Elliott Ness Illustration Video

This is a process video of an illustration I finished a few months ago for Inside Business Magazine. I work primarily in Painter and Photoshop with an Intuos III Wacom tablet. I compose dozens of layers while slowly building form and color, similar to the way I used to work with acrylics. I actually find that the digital process allows me greater control over the finished look compared to my acrylics and oils. The biggest downside is that I don't have an original painting when I'm done.

Announcement

New Year's Mixer for Greater Cincinnati Area Children's Writers and Illustrators

Come enjoy snacks and drinks while meeting fellow kid writers and illustrators.
WHEN: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
WHERE: The Blue Marble Children’s Bookstore (See below for directions.)
WHAT to BRING: A beverage OR snack to share.

TO RSVP: Please email Dave at The Blue Marble (bluemarble@fuse.net) if you plan to attend so he knows who and how many are coming. Put "Writers Night" in the subject line.

DIRECTIONS to Blue Marble Children's Bookstore from Cincinnati and points north:
1. From I-71 or I-75 heading south through downtown, follow signs to the I-471 "Big Mac" bridge and cross the Ohio River.
2. Take Exit #2- U.S. 27/Alexandria Pike and turn left at the light onto U.S. 27 South.
3. Go to the fourth traffic light, at the top of the hill, and make a sharp left onto S.R. 1120/South Fort Thomas Avenue.
4. The bookstore is half a block down on the right, just past the YMCA on the left. Parking is available on either side of the street.

Need different directions? Visit Blue Marble's website (http://www.bluemarblebooks.com/) or call them at 859-781-0602.

What are you working on?

What's everyone up to, and how do you go about it?
I know I haven't been to lunch in a while but I'm interested in how you go about tackling a given job and this seems like a good place to catch up - I'll go first...

I'm getting the next Mini-Marathon poster together; as of now it's looking like a railroad steam engine, a quote from Hamlet, a wall and maybe sections from the Elsinore castle on Gilbert Ave....we'll see where it goes from here but the printed piece comes out in early Feb so I've got to finalize it QUICK.


Other stuff in the works - a poster for the Cincinnati RR club; 3dStudioMax to get the elements in proportion then sketching in details prior to painting:




and, just finished a logo & signage for a friends museum in Youngstown:

Ok, your turn!
JPM

Holiday Wishes

Here is an image I did this year for my Christmas card mailing.

It was a quickie done digitally. The Snow Queen was a favorite fairy tale for me growing up-especially the illustrations in the old edition of Anderson's Fairy Tales my mom had.

This is a bit of a more upbeat stylized take but that just may be inherent to my nature...

Why Do We Create?

Thank you for allowing me to be part of the Cincinnati Illustrators Blog.

My goal is to help you build awareness to our profession.  To spread the message to the world that illustration is a job, a profession and not a hobby.  To help bridge the gap between art and commerce.  We need to get this blog to the influancers and other creative minds.  So let start by build our "manifesto"!  Please post to the following: 

Why Do We Create

1.) We create everyday not because we have to but because we can't help it.  We we do defines us.

Thanks Ryan and Christina

There's a tremendous amount of talent here locally...this is a great way to keep up with everyone's work.

Henry the Impatient Heron is on Amazon!

Henry will ship in March!

Here is a link to a recent interview on Stephanie Ruble's blog about illustrating this book and Big Cats!

DVM Newsmagazine | Cave man

I have the pleasure of creating monthly illustrations for DVM Newsmagazine. Dr. Michael Obenski writes a humerous column called "Where Did I Go Wrong", which describes his experiences as a veterinarian. This month the story was about habits and recurring themes from clients that may date back to the time of cavemen and their pets.