Befuddlements

Washington Irving

2010-10-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

His estate, called Sunnyside, sits right along the Hudson River, in the village of Sleepy Hollow NY. I made sure to do all the touristy things when I took a trip out there to see his house. Like visit the Old Dutch Church and walk along the stream that the bridge crossed where Ichabod met the Horseman. Even though Irving wrote a bunch of other stories and books, it's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that brings in the crowds this time of year and solidifies that area in American History.

Goat Farm

2010-10-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Follow the highway to the exit which takes you to the town. Drive a few miles down Main Street, past the shops and houses. As they start to thin you'll find a road that shows the way over the hills. Each hilltop allows for a new vantage point that shouldn't be dismissed. The turn-off is a bit hidden. Just enough so to make it worth looking for. Don't worry if you can't see it from here, the dirt path won't steer you astray. The pair of "hundred-something" year old Oaks that flank the path act as sentinels to the entrance. Since the leaves are turning crisp on their branches, you're arrival is timed perfectly. Up on the hill the lookout mans his position with authority. He knew you were there before you did.

"Rock Thrower"

2010-10-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Something dug up from the sketchbook.

SOFT-SHELL READING

2010-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Not everyone has the time to pick up a book for a leisurely read. One of the best opportunities is the time honored tradition of the summer vacation.

"Offshore Threat"

2010-05-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Estimates vary on just how much oil has been flooding into the Gulf of Mexico. It seems to be sitting somewhere between 250,000 - 300,000 gallons a day. At this point, I doubt the exact number really matters.

The Smaller Things

2010-05-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

"Lovebirds 10"

Three Guys Walk Into a Bar

2010-05-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

There are more loved characters in the George Lucas films, but for this "Star Wars Day" I dug up these sketches of a few lesser admired fellows. You might want to steer clear of the likes of these three if you wonder into a bar here on earth, or a Cantina some place distant.

The Norcott Family

2010-02-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Some of the most interesting meals are found in some of the most remote and unlikely places. This holds true for the group of recipes culled from a small cliff rimmed island that sits just off the coast of Newfoundland. Walter and Veronica loved their tiny island and utilized everything they could when it came to cooking. Since Bell Island sits alone in the icy Northern Atlantic and produces mostly rocks and iron ore, they had to use what they could in order to provide their family of 8 with nutritious meals. The most logical place to find food was from the one thing that separated them from the mainland. The ocean became the soil where Walter harvested his crop from his little row boat. Stories have been past down of Walter climbing on top of the house to lay out his freshly caught cod to dry, taking care to keep it out of the reach of the cats. And of the girls of the group running in the frigid water, with their pants rolled up to avoid the rolling waves, scooping out buckets full of migrating capelin which swam close to shore. The head cook of the household was known to make something out of nothing, and you ate it – like it or not. Though she may have served her food with the same iron fist that she ruled the house with, Veronica’s love could be tasted in every bite. Walter’s favorite morning snack of dried fish wrapped in newspaper then burned to a crisp in the wood stove might not have made it to America with him, but Veronica’s “Christmas Day” soup continues to keep the memory of both of them warm while filling every family member’s belly with a bowl-full of Norcott heritage.

There's Something About Song

2009-12-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

It might seem a bit strange, but people who would normally not even hum a tune in public seem to wait for this time of year to let it all hang out. It might be that jolly feeling which Holiday songs tend to invoke. Or that certain lyrics can bring warm memories of previous years to light again.

I've always enjoyed the idea of caroling, though I've never taken part in the tradition – to the great relief of anyone with working eardrums. The tradition of Christmas Caroling, and the carolers themselves, is such a vibrant theme that even Norman Rockwell couldn't pass it up. My home town in New Hampshire has a group of carolers who dress up and walk through the neighborhood, singing the various songs of the season. What they lack in harmony they more than make up for in festive spirit. They mostly choose the elderly residents or the longtime members of the community as audience members. But they don't overlook the newcomers and really enjoy the surprise of choosing a house at random – even though they might catch a skeptical glare from behind a window curtain before the front door is opened.

There's something about song that has the power to move people to tears, give them the motivation they are looking for, or simply invoke a smile. I've even notice how a song being sung by a group of strangers can keep a family warm while standing out on their porch durring a frigid New England night.

