New Art: Mid-Century Home Portrait

I often get commissioned to do home portraiture in my signature poster style. It's a fresh take on a type of art that is typically done in traditional mediums and styles.

This piece was commissioned by a real estate agent as a closing gift for a couple who has lived in this home for over forty years. I was not present when the gift was given, but the artwork moved them to tears. While I enjoy illustrating for companies, creating art that is deeply meaningful to someone is one of the greatest joys of doing home portraits.

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New Art: Restaurant Ordering Illustrations

I was commissioned by New York company, OrdrUs, to create a series of illustrations to help sell their service to restaurants. They provide online and mobile takeout ordering.

After doing a series of slick, colorful illustrations, they decided to scratch those for a different approach. I developed this rough line and watercolor style to supports their non-technical approach to selling their technology.

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These were all created on my iPad with the Procreate app and a Jot Touch pressure sensitive stylus. I've been doing more professional illustration on the iPad lately.

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There are over 20 illustrations in the series... and counting.

Weekly Warmup Sketches

I do warmup sketches at the beginning of the day to get my creativity flowing before starting client work. I used to do it about once a week but I'm trying to do it more consistently. Here are the sketches that got my day going this week.

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10 Web Illustrations: Restaurant Ordering

These illustrations were created for a startup that built an app for restaurant owners. However, the company chose not to use these illustrations after all. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes my art never reaches its intended purpose. But don't worry, I've been creating different illustrations for the same company in a visual style more suitable to their audience.

See more website art in the illustration gallery.

Cruella De Vil

Here is my take on a modern version of the oh so cruel Cruella. I haven't participated in Sketch Dailies on Twitter in several months but I was seduced back by villain week. Evil is fun to draw.

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Drawn on my iPad with the Procreate app and a Jot Touch stylus.

New Poster: The Great Outdoors

Gallerie Rouge is an upscale gallery in Denver that specializes in vintage poster art. I've sold some of my Colorado posters there over the years. I was commissioned to do this poster as a centerpiece of promotion for their annual show that focuses on outdoor themed travel posters.

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POSTER SIGNING

I'll be signing these limited edition posters at the opening reception. Stop by to say hello and view the great vintage posters.

Friday, June 13, 2014
5:00-10:00 pm

Gallerie Rouge
2830 E 3rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80206

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This art was illustrated on my iPad using the Procreate app and a Jot Touch stylus... y'know, to capture that authentic vintage style.

New Poster: Lyons, Colorado Flood Relief

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Having personally experienced the 2013 Colorado flood, this was a commission I could not pass up. The town of Lyons along the foothills of the Rockies suffered catastrophic damage from the flood. With damage in the millions of dollars, the community needs ongoing funds to rebuild. I created this poster as an image that the community can rally around in their restoration efforts.

Posters, t-shirts, and water bottles with the art are being sold as a fundraiser. The art has also been made into banners to line the streets of downtown Lyons. It warms my heart that my art can help a community in their time of need.

See all of my disaster relief posters here.

Lady of the Lake

The Lady of the Lake presents King Arthur with his sword, Excalibur.

Drawn on my iPad with the Procreate app and a Jot Touch stylus. Click to enlarge.

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2014 Bolder Boulder Poster

As an illustrator, I feel it's important to explore different paths of my creativity. It's how I grow as an artist and what keeps me inspired. While I enjoy working in a variety of aesthetics, I must balance that desire with clients that commission me for the style they know I do. Every so often, I take a chance.

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Illustrated using the drawing app, Sketch.

The 2014 Bolder Boulder poster is a new visual style combining angular shapes inspired by Art Deco design with complex color gradients made possible by digital illustration tools.

The shapes of the runners were meticulously crafted with stark, straight lines, yet maintain the organic movement of their stride. Trees, of which I usually illustrate with silhouettes, are built with elaborate flowing shapes to give them depth and light. And the Flatirons, of which I've drawn over 40 times, take on a look I've not done before.

This is a style I'd been longing to explore for a while, and the Bolder Boulder poster was the perfect project for it. I used to utilize color gradients very sparingly but in this piece, nearly every shape has a noticeable gradient. Despite its freshness, the poster still falls comfortably into my body of work.

Last year, I tried something new by creating the 2013 race poster on my iPad. The tool of creation was different but the style was more typical of my portfolio.

I may not be running the race, but this year I broke a new record with the Bolder Boulder. I plan to create more artwork in this style and get better at it.

Purchase this poster here.

Dracula

Once again, I'm using Sketch Dailies as a vehicle for experimenting with different styles of illustration. The topic: Dracula.

The Process:

Illustrated on my iPad, I started with a rough sketch. Then I drew all the shapes in white over a black background. I finished it by applying color to only the white brushwork. The final result feels somewhat like scratchboard art.

The Cutest Valkyrie

In Norse mythology, the valkyrie decides which soldiers will die in battle. I decided to drop all the drama and bloodshed in order to illustrate a cute valkyrie. She's just having too much fun.

Drawn on my iPad with the Procreate app and a Jot Touch stylus.

Hey Arnold Background Designs

Every new location in Hey Arnold! had to be designed before the final background layouts were drawn with clean pencil lines. These designs were based on the story in the script, how characters were to interact in the location, and the mood of the scenes. When designing new places, I typically drew in a faster, rougher style than the finished background layouts.

Newly added backgrounds to the Hey Arnold! gallery:

See more Hey Arnold! Backgrounds.