Happy Halloween

This is my son's first Halloween. I usually try to avoid Halloween like the plague, but last year we had so much fun that I'm starting to like this holiday again. We sat out on the front patio of our favorite spot downtown Encinitas and watched all the trick-or-treaters and their costumes walk by like a parade. It was kind of like participating without really participating. This year is probably the last year I can get by without trick-or-treating so we'll sit it out again, eat our burgers and just enjoy the show.

This illustration was for a food story my paper did on Healthy Halloween options. A dilemma I will have to deal with soon, I suppose. Have a safe and healthy Halloween all!

Katie Kirk of Eight Hour Day {illo inspiration}

I'm not sure where I got all these images, but I filed them under Katie Kirk of Eight Hour Day. I had seen her stuff on some blogs and when I found this letterpress print of office supplies that Studio On Fire printed for her I was extra impressed. I went looking for Katie's illustration work recently and noticed she has moved all her work to her Eight Hour Day Design and Illustration site she has with her husband Nathan Strandberg. These images are only the tip of the iceberg. Their design collaborations are inspiring. Check out their site and drool away.

Butterfly & Hand {illustration process}

In general, this is the way execute most of my illustrations. I start with a pencil sketch. When I'm happy, or my art director is happy, I scan it in and trace it in Illustrator. This gives me the second image shown - a clean, vector image that has the basic color scheme of the final. Then I bring the illustration into Photoshop and give it the texture I love. It always feels a little like playing at this point. I add and subtract the texture until I feel it is isn't overdone or underdone. I'll tweak the colors and make some proofs until I'm satisfied or I run out of time. There is nothing like a deadline to help you along! Hope you enjoyed a peak into my process.

(This illo was for a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune about aging peacefully and gracefully)