Reading by Moonlight

2009-11-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

When the original movie came out I had not even heard of the books. I did a drawing of the main character, for the original Twilight movie, which accompanied a review of the first film. Obviously everyone knows that since then the franchise has become a huge success. Which is great for everyone involved, especially Stephanie Meyer who created the whole thing by dreaming up a story and writing it down. It is also great that kids are lining up to be put on waiting lists at their local libraries to have the chance to read a book.

"MUDMASK" Layout

2009-10-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Every culture has their individual masks, used for various purposes, and I've always been interested in them and the lore behind the features. There is also an intriguing story about a group of natives who were forced to leave their homeland in such haste that they left their physical attributes behind. They arrived in a new land, blank, so they took on totally new features that were derived from the surroundings of the new place they settled. There's probably going to be plenty of strolling masked pedestrians on the streets of the city this weekend, at least more than the usual faction.

Blueprint 3

2009-10-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

He has now sold more albums than Elvis, and more cars outside of my window play songs off the new Jay-Z album, than any other album since I've been in the city.

Echoes of Summer

2009-10-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

The colder weather is starting to roll in on the Northeast, which is always a welcomed relief from the humid days that usually make up the later parts of the summer. Feeling and watching the seasons change is what makes this part of the country so enjoyable to me. Just when you feel as though the summertime heat is going to suck the last drop of moisture from you, a hint of change blows in off the Atlantic, reminding you of fall. People complained of the summer not being warm enough, starting too late, or too much rain falling. That's what makes things so interesting around here. Though it might not have been ideal for the vacationers, nature thrived. The grass seemed greener, the streams stayed full, and the apples now taste sweeter since the first frost has already made them blush.

Crawling Back to New

2009-07-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

It is very rewarding to find a new use for and older idea. Just because a drawing is old doesn't make it obsolete. Sometimes it might need a little tinkering, or a total overhaul, but if the idea's framework is sturdy than it can be reworked and used for a current assignment. This drawing was put up here a while ago, on its own, and has crawled its was back since finding a new home with an article that came around about summer-time reading with a hint of Science Fiction to it. I've always liked the drawing and in this case it ran "as is" without the addition of any starfish, seashells, or changing the spectacles to Ray Bans in order to push across the summer topic. It is now as good as new, as old.

The Pad

2009-05-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is the mock up that was used for the control pad made exclusively for the Mad Catz SF IV Arcade Stick. I haven't seen it all put together yet, but I'll put a photo up when I get them.

Dhalsim Times Three

2009-05-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of excitement in the video game world about the upcoming release of the Street Fighter 4 game, so when I got to pick a character to do a painting of for a single use assignment I was pretty excited myself. I've played the old version of the game years ago, and some of my friends still spend hours playing it with each other through the newly adapted on-line abilities. The original picture has been used since as a controller cover plate and player "Special Moves" card – along with the cover page to an article about the series. After reading the character's back-stories I chose Dhalsim. I liked him from the original game and besides his pacifistic nature, I like the orange markings he wears and the story behind the necklace.

On a Stroll

2009-04-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

There is always an urge to learn something new, or try doing an everyday activity in a different way. It might not always work out the best, it might need some practice, or could be abandoned. As people get older they sometimes have no choice but to learn a new way of doing the things that have always come natural to them. It's worth the effort if you can find something that works. You could even question our own existence, if those prehistoric fish did not learn to do some of the things they had always done in a new way.

Dream Bird

2009-03-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

Trying to explain a dream to someone is kind of like trying to explain the way a certain kind of food tastes. You can give it brief adjectives like "sweet" or "sour", but delving deeper into the details doesn't do much more than get both people confused about the whole interpretation. You might try to persuade them one way or another when it comes to food. Say if you like radishes and someone ask you how they taste, you would give them a description of grandeur. But are you really describing the actual taste of the radish beyond it's basic crunchy tartness? A dream is in the same way related, and better off described in lay person's vocabulary. While you're trying to describe the intricacies of what you've experienced while asleep, you might be boring your audience into their own slumber.

