Joy of Camping #2

A very big view

Some seaside hollyhocks in a lovely garden by the sea in Port Townsend.

Waterfalls... very big waterfalls.

The fog rolling across the bay... tall ships peek over downtown Port Townsend.

Fields of lavender... buzzing of bees in Sequim.

Edward Hopper by the sea...

Hansel & Gretel might have been here...

A still life of sea wrack.

1950's Retro & Digital

This new book I am illustrating is a fun story set in New York's Central Park Zoo. The real challenge to this project is trying to find a new synthesis of a retro 1950's style and a contemporary digital style. The art is based on pen brushed line on watercolor paper. The colors are bright and bold... with patterns and textures done in photoshop.


I searched through the amazing artists of the 1950's, whose work seems very much akin to this current age. I looked through magazines from the 1950's with amazing samples of Alice and Martin Provensen's work which still looks very contemporary. The parallels between 2010 and 1950 seem clear. Maybe that's because 1950's design seems so similar to our own decade... or maybe it's just a timeless classic. Of course they didn't get to use digital tools to embellish their amazing designs, but I guess their work will last the ages.

Some of the hallmarks of the graphic style might be thought to have iconic simplicity, overprinted color areas and simplified color backgrounds isolated by white space. I tried to get some of that same look, along with an added contemporary cartoon edge. I hope I've succeeded.

Joy of Camping #1

I am back from my week in the sunshine, mountains, beaches, rain forests and victorian seaside towns.


I saw glaciers, japanese tourists, sea otters, winding trails through the rain forest and listened to the eternal surf on the beach.

I think this photo of the campsite in the woods near Rialto Beach captures my favorite things about camping... the mysterious deep woods, the glowing memories from the fire, the simplicity of having a camp for a home.


I hiked all sorts of amazing trails, marveling at Nature's handiwork. I relaxed at camp sites with sunshine glowing through the chardonnay... what better vacation might there be?

I saw numerous picturesque light houses... and had all sorts of exciting ideas about paintings.


I am most likely a camping wussie... since I have to be able to carry along an ice-box, wine, beer, cold cuts, two burner stove, giant tent, umpteen mattress pads and all that. The simple basic necessities.

It's just so much more relaxing than being in cities... from my perspective. Just nature all alone... absolute peace & quiet... a few simple tasks like getting wood and water are all that's needed.
The scent of cedar in the sunshine, the sound of the boughs in the wind, a bubbling brook... it's heaven.