Dreaming of Harvard

This drawing accompanied a Harvard Magazine story written by undergraduate, Berta Greenwald Ledecky.  While attending high school in her native Ireland, she was disillusioned with it's rigid education system. Berta dreamed of an education that would brighten her horizons. Searching the web, she discovered an intriguing summer program at Harvard. Berta worked diligently to save money for this opportunity. Upon attending, she had a truly enlightened experience, much more about asking questions than taking dreary multiple-choice exams. It opened up her world, and she's never looked back.

Eying Harvard from across the pond.

A Mary Poppins umbrella transports Berta across the pond.

An enthusiastic leap across the pond.

Weighing education experiences in Massachusetts and Ireland.

A special thanks to Art Director Jennifer Carling for a fun assignment!

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!

Tribal World Tour

Pinokiminush - Piegan Tribe - Montana

A world tour would devoid of meaning without exploring indigenous cultures. These drawings are based on photos by Edward Curtis, who documented North American Indian tribes in the early 20th Century. His work reminds us of rich cultures which once thrived on this continent.

Nuhlimala Qagyuhl - British Columbia

You can view my whole map collection here!
You can purchase prints of these pieces here.

Sketching off to Buffalo...

The Outer Circle Orchestra rocks the Buffalo waterfront, opening for Arrested Development.

Here are recent sketches from the streets of my hometown, Buffalo. From a world-class philharmonic orchestra to the world-music grooves of the Outer Circle Orchestra, this beautiful city is brimming with music and life!

Arrested Development put at least 10,000 hands in the air at Canal Fest!

West-side bodega on a quiet street

Drawing in darkness, I made the Buffalo Philharmonic look like a grunge band.

In the heart of the Allentown district

Buffalo Philharmonic - Kleinhans Music Hall

Thanks for taking a peek at my beloved hometown.
You can see more sketchbook excerpts here.

King of Maine

Stephen King is one of my heroes. His imagination is seemingly infinite.  Many of his stories are set in Maine, adding a dark mystique to this ruggedly beautiful state. The town of Derry only exists in Mr. King's writing, yet somehow it feels as real as Portland, Bangor, or Rockport.  I only hope the monsters living there are made up. Prints are available here!

Here's a portrait of George Orwell; his masterpiece 1984 is ranked among Mr. King's ten favorite books of all-time:

You can view my entire collection of map drawings here!

Father Knows Best...

James Madison is considered the father of America's Constitution. He believed this document should evolve along with the generations living under it's laws. This illustration accompanied an article by noted political scientist, Larry Sabato. In the spirit of James Madison, he proposes amendments  that would accurately reflect our society today. It was a fun challenge to incorporate these ideas into the portrait of a truly iconic American. Thanks to Suzette Moyer at the Tampa Bay Times for such an informative assignment.

Various amendment proposals float around James Madsion.

The Constitution as a baby carriage on it's father's shoulder?

The author poses with a living/changing document.

Various 'articles' flutter and move around James Madison.

Thanks for viewing.

You can view my new illustration website here!

World Tour (part 3)

I continue to hopscotch around the globe (with inspiration coming from an old atlas). 

Here are recent drawings I've dug out my suitcase to share with you...

Scottish Pictish

Stereoscopic Palmetto State

Tierradentro, Colombia

Kowardice? Cowardice.

George Orwell

In case you missed earlier adventures from my World Tour, 

here's the first leg, and here's the second leg.

Prints of all of these pieces are available here!

Thanks for viewing.