Sunday Statue (3)

2009-03-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

The Historical Society of New York houses many interesting artifacts within it's walls. Up the main stairs, decked out in marble, right along side of the reading room, is a small dimly lit space which is dedicated to the legacy of this historical president. There has been much reference to him as of late, which might be renewing peoples interest in his story. That might also explain why this room was the most crowded of them all, even though it is one of the smallest. One of the other adjoining rooms is currently showcasing a selection of the vast collection of John Audubon. While life-size watercolors of wild turkeys running through the woodland floor, a pair of owls fix their gaze out the entrance way and in the direction of the case containing this statue. Mr. Audubon's paintings of two Bald Eagles make it easy to see why the founding fathers chose this avian monarch as the symbol of the newly formed nation. This statue, made by Daniel Chester French, is flanked by another statue from the same sculptor, which many might recognize in it's outdoors setting from the Lincoln Monument. It is just a small statue, sitting in a small room, but it opens you up to the larger than life issues facing Mr. Lincoln and this country during that time in history.

Voorhees Extra

2009-03-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

Here are the separate parts to the review below. The sketch is really small (1.5" x 1") and I decided to keep the final painting rather small (8" x 7.5"). I hope I did justice to Jason Voorhees and the Friday 13th franchise.

FRIDAY 13th Review

2009-03-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

The Jason Voorhees mask in these movies is so iconic, which made it the simple choice for the illustration to accompany this review. In the newest version the mask is made to look a bit more modern and sharp. I enjoy the older versions, so I leaned towards the more basic features. It is always nice when they do an older movie justice in a remake with an homage to classic horror storytelling.

Promoting Boulders

2009-02-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

Getting people to recognize your work, out of the sea of images out there, can be a tedious process. It's one that has to be done if you are really looking for work, and would like to stay current with art directors and clients. Of course I would rather be painting than sending emails and designing mailers, but those paintings don't do much good for the business end of things if they just hang on my walls or sit on my desk. I try to get the most possible usage I can out of a single picture. It's sort of like a band who uses a "single" to promote their album, fill stadiums, and sell ipods, all with the same song. This painting I used for email promotion, a mailer of sorts, and was chosen for an upcoming group exhibition poster. Sure, the original still hangs on my wall but I tried to get as much out of that one piece as possible. Since this painting has been out there people have asked about prints, which is a great way for anyone to own a high quality version of the original. I really appreciate knowing that other people, besides my immediate family and friends, enjoy my work and would like to adorn their walls with one of my paintings. Self promotion isn't going to be the most fun thing to do, but it can be made interesting. Especially if you really enjoy the original part of the whole endeavor.

Group of Feathers

2009-02-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

People are always asking about Facebook. They get a strange look on their face when I tell them that I do not use it. My account has been sitting there for a while, so I figured it time to utilize it. Here are a couple of illustrations I put on there, from a series I did about migration.

West to Mid-West

2009-02-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

The black and white illustrations have been filling up the page, but since the Academy Awards are coming up I guess this one should hold a place on here. I did a bunch of roughs for this small portrait of Clint Eastwood, trying to keep them pretty simple each time. I remember watching a lot of his westerns when I was younger, they were always entertaining. Being a kid, growing up in the Northeast, the "wild" west was a place of open expanses to be explored on horseback. Or is that Italy I am thinking of? Either way, if they ever re-release those films in the theatre, I volunteer now to work on the illustrations for those movie reviews.

Drawing Keys

2009-02-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

There has not been any posts like this on here yet, I am not sure if they are that interesting for people to look at. In either event, these are a few steps while working on the Black Keys illustration. First is the sketch with the roughed in drawing, then building it up a bit (always with the original sketch somewhere in sight), then putting in the finishing value changes. It was a fun piece to work on, and gave me an excuse to play their newest album a bunch of times.

Albums of the Year

2009-02-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

Music critics love to make "Top Pick" lists for bands as a new year arrives. This illustration was for one of those lists, and for a band that should be on every top pick list. You can learn a bit about The Black Keys here, and add them to your list of favorite musicians.

EDWARD PRINT

2009-02-01T14:23:00.001-08:00

A little sidebar on this piece: there has been some questions about purchasing a print of "Edward" without the review. If enough people are interested, then I would surely be able to have a limited edition run of prints made. Thank you for showing your interest in this little drawing.

