New & Notable

 I posted earlier about the image created for the Land Gallery in Portland. It was a group show called Work & Play, and it was a commentary on the life of an illustrator. Sometimes the balance tips, towards work most often, but I found the right balance this summer. The jurors at the Society of Illustrators liked the balance too - I am honoured to be included in the 57th Illustration Annual and show. I've been inspired by all of the great pieces posted online this week, the medals awarded went to the best talent in the business. My piece will be in the January show (Uncommissioned and Institutional). Third year running!

Work & Play - Digital collage

This week I also resumed my regular gig for the New York Times Science section. I do a monthy contribution to the Raw Data column, written by George Johnson. This month he wrote about a huge monolithic radio tower erected by the Soviet Union in the 80's, on the doorstep of Chernobyl. The echoes of the Cold War still reverberate in many ways and the nuclear threat has never really disappeared. Great read!

 

I took a few different approaches to this piece, but settled on a graphic approach. The red background speaks to Soviet design, but also reinforces the message of danger and threat.

There's always a little room for experimentation too. I'd like to find more time to develop ideas and collect images for new collage work, but I have two book projects on the go right now. Here's the latest creation from the collage labratory:

 

'Power lacks moral or principles. It only has interests.'
- Horacio Castellanos Moya

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Leurzer's Archive

A quick post to show my page from Leurzer's Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide. This landed on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't have time to open it until now. Honoured to be a part of this - so many incredible talents and a great cover by Brian Stauffer.

I don't get to illustrate fiction very often. This image was for SubTerrain, and I illustrated the entire issue, from cover to cover. I posted about the project here. This piece won gold in the Western Canada Magazine Awards. Nice to have work out of the realm of my usual purview recognized.

On another note, my work was paired with Richard Borge in the spread. I am a huge fan of his work and he's a super nice guy! (I met him at ICON in Portland this summer).

The image was for a short story titled 'Detachment' - about a remote RCMP detachment, a stray dog, and the struggles of a young family, from the viewpoint of the oldest daughter. It was written by Lee Kvern.

Here's a full version of the image:

Winning Combination

Last week I had a surprise visit from Brian Kaufman, the publisher of SubTerrain Magazine and Anvil Press. Brian happened to be at Oeno Gallery and saw my work. Owner Carlyn Moulton sent him my way and we got together for a coffee on the back deck. It's always nice to have visitors from distant locations, Brian lives and works in Vancouver. Even better when it's someone who has handed me one of my all-time favourite projects.

Second surprise: on Friday night my work made the finalist list for the best illustration at the Western Canada Magazine Awards. (Actually two of the five choices for the award were pieces commissioned by SubTerrain). The illustration for Lee Kvern's short story Detachment won gold! 

Detachment is a beatifully written short story about a girl growing up in a remote RCMP police detachment. I was drawn in immediately and had vivid images come to mind, scribbling down thumbnails as I read through. I was given creative freedom on this project and it's rewarding to see my interpretation of the story recognized by the judges. Lee won gold for her writing as well. A double victory for the magazine.

You can read about the entire project, a cover-to-cover edition illustrated by yours truly. Work on this project has also been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators NY.

Thanks Brian, Lee, and the Western Magazine Awards!

3 x 3 Pro Show Annual

Received news this week from the folks at 3 x 3. These two pieces will be published in the next annual.

I worked with Liette Savard and Chantal Levesque at Reader's Digest Canada. This was a challenging assignment, on the perception of the passing of time. If we are under stress or faced with imminent danger - time slows down. Or does it? Scientists attempt to quantify the results by hanging people upside-down from tall buildiings, and conducting other bizarre experiments.

For me, time flies when I am under deadline pressure with too many assignments on my desk!

On a more serious note, I worked with Nicole Roegner and Brian Goddard at Phoenix Magazine on the image below. This was a recent assignment, done shortly after the Newtown shootings and a response to gun violence in our schools.

Thanks to the judges at 3 x 3, I am honoured to be in the book this year!

The Jury is in...

I received a letter from American Illustration, the results are in from the latest annual competition. My illustration for Phoenix Magazine, Guns in Schools (art director Nicole Roegner) was chosen for their 2012/13 website annual. I have been recognized by AI on a regular basis since my Birdhouse City pieces were printed in AI 25 . Thanks to the judges, it's an honour!

This was a challenging and difficult assignment, a painful and raw situation to be dealt with. I hope that some day, somehow the message gets through.

I also received notice from Applied Arts Annual, my Seven Deadly Sins series for Alberta Venture magazine (Kim Larson, art director) was also a winner. Fun series, great assignment, and an award to top it off.