Friday, July 3, 2009

WILLIE NELSON







Here are some of the illustrations that I created for an upcoming Best of project for WILLIE NELSON. I was thrilled to have gotten the call and commissioned to create these! The watercolor illo of the bus was an alternate cover option. The collage (front of bus) is the final selected album and LP cover along with the back of the bus being the flip side. The album has a killer track listing featuring some power punch guest artist's like Rob Thomas, Lucinda Williams, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello! It will also be available on vinyl! Suh-weeeeeeeeeeet!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

AIGA WINNER Best of overall Illustration





This past Saturday evening, Nashville held it's inaugural AIGA CASE Awards show. I was honored to be the recipient of two awards for illustration. BEST of OVERALL ILLUSTRATION CATEGORY - ENTERTAINMENT for the BRETT DENNEN cover and BEST of ILLUSTRATION for ADVERTISING for the NEIMAN MARCUS / JUICY COUTURE CATALOG illustrations. I removed the models and clothing out of respect for Neiman Marcus and their clothing designers, etc . . .(hence the bad pencil sketches over the top) Thank you, Nashville AIGA and member voters!!! I am grateful! Here is a link to an article that ran in the Nashville Business Journal.

Friday, June 19, 2009

PEACE TO YOU

I've been working on a few new commissions. I will post some new work next week. May your weekend be filled with peace and truth. Cheers!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

BOOK JACKET COMMISSIONS


A couple of recently completed and approved book jacket illustration assignments. Hand rendered type for the "Kill All The Lawyers" and I spray painted stencils to create the type for the "Buried Alive" title along with creating pen and ink illustrations for both.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009




I've been working on this Merging Blue project for the last couple of weeks wanting it to be just right for them . . . this is my latest attempt . . . I am very pleased with the outcome and hope that this will be the final. Let me know what you think!

DIANA KRALL


Just got word last week that Diana Krall's folks want to use this poster in support of her world tour. I posted some other commissioned work here that I created for her earlier that is also being used on T-shirts and various other items.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATION ASSIGNMENT



Here are  a couple of book jacket illustration assignments that I recently worked on for a publisher. My friends (who are also illustrators and designers) were also commissioned to pitch cover ideas - they are finishing the project out and the above image(s) will not be used. The author decided to head in a different direction. I'm still very pleased with the outcome . . . especially with the woman image. 

MERGING BLUE



Here are the cover illustrations and sketches that I presented for the Merging Blue assignment. I wanted to try an all white on white collage for their silhouettes and then work in a bunch of color seeping in around them for one of the images (top left). I'm pleased with the outcome. However, I'm not sure it's quite right for them just yet. I'm going to work on pushing it some more, warming it up with parchment paper rather than the cold white paper you see now.

Friday, May 22, 2009

VARIOUS NEWS!



Above (the collage of electrical cords) is another cover option that was presented for Shane Lambs project. This will be used on the inside cover of the booklet that will slip into one of the digi pockets. In addition, I'm working on a couple of new assignments. The first is a book jacket illustration and design entitled, "The Great American Bank Robbery" It's on the cost and causes of the New Depression. The second is a cover illustration for my friends - the powerhouse vocal group Merging Blue. (Shown above) Unbelievable live!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

CAREY OTT






I've been working with my friend Carey Ott on his forthcoming album entitled "Human Heart." In conjunction with the release, he is organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering. Read the entire blog post and article here. Attached are a few of the covers that I worked up for Carey. He is leaning towards the one directly above this post. More to come.

Friday, May 8, 2009


I am thrilled to have been accepted and welcomed into the amazing illustration MUNDO online community! You can find me in the "news" section. There are hundreds of extremely talented folks on MUNDO. Some of my favorites are Edel Rodriguez, Eric Carle, Kate Slater and Josh Cochran. I am also a huge fan of Nate Williams (who is very involved with this online community) Thank you, Nate and MUNDO!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

L.A. TIMES




A new assignment that appeared in todays L.A. Times "FOOD" section. FINDING THE BEST CHICKEN - how do you illustrate this and it not be a turn off to food connoisseurs? After several sketches, the fork and ribbon idea came to me last minute and felt right. The Editor and Design Director agreed and wanted to add the chicken in the center of the ribbon along with the gingham table cloth. 