Movie Review (TWILIGHT)

2008-12-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

Things get a little busy this time of year, and this little movie review has been hiding amongst the others under the desk, almost unnoticed. That is until the other night while enjoying the company of a relative from out of town. He admitted to seeing the Twilight movie twice, claiming his girlfriend was behind the second watching. That's fine, people really liked the books and love the movie. I did the illustration for this review before the movie was in theaters, and before I had purchased a ticket. Sometimes you just have to go and watch certain movies, just to find out what all the fuss is about, and I admit that I enjoyed it. Remembering our conversation, I decided to pull this one out and put it up here for all the fans. A little sidebar on this piece: there has been some questions about purchasing a print of "Edward" without the review. If enough people are interested, then I would surely be able to have a limited edition run of prints made. Thank you for showing your interest in this little drawing.

Snowitch

2008-12-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

Every year around this time a group of women gather to discuss the year gone by, current situations, and meet new people they would have otherwise been a stranger to. The event has been held in different locations from year to year, from Costa Rica to Massachusetts, and is hosted by a very adventurous woman. She has traveled the world helping impoverished people with the Peace Corps, ran the New York City Marathon, and Teaches at Boston University. This years gathering was held in Salem Massachusetts, and when I received an e-mail asking if I would be interested in designing the invitation to the even, I didn't even think twice about agreeing. The only guideline was to incorporate the town (Salem) and time of year into the illustration. There was about half a dozen sketches, but she was really excited about the "snowitch", as was I, since it would work well as a small invite to poster size reproduction. It was a lot of fun to work on, and I am glad I could be a part of such a worthwhile event.

Sunday Statue (2)

2008-11-16T19:51:00.001-08:00

The leaves that have fallen from the trees gather beneath the feet of the Uruguayan Independence leader, while he leans against a tree of his own. He stands, with book in hand, in one of the smaller parks named after one of the trendiest parts of the city. General Jose Artigas looks East at the tourists and shoppers, just over the tops of the flowing traffic of Sixth Avenue, while one of the largest buildings south of Houston St. is being constructed over his shoulder.

Jack's Shadow

2008-11-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

One For the History Books

2008-11-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

There has been about as many portraits of each candidate as there was votes cast for them. I have not bothered with doing one, until now, the day after the winner was decided. It sounded like the people outside were watching their hometown baseball team win the World Series. You could tell when another state on the map would go "blue" from the cheering crowds around town. It is just a quick resemblance, but it is how I figured the candidate for the people would look like if he were watching his numbers climb with the people.

Creepy Crawly Yarns

2008-10-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

While the fallen leaves dance around the pumpkins that are gathered on porches, showing off their flickering smiles, something spooky lurks within your library, waiting for you to come near. Do just that. Take hold of it and bring it into the light. This time of year lends itself nicely to the tales of Lovecraft, Poe, King, and many others, which might have you looking over your shoulder more than at the words on the page. October also lends itself rather nicely to big plates piled high with freshly baked apple crisp, which is less spooky and more tasty.

Sunday Statue (1)

2008-09-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

The first American president hosts this Italian nation hero. If you meander your way through the curving paths in the interior of the square, peer under the arch or through the branches, and perhaps you can catch a glimpse of this 19th century political figure. Giuseppe Garibaldi was the leader of legions, and stands wielding his sword to the West, while his army of green benches awaits his command.

Chirp

2008-08-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a bird is just a bird, and in this case it is just an oriole (Icterus galbula) on a branch. This privately commissioned painting was done for someone I know quite well who is a seasoned bird-watcher, but stops short of becoming a ornithologists. Since this painting has no alterior motive, other than to be a painting, could it then be considered a piece of art instead of an illustration? A question for the ages I guess, and one that has been debated back and forth on a path as worn as the migratory route of the bird on the branch.

