Maisonneuve #36

Maisonneuve #36 has hit the newsstands and I'm proud to be a part of it for the 6th issue in a row.

"Things That Make Us Muslim" produced an illustration very different from where I thought it would go but that's the way it goes. I hope everyone likes it.
I'd also like to congratulate Dave Bidini whose stories I illustrated for Maisonneuve last year won a GOLD Award in the 33rd Annual National Magazine Awards. My pal Anna Minzhulina received SILVER for her art direction of Maisonneuve #34. Nice work!

More For From The Scrap Pile

You'll be able to find a new illustration of mine in the Summer issue of Maisonneuve. I'm not going to tell you anything about it but I will say it's nothing like these sketches. These were very early doodles for the story but we went in an entirely different direction in the end. I still like them, maybe they'll be a painting one day.

Maisonneuve #35

The Spring issue of Maisonneuve Magazine is out. Dave Bidini has written a fifth article for them and I'm back to illustrate it. The story is about a soccer tournament where he met a tattooed ex-soldier who wears his life's trials on his body.

This is probably my favorite piece we've done so far. Maybe he's working on another story but I haven't heard yet. The illustrator is always last to know.

Encore à la Maison

What was originally intended to be a contribution to four issues has now been extended. The Spring issue of Maisonneuve Magazine is in the works and will feature the teaming up of me, writer Dave Bidini and art directing genius Anna Minzhulina for the fifth time. I think everyone has outdone themselves this round and I'm especially proud of this painting. I wish I could post it now but I won't spoil the surprise. This is just a sliver of an early rough.

Fingers crossed that there's a round six!

One Down, Seven To Go.

The second installment of the Dave Bidini project with Maisonneuve is finished. At least my part is. The art was submitted earlier this week and everyone seemed very happy. I'm not sure when the summer issue comes out but I suspect sometime in July.

Speaking of July, I have projects scheduled right up until the end of it, not that there's not plenty of room for more.

This week I'm finishing up sketches for a page in a Scholastic reader. They're having he students dissect advertisements so I'm creating a fake ad for them to take apart.

I'm also starting work on another two American Revolution stories for Boys' Life Magazine. Since 2006 I've regularly illustrated Thomas Fleming's stories of the American Revolution in that magazine. So that's six more paintings in the coming months.

Spring Ahead

The Spring issue of Maisonneuve Magazine is out and I received my copy in the mail last week. This is the first installment of a project I'm very excited to be a part of. Canadian writer Dave Bidini is writing four pieces for this magazine this year and I've been hired as illustrator for the series. On page 54 you'll find our first installment. I'm not going to spoil the article, you'll have to pick up the magazine if you want to read Mr. Bidini's article. We start work on the second piece in this series this week. I can't wait.

This issue of the magazine also launches an updated look for Maisonneuve with a brand new logo by art director Anna Minzhulina. Anna is responsible for bringing me into the Maisonneuve Magazine world. Thanks again Anna.

On The Horizon In 2009

2009 is already promising exciting projects along with the publication of a number of projects leftover from 2008. Here's a taste of what you can watch out for.

Outdoor Canada Magazine

- Any day now you should be able to find my spot illustration of an fisherman longing for the good old days of worms, peanut butter sandwiches and lounging on the dock.

Navy Experimental Diving Unit, US Navy

- A year long project for a half page ad! It's a long story but this collection of nine paintings should be seeing the light of day in the coming months.

Maisonneuve Magazine

- I'm not going to give away too many secrets here but I've just signed on to do a few pieces for this super cool Canadian mag. More to come....

There are also a number of pieces on the drawing board. Some will be ready any day some who knows.