Illustration Roundup: June 2015

The summer is finally here. I've been riding my bike to studio in the mornings, and timing my bike ride home to sunset every night. Looking over the things that I've been working on I definitely think some of that energy is making it's way into my sketches and finals as well. In December I was stuggling to think of any color schemes besides blue and pink, but for the last couple of months I feel like I've been expanding my territory on the color wheel. My motto of the moment: More action, more color, more razzle-dazzle!

Dad Bods

NY Times

AD: Nicholas Blechman

This was a fun one for a data driven piece on "Dad Bods" for the NY Times's Upshot blog. I took this in the middle of a much more complicated assignment and I think it gave me the confidence to leave this one a little more clean and graphic. (Sometimes I feel like I am cheating if I don't fill the rectangle with information, which is fine as long as all it's all adding to the story and not just frantic arm waving.) Thanks to Nicholas Blechman for the assignment!

Start to Finish

Crain's Cleveland

AD: Rebecca Markovitz

An infographic for a story about the supply chain of a Cleveland based printing company for Crain's Cleveland. Recently I've been getting the chance to do a lot of these infographics and I've really been loving working on them! In the last year I've been moving away from doing so many spots, but they're kindof a blast, and even more fun when I get to do the layout as well. I still feel like my eye for certain graphic design basics could use some tuning, but it has been fun to be learning something new. Thanks to Rebeccas Markovitz for the assignment!

Medecine Walk

NY Times Book Review

AD: Nicholas Blechman

A quick spot for the review of a novel in the NY Times Book Review. I'm always happy when I can pivot to landscape drawing in an assignent. I probably spent 80% of the time on this one trying to get those little silhouettes to feel right. Still want to go back in and tweak them now, but I will let them be. Thanks to Nicholas Blechman for the assignment!

Jailbreak Cake

Mental Floss

AD: Winslow Taft

Pie Kidnapping
Mental Floss
AD: Winslow Taft

Marzipan Sculpting

Mental Floss
AD: Winslow Taft

These three illustrations were for the "Pastry Issue" of Mental Floss. This is the 2nd or 3rd time I've gotten the chance to work with them and I always stoked with the stories they have me illustrate. These three are for stories about (1.) actual cases of files, keys and weapons being smuggled into prisons via cakes, (2.) A criminal case involving a kidnapped pie and (3.) Da Vinci's penchant for using marzipan as a sculpting material. Thanks to Winslow Taft for the great assignment!

Post Hunt Cover

Washington Post

AD: Beth Broadwater

Last but not least, I spent the better part of April working on this cover and three spreads for the Washington Post Magazine for their annual scavenger hunt issue. This was a total dream job and the editors were great to work with. From a lifestyle standpoint I can also say that working with this sort of lead time makes for a much more peaceful studio schedule! A huge thanks to Beth Broadwater for the great assignment!