Growth and Decay

Here's a fun little project that I'm now able to share with you, a little bit ago I was contact by Elizabeth Goodspeed over at Domestic Etch to contribute to their latest issue, the theme for which was "Growth and Decay".

If you haven't experienced Domestic Etch yet you're in for a treat, it's filled with contributions and interviews from a bunch of folks who's work I really love and even more that I'm happy to be introduced to. Plus right now there's a great issue launch contest going on where you can enter to win a free copy of the issue and a tote bag.

Portland Mercury Cover

Here's something that probably looks a bit familiar. I was contacted a few days ago by Suji Allen over the Portland Mercury to inquire about using my piece from the Ten Paces Monster exchange I did a few months ago with Michelle Romo. I have to say I'm thrilled at how this cover turned out and to have the opportunity to work with the Mercury since I was a huge fan when I lived in Portland.

Spot Artist Extraodinaire

I was recently asked by Cicada Magazine to be the "Spot Artist Extraodinaire" for their latest issue and contribute a full page and a few spots to be dispersed throughout the issue. Though the image appears in black and white in the issue I again created it in color and converted it, just because it's what feels the most natural. I feel like I've done more black and white work in the last month than I have since college. My thanks to John Sanford for being an amazing AD to work with.

Here's the color version:



And the b/w as it appears in the issue:

For the spots I was asked for a few simple sketch book type line drawings and for some reason I almost immediately came to the idea of sideshow folks; Tattooed Woman, Fire Eater, and the Bearded Lady. At some point I think I'd like to revisit these and color them.

Star Fox Crew

Super talented illustrator and fellow MICA alum Jimmy Giegerich is putting together an old school video game zine Bits in Multiples of 8: An 8bit-64bit Video Game Fan Art Zine and this is my Star Fox based submission. Even though I don't really play video games anymore they were a huge part of my childhood,  I still remember that the first game I ever beat was Duck Tales for my nes and I spent days playing Ninja Turtles, Mega Man and Mario 3.


Later I just remember being mesmerized by star fox on the snes, I just couldn't imagine games looking any more awesome and then playing the N64 version in Sears was my introduction to that system. 


Anyways here it is in color:





and the character details:

NYSSSA Poster

Here's something a little bit different, recently I was asked to create a poster promoting the New York State Summer School of the Arts program. I was a little unsure about sharing this on here since it's a little bit out of place amidst my illustration work but it's something that I'm just really passionate about.  As a NYSSSA alum and former staff member it really was the least I could do to give back to such an amazing program. It is such an amazing program that offer an affordable opportunity for young artists and I'm sure that I probably wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't participated.

I know that they are accepting applications know so if you know any young New York state based budding artist types (in both visual and performing arts) point them towards it.

P.S. Look at me all pretending to be a designer and stuff.

Children's Book

So the biggest reason that I dropped off the map for a month and a half is that I was recently hired to illustrate a children's book as part of the MeeGenius! Author Challenge titled Waiting for James in a Sea of Pink by Bethany Telles. You can actually see the whole thing now here.

If you would please take the time to vote for it I would really appreciate it, the top 4 books will be published through the MeeGenius! app but more importantly they will be donating a library of children's books to the school library of the winning author's choice.

I have to say doing a children's book in a month was exhausting but I think I really like the idea of doing more children's books soon.

A New Curve

So this is another recent project that I can share with you, this was the cover for this weeks Fort Worth Weekly to accompany an interior article about traffic circles/roundabouts.  Honestly I'm mostly just glad that I didn't have to draw cars. Thanks to AD Bonnie Mays

Free Culture

Here's a quick piece that I did for the most recent issue of Shameless Magazine to accompany dueling editorials about free culture and media in the digital age. I think this was a good exercise for me to figure out how I work in B/W, which is basically just working in color and then switching it to greyscale and adjusting bits.

I've had a lot of exciting projects in the past month and coming up (hence my disappearance) so expect more soon.

Worst Day

I recently took part in the ten-paces blog's special swap with MICA's Illustration Department and Allan Comport's Junior Concepts class on the theme of Best Day/Worst Day. Each illustrator was paired with a student to exchange sketches with and I was matched up with Sara Jabbari. As an alum I jumped at the chance to contribute and I know that I would have been stoked to have this opportunity when I was a student.


