediately jumped at the chance to do something from my favorite game of all time, Shadow of the Colossus. It's a beautiful, mysterious, and atmospheric adventure and this seemed like a pretty obvious parody. If another artist has done the same thing, I'd love to know- I had a sinking feeling I wasn't the first to put these two things together. Otherwise hope you like it, and enjoy some purple shadows. Thanks!

New Personal Work

It Flew at Sunset, 14.5 x 19.5", pencil/ink/digital

The Wreck, 4.25 x 7.5", Ink on Rives BFK

These are two recent pieces completed for my show in Philadelphia. The ink piece is one that I'm especially interested in, because it's a medium I'm just starting to wrestle with. I've long admired people who use it to create magnificent images; artists like Jeff Smith, Paul Pope, etc. The other piece is more cathartic than anything else- the last finished illustration I created and it's birds, figurative work, clouds, and swirls. Everything I love drawing.

Opening @Chapterhouse Friday!

Friday July 10th, 6-9PM
@Chapterhouse, 620 South 9th St.

I've been posting a lot of information about my upcoming show with SM Vidaurri, and I'm proud to say that the opening is fast approaching. There will be a small reception at Chapterhouse on Friday July 10th, from 6-9pm. I'm looking forward to relaxing with a nice cup of coffee on a beautiful Philadelphia evening. Come on out to enjoy some great art.

And to post something new(er), the below is a sketch for another piece that will be available at Chapterhouse.

Buddha/Lotus

Buddha, Lotus, & the Wheel, 8.25x14", pencil/ink/digital

The above is the newest addition to my show in July with SM Vidaurri. It's something of an amalgamation from my sketchbook, as well as an experiment with combining several processes I've used before. Buddhist art an symbolism is something I've always found really interesting and so I wanted to work within that framework. The show opens next month, July 10th.

Early Morning Studio

Of Plutonium & Detectives

Sleuthing Nuclear Smuggling, 10x6.5", pencil/digital

While I was in Yellowstone, I received an email from the art director of Security Management about doing a spot. The article, Sleuthing Nuclear Smuggling, was about how the black market sale of nuclear materials can't be stopped through electronic detection devices alone, but more hands on detective work.

I worked up some film noir imagery with magnifying glasses, spy movie lighting, etc, but thankfully because I had some time to get the sketches done I didn't need to rely on my immediate ideas (some of which were a bit tired). They chose my 3rd sketch, wherein an agent peels back the 2d skin of a briefcase to reveal it's nuclear contents. The end product came along well and the magazine was very easy to work with. It was a great chance to do the kind of illustration I really hope to be doing more of in the future.

Sketches

Miriam sleeping on the train to New York, 3.5x5.5"

Don't use brush pens at high altitudes, 5x8.25".


Squid! 5x8.25",

New work is soon to come, but until I can post that work I thought I'd share some recent sketches. Enjoy.

Montana to Wyoming

Just a few samplings from the recent trip to Yellowstone.

Society of Illustrators

Here's just a few pics from the night in New York attending the opening of the Society of Illustrator's Scholarship Show. It was great hanging out up in the city, seeing the show, and running into friends. I was lucky enough to have two pieces in the show, which was a real surprise. Congrats to fellow show buddies Juri Hayasaka, Kristina Carroll, & Dan Fishel. To those to whom I introduced myself or talked to, thanks for bearing with my awkward conversational skills :)

Old and New

New Appeals to the Old, 9x9.75", pencil/digital

The above is the newest spot I did for the Indypendent. The article involved a record label with an audience rooted in the past that is using modern effects in their recordings. More writing to come.

Sketches

All done in a 3x5.625" sketchbook with ink, watercolor, red pencil, acrylic.

Warlord: CCG Illustrations

Sir Chretien Rellion, 10x8.2", pencil/digital

Stolen Mount, 9x7.35", pencil/digital

I'm happy that I can finally show some of the pieces I've done for the fantasy card game Warlord, by AEG. I've always been a big fan of fantasy in books, art, and games (though never a big CCG player), so this was a great opportunity to have fun and draw some dudes in armor amidst adventure. The deadline for multiple cards was challenging, but they were a pleasure to work with hopefully, I'll get the chance to work with Warlord again.

I did a few card illustrations for the first round, and wanted to share the 2 I liked best, along with my favorite sketches for the pieces (including one that wasn't chosen). I was working within their style guide, which really helped flesh out the world and give me some ideas as to how I could design costuming based on the type of card I had.

Also, thanks to a spoiler website I was able to see an early copy of one of the cards in its design. Pretty cool!