ETF Overload

There's something fishy about this illustration, which appears in today's Wall Street Journal. It accompanies a story about screening the myriad of ETF funds flooding the market. The article highlights various websites which help investors sort through, and target specific investment vehicles (which could benefit their portfolios). This metaphor of isolating one fish (in a sea of many) seemed to crystallize the story's theme just right. Maybe because I'm a Pisces, there's something very satisfying about drawing these underwater inhabitants. Thanks to Orlie Kraus and Jia Baek for another fun assignment!

Here are some the ideas I submitted for this story:

You can see more fun Wall Street Journal illustrations about investing here, here and here.

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon!

Drawing Dividends

This drawing reminds me of William Shakespeare's quote, "All the world's a stage." It accompanied a story in today's Wall Street Journal; about mutual funds which give investors access to dividends from overseas. In illustration, 'harvest' themes tend to be very cliched, but transforming America into a patio, and continents into trees added a unique twist. Thanks to art director, Jia Baek, for such a worldly assignment.

It's always satisfying to see my work on the printed page.

Here are sketches for this illustration...

Collecting dividends in mailbox from overseas

Dividends fly in from overseas to U.S. investor

Collecting dividends from trees that look like foreign countries

Collecting dividends from overseas well

Thanks for viewing.

You can view my new illustration website here!

Stock Market Scrabble

 

Illustration assignments are often indicators of economic trends. As an example, this is my third drawing in recent weeks about ETF funds; investment vehicles that are becoming increasingly popular on Wall Street. This image accompanied a story about the importance of naming a ticker symbol for a new fund. Picking a catchy name can draw attention to your product, much like a vanity plate on an automobile. For the Wall Street Journal editors, this 'Scrabble' theme best captured the story's spirit. I hope you get a kick of these ideas I ticked off for this assignment! 

You can view my new illustration website here!