Being Published!

The image above was illustrated for the story 8 Across written by Leigh Lundin and is to be published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine in April of this year. The story is really great and I had a ton of fun coming up with the image based on the text (you'll have to check out the whole story to get all the symbolism). Thanks Leigh!

The door for this job was really opened up for me in May when I met AHMM's Art Director at the Pratt Show. Shortly after our meeting out on the floor I sent her some of my images in B&W so she could show them to her Editors and see how my work would print.

Not hearing from them for a while I had assumed that the lead would stop there. However, out of the blue one afternoon, I got a call from AHMM seeing if I was available. At the time I was freelancing for Elle.com and Greenphotoshop, moving out of my old apartment and into a new one and working on a side project. But, there's no way I was going to pass up that opportunity. So I accepted the job, they sent me the manuscript and I started sketching what eventually became the image above.

It's really exciting to see something you've done published and this is no exception. Perhaps one of the coolest parts of this job is that the story has been excerpted on the mag's website and my illustration has a cozy spot sitting right next to it! I can't wait to get my hands on a printed copy!

Thanks again to Leigh for the kind words and links, everyone over at AHMM that helped out;) and the folks over at Pratt!

Ciao

It's bad, but...it gets better!

So! The summer directly following my...release, capitulation, graduation, or, more appropriately, acceptance into the great and wonderful world of waning wallet sizes, was...well...it wasn't what I had reckoned(I know, but it sounds like a 'w' when you say it!). It was worse.

Woefully unprepared for the upending that I received, along with everyone else who lived in Willoughby, and the unceremonious walk down the block to my temporary abode, I began my summer.

In the beginning Grant created for himself a place to stay and a place to do work (Both of which were in the same room). And, after 107 days and 107 sleepless nights, I was finally able to start paying my bills again! However, at this point I had incurred the wrath of the worst, most gruesomely evil, many headed serpent that has ever been seen on this earth! Every financial institution that this lovely land has allowed me to lavish with my personal information, in exchange for a "lending" hand, had suddenly turned on me! Where once they were so kind, they now acted stealthily, like a ninja, adding fees, increasing debt, calling me to put me on hold and other ninja like activities done behind my back to increase the efficiency of the killing stroke. All of which was done as if they had some sixth sense informing them of my newly acquired position and impending climb out of the hole I'd dug. Almost like they didn't want me to get out from the vast well that constitutes their collective coffers.

On top of that, my landlord, who, like the banks, once seemed like such a nice man, progressively became worse and worse as the days of my summer were whittled away. And now, at the end of summer days, the four of us who gathered under this roof have had it. The keys have slowly begun to hammer the notes of the apartment hunting song once again, in anticipation of our joyous departure from the harrowing experience that was this home.

It wasn't all bad though. I started working on a new comic, posted lots of new stuff to my portfolio, got a job that pays the bills and did some work for ELLE.com (which ought to give me a nice little birthday present in a couple months). Plus! I get to do all of this from the comfort of my own home!

Given a chance to do it again, I would have done a lot more prep about 3 months prior to leaving Pratt so that I wouldn't have had so many snakes snapping at my savings, but I guess that's advice for someone else to follow. Hope it helps!

Till next time!

Ciao!

Finals!!!

Finals are finally over!! But there's no time to celebrate. Well, maybe a little. Woot!

Last Tuesday was my last Survey at Pratt. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my post and said hi. Most of you who were there after noon probably saw me diligently finishing a job that was due later that day. You might see that work around campus in the very near future if you keep your eyes peeled;) Now, I'm working on printing things for the Pratt Show and finding an apartment before they kick me out of Willoughby. It's shaping up to be another busy week!

Thanks to Leo Vasquez from The Sound of Art for coming in and hanging out with us in Chang's class on Thursday before Survey. Check out his site for some of the cool events he puts on.

Head over to my blog for some new illustrations.

The Illustrators Club!

Last week Chang brought 4 happening young illustrators into class; Doug Cowan, Jashar Awan, Ilana Kohn, and Matthew Smith. They're all doing some amazing work and I can't thank them enough for coming into class and chatting with us!

This week I also updated my blog again with some sweet illustrations and life drawings!

PS A little guerilla advertising campaign for the Senior Blogs is in the works! Prepare to see some of my drawings around within the next month;)

Working Hard!

I've just finished updating my Portfolio Blog! Go check it out and look for new stuff in the illustration, life painting, life drawing, and sketches sections.

SOI!

This little guy landed himself a spot in the finals over at the Society of Illustrators student competition! Thanks to everybody that helped out last semester! I also finished a painting, started a new one, and updated my portfolio! (click me name in the links section to check it out)

Check back soon for more updates! Ciao