Goosebumps on Today Show

Last year I started working on a new series of GOOSEBUMPS books. You know, the scary kids books that get boys to read!  The renowned and bestselling author R.L. Stine has come out with GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND.  For about ten months I've had the privlege of painting 12 new covers for some of the old GOOSEBUMPS titles along with those for HORRORLAND.  This morning on the Today Show, First Lady, Laura Bush hosted R.L. Stine as they talked about the series.   I'd been given a tip that they might print some large posters to display in the background of my covers, but in the end they just showed a few snapshots, but heck, my artwork on national television . . .?! I'll take it! Check out the clip here.

humm. . . .

Stigma

Captain P

Some Random Sketches

Little Fairy

A little something I started quite a while ago. I pulled it out to mess around with while taking a break from real work. Sometimes I have to paint on something that doesn't have any direction, and just see what comes out.

Later!

Quick Sketch

Yet Another Pirate

Nightmare Academy interior

One of the interior illos I did for Dean Lorey's NIGHTMARE ACADEMY.  I'm currently working on the interiors for book 2.  It is a great read, anyone who liked the first book will love the second. 

Later!

Work in Progress

Just a little work-in-progress.  Not sure exactly where this is going quite yet.  Thanks for stopping by the blog!

Later!

Website Update

I finally got around to updating my website. It's been in progress for about the last 6 months, so I really don't even remember what new and old stuff I have up on there now. 

Later! 

Bird Sketch

Simple Sketch

I'm working on a couple personal projects and this is a character sketch. 

Heads or Tales

Looky-Loo Moster

Due to popular request, here is a little something I did for fun. Later!

Good Morning

I play basketball every Monday and Wednesday at about 6am. This was what I came home to

Later!

Something a little different

Here is something a little different than most of my work. I really enjoy portraits even though I don't do many. This still has a touch of stylization, but that just seems to be my thing.

Later!

WHAT'S THE STORY

Quite a while ago I had sketched out this little scene in Photoshop. I found the file and painted it recently. Since I've shown it around, I've been ask many times "so, what's the story behind this?" In truth there really is no story. But as I look at how I make images, I see that many of my illustrations do hold untold stories. I have always loved the book THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK for this reason. In his book, Chris Van Allsburg gives us just enough to wet our visual taste buds and then leaves the rest to our imagination. The wonderful thing is, stories have no limits.

Fairy's Box

Messing around some more

New York Times Best Seller

Ok, I couldn't hold out. THE WIZARD HAS HIT THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST! Even better yet, it's #1 on the list this week.

Radio Flyer

Just messing around in Photoshop.

The Tiger's Egg

I thought I would post the cover of THE TIGER'S EGG. I did this cover as a sequal to THE PALACE OF LAUGHTER. It's a great story by Jon Berkeley.

Later!

No Squish It!

A couple of evenings ago I was doodling away on this small illustration. The next morning my son (who turns two next week) came in and took one look at what I had come up with and said " Dad! Dad! No squish it Dad! No squish it!

Another Sketch

Just another sketch!

Later!

A little sketch here

Along with my illustration work I have a pirate story that is on-going. Here is a little concept sketch of one of the characters.

Fablehaven Book 2

This post is the cover art I did for Fablehaven book 2. It was a fun book to work on. Brandon Mull is the author. He does such a great job it's always a challenge to make the artwork equal the storytelling inside. Check out the website at Fablehaven.com

Later!

THE WIZARD!!!

It's finally coming! The Wizard, by Jack Prelutsky is my first full 32 page picture book.

I'm super excited to see it in bookstores. It releases on July 3rd. Which coincidentally happens to be my son's birthday. he will be two.

The Wizard is an in-verse poem about a wizard who lives in a very tall tower at the end of an everyday neighborhood street. He spies a bullfrog by his door and magically plays with it. First the frog becomes a flea, and then a pair of mice, and then . . . , and then . . . , and then . . . Finally, the wizard gazes out his high window down on the children playing in the street trying to decide "which hex he'll conjure next."

This was a great book to work on. It is published by Greenwillow Books. I would like to say thinks to Paul, who I worked with there for making the whole process so enjoyable. I'd also like to publicly thank Scott Franson, Dan Burr, Wade Huntsman and Leon Parson for their tremendous kindness and direction.

Lastly, without a doubt, my wife has been the biggest support. I am so gratefully for her. Thank you Em.

To everyone else, enjoy the book!

Messing Around

I seem to never be absolutely pleased with the Photoshop brushes that I use. Here is a quicky that came out while messing around with new brushes.

Sketches

Just thought I would post some sketches since I haven't posted in a while.

Later!