This is my third job for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Bulletin.
My last job with them, a half-page piece about diversifying the Berkley Bio
Science program had just printed when I got the call for the new assignment.
They needed a cover and inside spread. This was quite a treat. Not only because
its a bigger, meatier job but also because the HHMI Bulletin prints very nicely.
VSA Partners art directs and designs the bulletin and my experience working with art director,
Jennifer Lee on the two jobs prior to this one was really great.
The article is about an isolated protein prevalent in people who exercise regularly
and how using this protein in the form of a drug can boost metabolism and intensify
health benefits from exercise.
I've always thought medical illustrations were cool and wanted to incorporate some of
that vibe into my work. HHMI didn't want anything too literal. I just needed to convey
exercise and proteins in some fashion.
I ended up with these sketches.
The editors at HHMI liked the direction but because this was a cover, were hoping
I could provide them with a tighter sketch. YIKES! This poses a problem for two reasons.
1) most of my work is a mix of hand drawn elements with digital enhancement and
it's very hard in most cases for me to do an in between phase. My method of working from sketch
to final doesn't translate directly so to produce something tight,
I pretty much have to do a final piece.
2) I was about to leave for Vieques, Puerto Rico in two days.
Luckily, my idea involved mostly flat solid shapes which made it
manageable to provide a tighter version. This was enough to sell them on the idea,
finished just in time to make my flight.
I provided loose sketches for the inside spread,
straight from the beach in Puerto Rico. The lettering was worked out in more detail after my trip.
I'm happy with the finals and commend Mary Beth at HHMI for taking chances with the
bulletin and using so much great Illustration.
3 / 6 / 07
Risk Assessment
I recently got a call from art director SooJin Buzelli at Asset Management to do a piece on how to measure and deal with risks in
relation to retirement planning. She already had an illustration sollution in mind which she described over the phone, "how about someone looking into the mouth of an alligator or lion".
I've been wanting to draw an alligator for awhile so, I was sold on that idea right away.
After viewing the sketches, SooJin said, "thats good but make the person in the alligator mouth look like someone you'd like to hang out with".
Done and Done.
Thanks SooJin.
2 / 14 / 07
Rhode Island Monthly
Rhode Island Monthly recently asked me to do a piece on Social Workers who help youth.
The article discussed their frustration with the system and politics in general. The
failures that occur are at the expense of the kids' mental and physical safety. The field of social work was described
as a battlefield. The social worker is often the only positive adult role model for these youth who
face poverty and parental abuse on a daily basis.
I set out to portray exactly what was described in the article:
The social worker must traverse a battlefield of politics, physical
violence and economic hardship, and lift up disadvantaged youth from absolute chaos.
The first image that came to mind was Henri Rousseau's, "War.
It Passes, Terrifying, leaving Despair, Tears and Ruin Everywhere."
This imagery, figure with horse floating above the remains of war, has been used by many different
artists from medieval to modern. My take on the piece is perhaps a reinterpretation of its original context.
I like how the floating figure has been removed from the bottom layer of chaos to safety.
The horse and sword add an element of personal strength which is also key to the social worker and the kids.
This was the starting point for my sketch. The image below is what I sent to the magazine.
Dean at RI Monthly liked the direction so, we went right to final.
Thank you Dean, for the great assignment.
