3x3 ProShow No8

Got some good news in the mail a few days ago - the creepily covered 3x3 Annual arrived and three of my pieces were inside! One of my pieces, Losing It from St. Louis magazine, was awarded with Distinguished Merit. A huge honor, to be sure; it always amazes me to see my work crammed in a book with all of my illustration-heroes.

"Stalking the D.C. Novel," for The Los Angeles Times; AD Wes Bausmith

Losing It, for St. Louis Magazine; AD Kevin Goodbar

"My Daughter...?" personal work

I Present Presents

These two illustrations were gifts I drew for two of my friends.

This little ditty was for Andrea, a five-tail fox afficianado and illustrator. 

And this number was for Emily, a lumerjack-loving designer, for her birthday. 

Another thank you note

Here's another piece I did for a thank you note to my future parent-in-laws. This is a scene from Morro Bay, a wonderful little spot along the central coast of California.

Thank You Notes

There's really only one thing you have to do in January, and it's thank you notes. I dug up these two ones from the archives - I drew them awhile ago. I hope that they might bring you a little inspiration through the tedious process of figuring out how to thank people in a heartfelt way (that secretly suggests: look at me, I'm an illustrator! You should hire me some day!).

This card was for my landlords, shortly after we moved in. It was a thank you for all the help moving and setting up the apartment - for being good landlords in general. Note: I do not own a stately mansion. I live in the renovated attic (once the servants' quarters) that you enter through a side-door. 

This was for a former oboe instructor (yes, I play the oboe), thanking her for 4 years of fine instruction. 

St. Louis Magazine - Bob Cassilly Feature

I recently worked with Sarah Norwood over at St. Louis Magazine to illustrate the intro spread for their article on Bob Cassilly. Cassilly was a legendary sculptor in St. Louis - it's hard to drive around the city without seeing one of his larger-than-life-size sculptures. He recently died in a tragic bulldozer accident (while working on a new project), and this article beautifully summed up his life, career, and memory.

If you've never been to St. Louis, I urge you to take a trip here and visit the City Museum, Cassilly's masterpiece and one of the most fun places I've ever been.

The illustration was almost as fun to draw - tons of zany things that normally wouldn't fit together splashed together in one spread. A praying mantis, two airplanes, a butterfly, turtle, apartment building, giraffe, and a school bus all in one picture? Madness!

This was the spread without the text.

Here's the spread, after print. 

A drop cap I was also commissioned to do for the first page of the article.

Portuguese Man

Haven't posted any personal work in awhile. Here's a piece I did the other night, inspired by a photograph I took on a trip to Portugal a few years ago. Some day I hope to own a street-facing window that I can gaze out of longingly.

Washington Post: Holiday Advice

While I'm the last person you want to take holiday advice from, I am still somewhat qualified to illustrate other people's holiday advice. Here are a couple of pieces that ran in today's LocalLiving section of the Washington Post.

This one ran as the cover.

And this one ran full-page for the intro spread. I had a great time drawing all the people - especially the crying child and the Christmas sweaters. I would never be caught dead wearing one, but I sure do like to draw them. 

AD: Tippi Thole