Foster Dog

2008-08-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hold on to your tear ducts. This little french bulldog was taken in by a very sincere rescue organization, The French Bulldog Rescue Network, after she was no longer needed by her previous "owners". She was used for breeding, and like so many other female dogs, was deemed useless once she was no longer able to have puppies. She has had back surgery and must now use a pair of wheels to get around, which does not seem to slow her down at all. There is a whole list of French Bulldogs on their web site that are available for fostering or adoption. It might be because I have my own little french monster running around the apartment, but once I read her story I had to reach into the piggy bank.

Banner Review

2008-06-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

If you have not seen the movie yet, or even heard about it, then here is the review that accompanied the illustration below. Just in case there is anyone out there that is looking for something to do on a hot summer's day.

Don't Call Him Banner

2008-06-19T15:57:00.001-07:00

This is for all of those huge fans, waiting in long lines this past weekend, in front of the movie theaters. It is always kind of sad when Banner turns his back on the Hulk, and tries to rid himself of his alter persona. Look how nice he can be, he sat just fine for me while I painted his portrait. Sure, he is big and green, and likes to smash things, but he can be caring and gentle. Just don't make him angry, you all know what happens then.

Snake in the Market

2008-06-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

The real estate market is rumbling with an abundance of houses for sale. Most of those properties are on the edge of foreclosure. The people who are looking to buy, would rather wait for them to be boarded up up and sold for cheap by the bank, than pay a little more and allow the current residents to leave their abode with dignity in tact. Both sides can be argued with valid points, but since everyone enjoys finding a good deal, it just depends wether you are on the buying or selling side lawn that will determine if the grass is green and luscious or full of weeds.

An Institution Removed

2008-04-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

There had been rumors abound, for awhile, that the janitors of a small town school might have their jobs taken away and handed over to the cheapest contractors available. I figured that there was no way the town would let that happen, my hometown. There were two eloquently written "Letters to the Editor" in the local paper, by longtime resident and teacher Michael Parker, warning of the dangers involved, and bringing awareness of the situation to the people it would effect. The jobs are gone, the trusted janitors out, and the gates are open, to let in, any stranger off of the street to go and spend the day with their children.

Distantly Connected

2008-04-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the very object that people believe is keeping them "connected" with the entire world, might, at the same time be the very device that turns them oblivious to the physical world moving around them. It is funny that the original drawing for this piece sits here, at my desk, while people could be looking at it through the very glasses that are described in the article. That would be, if anyone is even reading this.

Visitor's Exploration

2008-04-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting project to work on. While I was reading the essay, it reminded me a lot of the old novel "The Lost World", by Sir Aurthor Conan Doyle. I did pages of sketches for this piece, something that seems to happen when I have a longer deadline on a project. Days would go by and then I would come back to it, do a few more sketches, and leave it sit, while working on some other things. That went on until the day before it needed to be finished, and I decided to go with the composition that is here, in the completed layout. Many people make their way into the city, to find their own little adventure. Illustrating the story of an out-of -towner coming into the city, in which I reside, is what made this so enjoyable, even if there were no dinosaurs.

Lovebirds

2008-02-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

There is no need to go into detail about Valentine's Day being commercially geared towards overindulgence, and how, if you look, you can find happiness in the little things. Working on this painting brought forth a hunger for a doughnut, so after I finished it I headed over to The Doughnut Plant, where they make the best doughnuts in the city. You can't go there alone, and it's hard to have just one. There was four people, eight doughnuts, and smiles all around.

Found in the City

2008-02-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

When a friend, from out of town, came into the city for the weekend, we took a stroll on a Sunday afternoon and came upon some interesting things. After a filling brunch, we took to the streets, walking all around my neighborhood, and over to the lower East side. His shutter was going like mad, but my sketchbook, and my hands, remained stuffed in my pockets from fear of frost bite. While my friend was taking a photo of a guy with a newspaper, I rounded the corner of an outdoor flea market to come face to face with a full grown baboon. If he wasn't mounted, I would have been in some trouble. We continued on, and I waited until I was in my warm apartment before I did some sketches from the day.

Corralling Innocence

2008-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

People have their traditions, something that keeps them connected to their past heritage, and allows them to reconnect with family. It could be a rejuvenating event, such as a family picnic on the second Saturday in April to welcome the warming air of spring to the thawing land. Some traditions are a bit different.

