2013, The Year in Review

The website is in the process of a big update showcasing some of the great projects I had the pleasure of working on in 2013. Here's a small sample of some of the work on it's way to the site - projects that have kept us happy (and busy!) over the past 12 months. 

Here, we look back fondly and look forward with much anticipation...

Precedent Law Mag Illustration

Here's a piece I recently finished up for the wonderful Brian Banton at The Office of Gilbert Li.

For the law magazine, Precedent, it speaks to the lack of technological innovation in Ontario courts.

(I do love drawing me some hands....)

Thanks Brian and Gilbert!

New is good.

After months of planning and about a million and one emails between myself and my web guru, Jashar Awan, the new site is up, running, and ready for your viewing pleasure!

New sections include design+lifestyle and interiors work, as well as a tight portfolio facelift in the art+illustration department.

Jashar did a stupendous job of programming the site and making my, often-too-particular-vision come to life.
Spend some time, take a look around and let us know what you think!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

...and I urge you to pick up MORE Magazine (Canada) for a special feature on the disease. Not only because you can see the 6 illustrations I did for the feature, but more importantly for some interesting and enlightening research on the disease that affects us all, in one way or another.

Here are a few of the illustrations you can find in the October issue. Thanks to the fantastic Shelley Frayer at MORE for another great assignment.

The Upside-Downside
Can staying optimistic actually help you beat the disease?



The breast test
Should you be lining up to get a mammogram - or getting out of line altogether?


The Breast Test, spot



Popular science
Where's the good news? A recap of recent research to inspire and encourage

Buy the issue. Read the feature. Get informed.

The Month Ahead: September

For all the kids out there,
the cover of The National Post's Arts & Life section

I Scream, You Scream!

The National Post put together a round-up of their contributors' favourite summer treats for the cover of The Weekend Post. I had fun drawing and painting all 12 of them!
(best. summer. assignment. ever.)
Here are just a few of my favourites....

Alfresco All the Time

Final spread for Avenue magazine's Alfresco All the Time patio feature

MORE Magazine

A piece I recently finished for the wonderful Faith Cochran at MORE Magazine.

Karen Von Hahn's commentary on the Spring/Summer runway trends, where designers took our preconceived notions of what we thought we'd be wearing in 2010, and threw them right out the window. Instead of cold, white, Jetson-inspired spacesuits, designers are piling print on top of texture on top of print, creating a beautiful mess and a new definition of "futuristic".
Below are 2 of the handful of sketches and a process piece.

Avenue Magazine

I'm working on a fun spread for Avenue Magazine, illustrating the joys of Alfresco Dining on some of Calgary's great patios. Thought I would start showing some secret process pieces on the blog, so here they are....A couple sketches with a conscious effort to leave room for a large headline at top and text all around. It should be a fun one, and I'll post the finish here when it's done!

Step One: Admitting you have a Problem

I've been an admittedly bad blogger as of late, and feel as though I ought to enlist in some sort of 12-step recovery program. Bound to the studio with work, I tend to lose most communication with the outside world, save for the required "it's on it's way", "of course that's not a problem, I agree that shade of purple is soooo late-2008" and of course, "make it a double".
I can't promise that I'll get better, but I can promise that I will try. Really hard. Starting now.
Below is a handful of the editorial pieces that I've recently finished.
Please enjoy and please forgive.

Nick Drake, Uppercase magazine

Perspectives on Career Management and Family, Stanford Business magazine

Kawabata, The Walrus magazine

MORE

Home Truth, MORE magazine

A piece I recently finished for the September issue of MORE Magazine on the struggles we face and the decisions we are forced to make in caring for our aging parents.

The Walrus

A piece about the key players of history being consigned to oblivion in our over-documented, over-saturated age; in this case Ephrem Brisebois, the first French Canadian officer in the North West Mounted Police.
Brisebois Drive, The Walrus

Green Clean

Don't know about you, but I'm hopping on the bandwagon and goin' green for the ol' Spring Clean this year.
Green Cleaning, Chicago Magazine

Happy New Year. Here is some Old Work.

Honest to blog, I will get better at this in oh-nine (although, for fear of self-loathing and unnecessary disappointment, I choose not to engrave it into the 'resolutions' list. That baby's already feeling the burn).
In the meantime, here is some work from the end of this past year, ohhhhhh-eight...
Happy New Year (but no pressure)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Magazine


Get Out of Town/Jerry Lewis, Las Vegas City Life

DeStress Guide/Laughter Yoga, Toronto Life (current issue)

get the long johns out

A Tale of Two Ski Hills, The Globe Investor

no meds for the masses

The Push Back on Cancer Drugs
find it in the current issue of BusinessWeek Magazine

Keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times

An alternate piece created for explore magazine's article
Man vs. Behemoth

I've been dying to ride Wonderland's new beast, but haven't had a chance.
Still felt quite a coaster rush just doing the research...
Medics and anti-nausea pills were close at hand.

See the final version in the upcoming issue of explore (and online soon)

some recent and not-so-recent work

visit the site in the fall for a new book-bag full of updates
(fresh new pencil scent included!)
in the meantime...

2008: A Rock Odyssey
Chris Martin and Brian Eno take off for a new galaxy
SPIN Magazine, Reviews

Who Are We? Coming of Age on Antidepressants,

The New York Times Science Section

Cheeseburgers (Carl's Jr. Cheddar Jalapeno Burger, 1 of 12)
Antenna Magazine