Rabid Rabbit #10

Here is a sneak peak at my contribution for Rabid Rabbit 10, the cat issue. After a couple of pretty dark stories for the past few issues, this story is actually humorous and doesn't feature death, depravity, depression, or words. Inspired by my own backyard view here in Greenpoint.

Paths Less Travelled

One of my environmentally-themed illustrations was just published on the blog Paths Less Travelled.

Summer Residency in Illustration

I'm teaching Visual Narrative / Graphic Storytelling in this great summer program at SVA again. Last year it was a lot of fun! We'll be working on short picture stories and comics, and exploring the possibilities of visual storytelling in general. So don't hesitate and sign up! Contact info below.

Summer Residency in Illustration
ILD-4993-A
Illustration and Visual Narrative
June 1 – July 2

This studio residency offers artists the opportunity to explore the wealth of resources available to professional illustrators in New York City while developing a portfolio of work that embodies personal vision.

With guidance from successful, award-winning illustrators, participants will complete a body of work comprised of images created from assigned projects, as well as those self-directed by the artist, with the aim of showcasing personal style and aesthetic direction. The goals are to advance to the next level of artistic practice and to attain an enhanced position in the illustration marketplace.

Faculty critiques—individual and group—and visits to professional studios will complement independent work; together these initiatives form an intense program that fosters professional growth and an expansion of personal voice.

Special lectures by guest artists, gallery directors, publishers and art directors are designed to provide additional insight regarding the realities of a career in illustration. Participants have access to a digital facility, as well as the opportunity to work in a variety of mediums. The program culminates in an exhibition.

Faculty and lecturers have included Marshall Arisman, Paul Buckley, Gregory Crane, Paul Hoppe, Viktor Koen and Cheryl Phelps.
Note: A portfolio is required for review and acceptance to this program. For further information please contact Keren Moscovitch, coordinator, Summer Residency Programs, Division of Continuing Education, at 212.592.2188; fax: 212.592.2060; e-mail: kmoscovitch@sva.edu.

School Library Journal gets a kick out of HAT

This very kind review of HAT just came out on the pages of the School Library Journal. Thanks very much for the nice words, Laura Stanfield and SLJ!

PreS-Gr 2—During an outing in the park, Henry finds a broad-brimmed hat and thinks of all the wonderful things he can do with it, such as catch mice and perform magic. He lets his imagination run wild: "Hat can be a boat, sailing far away." But after his mom reminds him of all the people who might need the hat, he leaves it where he found it. The text is simple but imaginative. The illustrations bring each imagined scenario to life, and the ink drawings have a slightly retro feel with their subdued colors. The story lends itself to being read aloud, and the red hat pops off the pages. Henry and Hat are sure to be a hit. —Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

Architectural Lighting Commentary

This is a regular feature I'm doing for Architectural Lighting magazine. The article is about minorities in the field and their difficulties in the profession of architectural lighting, as it is a very specific and relatively small field. Established lighting designers are trying to help by mentoring new talent from minorities. AD Aubrey Altman.

American Illustration 28

Good news, my Winter image got into the American Illustration Annual 28. Originally, this was a personal piece, done for a postcard mailing and for my homepage. I'm really thrilled that these architectural pieces get such great response. They take a lot of time but I love doing them! Thanks so much to the jury.

HAT in Parenting Magazine

My book HAT was recommended in the April issue of Parenting Magazine. Unfortunately I missed it on the newstands, since the May issue is already out, bummer! But you can see it online here. Thanks Parenting!

Illustration for Runner's World

This image was for the Ask the Experts column in Runner's World, about the challenges of training for a triathlon. Many thanks to Art Director Marc Kauffman!

Society of Illustrators LA – Best of Show Award

I was informed by SILA, the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, that I won the Joseph Morgan Henninger Award – Best of Show, their highest award. Wow! Can't believe it.

I had originally won Gold in the Advertising Cathegory, for my Destinations piece, in the 47th Illustration West Competition. Amongst the Gold recipients, the jury selects the recipient of the Best of Show award.

I wish I could have been there at the exhibition opening, and the awards ceremony. But it was great to see the photos on the Gallery Nucleus website.

Thanks SO MUCH to all the judges and everybody at SILA!

Website Update

I did a long over due update on my website, you can now see all the recent editorial work (in Editorial Color) – hope you'll enjoy it! I've also updated my info/bio page.

Booklist likes Metal Man

I've just recently found another really nice review of Metal Man. Thanks Booklist!

Booklist - September 1, 2008

Devon's mother thinks Metal Man just makes "junk out of junk," but Devon sees things differently. He looks forward to visiting the man, who creates sculptures from scrap metal, and is facinated by the noisy saw and the sparks flying hot white, orange, and blue. He likes to talk about the shapes he sees in the artist's sculptures, knowing that when he puts names to what they are, he's never wrong: "Not like school." Best of all is the sculpture he makes with Metal Man, proving to his mother that art isn't just paintings in a gallery and that there's more to Devon than she may have realized.

Hoppe's palette is limited, but his muscular style, with boldly painted outlines and details, makes terrific use of perspective and pairs extremely well with the hip-hop lilt of Reynolds' language. The impressive, African American Metal Man is larger than life, and his young apprentice shows his growing excitement in every movement. An unusually masculine take on art that subtly marries themes of creativity and self-esteem.



Metal Man has now reveived reviews from all the major children's book reviewers and they were all overwhelmingly positive, including one Starred review by The Bulletin. It was part of the Society of Illustrators' Original Art Show, was selected a NCSS Notable Trade Book and has been published in Korea. Thanks for all the support, and especially to Aaron Reynolds for the great story. It's been a great journey and I'm looking forward to the things yet to come.

You can read all the reviews and other related news if you click on the Metal Man label at the end of the post.

Wall Street Journal

Another fun project, for today's Wall Street Journal. It's for an article about creative and extreme ways to save money. For the illustration, we decided to go with the idea of bartering. Thanks to Orlie Kraus!

Communication Arts

One of my images has won in the Communication Arts competition and will be published in the 2009 Illustration Annual, yay! It's my self-promotional image about the Wall Street Craziness, that was also published as a cover for The Stranger in October 2008.
Thanks Comm Arts!

Inside Counsel Magazine

This is an illustration about environmental litigation trends. You can read the full article here. Many thanks to AD Liz Novak!

Do you know your Wisconsin Film Festival 2009 character?

The key for my Isthmus illustration was just published on The Daily Page, the online version of Isthmus. I guess that makes me a contributor! You can see it here.

HAT is out now!

My children's book HAT is now available in stores and online. If you can't find it in a store, ask for it and they will be able to order it for you. Online you can find it at Tower, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the other usual suspects. Though I'm a bit tied up with projects right now, I hope to do some events celebrating the release in the near future. Please stay tuned!