Making a Decision

This illustration started out as a concept sketch for the Barack Obama article for PlanSponsor magazine (see previous post). I liked the sketch enough that I decided to paint it. For some reason I really enjoy drawing mounds of dirt and spades.

This piece was inked and painted on 140 lb hot press watercolor paper.

Barack Obama for PlanSponsor

I had the pleasure of working with SooJin Buzelli of PlanSponsor magazine on this Barack Obama illustration. The article posed the question about what retirement issues Obama should focus on.

I included a technical pencil drawing of an optometrist machine (a phoropter, I learned) in the background to suggest the focus angle.
This piece appears in the March issue of PlanSponsor, a great magazine that uses tons of illustration.

Lust for Life

For the last little while I've been simultaneously reading Irving Stone's biography of Vincent van Gogh, Lust for Life, and Dear Theo which compiles van Gogh's letters to his brother (edited by Stone).

Lust for Life (which was adapted into a movie starring Kirk Douglas as van Gogh) is an amazing book and it's especially interesting to read both books together. When Irving Stone writes about van Gogh's work on his Potato Eaters painting I could also read van Gogh's own words about its progress.

It was great to read van Gogh's thoughts on color, using models and about meeting artists like Lautrec, Gauguin and Cezanne. I also thought it was amazing to read about his struggles and determination as an artist - how he barely ate for days until his brother could send his monthly allowance. He would often buy new paints, canvases and pay for models with his last few francs before he would buy a loaf of bread.

You don't have to be a fan of van Gogh's work to appreciate these books. I actually like his work more knowing more about what he went through to create it.

Calculated Risk

This illustration is for an article about Calculated Risk. I really enjoyed working on this one.

New Contact Info

I've moved recently and my phone number has changed. Here is my new number if you wish to reach me:
I have been pretty busy with packing, moving, unpacking and organizing but I will have some new work to show you soon. Stay tuned!