Here is my final for Sara's sketch

and Sara's final for my sketch

Let Them Eat Stake

I just want to say how ashamed I am of that pun, double so since I'm generally pretty anti-pun. I just really wanted to draw some vampire hunting and then that stupid pun stuck in my head.

Wonder Woman 107 Covered

Here's one of those things that I wasn't quite able to share with you yet. After years of meaning to do so I finally managed to pick a cover to do for the Covered blog. I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to drawing Wonder Woman but she's kind of great and I love how these old silver age books don't take themselves too seriously.

11/14 Girl

All the work I’ve done over the past few weeks I’m not allowed to share with you yet so I drew you a lovely hipster girl. She is full of contempt. 

Sleep On The Dance Floor

I took part in Ten Paces and Draw's new mixtape project, illustrating The Postelles "Sleep On The Dance Floor". Illustrating songs is one of my favorite projects to give myself so this seemed like a natural fit.

I tumblr now, tumblrs are cool

Hey folks just a heads up that I've created a tumblr, you can find it at http://tylerdraws.tumblr.com/ I'll still keep this page going as my main outlet, but I think I'll be using the tumblr for putting up quick sketches, photos, things I like, and in keeping with the general tone of tumblr an endless stream of hilarious gifs and/or fan art.

Coffee Date

This piece was an example of something that doesn't happen nearly enough. Originally I was inspired by this article over on Rookie Magazine, a great little article/interview with the authors fist kiss, and there were disembodied spectral heads kissing in the background, but as I was working the image of the cute little coffee date just worked better. So since this was just a quick personal piece I decided to scrap the concept and go with it. And no I'm not going to go into details of my own first kiss on the entirely likely likelihood that the person I shared it with reads this blog.

Also it sure as heck doesn't need my endorsement but I'm kind of in love with Rookie magazine, and you should be reading it.

By A Whisker

Here's little something I recently had the opportunity to do for the folks over at Motif Magazine to accompany Fiona Murphy's article about the connection between feeling feminine and shaving "By A Whisker". The entire issue is available on their website and as a free iphone app so make sure and give it a look. Now I don't have a huge amount of experience in the non-facial shaving department, but I get the feeling off going out of the house and having something little make you feel entirely unkempt. I have this semi-reoccuring dream about showing up to interviews wearing a tshirt and gym shorts.
Thanks to Lara Cory for being a great Editor to work with.

Cute and Gruesome

I recently had the opportunity to contribute another piece to the Ten Paces and Draw blog, this weeks theme being monsters. This was really interesting for me because before I spent most of my time drawing well dressed people and such I spent most of my time drawing monsters, so this was a kind of road not taken moment.
 
 Here is my final based on this sketch by the very talented Michelle Romo

And as it worked out Michelle ended up with my sketch, which turned our marvelously.

Finally the Ten Paces folks have opened up a shop over at Society 6, where you can purchase a print of my monster piece as well as many other amazing works. Every print sold will help support the artists who contribute and help the blog grow, so why not head over there and pick something up.

Brewery Spotlight Prism Brewing

 Hey there folks, sorry I disappeared for a bit there, August is always a bit nuts for my day job and I have a few things in the works that I'm really able to share yet. In the meantime here is something that I am finally able to share. This is for an article the rather wonderful Draft Magazine's Brewery Spotlight of Prism Brewery in North Wales PA. They are a brewery who are marketing their beer by matching the alcohol by volume of each brew to the color spectrum. Special thanks to a great art director Jessica Daynor. This is kind of a big deal for me because it's really my first project with a national rollout, so theoretically anybody out there can pop into their local news stand or book store and pick it up.

Dream Date

Sorry for disappearing for a bit there I moved up to Seattle and have been trying to get settled, and mostly I'm still not. I recently discovered the Ten Paces and Draw project and had the opportunity to participate in their latest theme "Dream Date." What happens is that one person draws the sketch and then they are redistributed and someone else takes it to final. It was a blast and thanks to the folks over there. I'm really hoping to contribute again soon.



So here is my final based on this sketch by Rachel Dougherty




And here is my sketch taken to final by the amazingly talent Alyssa Nassner

Pink Do-Over

One of the reasons that I decided to switch from painting to digital work was that I was completely frustrated trying to match colors post scanning. Recently I was going through some of my older work and came across this painting and was curious to try and redo it via digital means.



So what do you guys think, preferences?

P.S. A special welcome if you're arriving here as one of the people that I recently sent a postcard to.