Table Talk

2008-02-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

Cupid, is that you? Not quite, but it is someone who seems to be totally infatuated with himself. This portrait of Ahmadinejad is part of a three person set. People are getting so wrapped up in how "hip" some candidates seem to be, or how some might be more issue driven. It could make it hard to choose, and that is where this "Across the Table" series comes in. Being a smooth talker, or boasting big promises can pull people one way or the other when casting their vote. Putting all of the rhetoric to one side, place the candidate you are in favor of across the table from some of the other world leaders, and see if you believe that they could hold their own. The other two people in the series are still not finalized yet, but I am sure Putin might pull up a chair.

Smoke and Mirrors

2008-02-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

This is a piece created for the topic of personal reflection. People are always "on the hunt", or "in search" of something. If it is a personal quarry, then that individual needs to be able to look through most of the comments and suggestions thrown in front of them, in order to clearly see the direction in which they need to venture.

It Could Be a Circus

2008-01-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

With the Republicans turning to the internet to gather support, through Myspace, blogs, and an overabundance of e-mails being sent daily, some might long for the old days of political campaigning. There is still some of the old handshaking and local diner appearances, but it is believed that to reach "the younger" demographics, you have to go digital. With that said, one could match this drawing up with a subject such as that, or it could just be about the circus coming to town.

The Search For a Classic

2008-01-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been wandering the isles of your local library, or purveyor of printed material, searching for an old classic, possibly a Thoreau depiction, that you have not read yet? Sometimes it is hard to remember all of the older "must reads". That is where this illustration can help. Well, maybe not the painting, but the information found in the pages that follow it. The final product is still being worked on, but it will help everyone get interested in, or rediscover early American literature. There is nothing like a little Longfellow after dinner.

Lawns That Care

2008-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

There has been much talk, and many articles written, recently on the hot topic of "Going Green". Some are informative, some trendy, and some militant. The article that this illustration accompanies is more personal than most, and showcases an aspect of environmental awareness that most would not have considered. It's sort of like someone pointing out to you, while in the supermarket, that your zipper is down. You could thank them and pull it up, while blushing, or puff your chest out and keep on shopping as though nothing has been said. The latter option is how most would probably respond to such an article, that is why I made the grass on top of the suspended skulls appear as a sort of crown. "King of the Block" with the manicured yard. It is just a little illustration for such a big issue.

That Bee is Funny

2008-01-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

With all of the hoopla going on with the Golden Globes, I decided to post this illustration I did for a review about the "Bee Movie" that came out last year. In all of the interviews I saw, or read, with Jerry Seinfeld, he was always talking about how he really got into the role of being a bee. So, here he is, with a bunch of his costars, and the man behind the scene, Mr. Spielberg. I am no movie critic, but Barry B. Benson made me laugh, which is enough to let me classify it as a funny movie. It is just a shame that you won't get to see him on the red carpet.

Something for Crayola

2008-01-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves crayons, or has at least used one. That is why I was more that happy to allow Crayola to use one of my illustrations for their "Dream Makers Guide". It is a publication that they donate to public teachers across the country, that is full of information and lessons to help educate students. This one was used for a story about how objects, that are not found together in nature, are combined and used to tell a story in an illustration. I am sure the kids will be more interested in the free box of crayons they get, than the lesson, and you can't blame them for that.

An Attempt at Society

2008-01-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

This is a painting that I worked on last year, amongst other projects at the time. It was uncomissioned, and I entered it as such at the Society of Illustrators. Since it will not be appearing in their annual, I am putting it up here, in case anyone would like to have a look.

A Scary Yarn

2008-01-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

When an e-mail came with an attached story, I quickly opened it. I know the author, but I have not been asked to illustrate any of his writings, as of yet. It was October, and fitting for that time of year, the story is in the "scary" genre. The author's name is Michael Parker, he has written many interesting articles, and short stories. This particular one involves 2 ghostly sisters, who travel the back country roads on their motorcycles. The inside will read more like a graphic novel, with panel drawings by Fell Boley. I was only asked to do the cover, and thank goodness for that. To do all of those interior panels would just take way too much time. Plus, I enjoy corralling the entire story into one image. Make sure all the lights are on when you read this one.