Thursday, April 30, 2009

NEW WORK


I am currently working on the above project for my friend Shane Lamb. I just came back from having lunch with he and his girlfriend. We talked about the various cover options that were presented and he quickly landed on the above cover for his upcoming solo project. Shane is an INCREDIBLE writer and an honest, very authentic and true friend! I am grateful for Shane. I am also working on a new assignment for the Los Angeles Times that will run (in full color) on the cover of the food section May 6th. "Kill All The Lawyers" is the title of a new book that I am illustrating and designing the cover for. And lastly, my good friend Mr. Carey Ott is gearing up for a new project entitled "Human Heart"  that he has asked me to be involved with. He is working with a Record / Publishing Company out of L.A. that will be aggressively pushing him towards Film, Television and Advertising. I love my friend Carey and am also grateful for him! The art for these projects will be posted soon. Keep comin back!

Monday, April 20, 2009

52nd ANNUAL GRAMMY Awards!


Last week, I was invited by our local NARAS (GRAMMY) chapter here in Nashville, to participate in the craft committee awards process for the upcoming 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards! This is my 4th invitation to participate over the last few years. As committee members, we are required to review the design and aesthetic of all submitted product (CD, album and box sets) and make any necessary notes needed to help in our voting process. Thank you, to the extremely talented Craig Allen for this invitation! I am very grateful.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

QUIET NIGHTS






I was asked to create a few merchandising ideas and concepts for the new Diana Krall world tour. These are a few of the ideas that I presented. The middle two were selected and will be printed on T-shirts and tote bags. Ahhhh, the world of swag!

Monday, April 6, 2009

THE WASHINGTON POST





This appeared in yesterdays Washington Post "JOBS" section (Sunday, April 5, 2009). The article was about men and women in their 60's being thrust back into the work place, competing with younger, 20 & 30 somethings. Facing subtle age discrimination, it talks about what they might do in order to appear younger and have a better edge during the interview process. The clock on the wall is backwards, (I wanted somehow to communicate the turning back back of time in a subtle way) my favorite part of this illustration. It might easily be overlooked! 8.5" w x 10.5" h. Collage & mixed media.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

CASH


I've been working on these illustrations of Johnny Cash for an upcoming related project. The image and likeness of Johnny may end up looking different in the end, but I'm very pleased with the outcome thus far and wanted to share them. These obviously have the HATCH look (of which I am a huge fan of) and I couldn't help but connect this look, vibe and style with the undeniable CASH! More to come later . . .

Monday, March 16, 2009

L.A. TIMES



Yesterday's Op-Ed on anti-Zionism. This was for the L.A. Times. A very touchy matter when it comes to creating a visual to support this idea. Anti-Zionism is the conviction that Israel, of all the world's countries, does not have the right to exist. I was asked to address both sides of the issue. We decided to use the menorah idea (sketch #2) as a springboard and keep this simple and to stay away from the whole militarism thing. In this article, Judea Pearl asks "Is anti-Zionism hate?" The final piece ran black and white. 10" x 15.5" collage & watercolor.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

SARAH JAROSZ





Sarah Jarosz. An incredible Austin, Texas based new talent on the scene! With endorsements from Tim O'Brian, Chris Thile (of Nickel Creek fame) and Abigail Washburn . . . Sarah is about to blow up!! What a pleasure it was to work on her project. Thank you, Sarah! Pen & ink - watercolor medium.

THE CREW DESIGN


A big thank you goes out to Sarah, Tess, Meghan and Meghan of The Crew Design for their very kind post and endorsement about my work a few months back. Check out what they are up to. Thanks ladies -  and all the best to you!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

JOHNNY CASH


Working on a very cool "Johnny Cash related project" and cannot say any more at this point - except that I am very excited! More to come . . .

Monday, March 2, 2009







Several covers created for Minneapolis based indie band, EiCH FiVE. They came to me wanting to use the flat hand idea in collage medium. The cover (shown directly above) with black and white hands pressed up against glass is what they wanted to go with. Some of the others shown here that were also presented for consideration, are my personal favorites. Collage & mixed media.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

BACK FROM MINNESOTA!


Arrived back in Nashville last night from a week long visit with my boys to my parents house in Minnesota. It was very cold and snowed one day, had a fabulous time!  While there, The Washington Post called the studio with an illustration commission that I was unable to do being that I was out of town, (bummer!) also got an invitation to meet with Target at their corporate office in Minneapolis. Stay tuned for more updates. I am glad to be back here doing what I love to do!!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009


Final digipak design and illustrations. Alternate cover options were posted earlier. Watercolor and mixed media. 

Friday, February 13, 2009

BUSY! BUSY!


I am busy with several new projects here. Having fun with illustration, hand type and what not! More to come. I also just received an invitation to participate in Sabrina's project. Check out what she is up to here sabrinadesignproject.blogspot.com Thank you, Sabrina! Also, the attached photo was taken during my birthday celebration last fall. My son (the little dude in the footsy pj's) is completely enamored with my friend Carey Ott as he pours everything he has into his song! I wanted to share this with you all as it is one of my favorites. Cheers!