My sketchbook is a personal art sanctuary: a place of meditation, simple wanderings, and exploration. This sketch was inspired by my trip to Mexico, complete with Aztec influences, mountainous terrain, and church steps.
Here is a random page from the sketchbook. Creatures sometimes emerge from the patterns. Take a closer look.
As it’s now December, Christmas will soon be upon us. I created Holly Reindeer to celebrate the occasion.
Inspired by the prints of Hiroshige, Mountain & Trees is a wintery illustration that would work well as an e-card. This was created with a few different brush and fine-tip pens. I’ve been exploring minimal color as an accent, not a crutch for the line-work.
Dragon Circle is an apparel design soon to be on Zazzle. This was another pen/ink drawing converted in Adobe Illustrator.
Artist collaboration (mine is the bottom left corner) brought together by WOTTO of Teefury.com only for Nov. 28th!
I’m very pleased to be part of this fun charity project, benefiting Movember. They run events to promote awareness for men’s health issues, including cancer and depression.
Tree of Love is a digital illusration (e-card) inspired by the dark art styles of Tim Burton and Gris Grimly–brooding artwork with a positive spin.
The Rape of Europa documentary (from Menemsha Films) is based on the book of the same name by Lynn H. Nicholas. It’s a emotional look at the plundering of art in World War II by mass murderer and rejected artist, Hitler (as explored in the film, Max) and the Nazis, the social effects of the loss, art’s place in culture, and the Monument Men (who protected cultural treasures during the war).
From the film, it was reported that millions (!) of artworks were stolen from historical sites, museums, and countless victims of the Nazis. Some of the classical pieces were from Da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo. Others included the (Hitler dubbed “Degenerate Artists”) works of Van Gogh and Picasso. Backed by old news reel footage, The Rape of Europa is a compelling story–not just from an art perspective, but a cultural one. Religious artifacts (Torahs, bells, etc.) and the classic art treasures were housed in underground Nazi caves for the intention of being sent to Hitler’s (unbuilt) museum of art. Translating the millions of lives severed from the Holocaust into material objects is an astounding one. The film also touched on the stories of soldiers and their conflicts of saving lives vs. preserving historic monuments. Interviews from residents, victims, and historians recall the role of art for them–it was a source of history, memory, culture, and ultimately, identity.
Fall Leaves illusration is a subtle ecard design for the famous feasting day, Thanksgiving! Hope you enjoy yourselves!
Christophe Szpajdel does very cool logos for “Death Metal” band. There’s a nice gothic quality to his work, reminiscent of the amazing Margo Chase.
Quintessentially San Franciscan–bright, bold, and carefree.
Part of the World Famous Dance Crew photoshoot.
