Green Fuse

Dylan Thomas wrote about the 'force that through the green fuse drives the flower'. Spring is now out in all its glory, after a long winter. It's nice to get caught up in the excitement and change of the season.

I have been working on a series of assignments about new growth, the idea of good things beginning to emerge. Positive energy and vibrations. It's good to find that energy and harness it in my work.

'Fresh Growth' for Hanley-Wood, Pete Morelewicz, Art Director

I also worked with Joan Ferrell at American Lawyer on a similar feature, The Am Law 100, and developed a series of drawings based on numbers, and new growth. Joy!

Life on Mars

Growing up I dreamed of being an astronaut. They always send up scientists and engineers. Why not an artist? Someone who could observe and document the experience on a personal level? Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has been taking a series of amazing photos from the space station, capturing some of the amazing vistas of earth that can only be seen from space. An inspirational document of our planet.

Watching the unmanned rovers poking and probing the surface of Mars looking for signs of life has been amazing. I find the images of snow and ice and from the satellites circling the planet to be beautiful and captivating. When you get down to the surface of the planet, however, it gets very cold and bleak and barren. Imagine waking up on that cold and distant planet every day. So remote and inhospitable. Like the moon with an atmosphere. Could humans survive on Mars? If we go, chances are those who do will never come back. Could you live there for a year, or a decade? Or for several generations?

I loved working on this story, it asked those questions and came up with a lot of surprising answers, and unusual twists. Take the time and see for yourself.

I have had the priviledge of working on several other covers for Tor.com. Irene Gallo is always a treat to work with, these stories always take my work in new directions.

The Dead Words Project

I spotted this collection online last month and jumped right in. Karen To has gathered a list of antiquated words and combined them with designers who give their own spin on the topic. I like to dig around old manuscripts and encyclopedias to discover obscure references and outdated research, so I found this project appealling on so many levels.

Here's my contribution:

Mecography (mi-kop-gruh-fee) n.1603-1890,measurement of the dimensions and weight of body part.

Ex.The condom company used mecography to obtain necessary data about its clientele.

 

It's an excellent word, isn't it? How could we let it fall through the cracks? Couldn't you imagine an urgent call going out the the mecographer in one of those gruesome forensic prime time shows? Or perhaps in a sporting environment, consulting with bodybuilders or fitness gurus? " My mecographer recommends...."

 

If you love words, and great design, head over to The Dead Words Project for more.

The Jury is in...

I received a letter from American Illustration, the results are in from the latest annual competition. My illustration for Phoenix Magazine, Guns in Schools (art director Nicole Roegner) was chosen for their 2012/13 website annual. I have been recognized by AI on a regular basis since my Birdhouse City pieces were printed in AI 25 . Thanks to the judges, it's an honour!

This was a challenging and difficult assignment, a painful and raw situation to be dealt with. I hope that some day, somehow the message gets through.

I also received notice from Applied Arts Annual, my Seven Deadly Sins series for Alberta Venture magazine (Kim Larson, art director) was also a winner. Fun series, great assignment, and an award to top it off. 

A kiss on the cheek

A bit of fun from a recent assignment.