Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I Does Sequential, Mm-Hmm, Part 1

Back in 2009-2010 I did a four book graphic novel series for Capstone's Stone Arch Books imprint. The brilliant Scott Nickel penned them and I drew them. The art director on the project, Bob Lentz, is flat out one of the best I've ever had the pleasure with which to work ... work with.

Story breakdown: kid gets angry, his head turns into a giant boulder.

Here are some of my favorite panels from the books. Click on them if you want to see them larger.














©2010 Stone Arch Books

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow : Selected Illustrations

Dial Books for Young Readers asked me to illustrate Nathan Bransford's wonderful book, Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow. We are working on the sequel now (shhhh). The original can be found at Amazon. 









Sunday, August 21, 2011

Backpack Safari

A newspaper (yes, they still exist) editorial illustration.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Alamo & Sadie

She wanted a present. What she wanted was his dog and his cat. A drawing of them. A drawing by me.
"And I'll pay you," she said.
"No. You're my friend, he's my friend," I said, "I can't take money from you."
I did the drawing. She wrote a check, shoved it in my hand.
"No," I said again.
"Then WHAT?" she said, "This can't be free."
An idea formed in my head, right there. An idea and I loved it.
"My gift for yours."
"What?"
"I will trade you my gift, my ability, drawing ... for your gift, your ability."
She smiled. I smiled too. Here's what I knew. She is a fantastic cook.
So she cooked for me (and him, of course). And we ate. And it was wonderful.
Then they married. They had a son. In his room, the drawing.


Sadie with her faithful steed Alamo.

Alamo (Beagle & blue heeler mix. Great dog.)

Alamo says goodbye.

Sadie (without the vest & bandana)


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Man at Work


This is why I am off the radar for the next three weeks. Finishing up interior illustrations for second Wonderbar book.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Rough: Paul Bunyan, Ax Riding

As I move into deadline land, 3 weeks to the final of the second Jacob Wonderbar book, I won't be doing many finishes for the blog. As with most everything I've done here in the last two months, I wanted to take concepts further. Here's a quick sketch--it's got obvious problems, foreshortening on that arm, for one--for a Paul Bunyan drawing. It's called Ax Ride.

ball point pin (click to enlarge)