Deer(e)

Here's a sketch of an idea that I've been kicking around for a little while. It's a deer taking a joyride on an old John Deere tractor. Silly, I know, but I couldn't help myself! It will most likely be the next fully colored and illustrated card that I produce. 

A couple of sketches

Milk and eggs

Framed

I just got the 2010 Tunbridge Fair poster (illustrated by me) back from the frame shop. I'm thrilled with how it came out! Rob Jenisch, owner of the Gilded Edge Custom Framing & Art Gallery in Hanover, NH did a beautiful job. When I brought it in, he immediately recommended that it be done with a custom frame from Vermont Hardwoods, a great company in Chester, VT that provides hand crafted custom framing and hardwood products.

When I do a signing of the posters at the World's Fair in Sept, I will have this framed poster there, so everyone can see the quality of the wood, the matting and framing. If you like how this looks and want one done by the Gilded Edge with a custom Vermont Hardwood frame, I can get you all the info.

Some sheep from the sketchbook

Happy Ground Hog Day

The Grind

Here's a new illustration called 'The Grind'. Being the end of January, it's not exactly apple season here in Vermont, but this is an idea I wanted to illustrate. The image is intentionally rough and there's a distinct lack of color, as I wanted the focus on those delicious apples.

Adventures in printing

My fourth printing of New England Illustrated cards went to press yesterday. Going forward, I've chosen to give my business to a different local printer. Leahy Press in Montpelier, VT.  They have been a Vermont fixture since 1930. I've had the pleasure of using them many, many times over the years for other design work. The sales team, pre-press dept, and press operators are all dedicated to very high standards, and the work shows. The cards will be printed offset on FSC certified stock. I'm very excited to get these out there.

I will not disparage my old printer, other than to say there were some very obvious quality issues they would not make right. My feeling is, I put many hours into these illustrations, I want them to be presented in the best possible light to the public!

Town Meeting final art

Town Meeting

Here's an idea that I've had for quite some time. It's called 'Town Meeting'. The bird houses are made to look like a small town church, covered bridge and school house. I'm nearly done the final color image, but here's a pen sketch. The birds that will be portrayed are Chickadees, a Robin, Bluejay, Hermit Thrush and a Barn Swallow. Also, on the far right on the schoolhouse porch, a tiny chimpmunk!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays (aka Christmas)

For quite a few years since 1998 I've been asked to illustrate newspaper supplement covers for the Valley News, a daily that serves a portion of Vermont and New Hampshire. They are usually printed a few days before 'Black Friday'. There's always two covers with a holiday theme, and they have to tie into each other. As I was going through some of my archives, I realized that somewhere along the way that the word 'Christmas' was dropped. I think it was right after the first year that I did them.

These covers are from this year.

These are from last year. Notice after the 'snowstorm' there's a guy snowblowing.

Here's the covers from 2007. Not my favorite, but I remember being in a time crunch.

And here's the first one I did back in 1998. I did it very cartoony. I'm most definitely a cartoonist at heart!

Revelry!

Quick study

Right on the Nose

Here's an illustration that has proved to be a very popular card. 'Right on the Nose'. When I was working on it, I had in mind that it could be a scene from a children's book. That's the look I was attempting anyway! Below are some sketches of cows I had done for it. I'm really bad about keeping a sketchbook the way other artists do. Mine are always on loose paper, which usually get tossed away when I clean my studio. 

Studio Addition

Here's my new drafting table. It's a beauty! It's a replication of a 1920's french drafting table. They are handmade to order and mine will be showing up mid-March of 2010. Years ago when I headed off to art school, I had a new table. Unfortunately, it was stolen in 1995. Since then, I've made due with an old loaner table from my good friend, Todd Casey. I ended up replacing the top, but one leg was broken, so it wobbles when you lean on it. I'm pretty excited to get this new one! I've already decided to change my whole studio around when it arrives.

Making Spirits Bright

Here's the first holiday card that I did. It's called 'Making Spirits Bright'. This card is a double sized image that wraps around from front to back. The fold goes right down one of the fence posts. I had two versions done up: one with a greeting inside, one blank inside. Luckily for me, both versions sold out! I added a little mistletoe above my signature (bottom right) to denote that it's a holiday card. I'm not getting them printed again until next season. Thanks to everyone that bought them!

Toasty

At long last I incorporated a dog into a card! I have more ideas for other dog cards later next year. This one has been really popular so far. Most people who buy this card don't even have a dog, but they like the New England 'feeling' it has. Dog people love dog stuff with their particular breed on it. Cat people like anything with any kind of cat on it. I'm more of a cat person, but I love those good ol' buddy dogs! This image really took quite a while, in fact it's the most labor intensive illustration I've done in years.

Vermont Sports Magazine Gift Guide

New England Illustrated cards are featured in the December 2009 issue of Vermont Sports magazine! If you are in Vermont, you can get the magazine at more than 400 locations. www.vtsports.com

World Famous World's Fair Poster Illustration

Back in August, the organizers of the famous World's Fair in Tunbridge, VT saw my New England Illustrated cards in a local store and contacted me about doing a poster for the 2010 fair. They explained that each year has a 'theme' The 2010 theme is 'pulling' and they wanted to highlight that aspect. I was sent passes to attend the fair and get inspiration. This poster is 16 x 20" and will be printed on thick, off-white stock to give it an 'old time' feel. That's also what I was going for in the design. Using sparse text, large fonts and having the main image so large, I wanted it to be interesting from a distance. Last year more than 50,000 people attended the fair. This poster is going to be done in an extremely small print run. Only 500 will be available! I will be doing a signing of the posters at the fair. It was a very fun job. I'm actually going to get one framed for my own home.